Page 30 of Liar & Champion
I sighed deeply and flopped down on the bottom bunk, falling asleep almost immediately, because I was an old lady in disguise. I woke up when Nix pressed soft lips to my forehead in the gentlest kiss possible. I froze and analyzed the situation while he looked down at me with the most sultry look imaginable. No pain. Not a drop, actually it had felt kind of tickling and nice. Weird.
“I caught five beautiful trout that are going to be so happy in your belly.” He wiggled his eyebrows and the words didn’t go with that hot look, although his blue eyes were shining while he smelled like the woods, pine and wind. He really was enjoying himself in the middle of nowhere without a phone, and that kiss had been actually pleasant.
“And then the kissing,” I said with a nod, because I wasn’t going to pretend to be with him if I couldn’t give him what he needed to fulfil the deal. I was a liar, but I wasn’t a psychopath. I sat up and slid off the bed, pulling on my sneakers then pulled him out of the cabin.
He let me tug him along, laughing. “And then the kissing,” he agreed. “Also, the plan. Have you been thinking about what you want?”
I nodded, trying to look very serious, but I had a smiley face on my hand, so that made it difficult. “I think I want to find out if we have good chemistry before I commit to six months.”
His brows rose and he looked almost shocked. “You want to test me out first? Now I’m a car?”
“Come on. Six months is a long time even for an ancient figure such as yourself. For me, it’d be like a decade in Quentin if there was no fizz between us.”
His lips twitched as he studied me, bright blue eyes looking calculating for some reason. “You’re terrified of kissing, but I’m supposed to make you like it well enough to risk ten years in San Quentin? I imagine that’s what you’re talking about.”
“No San. Quentin was the name of my fifth grade fling. Guy couldn’t kiss at all, but I was his girlfriend for the status.”
“Right. I guess you wouldn’t be with me for that, since I’m just a three-job college guy.”
I grinned at him. Christina had known dating him would give her status before she even knew he was the son of a senator. I patted his pectoral, then paused as I really noted its firmness and impressive size. “Are you surgically enhanced? Not that it’s any of my business, but talk about perfect breasts.”
He flashed his teeth in a smile that was almost dangerous as he brushed my hair away and glanced down at my shirt then raised a brow as he met my eyes. “Were we talking about perfect breasts? I wasn’t aware.”
“I was thinking about Christina and her being so eager to climb your status.” I wiggled my brows at him then grinned when he pulled back looking shocked.
“Why Kitten, you’re being awfully flirty for a virgin. You’d better not distract me while I’m working.”
While he cleaned the fish, he talked about what he was doing, how you had to do it this way to get it right, and then wrapping the fish in clay to bake in the fire, and then how to build a fire, he just kept on a long stream of how-to, like this was a camping podcast, or he was initiating someone new. There was never a hint of flirtation or innuendo. It was almost like he was talking to keep from thinking.
“You’d make a good dad,” I said when he paused between topics.
He looked up at me with terror in his eyes.
I laughed. “Because you explain things so well. I’m not offering to have your babies. I’m not interested in that.” His expression was priceless though, the glance at me uncertain, like he didn’t trust my motives. I patted the log next to me. “Seriously, I’m not in the market for a sperm donor. I’m waytoo young for that. Actually, the idea never appealed. Being tied down all the time? Not my party.” Because I was dying. I couldn’t even get a dog because I’d outlive it and my aunt was too much of a workaholic to step in once I was gone. Depressing. Where was my smiley face? I smiled at him and tried to look adorable.
He sat next to me, stretching his legs out towards the fire. “Pity. You’d make a good mom.” He slowly put his arm around me, just enough to feel his warmth, not applying any actual pressure.
I was stiff for a second at the unexpected contact, but when it didn’t hurt, I turned and snuggled into his side. It’s like he was born to be my last six months. If I lasted six months. Thanks, Dad. “You smell good. You should smell sweaty and terrible, but you don’t. Maybe you’re fictional.”
“I jumped in the pond after I was done fishing. I’m glad I did, because you’re dangerously honest. Telling a man she wants to kiss him when he’s driving? Seriously living on the edge, Kitten.”
I laughed outright, because he’d called me honest. That was just too funny. I cautiously turned my head until I was a breath from his skin then I leaned in and kissed his chin. He was freshly shaven, so he must have done that in the pond too. “I hope your shaving cream was biodegradable.”
“Me too.” He wasn’t smiling, though. He was looking at me like I was an interesting puzzle he was trying to put together. He really was so beautiful, edible, respectful even.
I smiled and kissed the corner of his lips needing to get him to react so I could know how far this could go. “Is this what you mean by feeling it and doing it?” Because I was so honest and unmotivated by ulterior motives.
“I didn’t have anything specific in mind, but yes. You are the sweetest thing,” he murmured in a low voice that made my heartbeat faster. His voice was as delicious as his skin. He really did taste good.
I kissed his chin and then made my way up along his jaw enjoying myself even if he never reciprocated.
He pulled away and cupped my face in his hands while he gazed into my eyes. “I’m going to taste you for a minute, if you don’t mind.” He was so official about it. Did he inform all the women before he tasted them? No. It was probably because I’d declared myself a virgin. That sent most guys in one of two directions. Either they were scared off, or they took it as a personal challenge to fix the problem. Nix clearly belonged to the first category.
“I’d be delighted,” I said in my best deb voice, closed my eyes, and pursed my lips.
He slid his hands up and down my arms, brushing the skin of my neck with his thumb, taking his time and getting a feel for me.
I opened my eyes and frowned at him. “Why aren’t you kissing me?” Seriously, we didn’t have forever. I was dying over here.
