Page 87 of Test the Ice
Before I shut the door, she stops it with her hand. I drape my forearm on top of the car and raise a brow.
“How am I looking at you?” she asks, fluttering those long eyelashes at me.
I don’t sugarcoat it. “Like the idea of me stroking myself gets you hot.”
Reese snaps forward and stares out the windshield.
But she doesn’t deny it.
Which does nothing but feed my suspicion–my fake fiancée might just want me as much as I want her.
Thirty
REESE
It’sas if fate knew I needed to be pulled away from Malaki the second we were in the house, because otherwise, I would’ve made a complete fool out of myself.
Charleigh snuggles into my chest, pressing her cheek against my bare skin with a wistful smile. I rock back and forth while still in my heels, my feet throbbing from all the standing. I wait until she’s good and asleep before placing her back into her Pack ‘n Play, but before I leave, I shut my eyes and pray that fate is still on my side by the time I get to my room.
Or Malaki’s room–our room.
I quietly latch her door and stand with my back against the cool wall before attempting to get my bearings.
Malaki is the last thing I should be thinking about after getting that text from Benedict, yet here I am, full of eager anticipation.
My nerves are fried, and every brief touch from him left a lasting mark. I’m attracted to Malaki–who wouldn’t be?–but crossing the boundaries that I vehemently laid out on the table would make me a hypocrite.
Or a woman with needs.
I roll my eyes.
Eventually, I push off from the wall and hobble down the hall. My body reacts as soon as I reach for the handle, as if it knows what’s on the other side. I turn the doorknob, and my stomach flutters.
I find him right away, and although my nipples perk at the sight of him sitting up in bed without a shirt on, I silently curse him. If he were asleep, then maybe I could keep my composure. Instead, he’s watching some race on the tv with intense concentration.
The lamp on my side of the bed is on, while the one on his side is off. Yet, as soon as he sees me, he turns off the tv, and shakes out his damp hair. “Everything good?” he asks.
My nod is sharp.
I’m clearly on edge, full of nervous jitters. I’m acting like a virgin at the sight of him on the bed, as if he’s waiting to claim me.
God.I’m insane.
“I’m going to go get ready for bed,” I say.
So I can escape your hot stare.
I take one step toward the bathroom and wince. This is what happens when you’re not used to wearing heels. Your feet reject them.
Malaki pops up from the bed. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine–”
I pull my attention from hisverytoned pecs and scan the disapproval on his face.
“It’s just my feet,” I admit. “I’m not used to wearing heels.” I laugh quietly.
I take another step toward the bathroom, and suddenly, I’m forced to stop in place. Malaki’s arm wraps around my waist, and he tugs me backward until he’s able to sweep me off my feet.
