Page 55 of Official

Biting my lip, I force myself to sound convincing. “No.”

Okay, not the most confident response I’ve ever given, but it’s all I can manage. Saying anything more would blow the whole thing wide open, and I wouldn’t put it past Teddy to board the next flight out here just to kick Xander’s ass.

I’m lying to protect him, really.

Teddy’s loud exhale is confusing, and I stare at my phone until I hear him again. “I’m glad he’s taking care of you and that you’re having a good time. You deserve the break.”

My chest warms.

“You’re coming back for Dad’s sixtieth birthday party, though, right? He won’t appreciate the barbershop quartet without his ray of sunshine.” He chuckles, and I picture him rubbing a hand down his face.

“He sure knows how to have fun.” I lean my hip against the counter as the door to Xander’s room opens slowly. He tiptoes across the sitting room and into the kitchen, careful to stay away from the phone like I’m on FaceTime. I hold it up to show him it’s a regular call, although I’m not sure it’s necessary.

Teddy knows we’re here together, so seeing us both wouldn’t raise any flags.

But we can’t be too sure, I guess.

“I need to go. Call you later?” I say to Teddy while Xander stalks toward me, his hair mussed and crazed from our late-night escapades.

And he’s shirtless. Did I mention how unfair it is that his abs are so lean and carved out more perfectly than if he would’ve drawn them on? He’s never even had to eat kale to look like that.

I do enjoy the view, though.

In fact, my mouth waters as I take a slow bite of my banana, my attention on him as he cracks his knuckles like he’s preparing for something… sexy.

After I end the call, Xander scoops me into his arms and hoists me onto the kitchen counter, my half-eaten banana tossed next to us. He plants a greedy kiss to my lips, and I squeeze my legs around his waist.

“I was looking forward to waking up next to you, but you weren’t in bed when I opened my eyes,” he mumbles, exaggerating a pout, and I nip at his plump bottom lip.

“That’s because I went to the gym, then did a few bodyweight exercises outside.” I kiss him again as he toys with the waistband of my shorts. “There’s a good little spot to run steps and do tricep dips. Burpees too, of course.”

He moves his palm down to my thigh and slides his fingers up my shorts. “I thought hiking would be our exercise for the day. Besides sex, anyway.”

“Both are commendable workouts, which is why I took it easy this morning and didn’t use heavy weights.” I interlock my fingers behind his neck and latch onto his lips, drinking him in like the ocean absorbs a river.

“You must be worn out,” he whispers, taking one hand out of my shorts and reaching for something in my periphery.

I hum against him, enjoying the mint on his tongue this morning—the morning after great pool sex and two more rounds in bed. He was slow and sensual. Fast and mind-blowing.

Horizontally and vertically.

Every way we did it was magic.

“Let me feed my queen,” he says in a low voice as a teasing smile plays across his expression.

I pull back, and he’s holding my banana up for me. Through my laughter, I make a show of taking a big bite and chewing more loudly than would be socially acceptable if we were in public.

And if I was with anyone but Xander.

When it comes to him, he doesn’t care how messy I am. How much sand is caked in my hair. If I’m wearing makeup or not.

He wantsme.

He sees beyond the filters and coy captions. The sponsored posts and scripted live videos. Being with Xander has been an experience, even better than snuba diving with sea turtles in paradise.

And I want to soak in the sunshine a little while longer.

“What did your brother say?” he asks, stepping out from between my legs to grab a mug out of the cabinet.

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