Page 137 of Gin and Lava

“It sounds like you want that,” Naomi replies, running a finger along my forearm and biting her lip. She isn’t doing that to be cute. It’s innocent. But it still reads like she’s playing the vixen.

“Look,” I say, stepping away from her touch. “I’m the easy one in all of this.”

I walk toward the door of the sunroom, nodding for her to follow me outside onto the patio where we don’t have an audience. She nods and walks after me, politely obliging.

“You want to pretend?” I continue when we’re out of earshot. “Then we pretend. I’m just not going to take you to bed if it’s going to be complicated.”

She chews on her lip, brushing her hair out of her face. “I can work with that.”

“Okay, good.”

Naomi glances toward the house, where the guests are sitting down for breakfast. Then she looks back at me with tentative eyes.

“Can I still kiss my fake boyfriend?” she asks softly.

I look over her shoulder at the group. Sam is there, so is Shauri, and even Connor and Ned. They aren’t looking at us, but that still doesn’t stop me from feeling the need to put on a show. I hook my arm around Naomi’s waist and pull her towards me.

“Well,” I say, “we still need to be convincing.”

I lean in and kiss her. Softly at first, then with more intensity. I don’t know if this kiss is an apology or a declaration, other than I want it. I want this kiss to matter and for her to feel everything I can’t say out loud.

She kisses me back, fiercely, like we’ve been in a fight and we’re apologizing. My whole body turns on, wanting to make up for not peeling her clothes off last night and giving her every distraction she needed.

But I don’t want to be the distraction.

I want to be as real as this kiss.

Which is fake. Becausewe’refake.

I pull back and look at her. Naomi’s face is flushed and her mouth is open and panting. God, she’s sexy as hell when she looks at me like one kiss is all it takes to get her excited. I can’t deny our chemistry together. It’s fucking on fire.

“You look like you want me to fuck you on this porch in front of all your friends,” I say hotly, and she bites her lip, letting out a quiet whimper like that would be everything.

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t lose your sense of humor,” she tosses back.

“You hate the crass jokes,” I say.

“Not really,” she admits. “I hate it when you get all somber and serious.” I narrow my eyes at her, and she caresses my face like we need to keep this light and flirty.

“Do you want banana or sausage for breakfast?” I tease, and she smiles at me for playing along. “Or do you think they make breakfast tacos in this place? Maybe peaches and cream?”

“I thought it was Arie’s job to make food sound dirty?” she nudges me in the shoulder.

“It is,” I agree. “But I’m talking about eating your pussy.”

“Are you?” she jabs. “No sex, remember.”

“Yes, but if you look at the entire time I’ve known you—before this little arrangement—none of my dirty comments resulted in usactingon my suggestions. Just because I say it, doesn’t mean we’re going to do it.”

She raises an eyebrow at me. “Fair point.”

“Of course, now that you’ve had a spin on my cock, I can understand why that might be a hard ask afterwards, but—”

“Just chaste little kisses, noted.” Naomi rubs her thumb across my mouth hotly—there’s nothing sweet or demure about it.

“Chaste?” I challenge.

“If my thumb against your lips is going to get you hard, Mason—”

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