Page 34 of Fake Crown

I smother my grin. His ability to free flow with my jokes is definitely a plus. “Let’s get back to the big P.”

“Proposition, not—”

“Penis, right.”

His eyes are alight with amusement when he gazes down at me. “Pretend to be my girlfriend when we get back. One week, two tops. I’ll give you my schedule—”

“Do I have to tattoo it on me? I don’t think that’ll work for me. Though I would be okay with you looking for it everywhere.” I give him an exaggerated wink.

He frames my face, and he kisses me, soft and deep. His tongue dips into my mouth, but it’s prodding, not demanding, as though he’s coaxing me to give him more. I rise onto my toes, seeking his heat, his pliable lips. As I’ve come to learn, his kisses curl my toes and cause my gut to clench with longing. I cling onto his biceps. Whether the kiss is for show or for real doesn’t matter to me. I just want more.

“As an incentive,” I say when we break apart, “that was a strong move.” I slide my arm around his neck, and he clasps my other hand in his so we’re dancing again. “You want to fake a relationship? Just for show?”

“For a week or two. At some point, Val will get tired of chasing me. She’s got some self-respect.”

From what I’ve seen, and from what I can still see happening on the sidelines, it’s very little. Her tongue is in Stephen’s mouth, but she keeps glancing our way. I’m trying not to notice her, but her over-the-top public display is making it hard.

“You’ve told me over and over again she’s not what you want. That you’re done with the drama. At some point, you need self-control,” I say.

“When I get busy with training, I get lazy in other ways.” He runs his fingers along my spine. “I don’t know that she’ll wear me down this time, but I’d rather not take the chance. A couple of buffer weeks is all I’m asking for.”

While I might technically be able to pretend to be his girlfriend, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Boyfriends are a no-go for me, even fake ones.

“We don’t even have to sleep together if you want to keep it totally for show,” he says.

“What?” I rear back. “What would I get out of this if not your hot body?”

“My undying gratitude?” He chuckles.

“I’ll take both, thank you very much.”

“You’re in?”

Unease crawls across my skin at the ruse he’s proposing. I’ve never had any problem playing pretend with a guy before, whether that be role-playing or faking interest to get out of an awkward situation or feigning the big-O to stroke a so-so lover’s ego. I’m an expert at emotions that aren’t real.

“I’ll need to think about it,” I say. “I’ll tell you on the plane ride home.”

“We won’t be sitting together.”

“That’s what makes it exciting,” I say. “I get to keep you in suspense.”

He’s not the only one who’ll be in suspense. I have no idea what I’m going to say on Monday. Saying yes is risky, but I’m not sure I’m quite ready to let go of the fantastic sex either. He said he’d be the best I’d ever had by the end of the weekend, and we’ve still got more than twenty-four hours for him to earn his medal.

“And I,” he says, “get to convince you my undying gratitude and my hot body are well worth your time.”

When I glance up at him, another butterfly emerges from its cocoon to flutter around my stomach.

My fear is that I already believe he’s worth it, and that’s terrifying.

Brent

We’re barely in the hotel room before Posey’s lips are seeking mine. The door clicks shut behind us, and I press her against the wall while I deepen the kiss. Her lips are an addiction. After I kissed her on the dance floor, I couldn’t stop for the rest of the night. She might have assumed the make-out sessions were for Val’s benefit, but as far as I was concerned, they were foreplay for this. Her, pressed up against a wall, my erection straining my dress pants, begging to find some way inside her.

I slide my hands under her dress and along her ass to prop her against the wall, and her legs circle my waist. She grinds against me, and I’m about to be the world’s worst lover.

“Do you have something?” she says. “I want you to fuck me against the wall.”

I brace her with one arm while I root around in my pocket with my other hand. I hold up the condom, and she snatches it from me before ripping it with her teeth.