One Week Girlfriend (9 page)

Don’t be a pussy, man. Kiss her, asshole. KISS HER!

Leaning over the center console, I reach out, drift my fingers across Fable’s cheek. Her skin is so soft and she closes her eyes, her lips parting. Her tongue sneaks out and she licks her upper lip. Just like that, I’m sporting a hard on and without thought I settle my mouth on hers. Once. Softly, as light as a butterfly’s wings, my lips lingering for a few, stolen seconds before I break the connection.

Her lids flutter open and she’s watching me with that attentive gaze. The one that makes me feel like she can see everything I hide inside me. The good and the bad. The beautiful and the ugly. “That’s all you got?”

She’s teasing me. I can see it in the light of her eyes, the slight quirk of her lips. Damn, I want to kiss her again, so I do.

This time, she slips her hand around the back of my head and keeps me there so I can’t escape. And I don’t want to. Her fingers thread through my hair, stroking me as our lips connect again and again. Her touch feels so good. A little moan escapes me and I swipe at her upper lip with my tongue, savoring her sticky sweet taste. She parts her lips, opening herself to me and I take full advantage.

I search her mouth with my tongue slowly. Thoroughly. She tastes fucking amazing and my skin is suddenly too tight, I’m burning up inside. I’m so hard, I ache with it, and I can’t remember ever becoming as turned on as this and so fast, too. Our fun little make out session is getting out of control quick, and I’m worried my parents are going to lose it when they see us all over each other in the backseat like a bunch of teenagers.

Within two seconds I don’t care if my parents see us or not. I’m lost in her touch, lost in the way her body molds to mine, how she tastes, the sound of her breathing.

My hand is resting on her waist, my fingers massaging the silky fabric of her dress. The road that takes us to Pebble Beach is curvy and my dad is driving kind of fast, so we’re swaying against each other in the back seat. I take advantage again, pulling her closer, loving how easily she comes to me. She wraps her arms around my neck and devours my mouth, her little tongue twisting and tangling with mine.

Our kissing isn’t for show. This isn’t to make an impression on others. We’re kissing each other because we want to. And we’re not stopping ourselves either.

We’re only two days in to this fake relationship crap and this is where we’re at, wrapped around each other like pretzels and hoping like hell we don’t have to let go of each other any time soon.

At least, that’s what I’m feeling.

The car swerves hard to the left, sending me toppling over Fable.

“Andy!” Adele chastises and my dad grumbles a halfhearted sorry as he slows down.

I end the kiss first, opening my eyes to find her staring up at me. She looks dazed, her lips are damp and her cheeks are flushed. She’s even prettier than when I first saw her in the bathroom and was completely blown away by the way she looked in that sexy dress.

She’s prettier because
I’m
the one who put that glow in her eyes and the color in her cheeks.

“We—” She swallows hard, her breathing accelerated, and she licks her lips again. I lean into her real quick, pressing my forehead against hers. I close my eyes and count to five before opening them again, trying to gather my thoughts so I won’t end up sounding like a dumbass when I finally find my voice.

“We what?” I ask, pulling away from her the slightest bit. I don’t want to let her go. It feels too good, holding on to her, her curves filling my palms, her mouth fused with mine.

Holy shit, I never think like this. I usually run like crazy. Kissing and sex and all the other crap that comes with it leads to…I can’t explain it. Sex leads you to a bad place. Where you’re doing things you don’t want to be doing. Or doing things that feel so damn good, but you know is wrong. Sex for me has always been…shameful.

I hate that. I hate feeling guilty for doing something that feels absolutely amazing. I hate being involved with people I shouldn’t have been, and they ruin everything for you.

That’s what I despise the most. And resent. I’m full of such resentment, I’m tempted to tell Fable she doesn’t want to hang around with a guy like me, even if it’s fake.

Especially if it’s fake.

“We should do that again. Don’t you think?” She runs her fingers through my hair once more and I close my eyes, savoring her touch. I suddenly crave it. Human touch. Fable’s touch.

“You mean kiss?” I ask because I’m confused. I don’t know what she’s talking about, too distracted by how she’s touching me, the sound of her voice.

“Yeah. We need to put on a good show tonight, right?”

Wait a minute, put on a good show? Was this some sort of practice session or something? “Uh, sure.”

“Give the neighbors and your parents’ friends and probably some of your friends too an extra good show so they believe we’re really, truly involved?” She’s pulling out of my embrace and my arms feel empty. She settles into her seat, her breath still coming fast. At least I know I affected her somewhat.

“I guess.” I shrug. I feel like I’ve been used. And that’s completely ridiculous.

“Perfect.” The smile on her face blows my mind. I didn’t think she was this beautiful a week ago. But I didn’t know her either. She’s growing on me. A lot. I want to get to know more about her. She’s still a mystery, but so am I. I can’t tell her my secrets though.

They’ll send her running.

Fable

The man can kiss.

Drew has no idea how his kiss shatters me so completely, I feel all raw and exposed. Vulnerable. I totally tried to play it off just now, like we’re only messing around back here for the sake of our phony boyfriend and girlfriend status, but that’s not true. That kiss had nothing to do with us pretending we’re together.

And everything to do with me wanting more from him than he’s probably willing to give.

My entire body is shaking and I take a deep breath. The car slows and turns onto a driveway and I know we’re at our destination. The country club awaits, most likely filled to the brim with a bunch of snooty snobs and holy crap, I’m still incredibly nervous. Oh, and amped up by that kiss. Adrenaline runs through me, making me tremble and I glance out the window, staring at the scenery spread out before us. I need it to distract me so I’ll stop thinking about Drew’s magical lips and tongue.

So I focus on something mindless. Like how we really need to take a ride along 17 Mile Drive before we leave, so I can ogle all the houses and the ocean and soak up all that beauty and wealth. No way am I going to miss seeing it, especially since we’re so close. Gorgeous houses and serene yards, everything so beautiful it’s almost painful to look at for too long. Yes, I should definitely focus on scenic drives and ocean views.

Not beautiful men who kiss every thought out of my head and leave me a trembling, aroused mess.

“Do I look all right?” I smooth my hand over my hair, hoping I’m not all mussed up.

“You look amazing.” The sincerity in his voice touches me deeply. I am a sucker for this man and he doesn’t even know it.

I glance over at him. His mouth is swollen, his eyes glittering and his hair is sticking up all over the place from me tugging on it. Other than that, he looks perfectly fine.

Really fine. But what else is new?

Reaching out, I smooth his hair down, combing it back into place with my fingers. I do it a few times more than necessary but his hair so silky soft and I love how it clings to my fingers. He doesn’t say a word, he hardly moves, though those intense blue eyes are locked on me the entire time. When I finish, I pull away from him, settling in my seat with a breath of relief.

“There,” I say, clearing my throat when I realize my voice is still shaking. Damn it. “Now you look presentable.”

The car pulls to a stop in front of a giant, beautiful old building and my door swings open, a man in a dark green and white uniform with a kind smile peering inside. “Need help out, miss?”

“Yes, thank you.” I settle my hand in his white-gloved one and he pulls me out of the back seat. Drew opens his own car door, as does his dad while another attendant takes care of Adele.

I hardly noticed what she was wearing back at the house, so I take my time to check her out now. Her dress is a dark navy blue, a long, slender column that skims her every willowy curve, covering her from her neck to her feet. It doesn’t reveal much skin, but it showcases the length of her body, the fact that there isn’t an ounce of fat on her anywhere.

Her hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, black as a midnight sky, and the ends swinging across her perfect butt as she turns to greet someone. The place is bustling with excitement, lots of people pouring inside and I know it’s going to be packed. I really hope we have a table already reserved or something, though it might be kind of exciting if Drew and I were together but separated from his parents.

In fact, I would prefer it.

“Like what you see?”

Adele’s contemptuous voice startles me and I lift my gaze to hers, discover she’s watching me with an undisguised sneer curving her lips.

“Your dress is beautiful,” I say and she smiles icily in response but otherwise doesn’t say a word.

God.
I want to stomp my foot and tell her to screw off. But I hold it all in, offering her a faint smile when she looks back my way. Though she’s not really looking at me, she’s looking at Drew, who’s come up behind me. I know this because I can sense him, smell his delicious scent, feel the alluring warmth that radiates off of his big body.

I have it so incredibly bad for this guy. I’m in deep trouble. What if he doesn’t feel the same way? What then? There’s nothing I can do about it. I signed up for this and now I have to deal with the consequences, no matter what happens.

“Ready to go in?” He settles his hand on my bare shoulder and his touch is such a shock to my system, I feel like I can’t breathe, my lungs are frozen solid.

Turning my head to the side, I realize he’s standing close. Really close. His mouth is at my temple, like he’s kissing me there, and I can feel his warm breath stir the little tendrils of hair that rest at my forehead. We make an intimate picture to everyone, I’m sure. I wonder if it’s all for Adele’s benefit.

I don’t understand the control she has over him. He puts up a front for her with me, yet doesn’t want to be around her. None of it makes any sense.

For the majority of my life, I’ve allowed myself to be used. Repeatedly and by everyone who surrounds me. I should be numb to this. But I’m not, not with Drew. I don’t want him to use me to make his parents freak out. I don’t want him to use me as some sort of weird protection so the people in his life quit asking probing questions and leave him alone.

I want him to actually like me. I want to spend more time with him. Real time. Not phony ‘oh, let’s hang all over each other’ time either.

“Yes,” I finally say in answer to his question because I don’t know what else to do. We need to face reality and that crowd waiting for us inside.

He squeezes my shoulder and we walk in together, trailing behind his parents, earning a hard glare from Adele as we pass through the open double doors.

This night is going to feel like an eternity. It already does.

~* Chapter Seven *~

Day 2, 9:38 p.m.

I’ve never dropped anyone I believed in.
 
– Marilyn Monroe

Drew

We sit next to each other at the round table surrounded by a crush of people, the noise from their constant chatter deafening. We say nothing to each other throughout the entire meal, for at least an hour, if not longer. I know it’s stupid, but she makes me nervous and I want to get this just right.

It’s like I can’t find words. What can I say to follow up that kiss in the backseat of my dad’s car? I don’t want to cheapen the moment. It’s like I sit here and I’m wallowing in it still. Thinking like a chick, relieving the moment over and over again in my mind.

How she responded to me, the little sounds of pleasure she made in the back of her throat. The feel of her warm, velvety tongue as it slid against mine, her hands in my hair. I can’t remember the last time I was kissed like that. Have I ever been kissed like that? Hell, I really don’t think so.

The realization stops me cold.

We may not speak, but I’m extremely aware of her. The sound of her soft breathing, her sweet scent that makes my mouth water. The heat of her skin, the way her bare shoulder brushes against my arm when she reaches for her glass of water. I wonder if she’s touching me on purpose.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch her drink. Her full lips curve around the glass, the delicate line of her throat and its movement as she swallows. The impulse to kiss all that exposed skin is so strong I clench my hands into fists and rest them on my thighs. Willing myself to stop thinking like an idiot.

Doesn’t work. I can’t stop thinking about her. How she felt in my arms, the taste of her still on my lips. I don’t ever fucking think like this ever. I stuffed all useless emotion down deep inside me a long time ago and I’ve refused to let it back out. It’s pointless. I’m like a robot most of the time. Going through the motions, getting through life one day at a time.