Page 36 of Living Hell

“Feels good, right?”

“Yes,” he whispered.

“So why are you resisting what feels good? No strings attached. Except we have to be in a fake relationship for six more weeks, but other than that, you can do whatever you want.”

“Oh.” His hand slipped from my chest and I missed his warm touch immediately.

“You don’t like that idea?”

I was trying to make this appealing for him. Every man I had come in contact with loved the idea of no-strings attached fucking.

“Not really. It’s not like you’re a stranger I met in a bar, Iona. I have known you since we were in tenth grade. It was your first time being sent to the principal’s office in high school, and I was your guide through the process. Being I was more experienced than you with it.”

I laughed. “All your tips about buttering up Principal Atkins worked. You were a pro.”

“This is what I’m talking about.” His eyes grew soft as he gazed at me. “You’re my friend. I don’t think I could have sex with you or even kiss you and walk away. You burrowed deep in my heart so long ago that I could never break that bond and walk away. Not again.”

Where was this guy eleven years ago? Oh yeah, a missed digit away.

“Yeah, well, I’ve grown up. The heart only has to heal if you let it get captured,” I mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s fine. You need romance and feelings. That’s not something I’m capable of bringing to the party.”

He frowned and reached for my hand but I dodged it, pretending to push some hair from my face.

“Iona.”

This was becoming more complicated than it should. It’s better we kept everything fake. I scooted off the bed and was heading toward my bedroom when I heard him come after me.

I turned and stared at the luscious sight before my eyes. The towel had dropped, and I swear a beam of light filtered through the window, centering a spotlight on the Big Kahuna. And it was big.

“Iona, let’s talk about this.”

Wait. Did he realize he was standing there buck naked in our hallway? Oh, this was better than I thought.

“I’m trying to see the big picture here, Tyler, but it’s hard. So hard,” I said and then rolled my lips between my teeth to keep from laughing.

“It’s not that hard.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that . . .”

I tell you what was hard, keeping my eyes on his face. His cock was bobbing up and down as he gestured in the air like it was begging for me to stare. God, I wanted to get on my knees and worship it. That cock was prettier than a beauty pageant winner cutting a ribbon at the opening ceremony for a car dealership.

“How about a date? I take you out, and it would work for the fake fiancée thing, too. I’m sure Babette would love that. Maybe I’d feel better if it was more than just sex.”

“I know that would make me feel better, too,” I responded without listening to most of what he said. That cock was deliciously distracting.

He clapped his hands together and my eyes snapped up to his.

“Good. It’s a date. I’ll take you out tonight.”

“Wait. What? Date?”

He nodded and turned back toward his bedroom.

“We can figure out where tonight but right now, I’m late for work. I hope Olivia hasn’t tried to treat the animals herself. She’s learning a lot, but she’s far from qualified to treat animals yet.” He chuckled as he moved to the bedroom doorway.

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