Page 36 of When Glitter Meets Gold

The door handle twists and Drew reenters the room. He’s wearing one of the hotel’s robes tied loosely at his waist, his gleaming chest spilling out from where the material overlaps in the center. He strides over to where I’veseated myself on the bed and sets a bowl of strawberries on the nightstand. I smile, trying to ignore my stomach that’s currently sick with famine.

“So, about the whole hotel, hiking situation…” I begin as Drew takes a seat next to me on the bed.

Then, he presses a finger to my lips. “You don’t have to explain. I’m just glad it worked out. You’re one of the only girls in the office I couldn’t be totally sure was crushing on me.” He leans back to grab a strawberry. “Hey, you know this place has an insane gym?”

“I did not know that,” I say. “Um…so I guess a lot of girlscrushon you, huh?” I say quietly as his last comment plays over in my head.

“Okay, that came out wrong.” He laughs. “Now it sounds like I think every woman I meet is in love with me.” He speaks from the corner of his grinning mouth, “I mean, some are.”

I raise my eyebrows, attempting to keep a neutral expression.

Then, I watch as he places the strawberry in his mouth, holding it between his teeth. He sets his gaze on my lips, and before I can register his intention, he’s swooping toward my face. The strawberry crushes into my mouth, and, afraid that it might tumble, and also not knowing what the hell else to do, I bite down on it hard.

“Ouch!”Drew pulls back, clamping a hand over his mouth while his entire face shrivels into wrinkles of pain. The strawberry rolls onto the rug at our feet.

“Oh my god!” I gasp as my hands fly to his face to inspect the damage. “I bit you! I’m so sorry, I thought your lip was the strawberry. Are you okay?”

Drew pats his bottom lip a couple of times, his face finally relaxing. Thankfully I haven’t drawn any blood. “So,you’re a biter? Cool.” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively and moves closer to me. “Man, you’re hot when you’re all natural and shit.”

I instinctively smooth a hand over my wet hair, suddenly conscious that I didn’t get around to applying even a shred of concealer.

“I’m serious.” He looks at me like he’s staring into my soul. My stomach is doing something weird, although that might just be because of the hunger. “It’s like you just got out of a spin class, I love it.”

Strange comparison.

I have no idea what’s going on here. Apart from being completely caught off guard by his presence in my hotel room, I’m also drawn to realize that I really don’t know much about Drew at all. In fact, it’s like the image of him I once had was all an illusion. And honestly, I’m struggling to be turned on about anything surrounding this situation.

I frown at myself for thinking this way, and for a second, I wonder if I’m being a prude because I’ve forgotten how to act around the opposite sex. Forgotten how to flirt, how to have fun, how to take advantage of being in a luxury hotel room with a man with symmetrical abdominal muscles and a jawline chiseled from marble.

But something isn’t right. Now that Drew’s in front of me, declaring his popularity amongst the woman in the office and forcing strawberries into my mouth, I wonder if perhaps, I’m not the problem here…

“Drew,” I say, trying to remain as compassionate as possible. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know if you being here is a good idea.”

His shoulders sag like he’s just been delivered life changing bad news. “I knew it was too much.” He shakes hishead. “I told you I’m spontaneous, when I get an idea in my head…I gotta see it through. I shouldn’t have come.”

Now I feel bad.

“Hey, no harm done?—”

“Wait a minute.” He stands, gesturing for me to remain where I am on the edge of the bed. “Give me this one last shot?”

“What are you talking about?”—Drew opens his robe, baring his naked body to me— “Oh, Jesus Christ!”

I’m faced with Drew in all his naked glory. The fact it’s not the most shocking thing that’s happened to me in the past twenty-four hours, is most likely what keeps me from screaming and tearing my eyes away.

Instead, I allow my gaze to roam over his body. To his physique which leans toward the impossible side of perfection. It’s just one hard butcher’s block. No give. And a lot of veins. He’s perfect, I can’t deny that. And just like that, I’m drawing comparisons to Jack’s body. Jack’s solid body I slept against last night. I remember how it felt, like I could sink my hands into all the different layers of muscle. My mind wanders to the image I’ve stored of him naked in the tent, and I can’t help but wonder if it’shisbody I wish was in front of me right now…

I gasp. How is it possible that I’m thinking about Jack when Drew, in his Godlike perfection, is right in front of me?

“Well?” Drew says wiggling his hips. “See anything you like?”

My eyes widen as I find myself face to face with his penis.

I tilt my head and fold my arms over my chest as I remind myself how long I’ve admired him, and how many girls would love to be in this position right now.Why am Ihesitating? It’s a perfectly nice penis. I haven’t had sex in a long time, and here it is, being offered up to me in five-star luxury.

I lean closer and closer. It’s the most intense eye contact I’ve ever had. And it’s occurring between me and Drew’s penis.

Which is silly because penises don’t stare back…

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