Page 83 of Strictly Pretend

I roll my eyes and pull up my nose into a snarl. “I’ll show you a growl later.”

He grins. “I’m going to keep you to that.”

I pull my cover up over my body and put the bikini bottoms on, not bothering with the top. I need to shower anyway. When I crack open the door, Mia is standing outside with a huge bottle of water in her hands.

“I thought you two might need some fluids after all that sex,” she says, looking amused. “I guess you’re feeling better.”

I immediately blush. “We haven’t been having sex.”

“Oh sweetie, a few of us came back earlier. We could hear you at the edge of the woods.”

“What?” I look at her, panicking.

She starts to laugh. “Don’t worry, we were all jealous. And Will…”

“Will heard?” My eyes widen.

“No, but he overheard us giggling about it afterward. And it was pure poetry.” She sighs. “Now take this and rehydrate.” She pushes the bottle into my hands. “We’re all going to shower before we head down to the lake for dinner at eight. Be there or be…”

“I’m feeling a little tired,” I say. “I might get an early night.”

She pouts at me. “But I miss you. We only have two nights left. I want to see you.”

My chest immediately tightens. I feel bad now. “Okay, we’ll be there.”

“Good.” She grins at me. “By the way, I’m so hugely happy for you.” She winks. “You deserve to be happy.” Then she turns and walks away and I close the door behind her.

Maybe she’s right. Maybe I do deserve to be happy. I’m not sure what all has happened between me and Brooks but those four orgasms definitely weren’t fake. Nor were the two he had inside me.

But we still haven’t talked about his ex. And since it’s only forty minutes until we’re supposed to meet the others we won’t get a chance for a while.

I look over at the door between the living and sleeping area and the bathroom. It’s closed and I can hear the shower running. I wonder what he’s thinking, standing beneath the spray.

I just hope he’s not regretting it.

BROOKS

There’s nowhere I’d rather be less right now than standing with a group of men I went to school with. I wasn’t a huge fan of school. Emma would probably point out I’m not a big fan of anything.

But right now, I’m her biggest fan and I want to be back in bed with her.

She’s wearing a cute short dress, cream with a printed pattern of blue, green, and pink flowers on it, cinched at the waist then flaring out to the top of her thighs. She’s caught a tantoday, even if she didn’t mean to, and her skin is glistening in the reflection of the flames flickering in the pit.

She’s also wearing a pair of cowboy boots. I’m not a big fan of them, but somehow they look perfect on her. I want to feel them around my waist as I fuck her later.

Because I am going to fuck her again. I can’t think of much else, if I’m being honest. I’m a little dazed and very much confused except for that one fact.

Emma is talking to Mia, leaning in close and nodding as Mia whispers in her ear. I’ve never met anybody who listens as well as she does. It’s a skill and it’s fucking sexy. Everything about her is.

She lifts her head up, as though she can sense the heat of my stare, her gaze catching mine. She gives me a little smile and I narrow my eyes back at her.

One taste of this woman and I’m hooked. I want her. In bed. With me.Now.

Two tiny discs of pink form on her cheeks, like she knows exactly what I’m thinking. Maybe she’s thinking it too. Damn, I need to stop this. I’m a breath away from walking over there, throwing her over my shoulders, and carrying her back to our yurt like a neanderthal.

Where everybody can hear us. Where the microphones – if they’re there – can hear us.

Fuck, I’m going to need to talk to Cassie’s father when the wedding is over. Make sure we weren’t recorded.

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