Page 99 of Playing Pretend

I leveragemy weight off his wrist, allowing him to remove his hand from my panties. “Do you need to…um…”

“Wash up?” He rubs his thumb over his fingers, grinning at the moisture. “No way in hell.”

I ignore the heat coursing through my veins and continue with his shirt buttons, but he only increases the inferno by placing those fingertips to my neck, my jaw, my collarbone. He paints me with my arousal as if I’m an expensive canvas, light, teasing strokes with painstaking intent, before leaning in to lap up his artistry.

I hold my breath as he does it over and over. Painting. Licking. Touching. Sucking.

He groans with each taste while I remain a puddle on his thigh, my hands trembling with a resurgence of need by the time I reach his last button.

“You taste so fucking good,” he groans. “Soon I’ll be enjoying this from the source.”

My face flames hot.

I’m still not used to hearing his scandalously addictive eroticism. Each word makes me ache, each promise increasing the tingling ball of anticipation in my belly.

I open his shirt, distracting myself from meltdown by taking in each band of muscle—pecs, abdominals, obliques—but his lips drive me to distraction. He kisses me everywhere, tasting, tormenting.

“I love when you kiss me.” I slide my fingers to his zipper and the hardness adamantly protruding from beneath.

He sucks in a breath. I do the same.

He’s big. Far bigger than I’d anticipated despite his warnings last week.

“It’ll fit, little Pip.” He nuzzles my neck, predicting my anxiety. “Like a fucking glove.” He grazes his teeth along my throat. Tender. Languid. He inspires goose bumps and the most delicious burn. “Stroke me.”

My mouth salivates as I palm him through his trousers, learning his length, circling his girth the best I can. But I want more.

I blindly undo his pants, my hand colliding with the head of his cock protruding from his boxer briefs, the moistened tip poking out to greet my palm.

I bite my lip and lean into my desire, swirling a finger around his pre-cum, spreading it over the top of his shaft.

“Jesus Christ. The slightest touch from you feels like heaven.” He grazes his teeth along my shoulder. “You’ve got no idea what you do to me.”

His praise amplifies my surging lust. I don’t know how I’ll ever get enough of him.

“I’m dying to be inside you.” He stands, taking me with him to place me on my feet, then grabs his wallet from his back pocket. “Hold this for me.”

I cling to the offering, my gaze zeroed in on the smooth leather while he shucks his pants.

“There’s protection somewhere between the notes.” He kicks his clothing out of the way, then starts on his socks. “Can you get it for me?”

I pause, hesitant to have something between us now that we’re finally in this moment. I don’t want the casual connotation. The temporary vibe. “I’m on the pill.”

“I know.” He throws the first sock to the floor. “But I haven’t been checked in a while and I want to make sure I’m safe.”

I try to ignore the reminder of his past conquests and open the wallet to remove the foil packet.

“I’ve always worn protection, Piper.” He throws the remaining sock and closes in, cupping my cheek, meeting my gaze. “Every single time. But as much as I want to feel nothing between us, I won’t be careless with you in any way. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“This week fucking destroyed me.” His eyes soften. “The guilt of upsetting you at the resort… My lack of foresight… I never want to hurt you again.”

I place the square packet beneath the elastic of my panties and step into him. “Can you please explain that to Goliath down there?”

He grins, the slow spread of his lips brightening his face through the dim light. “You andGoliathare going to become the best of friends.” He grips my hips. “I promise.”

I raise a brow, acting cool despite my flaming cheeks. “I’m sure we will. He’ll probably push you off the height of best friend status.”

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