Page 42 of Summer Kisses

"I'm so hot. I have to get this off." I reached for my dress, intending to pull it over my head. But my arms were so heavy.

"You want your dress off?"

I flopped back down on the bed with a smile. "Yes, please."

"Are you sure you want me to help?"

I pouted. "I'm so hot."

Brady helped me into a seated position, supporting me with a hand around my back. I couldn't open my eyes. I was exhausted. Then the dress was lifted over my head, and I could feel the air from the ceiling fan on my skin. "That feels good."

I snuggled into Brady's chest, and he lowered me to the bed. "You have too many clothes on."

"Let me get ready for bed, and I'll join you."

"Okay." Had I asked him to help me achieve an orgasm with his fingers? I couldn't have done something so embarrassing, could I? He was my friend. I wasn't supposed to reveal my feelings for him.

Rule number one: No more drinking around my fake fiancé.

Brady slipped out from under me, and I curled on my side. A sheet covered me. It was so cozy, and I was so tired. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, an arm was banding around my waist.

I drifted off again, but not before he kissed my hair. It was tender and sweet, and my heart contracted.

The next morning, there was something hot and heavy on me, and my head was pounding. I couldn't believe I drank so much last night. It must have been lying to my friends that promptedme to keep drinking, or the stress of pretending I was in love with my best friend. I wasn't going to survive this little arrangement of ours.

I slowly became aware of my surroundings. It was Brady's arm over my side, his breath in my hair, and his very hard dick nudged against my ass. I didn't dare move or shift. I didn't want him to know I was awake.

It was Brady that shifted first, lifting his arm, his voice gruff from sleep. "How are you feeling this morning?"

I moved onto my back, grabbing the sheet when I realized I was only wearing a lacy bra and thong. "Did you take off my dress?"

"You asked me to," Brady said simply.

"I don't remember." But it was coming back to me in pieces. I'd complained that it was too hot. I was afraid to ask if I said anything incriminating. Had I admitted that I was attracted to him? That I wanted nothing more than for him to kiss me for real. For him to touch me, to show me what it would be like to have an assisted orgasm. "I'm sorry. I don't normally drink that much."

"Were you upset about something?"

I threw an arm over my forehead. "I think having to lie to everyone was stressing me out."

"It won't be for much longer. We have the engagement party. I'll post the pictures. We'll have enough videos by then that I could ask for the family-friendly designation based on that."

"A few more weeks?" I asked, my voice squeaking.

"Yeah, maybe. We'll have to see how it goes."

"I want you to get what you need to make your show successful. I promise I'm okay." Or I would be if I didn't drink at the engagement party. I shifted, holding the sheet over my chest as I steadied myself on an elbow so I could see his face.

"I'm not worried about it. If it gets to be too much, we'll stop. I don't want you to get hurt."

"We've come this far; we might as well finish it." I had no desire to move out anyway. I liked coming home to Brady. He always showered when he got home since he was covered in dust and debris, so he smelled like soap and aftershave. We'd move around the kitchen, preparing a meal and talking about our day.

Then we'd eat on the deck and take Max for a walk. It was the perfect end to every day, and I wasn't ready to give it up.

"You have fun with the girls last night?"

"Yes." There was a lot of attention on me as the newly engaged one. But I kept drinking, then suggested dancing to avoid the questions about how it was living with Brady. "They wanted to know how the sex is once you move in together."

His brow furrowed. "What were they trying to say? That you have sex more often, or less?"

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