Page 53 of Perfectly Faked

I’m clearly in no shape to question what this means—if it even means anything at all. But I’ll enthusiastically pretend this is the price I have to pay, that I don’t want it, when everything in me is only too happy to be punished like this.

He slowly leans in, stopping just inches from my lips, and gazes at me. It’s not a punishing gaze. His eyes are as soft asblue butterfly wings, a gentle reminder that under that armored front, he still has a soft spot for me.

He dips his face, his lips meeting mine slowly at first, and then deepening into a kiss that feels like he’s laying down an offering. It’s velvet and silk, like warm water enveloping my entire body, soothing me from head to toe. He pushes closer to me, his hands and lips explaining in a way that words can’t how I’m the only thing in the world that matters to him right now.

His fingers tangle in my hair, urgent with need, pulling me closer, and I give a breathless gasp. Fireworks explode in my chest, edging me forward. I lean on my tiptoes and slide my hands up to his shoulders, pulling myself into him.The New Year’s Eve kiss was good, butthis kiss? This one is exquisite, because this time, he’s choosing me.

Somehow this feels like a victory, even though I’m the one who will probably lose the game. Losing is winning sometimes, and I’m willing to bet the ranch on how this one turns out.

I’ve dreamed of kissing him like this more times than I can count, but the dream pales in comparison to how alive I feel right now. My senses are a knife blade sharpened under his touch as I slip my fingers across his shoulders, letting him overwhelm me with his smell, his powerful hands trembling to stay in control, even though they could easily break me with their strength.

I slide my hands onto the nape of his neck, where his hair curls just above his collar deliciously. I breathe him in, soaking him up, losing myself in his kiss, exploring every inch of his neck and shoulders with my hands, all of me saying yes to this. My heart is a kick drum matching time with his, my thoughts spiraling into nothingness, wiping out every question I had about Leo. I don’t care if this moment will punish me in the future, make me never forget what it’s like to lose myself in akiss. Because I’ll pay the price to have him like this one more time.

I may have lost trivia night, but this game between us to see who will stop first? I’ll go down with the ship before I quit.

“Victoria...” Leo says in a ragged voice as he breaks away from me.

Suddenly the music stops, and the whiplash of reality forces me back into the moment. Leo slowly steps away, and it physically hurts to have distance between us, to not be in his arms exploring every part of him.

His gaze crashes into mine, and I can see the longing in his eyes, the furrowed brow as he tries to figure out what just happened. His hand remains on my hip, his eyes still laying claim to me.

I don’t know who won or lost, or that it even matters now. I’ve seen a side of Leo I thought no longer existed, a look that tells me he remembers what it was like to kiss me, to know me like that and to feel something for me that’s rocked his world too.

Now that I’ve seen it and felt it, I’m not sure I can ever go back.

A phone’s camera light flashes our direction, and I blink from the blinding light. That’s when I look around and notice a few strangers staring at us.

Leo grabs my hand, dragging me out the back door of the restaurant.

“We need to leave,” he says, his scowl returning. “Before we attract too much attention.”

After that kiss, I’m afraid we already have.

TWENTY

victoria

Igroan as I sit up in bed, cracking open one eye. My shoes lie on the floor. My purse rests on the dresser. I’m still wearing the same clothes from last night. On the little nightstand, there is a cup of tea, still steaming, and two ibuprofen. Someone left this for me, and I know exactly who—the same person who should get an award for being the world’s best kisser.

Something soft flutters in my chest as I replay the memory and everything that happened afterward. The way he wrapped his arm around my waist so I wouldn’t stumble getting to the car, how he carried me to my bedroom, and then tucked me in.

Leo broke the rules for my good—to take care of me, even though I didn’t deserve it. Just like he promised, my safety buddy was there for me, and I got a glimpse of a side of him I thought was gone.

I tiptoe to the door and slowly poke my head out, making sure everyone has left for the day. When I reach the bathroom, the door flies open, and on the other side is a freshly showered Leo.

“You’re up,” he says, surprised.

My eyes graze down his shirtless torso. Water droplets pool on his shoulders and the nicely sculpted lines of his chest.

“I was just going to use the bathroom,” I stammer, dragging my eyes up to his face and blinking away the mental picture of him shirtless.

He smirks. “You sleep okay?”

“Like the dead.” I rub my forehead, feeling a pocket of pain behind my skull.

“Did you take the pain reliever I left for you? The tea is Earl Grey.” He studies me. “I didn’t know if it was still your favorite?”

He still remembers that?

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