Page 16 of No Reservations

The hand holding the washcloth dropped to his side, and his smile returned. “You’re welcome. I thought it might help you feel better. Relax for a moment at least.”

I bit back a flippant comment about working massage services into our contract. The last thing I wanted to do was to remind him it was all fake. It didn’t feel fake, and I didn’t wantto ruin the warm sensation running through me. I wanted more of him and more of his touch. Not necessarily sex, although I wouldn’t say no if he offered, but just the closeness of another person.

My gaze strayed to the couch and back to his eyes. I fought to keep my voice casual and calm when I pulled back the edge of the blanket on the bed and tipped my head in invitation. “The couch is so small. The bed is big enough to share. Why don’t we get some sleep?”

Matthew stared at me for a long moment, throat bobbing as he swallowed and a deep breath filling his impressive chest. Finally, he nodded and eased down into the sheets. Flat on his back, he curled his fingers over the edge of the blanket. “Goodnight, Cole.”

I lay down on my side of the bed, a reasonable no-mans-land of space between us and released a deep breath. My muscles still thrummed from the relaxing massage, and my mind quieted in ways I hadn’t experienced in far too long. Before drifting off to sleep at last, somehow our hands wandered across several inches of smooth cotton. His fingers brushed against mine and curled gently around them.

Chapter 9

Matthew

The first thing I noticed was the hot press of a hard body against my chest and how well my morning wood felt nestled against firm cheeks covered in thin knit. My hips rolled lazily, and my arms wrapped more tightly around my bed partner. He smelled like vetiver and lemon, my favorite lotion scent, and I tucked my nose against his shoulder and inhaled. Delicious with an undercurrent of pure man. I thrust forward again and eased my leg between his thighs. My toes brushed against the wiry hair on his shin.

On the far side of the cabin, from the table near the couch where I usually slept, my phone dinged with an incoming message. My eyes flew open, and I recoiled from Cole’s stillform. Sweet memories of falling asleep together, our fingertips touching, turned to fear when I realized I had octopus wrapped around him in my sleep.

Hoping he’d stay unconscious and ignorant of me humping him like a horny dog, I slipped out of bed and hurried to my phone just as it dinged again.

WildTrekX:Need answer about Vermont by 3PM. Status of PX58a manual?

WildTrekX:Order moved up two weeks. ASAP

Nothing could kill a boner faster than your employer forcing you back into work mode before vacation ended. I adjusted myself before flopping down on the couch to answer the text. I still didn’t know about Vermont. I hadn’t been too eager to head to the Wilderness Con before I started this whole thing with Cole. It would push me back into model mode with a hefty side of networking. Now that I was Cole’s fake boyfriend, I wasn’t sure the schedule would even work.

The blanket pooled around his hips, and he had one arm thrown over his eyes. The smooth planes of his chest and abs showed off the obvious gym work. He looked peaceful for once, and I could only hope that my massage last night had something to do with it. I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on him again. To help him relax, of course.

I growled and tried to ignore the renewed throbbing in my dick. I guess work thoughts weren’t enough to force Cole entirely from my mind.

MWest:Got it. Manual on schedule. I’ll get back to you about Vermont.

I knew I shouldn’t have put them off for so long. The Vermont trip was in the beginning of October, and it didn’t conflict with the fake relationship conflict at all. I couldn’t use that as an excuse to get out of it. The company wanted to send their best, which they somehow believed meant me. I wasn’t going to argue with them. It would be stupid to turn down the opportunity.

The money from the contract wouldn’t make up for passing up chances for a raise or bonus at work. The thought of the contract terms ruined some of the lingering good feeling from waking up wrapped around Cole. It was a reminder that this was all fake. Or… supposed to be fake. I shook my head to try to knock the thought loose. There was no way I could fall for him.

Cole turned over in bed, his head tilted away, and I got caught up in the sight of his strong back and arm muscles hugging the pillow. I wished they hugged me instead. At least he didn’t notice me humping him earlier.

A verification of receipt of my message came through, so I set the phone back down and headed for the bathroom. If I hadn’t met Cole, I’d be heading home with Dee and Wes that morning. As it stood, I had almost two more weeks at the inn. I couldn’t let Cole down, but I would have to get work done on that family tent manual and safety sheet, too.

By the time I got out of the shower, dried off, and dressed, Cole was sitting on the edge of the bed staring at his phone. He tapped, scrolled, texted, and scrolled some more as the line between his brows deepened and his shoulders returned to their pre-massage position.

Without a second thought, I climbed on the bed behind him and wrapped my hands over his shoulders. My thumbs dug into the tense muscles as I tried to work the strain out him again.

He tore his gaze from the phone to look over his shoulder at me. “Matthew, what are you doing?” Despite the terse question, he didn’t sound like he wanted me to stop.

“I’m going to keep massaging you until the relaxation is permanent.”

His next breath shuddered from his lips as he tilted his head forward as I stroked up his spine. “You’ll be back there for a long time.”

The idea sent a surge of want through me. Jerking off in the shower was supposed to deal with the issue, but I guessed I had a better refractory period than I thought. I leaned closer and murmured in his ear. “That doesn’t sound like such a bad thing.” His gasp told me that maybe I’d gone a step too far. With one last squeeze over his shoulders, I shifted to sit next to him at the edge of the bed. “What’s going on anyway?” I tipped my chin toward his phone.

“One of the boys made the news by falling in a fountain.” He tilted the screen so I could see the photo of a sopping wet blond with his head thrown back and laughing. “The New York Beats Expo trip is all set. We have tickets, flight plan, and hotel suite.” He tapped a few more times before turning his phone off and setting it back on the nightstand. “Thad posted about us showing up at the charity gala.”

I bumped his arm and shot him a grin. “I bet he said I’m an alien body double designed to exude gayness to stop rumors that get in the way of my overlord’s secret world takeover plans.”

Cole’s eyes widened as I spoke, but by the time I finished my wild guess, his face lit up with an open, natural smile. It wasn’t something I’d seen too often on his face, and it was beautiful. “Close,” he said with a chuckle. “He asked a lot of pointedquestions about why the world hadn’t seen my boyfriend before then. Someone posted the image with us at the ice cream shop in the comments as proof we’re really together.”

The urge to wrap my arms around him was huge. “Well, then my plan of fun dates is working as intended.” We sat there smiling at each other for a long moment. “We should kiss.”

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