Page 53 of A Follow-Through in Faking
Cata’s breath hitches as I lean forward, lifting my index finger to wrap around the chain of her necklace. I don’t tug on it because I know how valuable it is to her, but the mere proximity of my finger to her skin is enough to make goosebumps spread over her arms.
“Aren’t you curious,cariño? Don’t you want to know what it would feel like to have me on my knees for you, doing everything you demand of me?” She shivers, and I let my gaze drop to her mouth as she pulls half her bottom lip between her teeth.
I want to bite her lip.
I want her to bite mine.
“Santi, if we cross that line, there will be no going back. We have months of faking left ahead of us. Adding sex to the mix will make things incredibly messy,” she says, but the distance between us is still closing, andIhaven’t moved a centimeter.
“But what if we start and never want to stop? We could just keep going until—” I cut off, not entirely certain where the fuck I’m going with this.
Cata leans back, breaking the contact between us as she lets out a dry laugh.
“Until what, Santiago? Until we get married, have babies, grow old together? Don’t be absurd. You don’t do relationships, and I don’t do men who have hurt me once already. The second time would be on me for giving you another chance, and like you said, I’m too smart to make such a foolish decision.”
She stands up, grabbing her ereader and towel before staring down at me. I’m too dumbfounded, too lost in how desperately I want what she was describing, to form any words.
Panic slips back around my throat, squeezing and further preventing me from speaking.
I don’t understand why all of a sudden I want a relationship. No, I don’t wantarelationship. I want a relationship with Catalina.
Maybe it’s because I had never taken anyone on a date, but every time I take her, it feels wholeheartedly and unquestionably right.
Maybe it’s because I don’t care if people frown at me, but I’d pay a million euros just to have Catalina smile my way.
Maybe it’s because when I spend time with her, I don’t miss the way my life used to be and instead feel at peace.
Our history sits tall between us, separating us like a valley separates mountains. It’s something I’m working on making up to her, but if I think about only meeting her later in life, I shudder. No matter what, every moment with Catalina, from the beginning to now, is important to me, and I wouldn’t give them up for anything.
“Tell me this isn’t one-sided. Tell me you feel something for me. Tell me I’m not imagining things.”
Didn’t I just promise myself not to say anything remotely like this?
But it’s a desperate attempt to get hope back into my chest.
I need to know.
“I can’t tell you that, but I can show you something I’ve never shown anyone but Charlie, Sage, and Vanessa before. A sign of the trust I’m putting in you.”
“I’ll take it. I’ll take anything you want to give me.”
Oh my God, Santiago, shut the fuck up.
Catalina gives me an unsure look before putting everything down again. I stand up to be in front of her, and she lets out a nervous breath before lifting her shirt over her head. My whole body goes stiff at the sight of her breasts only covered by her small bikini top. Her nipples are pebbled and press against the fabric, showing the outlines of her piercings.
Fuck.
Me.
“I know you love my tits, Santi, but I wanted to show you the tattoo.” I lick my lips as a bright smile covers my face.
“Do I get to see the piercings after?” I ask, meeting her gaze with a smug look. She smacks my arm playfully, but I chuckle when I notice the smirk on her face.
“Can you be serious for a second?” she asks, her expression falling a little when she presses a single finger to the tattoo on her chest. My smile disappears immediately, all of my attention shifting to the sad, nostalgic look covering her features.
This is about her mom.
I’ve known Catalina long enough to know that look by heart.
