Page 54 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
“I know.”
“Can you go for another round?”
I laugh. He’s read my thoughts. “Give me a minute to recover and I’ll be ready—” My words are interrupted by a knock on the front door.
Adrian looks up at the sound. “Who’s that?”
“No idea. Ignore them.”
The knocking turns into banging. “Verena,” a man calls through the door. I recognize his voice immediately. “It’s me, Darius.”
ChapterNineteen
I roll out from beneath Adrian’s body, muttering a curse. Could Darius have picked a worse time to show up? To be honest, I forgot all about inviting him to Australia. How is he even here? I thought there was a blizzard grounding all flights. Are Zac and Penny with him too? Please, no.
“Darius is here?” Adrian asks with a tone of suspicion in his voice. “As in, that guy from your show?”
“Um… yeah. I didn’t realize he was arriving tonight. Let me get rid of him.” Only now that I go to get dressed do I remember Adrian ripped my outfit and I can’t greet Darius wearing it. I race to the closet and pull on the first thing I find, being my workout wear from yesterday’s yoga class. When I return to the living room, Adrian is fully clothed. Dammit. I was hoping he would remain naked so we can pick things up right where we left them as soon as Darius is gone.
I peek around the front door, half opening it to give Adrian privacy. In the tropical backdrop of the resort, it’s a strange sight to see Darius in a three-piece fitted suit and his dark hair gelled back without a strand out of place. But then again, thisisDarius, and I should never expect less from him. He looks like a Hugo Boss model wherever he goes. Sleek and handsome.
“Oh, good.” He folds his arms, the suit hugging the contours of his broad shoulders and muscular arms. “Reception told me this is your bungalow.”
“Ah, you haven’t caught me at a good time.”
“Ha ha, very funny. Look, there was some mix up and reception only have one room ready, which I told Zac and Penny to take since they’re all marriage-in-crisis. It won’t be until midday that another room is set up for me. I need to crash here for the night.”
“Oh, uh, I only mentioned one room to reception.” I take caution to whisper this next part, making sure Adrian can’t overhear. “I kind of assumed you’d stay with me.”Until I forgot all about your arrival because I’ve been too preoccupied with my fake boyfriend.
“What happened to the blizzard?” I ask.
“The weather cleared up. Thought we’d surprise you with our arrival. So, I’m staying with you? That’s fine with me, beautiful.” Darius answers in a deep voice at full volume as he invites himself through the front door. I wince at the way he calls mebeautifuland what this must sound like to Adrian.
“Darius, wait.” I catch his wrist. “I’m being serious. This isn’t a good time. Can you give me a minute to sort things out?”
His eyebrows rise with disbelief. “You’re serious? I fly halfway around the world because you so desperately need me to be with you, and now you’re telling me this isn’t a good time?”
Shut up, Darius!
“It’s okay, he can come in,” Adrian says, leaning against the table we just had sex on. He’s smoothed out his hair and unwrinkled his clothes, giving off no trace that we slept together. “Hi, I’m Adrian.” He extends a hand for Darius to shake.
Darius takes one look at him and eyes me like I need to explain everything right this second. But I can’t, not in front of Adrian. After a long pause of what can only be perceived as rudeness from Darius, he shakes Adrian’s hand all while dropping his voice to a territorial tone. “Do you mind if I have a moment alone with my girl? It’s been a long flight. I’m tired and achy and could do with some private Verena time.”
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
This can’t be happening. What is Darius doing?
“Ah…” Adrian looks back and forth between me and Darius, confused. “Verena… You two are… together?”
“No,” I say at the same time as Darius says, “Yes.”
Adrian rubs a hand over his jaw. I can’t read anything behind his brown eyes. He’s a blank canvas. There’s no sign of hurt that we just slept together and now another guy is telling him we’re a couple. Oh shit, does he think I cheated on Darius with him? Or that I sleep with lots of people and have meaningless sex? What if he’s not angry with me because the sex we just had was a friends with benefits thing for him and I’m the only one who thought it meant more?
“I’ll… go catch up with the men for a bit,” Adrian says.
“You don’t have to. I don’t want you to,” I tell him, hoping he can see in my eyes how desperate I am for him to stay. “This isn’t what it looks like. Darius and I are not together. He can sleep in my parents’ bungalow tonight.”
Darius scoffs a laugh. “Not happening, baby.” He plants a kiss on my cheek and lowers a hand to my ass, then sends a wink to Adrian. “We’re not together in the public eye. But behind closed doors, we’re hot n’ heavy, if you know what I mean.”
