Page 85 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
“Yeah, but you’re better in real life.Somuch better.”
He leans forward, lowering my back to the paddle board, the two of us rocking in the water as he kisses me deeply. “I wish I could have you right now.”
Something loud cracks in the distance, followed by an explosion of red lights. We both gaze back to the shore, watching as fireworks shimmer through the dark sky. The display continues for a good ten minutes, but we don’t see any more fireworks, too consumed with each other’s lips.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Midnight has well and truly passed us when we return the hired paddle board. The fireworks have died down, but the festival is as lively as ever.
“You ready to head back to the resort?” Adrian asks me.
I answer with a nod, but it’s a total lie. I’m not ready to end this night. My gaze keeps redirecting itself to the dancers on the beach and all I can think about is how much fun I’d have being one of them. That, plus I haven’t said half the things I want to say to Adrian. I still need to find the right moment to tell him I love him, even though Tory would say any moment is the right moment. But I want it to be special, and I want to be one hundred percent sure Adrian will say it in return.
We’re halfway back to the speedboat when I come to a firm stop. Adrian’s words from earlier at the resort are painfully settling in, that tonight is the last chance we have together. The wedding will be hectic tomorrow, then we’re both returning to different countries the following day. I’m not done having fun with him, and I’m not stepping a foot inside the resort until I tell Adrian what he means to me.
Part of the reason I agreed to attend this festival was because of Adrian’s promise that we’d be on the water the whole time,awayfrom people. It may be the most reckless decision, considering I’m meant to be keeping a low profile, but an impulse rushes over me. My hand slips into Adrian’s and I act quickly, tugging him back toward the festival and losing the bodyguards as we’re swallowed by the crowd.
“What are you doing?”
“Having fun. Letting loose,” I tell him, and he smiles in return.
Adrian follows me through the tight crowd, our shoulders brushing by dancers, the smell of alcohol in the air. To my relief, he was right about no one recognizing me. There are so many people that we blend in seamlessly.
Once we’ve reached the center of the dance floor, I twirl to face Adrian, swaying with the music and holding his hands. “Dance with me.”
For the first time all week, a flicker of self-consciousness tightens his features. “I don’t know how to dance.”
“There’s nothing to learn. Feel the music in your body. Sway to the beat.” I step closer and whisper in his ear, “A couple’s dance is about sex. It’s instinctual. Imagine thatwe’rehaving sex.”
A deep, gravely sound escapes Adrian’s throat and his eyes turn dark upon me, exactly the way I want them to. He spins me around, his strong arms pressing my back flush to his chest. Adrian’s hands explore the curves of my body, his hands trailing to my hips.
“Your mouth says the dirtiest things and I love it.” His voice rasps against my ear, sending pulses of heat to my breasts and farther down.
Adrian’s body fits to mine as I roll my hips in time with the music, the two of us in sync and grinding up against each other. He spins me out wide, then draws me in close so we’re facing each other this time. The heat in his eyes is molten. I can’t bring myself to look away. I never want Adrian to stop looking at me like this, like he wants to devour me and take me back to his bed and spend the night doing unspeakable things to my body. Up this close, his breath is hot on my cheeks. His scent is so intoxicating I swear I’m drunk again. His hands slink down my waist, lower, lower, until they curve over my ass. He purrs at the contact, and I lick my lips when feeling how hard he is.
Nothing draws us apart for the rest of the song. No twirling. No solo dancing. We remain locked in place, tangled with each other. His forehead rests on mine and we share breath, gazing into each other’s eyes as we sway to the music. When the song comes to an end, there’s a moment where we remain in each other’s arms before I loosen my grip, only motivated by the thought of returning to the privacy of our bungalow.
“We should go back to the resort,” I say, taking Adrian’s hand and turning to leave.
I take a step at most before Adrian pulls me back to him, holding my head between his two hands. He searches my eyes, seeming lost for words, then blurts out, “I love you. I’m so crazy about you, Verena. I wanted to tell you earlier—”
My lips are on his before he has a chance to say another word. I keep believing that each new moment with Adrian is the best moment of my life, but this one overrides all others by miles.
Adrian Hunter loves me.
Helovesme.
Am I living in an alternate reality? Those three words are all I’ve ever wanted to hear from him.
He kisses me back, just as urgent and unapologetic as I am, holding me like there’s no tomorrow and he can’t get me close enough. My body melts into him, my fingers knotting through his dark hair and holding him tight. I could kiss this man forever.
The next song ends, and the next song after that. Our kisses don’t slow down. The only time our lips break apart is to take a breath. It only dawns on me now, when the next song begins, that I haven’t saidI love youin return.
“Adrian, I love—”
A flash goes off. I ignore it, the habit ingrained in my behavior. But three more flashes light up our surroundings, followed by people calling my name. Adrian and I step back from each other the moment we hear a distinct, “It’s Verena Valentine!”
All around us the dancers have stopped and are holding up their phones, taking photos. Adrian pushes me behind him, shielding my body with his. But it’s no use. Fans have formed a circle around us. My typical response to large groups of fans is tosmile and wave, boys—like the penguins fromMadagascar—sometimes talk to them, but right now, all that registers is how much attention I’ll draw to my sister’s inconspicuous wedding when the media discovers I’m in Australia. I’ve fucked up big.
