Page 106 of No Rings Attached
“Nah, he would rather read or study up on the latest scientific discoveries. Besides, he peoples out faster than the rest of us. And prefers animals to humans most of the time.”
I reluctantly pulled back and leaned into his arms. “Okay, you passed that test, but what if I told you I was behind on my true crime show and having that in the background is weirdly soothing and helps me write?”
“Then I’d say I’ll watch it with you.”
I smiled, bouncing on the tips of my toes in excitement. Hegotme. “I’ll go upstairs and get changed then.”
He squeezed my hips before letting go. “And I’ll pull together snacks and drinks for when we want them.”
Drew opened a cabinet and selected two travel mugs and two glasses. My mouth watered at his sexy forearms with his sleeves rolled up, the way his button-down shirt stretched across his back, and the way his slacks emphasized the tight, roundness of his backside.
His knowing wink sent heat up my neck through my chest. “You’re not going to change?”
Busted. “Haha.” Not that I minded staring at him like this all night long, but lounging on the couch demanded loungewear.
He grinned. “I’ll change when you come back down.”
I propped my hip against the island and crossed my arms. “Why wait?”
Drew dropped the grin as his jaw clenched. “Because if I go up with you and see even a sliver of your skin, neither of us are going to get any work done tonight.”
“Oh.” I wasn’t sure what to say to that. I’d never had a man blatantly want me like this.
“Now hurry up before I change my mind.” His eyes gleamed wickedly. I giggled and turned to half-run/walk up the stairs.
I changed into my soft sweatshirt and sweatpants, stuffed my laptop and papers into a bag, and returned to find Drew stocking the coffee table like a man preparing for a hurricane: mugs, water, a lazy Susan of salty-sweet snacks, pillows, blankets, and a lap desk. He’d even queued my favorite true-crime show. How did he know it was my favorite? Or did he just guess based on our past conversations?
He looked up as I padded into the room. His eyes flared at my bare stomach where my sweatshirt cropped short. His hand skimmed my hip and lingered. “Intentional torture?”
“Torture?” I looked down at myself, confused. My hair was in a messy bun. My makeup was long gone. I was just me.
His palm warmed my skin. “If you keep this up, I’m going to have to come back downstairs in gray sweats and nothing else.”
My breath stuttered. My body reacted instantly, wanting him in that exact outfit—or lack of it. “Don’t tempt me.” My pussy was practically high-fiving my clit, and both were pushing to drive my response. “God, I want to say yes, but I’m afraid I won’t get any writing done.”
He backed out of the room. “Don’t tempt me, then.” His grin was wicked as he disappeared to change.
The second he was gone I dropped my bag onto the couch and chugged the glass of water closest to me. Once my heated skin marginally cooled down and the lower half of my body quietly sulked itself into partial submission, I sat down to appreciate the spread Drew had laid out.
He’d win the title of perfect boyfriend for sure. Well, perfectfakeboyfriend.
Not so fake when you have feelings. Bad Eleanor chose this moment to taunt me.
To which I steadfastly ignored her.
I burrowed into the spot at the end of the couch with the cozy blanket. By the time Drew returned, I’d set up my laptop and was ready to start.
As he strolled in, my jaw dropped. Gray sweatpants hung low on his hips, clinging in all the right places as he pulled a worn t-shirt over his head. The fabric dropped slowly, teasing a final glimpse of bare skin before settling into place.
He knew full well what message he was sending.
“You fight dirty,” I muttered, heat edging up my chest.
“Payback,” he said easily, sitting at the far end of the couch. His thigh brushed my foot, and I curled my toes as sparks shot through me.
“It’s just a sweatshirt,” I protested weakly, knowing full well that I picked it because it showed off part of my stomach. A year ago, I’d stopped hiding behind long, baggy shirts and outfits, declaring that if I loved my body, I shouldn’t be ashamed to show it off.
He raised a perfect eyebrow and lifted the hem of his shirt slightly in a partial strip tease.
