Page 78 of False Play
More than anything, I knew this was what Henry needed.
No one deserved to be alone with their thoughts, especially when they were the wrong ones. While I thought it was good he was taking responsibility and finally realizing he had fucked up, it didn’t sit right with me that he was beating himself up about it.
So…throwing a last-minute dinner party together for my fake boyfriend, who I was beginning to like more than I cared to admit, was exactly what I did.
“I’m gonna call it a night,”Henry said quietly as soon as we entered the apartment.
I gripped his arm to stop him from going into his room. “No. We’re not doing this. Throw on some casual clothes and we’ll order food or something and watch a movie.”
“Kenn—”
“If you accept, I promise we’ll go on a fake date when you come back from your away games this week.” I raised aneyebrow at him with a cheeky smile. I knew damn well I had him just where I wanted him.
“Wow, so we’refinallygoing out?” He crossed his arms with a smirk.
“If you’re a good boy and listen, then yes,” I replied matter-of-factly.
I did my best to hold back the laughter that wanted to escape me at Henry’s flustered face. Was it silly to say he looked so stupidly handsome when he blushed? His cheeks took on this vivid ruby-red color, making his freckles pop. He looked ridiculously sweet.
“Deal.”
I snorted a laugh. “I don’t understand why you insist on these fake dates so much.”
He shrugged. “It’s all about the exposure. It’ll be good for the media.”
“Go change,” I said as I strode into the kitchen to start making Sush’s dinner—in case you were wondering, I’d given up on his full name. It was a mouthful. Also, this one kind of suited him.
Henry took a few steps closer to me and reached for my arm, gripping it softly. “Oh, and Kennedy?” His voice dropped to a husky whisper. The sound of my name rolling off his lips made my body unexpectedly hot. “Be careful about what you call me next time.”
My heart practically skipped at his comment.Oh, God.It was just a joke. I hadn’t thought about it. And he…heblushed. Was he mad?Oh, this was so awkward.
“I’m sorry.” I stared at him, dumbfounded. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” I said as I tried to mask my embarrassment.
“Oh, don’t get it twisted, Kenny baby.” His other handfound my face, and he pressed my chin between his thumb and index finger, tilting my head and forcing me to look at him. The corner of his mouth lifted into a playful smirk. “On the contrary. I liked it a little too much.” His dilated pupils dropped to my lips as he licked his own. My eyes shamelessly followed the movement, and my lips started to tingle with the need to close the small gap between us. “If you do it again, I don’t know what I’ll be capable of. And I don’t think you’re ready to find out, either.” With that, he let go of me and retreated to his bedroom.
I was at a loss for words. My chest heaved and my core tightened almost painfully as his words kept playing in an endless loop. To be completely honest, I enjoyed his confession. I basked in it and let the words glide over me as if they were true.
Because there was no way a man like Henry Anderson was admitting he wanted a stubborn, cold woman with a strong personality like me.
I shook my head and murmured to myself, “Get a hold of yourself, Kennedy.” He technically broke the no-flirting rule because that was the type of man he was. Always toeing the line. But I must have had a fever, because I so wished he’d do it again.
I swore my feet felt like they were walking on a cloud, and I didn’t know how I managed to get to my room and change. My mind was foggy with the need to be touched or kissed—anything, really—as long as it came from him.
It had been so long since I had been with someone. I wasn’t sure if I missed the act itself or the idea of it. I was ashamed to admit this—I faked my fair number of orgasms throughout my relationship with Joe. I know what you’re probably thinking—I ignorantly added to society’s problem by letting yet another man believe they had an inkling of knowledge about a woman’sbody. Believe me when I say, I won’t be making the same mistake again.
And while I didn’t think I was ready to be intimate with someone, the need was still there. Dangling in the front of my mind.
But I had no time to dwell on it, because everyone would be arriving at any moment. I knew, however, that I was going to have to rely on my trusty old vibrator friend while thinking of my hot fake boyfriend, because it was the only thing that easily got me off these days. It was becoming a problem.
As I was finished changing, my phone pinged with a text.
Hayes
Kennyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
Hayes
We’re in front of your door. I buzzed Val and Owens up so the front office wouldn’t call Henry.
