Faking with Benefits : A Friends to Lovers Romance(25)

My stomach crunches with nerves. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and nod, tilting my mouth up to his.

While Zack’s kisses were hot and full of lips and teeth and energy, Josh’s kisses are soft and slow and drugging. His lips press against mine in deep, long, smooth strokes, draining all of the energy out of my body until my knees are weak. I feel hot and soothed and aroused all at the same time. He gives me three long, slow pecks, then just stays there for a few seconds, his lips soft and parted against mine, breathing slowly like he doesn’t want to pull away.

“Well?” I ask, breathless.

He clears his throat, finally straightening. “Well, what?”

“What would you rate me?”

He tugs at his hair. He looks like he’s trying not to smile. “You are so odd, Layla Thompson.”

“I need to put it in my spreadsheet,” I insist. “So I can see how I improve over time. Maybe I should chart a graph. It’s difficult to quantify kissing skill, but—”

He makes a low, helpless sound in his chest and kisses me again. This time, the kiss is hard and rough. He pushes me backwards, his heavy body pressing mine to the wall. Grinning, I trail my mouth down his throat, pressing a kiss to his Adam’s apple. His whole body flinches. I pause, then kiss his neck again.

He shudders in a breath. “Layla—” he groans, tensing against me. “Shit.”

A smile spreads over my face. It looks like Joshua Tran has a weak spot.

I suck his throat hard, getting the sensitive skin of his pulse between my teeth. He moans, actually moans in my ear, his mouth falling open against my cheek. “Jesus,” he mutters, his body sagging over mine. “Jesus — Christ.” He grabs my chin and forces my mouth back to his, kissing me hard.

“You have a Neck Thing,” I mumble against his lips.

“It’s one of the most common erogenous zones,” he says primly, tugging my top lip between his teeth. Heat sparks through me.

“It’s a nuclear button. I kiss it, and you explode.”

He grunts, flicking his tongue against mine. “Where’s your weak spot?”

“I don’t have one.”

He presses me even harder against the wall, which is a good thing, because I think I might collapse without the support. “Everyone has one.”

“My only weaknesses are bullets and beheadings.”

“I’ll find it,” he promises, kissing me again. I tip my head back, letting my eyes flutter closed as arousal floods through me. I’m so distracted that I don’t hear the footsteps coming down the hallway.

“Oh,” Luke says behind us.

I jump, turning to see my ex-teacher standing at the end of the corridor, his eyes wide. He glances between me and Josh. His mouth turns down in disapproval. “Sorry,” he says levelly. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

I open my mouth to say something, but no words come out. Luke settles his glasses on his nose and turns, heading back into the kitchen without further comment.

Josh presses one last open-mouthed kiss to my throat, then pulls away from me slowly. I stare up at him, my legs trembling. I want to reach after him; to twist a hand in his collar and yank him back down to me.

He’s silent for a moment. Swallows. Then, very slowly, he reaches out and runs his thumb under my bottom lip, wiping away a smudge of lipstick. My eyes fall half-closed as heat rushes to my skin.

He drops his hand and steps away. “Eh,” he says dismissively. “Six out of ten.”

My mouth falls open. He ruffles my hair and heads back down the corridor, humming under his breath.

I watch his broad back retreat, seething.

There’s no way that kiss was a six out of ten. The little weasel.





FIFTEEN





LUKE





I walk back into my bedroom and shut the door behind me, leaning my head against the wood. My heart is pounding. I can feel myself getting hard under my jeans.

Jesus.

I haven’t been this turned on in a long time. Years, probably. Behind my eyelids, the vision of Layla pressed up against the wall flickers in technicolour. I can still see her melting against Josh. Kissing him hard. Moaning as he kisses down her neck, her cleavage practically spilling out of her low neckline. My balls throb, and I run a hand over my eyes.

I need to get myself together. She’s my neighbour, for God’s sake.

My phone bleeps in my pocket. I pull it out, swallowing a groan when I see Amy’s number. I’ve been ignoring her messages for months now. Ever since I got her first wedding invite shoved into my letterbox. I didn’t know what to respond, so I’ve just been putting off answering.

AMY: The wedding is in five weeks, and you haven’t RSVP’d. I need an answer today. Are you coming, and are you bringing a plus one.

AMY: My mum is gonna think it’s some massive drama if you don’t come.





I sigh. I want to go to my ex-wife’s wedding about as much as I want to get shot in the head. But she’s right; people will only gossip more if I refuse to attend. Besides, Josh and Zack will both be going. It’ll look weird if I don’t make it.

LUKE: I’m coming. No plus one.





Then, before she can reply, I switch off my phone, closing my eyes.