Faking with Benefits : A Friends to Lovers Romance(36)

I gasp. “No! You want to sleep with me, a woman wearing a push-up? How could it be?!”

He grins, eyes twinkling. “Just thought we should get it out of the way. Don’t want you feelin’ like I tricked you for my own wicked gains.”

“Believe it or not, Zack, I figured.” I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry, then glance across at Josh, who’s sitting ramrod straight, watching us silently. “I think you’re hot, too. Both of you.”

“Aight.” Apparently satisfied, Zack slumps back against the sofa cushions and pulls me into his side, patting my hip. “Josh, turn on the telly.”

“The telly?” I’m confused.

The boys share a knowing look over my head. Setting aside the bowls of melted ice cream, Josh takes the TV remote off the guys’ coffee table, switching on the set and flicking through channels before settling on some regency movie I’ve never seen before.

“Sweet,” Zack snuggles down next to me. “Love Colin Firth.”

“He has a really good interpretation of this role,” Josh agrees on my other side. They both focus on the screen.

I look between them. “Um. Isn’t there usually more touching involved?” I prompt. “And less… Jane Austen?”

Zack scoffs. “Are you questioning my methods?”

“What, are you telepathic, or something? Are you going to make me come with just the power of your mind?”

“Bet I could,” he says with a grin. “Nah, relax, pet. Just watch the telly.” He gives my hip a squeeze.

Now I’m getting confused. “What? Why?”

He yawns, stretching. “I wanna watch something. Why, do you wanna pick?”

“No,” I say slowly. “I want to shag.”

“Tssk. Women only ever want me for one thing. It’s hard being this hot, you know.”

I frown. “Do you… not want to do this? You can just say.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Haven’t decided yet.” He drops his hand to my thigh. Heat flares through me, and I instinctively cross my legs. His lips tip up. “Ask me again in like, half an hour, yeah?”

“Okay…?”

I’m not really sure what’s happening. This is a pretty impressive 180. Has he changed his mind? Is he trying to let me down gently? “You really can just say no—”

He puts his finger on my lips. “Shh,” he says.

I’m so weirded out that I shut up, focussing on the TV. Men and women in elaborate, glittering ballgowns dance on screen, flirting as they spin around a lush dance hall to a string quartet.

I try to relax, but I can’t. All I can focus on is the feeling of the two men sandwiched on either side of me. They’re both so warm and muscled and so much bigger than me. I feel their chests rising and falling as they breathe.

I was never really a fan of big men. I don’t like the idea that they could overpower me if they really wanted to.

But right now, I’m finding a new appreciation for giants.

On my left, Josh leans a little closer. His arm presses against mine, hard and hot, and I breathe in the sweet, minty scent of him. Anticipation curls in my stomach.

I tug on his sleeve, and he turns to look at me, his face politely blank. “Kiss me,” I order.

His mouth tips up slightly. He runs his eyes over my face, then leans forward and nuzzles my cheek. My heart thuds in my chest. I push forward, pressing my lips to his…





TWENTY-TWO





LAYLA





He pulls away again, turning back to the screen.

My mouth opens and closes like a fish’s. “Josh!”

“Hm?” He doesn’t look away from the TV. “Can I help you?”

“Kiss me properly!”

“No,” he says flatly. “Watch the movie.”

I gape at him, then turn to Zack, who’s started twirling a strand of my hair between his fingers. “Kiss me,” I order.

He rolls his eyes. “For God’s sake, lass. Relax, already. You’re so wound up all the time.” He scoops me further into his side. “Cuddle with your boyfriends, lollipop.” I pinch him in the ribs so hard he hisses. “What was that for?!”

“Teasing me. Either shag me or don’t, but don’t drag it out like this.”

He gives me a fond look. “Why? Want to get it over with?”

“Well, no, but—”

“Sex isn’t an item you can check off on a to-do list,” he reminds me. “Look at you. You’re all clenched up. There’s no point trying to get you off when you’re like this.” He squeezes my thigh.

I wriggle in his grasp. “But—”

“Who is the teacher here?” He interrupts. “And who is the hapless student who can’t come when she’s getting railed?”

I shut my mouth.

“That’s what I thought.” He turns up the volume on the TV. “Watch the movie.”

I don’t have much choice, so I turn back to the screen.

Ten minutes pass, but each second feels like it lasts forever. I can’t relax. Both men press closer to me, squeezing me in on both sides. Zack drops a hand onto my thigh, and Josh drapes an arm around my shoulder. Every so often, they’ll lean over me to make some comment to each other, trapping me even more tightly in a cage of muscle. And I just sit there, silently getting hotter and hotter as I breathe in the scents of their aftershaves mixing together.