Faking with Benefits : A Friends to Lovers Romance(91)

“Hm?”

“Weddings. Love. Family.”

He shrugs. “It’s nice to see everyone so happy.”

“You’re so cute,” I whisper, and his smile widens. He dips his face down to kiss me, but I pull back before our lips touch. “Uh uh. I’m here as Luke’s date, remember?” I’ve already shown him up by kissing Zack. I’m just hoping nobody saw.

“So? You’re dating all three of us, right?” He kisses the side of my cheek instead, and heat rushes through me.

“Yeah,” I say slowly, my heart hammering. “But if people see us together, they’ll assume it’s some big drama. The wife’s ex brought a date, and she was caught cheating on him with the best man. Shock. Horror. Scandal.”

He presses his lips under my jaw. “You’re not cheating,” he murmurs, his low voice rumbling through me. “No scandal.”

I close my eyes. “No, but no one else knows that. And I don’t want to make Luke look bad, or ruin your brother’s wedding. Today is his day.”

He sighs. “You’re right,” he says, not moving.

“... that means you can let go of me,” I prompt.

“I’m trying,” he says, holding me tighter.

I laugh. “Jesus, is this what lies under your rock-hard shell? A great big pile of mush? Pull yourself together, this is just embarrassing.”

He suddenly spins me in time to the music, pulling us both behind a huge flower arrangement bursting with white silk roses. “My brother’s here, dancing with the woman he loves. I just want a second with the woman—” He pauses, like he’s catching himself. “The woman I care about.”

My stomach lurches. I look up at him. He won’t meet my eye, but I can feel his body tensing under my hands. Like he’s bracing himself for the rejection.

I tug at his collar. “Aw,” I tease. “You care about me?”

He frowns. “Sorry. I meant to say despised. I get those words mixed up.”

“Uh huh.” I slide my hands down the hard planes of his chest. “And how long have you despised me?”

His eyes are swallowing me whole. “From the moment I met you.”

I can’t breathe. It feels like a cloud of butterflies is taking flight in my chest. “Loser,” I whisper.

He smiles then, so bright and sudden it almost hurts my eyes. “Layla,” he murmurs, his big hands cupping my cheeks.

“Josh!” I glance around us. “People could see—”

“Don’t care,” he murmurs, bending down and tugging my mouth to his.





FIFTY-EIGHT





JOSH





I’m almost dizzy with happiness as I kiss Layla slowly, holding her close.

I’m having the best damn day.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m tired as Hell. Since five this morning, I’ve been ironing ties, picking up clothes from the dry cleaners, and bringing people coffee. While she was getting ready, Amy kept writing soppy little romantic notes to my brother and demanding I pass them on to him. I probably would’ve refused, if he wasn’t so goddamn happy every time I came in with another one.

Pulling back from Layla for a second, I glance back at the dance floor. Rob is out there with Amy, twirling her under his arm to the band music. Warmth glows in my chest. He looks like he’s walking on air.

God, I love weddings.

Layla sighs, leaning against my chest, and I look back down at her. As if this day could get any better, now I have the most gorgeous woman in the room in my arms. I nuzzle into her temple, kissing down her hairline and across her ear. “This dress is incredible,” I murmur, smoothing the mint silk over her skin.

She doesn’t answer, yanking my mouth back down to hers. I tug her bottom lip slowly between my teeth, sucking on the soft flesh, and she makes a low choking sound, a shudder wracking through her.

I pause. Layla’s never usually this receptive. I suddenly realise that she’s sweating, trembling slightly against me. Her breath is coming in small, sharp pants.

“Hey.” I pull away. “Layla.”

She turns her face away, burying it in the front of my shirt. I run a hand down her back, left bare in her dress, and another shiver runs through her, more violent than the first.

This isn’t right. I carefully peel her away from me.

“Sweetheart?” I stroke her hair back from her eyes. Her face is bright red, and her chest is heaving. I frown, cupping her cheek. “Hey. What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she mutters, leaning against me like she doesn’t trust herself to stand upright.

I’m getting increasingly alarmed now. I slide my hands down to her waist, holding her up. “Yes?”

She huffs. “Zack and Luke…” she bites her lip.

“Hm?”

“They…” she shudders against me as I stroke her back. “Ugh. You remember those balls that Zack gave me? From Sinsters?”

I blink at the change of subject. “I… yes?”

She gives a little shrug, shifting her weight slightly. “They put them inside me.”

I stare at her as all of the blood rushes out of my head. It takes a moment for her words to sink in. Then I swear.