You've Got Fail(46)

“Use your people-reading magic for good instead of evil.” Willis kept his eyes forward, though there was no way to miss the threesome ratcheting up on Jason’s couch.

I sat up. “I should go.”

Jason came up for air. “The movie’s not over yet.”

“That’s okay. I already figured it out.”

“No, stay.” Jason rose and pulled the girls up with him. “We’re going to my room. You two stay as long as you want. Snacks and drinks are in the kitchen. There’s spare bedrooms down that hall.” He pointed. “My room’s right over here if you need anything.”

“Thanks.” Willis coughed into his fist as Sienna and Jessica started making out.

“Save it for me, ladies.” Jason took their hands and pulled them across the wide penthouse, the sparkling lights of New York serving as the backdrop for their illicit romp.

His bedroom door closed, and some music started pumping lightly as the movie continued to play.

“That was, um”—Willis drummed his fingers on the arm of the black leather sofa—“not something you see every day.”

“I’m going to grab a water and get going.” I rose and strode to the kitchen. One side of Jason’s fridge was bigger than my fridge/freezer combo at my place. I pulled it open and grabbed a bottle of water.

More gunshots rang out from the TV along with screeching tires.

“You could stay a little longer.” Willis leaned against the dark marble kitchen island. “When else are we going to get a chance to hang out in a penthouse next to Central Park?”

I took a drink of the water, supposedly straight from Fiji, and walked over to the wide windows looking out onto the trees. “This is definitely some view.”

Willis followed and stood behind me, his hands resting on my hips. “It sure is.”

I knew what he meant, but I wasn’t going to go down that road. “That was cheesy.”

“Since when is complimenting you cheesy?”

The never-ending traffic flickered on the streets far below. The park still bustled with life even at night. But my home lay across the river, and a wolf was at my door.

“Look, Sparky, we can’t keep doing this.”

“Doing what?” He moved closer, his chest brushing my back, and his heat warming away the chill of worry.

“Pretending we’re in a sitcom where you and I could be something more.”

“You’re doing it again.” He nuzzled into my hair.

“What?”

“Hiding from your feelings and from me.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.” He wrapped his arms around my waist, a hint of his cologne tickling my nose. “It’s okay to be scared.”

“Scared of you?”

“Of us.”

“You don’t understand.” I sighed. “We aren’t the same.”

“That would be weird. Imagine the sex. I’d always want to top, but then if you were me, you’d complain about having to bottom, because you’d want to top, and then—”

I snorted. “You are ridiculous.”

He squeezed gently. “Stop running from me.”

“You don’t know me.”

“I want to. Doesn’t that mean something to you?”

“You don’t understand what you’re asking.” I imagined the lies on top of lies I’d told over the last year, the stealing, the cons—all so I could erase Hannah’s debt. He wouldn’t understand. And he couldn’t help, not in the way he wanted. If I couldn’t scrape up enough money to completely pay Pauly, I’d have to finish my con on Willis. It wouldn’t end well.

“Give me a chance.” He turned me around so I faced him, the city lights reflecting in the deep pools of his eyes.

The feels, in all their sticky glory, bubbled inside me. He was so earnest, his heart open in a way I’d never seen before.

He pressed his palm to my face and rubbed his thumb across my cheek. “Don’t be scared.” His mouth met mine, tasting me with a softness that seduced all my rough edges. More naked in that moment than I had been in my entire life, I fell into the safety of his arms.

Scooping me up, he carried me through the luxe dining room and into a hallway with several doors. The first was open, and a wide bed with a black duvet beckoned. Walking inside, he kicked the door closed behind us and laid me on the bed.

My hands shook as they roved his shoulders. He kissed me again, sweetly, reverently. I relaxed into the soft comforter, letting myself go. Our mouths tasted and teased for endless moments, every sweep of his tongue stoking the fire that burned inside me until I was scissoring my legs to quell the buzz.

He rose and unbuttoned his shirt. Sliding it from his smooth skin, he tossed the fabric to the floor. I reached for the hem of my dress.

“Slowly.” The deep rumble of his voice promised all sorts of pleasure.

I sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed so I was sitting in front of him. He unbuckled his belt, but his eyes stayed on me as I eased my dress up and over my head. My breasts felt heavy and tingly as the cool air brushed over them.

His breath hitched, and he knelt between my thighs. “Pretty.” He kissed my right nipple. “Exquisite.” He kissed my left, then looked lower. “Unforgettable.”