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“Not in the way you think, anyway. Remember the Black Widow story I told you about when we were in San Diego?”

“Yes. But you said you hadn’t flown her in a while.”

“We haven’t, but today we flew another woman who’s been married a number of times. She’s between husbands and wanted me to stay in Florida for a couple of days. When I said no, she tried to convince me.”

“By crawling all over you and kissing you?”

“Well, yeah.” He shrugged. “Damaris, I told her I was engaged. Ask Travis if you don’t believe me.”

She didn’t doubt Travis would lie for Nate but Tobi, Travis’s wife, was Damaris’s friend and she wouldn’t. Damaris wanted to believe him. She did believe him. It had just taken her by surprise. Not to mention it would be pretty pitiful if she couldn’t even keep her fake boyfriend faithful. Even aside from that, though, she was… Well, hell. She was hurt. “Were you tempted?”

“God, no. Besides, I wouldn’t do that to you.” He waited while she thought about it. “Come here.”

She shook her head decisively. “Not until you change clothes. And shower.”

“Oh, come on. It’s not that bad.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

“Okay, okay. I’m going.” When he reached the hallway that led to his bedroom and master bath, he turned around. “Damaris? You know I wouldn’t do that to you, don’t you?”

“I hope you wouldn’t. But I don’t know the rules for a temporary, fake relationship. Or a friends-with-benefits one.”

“I don’t either, but I’m sure fooling around with other people isn’t okay. Besides, I wouldn’t hurt you like that. And finally, why in the hell would I want her when I’m with you?” He disappeared down the hallway.

Damn it, now she felt stupid. But infidelity, whether in a fake relationship or a real one, was one of her hot-button issues. One she should probably explain to Nate. Oh, not the whole, sordid story. But enough for him to know why she’d reacted so strongly. If they’d had a real relationship… But they didn’t. And more and more often she really regretted that.

Chapter Eighteen

Now that had been interesting. Nate stripped off his clothes and stepped into the shower. He didn’t think he smelled that much but if it would make Damaris happy he’d shower. Hell, he’d do whatever she wanted to make her happy.

He thought her reaction had been a bit extreme. If they’d really been together instead of pretending, then of course, it made perfect sense. Still, they were sleeping together and while they’d mentioned being exclusive, it had been barely a mention. And that had been back before they were even having sex. Still, he thought their conversation about how long each had been celibate before their first time together was a pretty damn good indication that they would be. Exclusive, that is.

Besides, she should know that regardless of gossip, he was a one-woman man while it lasted.

He thought about what he’d have done if he believed Damaris had been with another man. Killed the guy? No, but he’d sure as shit have beaten the hell out of him, or tried. He couldn’t see Damaris cheating, though. She was one of the most honest people he’d ever known. Sometimes a damn sight too honest, he thought, remembering some of the things she’d called him on.

But what if her response meant more than that? What if she really was starting to fall for him? That was always his plan, after all.

Wishful thinking, more likely.

The shower door opened and Damaris—a beautiful, naked Damaris—stepped inside. She slipped her arms around his waist and said, “I’m sorry. But I thought we were exclusive and it made me a little crazy when I thought…well, you know what I thought.”

“Let me set your mind at rest. We are definitely exclusive.” He kissed her, rubbed his lips over hers and slid his tongue inside her mouth. God, he could drown in her. Her taste, the feel of her in his arms, so soft and tempting. Soft, with steel underneath. “I—” Holy shit, he’d nearly told her he loved her. Again. “I want to talk to you about something but right now I can’t think of anything other than making love to you.”

“What a coincidence. That’s what I was thinking about too.”

They kissed again. He was hard, had been hard since she stepped inside the shower naked. This time wouldn’t be slow and easy. He wanted her too much. “I’ll be right back.”

“If you’re going to get a condom, we don’t need one.”

WTH? “Why don’t we need one?”

“I went to see Tobi and she put in an IUD for me.”

Tobi Sullivan was a doctor at the urgent care clinic in town. He hadn’t realized she did that sort of thing, but then, why would he? “I’ve never had sex without a condom.”

“Good. I haven’t either. Make love to me, Nate.”