Page 24 of As They Are (Strawberry Springs #2)

Wren’s eyes narrowed, but she must have seen that I wasn’t lying because she nodded.

“All right, we can dance. But first, I have to do something.” She stepped back and moved some things around.

“Wren, what are you doing?”

“Making it look like we had a fun time in here.”

For me, this was nearly fun, but my cheeks grew hot as I thought about what she truly meant. I could see it all, me pushing her against the wall, hands all over her as I made her?—

I threw the thought out as soon as I had it. I highly doubted Wren would like that side of me.

“Is that really necessary?” I asked as she ruffled my hair.

“There’s a good chance a camera is out there waiting.” She winked at me. “Let’s give them a show.”

She finished it off by flipping her hair and messing it up, then pulled me out of the closet.

Just as she had said, a camera waited for us.

“Whoops,” she said with a giggle. “Sorry. Had to have a private moment.”

My entire body was hot as we headed toward the dance floor.

The music was still poundingly loud, but I was able to think through it as she turned to face me.

I didn’t know how to dance, but neither did anyone else in town.

Most of the people around us were either jumping or swaying to the music.

I was planning on doing the second one, but Wren pulled me to her.

After what I’d thought about in the closet, it was easy to pull her close and move with the beat. She rewarded me with the same grin she got every morning when I kissed her.

I wasn’t completely drunk, but the alcohol was still very much in my system. Instead of trying to keep my mind blank, I let it wander. I let myself revel in the feel of her hip bones, of her neck against my nose when I leaned down. She felt incredible, whether we were in silence or in chaos.

Eventually, I twirled her, earning a laugh. She settled facing away from me, with my entire front pressed into her back. My thoughts ran wild as I pressed a kiss to her neck, keeping her tight to me.

This was getting out of hand, but I had nothing in me to stop it. She felt so good, and I wanted to enjoy it rather than overthink it.

But then I realized there was another part of myself that was growing hard, and I pulled away.

The song finally faded and I came back into myself. The cameras were packing up and a PA was waving us over.

“I guess our job here is done,” Wren said, though she sounded out of breath. “The dancing was fun.”

“Yeah, it was.”

Too fun, even. I was losing myself in her, making mistakes I shouldn’t.

I needed to get home, and by myself, before I made any more mistakes.

Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch

Mark Bell: For the last time, MY SUPPLY CLOSET IS NOT FOR KISSING! Especially if you’re gonna get so wild that you knock stuff on the floor.

Comments:

Kerry Winsor: Oooo who had too much of a good time?

Jade Clark: Wasn’t me. There were NO decent guys at the bar last night.

Kerry Winsor: Did you not see Jude?

Jade Clark: Oh, I saw him.

Henry Connor: I am so sorry, Mark.

Kerry Winsor: WHAT

Jade Clark: HENRY YOU DOG

I had never been more grateful for the weekend. After having to make it through the four days after the bar, it took me far too long to even get out of bed.

After my smoothie was made, I sat on my couch in complete silence to drink it. Within my four walls was quiet and peaceful, and I enjoyed the silence while it lasted. Then, I made my way outside and worked in the garden as the sun rose in the sky.

Since summer was in full swing, I was sweating after only a few minutes. I couldn’t stand to be outside for long since I was already battling a headache, so I got the watering done and then headed inside for a shower.

Once I was in the cool spray of water, I thought back over the night at the bar. Flashes of Wren holding me, of me holding her, while we danced played through my mind. I tried to decide if I needed to apologize to her or not for getting too handsy.

She hadn’t seemed angry when we gave our mics back, but still. I’d let myself slip. Every day I’d thought about it, especially when I greeted her each morning before filming, but I hadn’t allowed myself to fully give in to the thoughts I’d had in the bar. I’d kept myself too busy.

And even though I knew it was wrong, I wanted to do it again.

I was using my own body wash, but my mind conjured the smell of hers instead. Whenever I was close to her before she got to work for the day, I could smell the faint scent of roses. Somehow, I’d memorized it and was able to conjure it up.

Before I knew it, my cock was hard again.

I closed my eyes, trying to will it away. I had plenty of other nonsexual things to think about, but the second I tried, she would pop back in.

It was no secret that I was attracted to her. I had been since I met her, but touching her, even under the guise of a fake relationship, was hard for me to forget.

We’re not together. It’s not real.

If only desire could have been controlled by thoughts. I would have won, but instead, the feeling stayed, and my will slowly lost.

Had it been too long? Possibly. I rarely ventured out, and if I did, it was for a one-night stand. There could never be the possibility of more. I always kept myself in check, no matter who I was with, and the result was a mediocre release with no desire to do it again.

Everything about Wren was a turn-on, though I hoped it was because of my dry spell. If I were lucky, I only needed a release, and then I could think clearly about her.

Wrapping my hand around my cock, I emptied my mind. I would focus on the feelings. Not the woman who had started all of this. I gave it one long pump, feeling heat spread through my body.

Slowly, I moved more, leaning my head against the cool tile of the shower. My hand didn’t fully satisfy the urges, and my mind flashed to what someone else would feel like. Her mouth would encase my cock, taking me as deep as she could go, before I told her to get on the bed and spread her legs.

In real life, I forced myself to be polite, to let all of my partners take the lead, but in my mind, I could take control. She would do as I said, her freckled chest on full display. I’d take a second to let my mouth kiss each one before lining myself up and plunging into her.

“Yes,” she’d moan. “More. Give it all to me.”

I wouldn’t be gentle. She’d take my cock like she was made for it, and I wouldn’t slow down as I barreled toward an orgasm.

“Fuck yes, Henry. Come in me.”

I would look up, seeing Wren looking up at me.

And I came.

“Fuck,” I said the moment I was able to think again. I shouldn’t have done that. Nothing good would come of me thinking about her as I jerked off, because we were only fake dating. There was no future where any of my fantasies were real.

I needed to follow my rules and stay sane.

But as more time went on, that seemed impossible.

When I got out of the shower, I still felt guilty, but I saw I had a text from the very woman on my mind.

Wren

The first episode is coming out tonight. Mollie is having a mini watch party. Want to come and hang out? I’ll have popcorn. Or vegetables, if you wanna be healthy.

And now I felt worse. I wanted to spend time with her, but there was no way I could be the version of Henry she wanted. I was a mess, falling apart at the seams. She didn’t deserve that.

It was a long week, so I need rest. Maybe some other time.

Take as much time as you need. Do you wanna skip filming tomorrow?

No, I can film.

I wasn’t going to let her down that much. No, I was taking the day, and I would be normal by tomorrow.

I had to be.