Page 32 of Faking the Pass

For a long moment, she just stared up at me, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

And then she surged forward, pressing her lips to mine and sinking her hands into my hair as she pulled my head down to her.

I was used to thinking fast, acting on instinct, but for a second there, the shock of it had me frozen.

And then everything I’d been holding back for weeks, all the pent up frustration and attraction and feelings I had no words for yet flooded out of me and into that kiss.

I was shaking, supercharged with energy, almost in disbelief that I was finally being allowed to claim her sweet mouth the way I’d been dying to do for weeks now.

Wrapping my fingers around Rosie’s head, I cradled her face and fought to maintain at least a little self-control so I didn’t kiss her too hard and hurt her.

When my tongue met hers, I groaned like a starving man who’d been invited to a luxury cruise ship buffet—everything looked and smelled and tasted almost too good.

And I wanted it all .

The kiss went on, getting hotter and hotter.

Rosie’s lips were incredibly soft and delicious, and her hands were so busy exploring my body that I felt a little exploration of my own wouldn’t be unwelcome.

I reached around her, wrapping my arms around her waist then sliding my hands down to cup her bottom and pull her tightly against me.

Feeling my hard-on, Rosie made a little noise of excitement and then let out a breathy, “Pres.”

Hearing her say my name in that desperate sounding way, I thought I might just lose it right there and embarrass myself in a way I hadn’t since middle school.

Something had been set loose inside me.

The fact that she was responding so passionately to my kiss and touch was pushing me to a level of mindless recklessness I had never experienced before.

Well, maybe back in high school—with her—but not once since then.

Just as I had back then, I craved the feel of Rosie’s skin.

My hands roamed beneath her sundress, stroking her hips and lower back, reaching down and drawing up one of her legs to wrap around me so the heat of her core was centered on me perfectly.

I began moving my hips, and every time I nudged against her, Rosie moaned into my mouth.

Breaking the kiss, I shifted my attention to her neck, and her head dropped back against the wall, which lifted her breasts, putting them right where I wanted them.

The stretchy elastic top of her dress took only a second to push down, and I discovered that Rosie was braless beneath it.

Her nipples were tight and pink, begging for my mouth.

“Fuck, you are beautiful, Rosie,” I whispered.

Bending my head to her chest, a word left my lips just before I licked one of the buds and pulled it into my mouth.

“Finally.”

Suddenly Rosie twisted, breaking the suction and pushing me away.

There was a surge of protest in my body, and my lust-fogged brain was slow to respond.

“What?” I asked, sounding as intoxicated as I felt. “Did I hurt you?”

Rosie looked horrified, like she couldn’t quite believe what she’d just allowed to happen.

“We can’t. We can’t do this.”

A grin spread across my face. “We can, and we just did. And you started it, darlin.”

She yanked up her sundress top, her cheeks flaming red.

“I know, but we have to stop before it goes farther. And we can’t do it again.”

And here I’d been thinking this was all I wanted to do—again and again and again.

“Why not? I want you.”

I gestured toward the front of my shorts, which were tented like a big-top circus. “I’ve been walking around with a near-permanent hard-on these past few days.”

Her breathing intensified, growing audible.

“And I’m pretty sure you want me, too,” I said. “Unless you’re trying to make me believe what just happened there was one-sided.”

“It… it isn’t in the contract,” she wheezed.

“Actually,” I said, “there’s no mention in the contract of kissing.”

“It says, ‘No Sex.’”

“Kissing isn’t sex.”

“Sometimes it is,” she argued. “The way you do it, it is.”

That made me smile and dip my head again, aiming for her mouth.

If she thought the kissing was like sex, then the actual sex was gonna blow her mind.

Night after night I had lain awake, imagining all the ways I planned to make Rosie come.

She pushed hard against my abdomen.

“Move, Presley. I’m serious.”

Blowing out a breath, I followed her order, stepping back to allow her escape.

I expected her to run for the bedroom door and lock it, leaving me to spend the night on one of those pool deck chairs after all.

Instead she made a beeline for her carry-on bag hanging near the front door.

“Going somewhere?”

She darted a glance over at me as she dug through the bag. “I’m getting my notebook.”

My hand passed over my face, and I let out an exasperated laugh. I watched as Rosie carried the notebook to the counter, clicked her pen open, and began to write.

Stealing up behind her, I read over her shoulder.

-No kissing.

“Rosie.”

She jumped at hearing my voice so near and slid off the stool, skittering a few feet away from me.

“Don’t you think it’s time to tear up that ‘contract?’” I asked in a reasonable tone.

She looked wary. “Why would we do that?”

“Look at us,” I said. “We’ve been running around this place practically tied up in knots to keep from touching each other. It’s worse than being in high school again. The pheromones flying around are strong enough to strip the paint off the walls. Admit it—you want me as much as I want you.”

“I’ll admit there’s some… residual attraction there,” she said. “But this isn’t high school, Pres. I’m sorry you’re disappointed you never made a conquest of me back then, but this isn’t some rescheduled rainout game you’ve got to play to preserve your perfect record.”

What the fuck?

My mood flashed from half-amused exasperation to insulted.

When we’d dated in high school, I’d gone out of my way not to make a “conquest” of Rosie because I knew I couldn’t stay with her.

I’d been clinging to that noble intention even after giving her the engagement ring. But things had changed.

At least for me.

I was pretty sure they had for her too, otherwise why would she have kissed me?

“I’m not playing games,” I said. “I’m being completely honest with you—I want you, Rosie.

You’re a beautiful woman, and you’ve been driving me crazy with all your little ‘honeymoon outfits’ and bikinis.

I think you want me, too, or you wouldn’t have felt the need to draw up that ridiculous contract in the first place. ”

I pulled the notebook from her hands and closed it with a clap.

Her eyes looking up at me were huge and beautiful and so full of obvious desire it made me want to just sweep her up and carry her to the bedroom and get on with what was rapidly becoming inevitable.

Rosie’s gaze dropped to my lips, charging my heart with a jolt of hope. She did want me—physically at least.

No matter how much I wanted all the rest, she wasn’t ready for it.

She was understandably spooked after her experience with Randy. It was going to take time for her to heal and get over that, so for now, I’d have to stop myself from saying things that might scare her.

Instead, I said, “We don’t need a contract, and we don’t need anyone’s permission. We’re both adults now. I think we can handle a little harmless vacation sex.”

That hungry look in Rosie’s eyes vanished, replaced by a hard, knowing gleam.

“Speak for yourself,” she said. “I’m sure you’ve had lots and lots of casual hookups.

But before Randy, I didn’t have a lot of boyfriends.

I had several jobs and was working all the time and taking care of my mom.

I didn’t really have time for relationships.

Anyway, if I was going to have casual sex with someone, it wouldn’t be you . I don’t—”

She stopped, and I thought she wasn’t going to finish the sentence—which I was dying to hear the end of.

Was she starting to say she didn’t think she could handle a mere hookup?

Was she trying to tell me she had more than sexual feelings toward me?

Then she finished the thought.

“I don’t feel that way about you.”

All my rising hopes dropped like a popped balloon, scraps lying lifeless around my feet.

“Now I’m tired, and I’m going to bed,” Rosie said. “Try not to wake me when you come in.”

She spun on her heel and headed for the bedroom in a near-sprint.

I stood and watched her go, my jaw hanging open at the blatant lie.