Page 27 of The Lies Always Told (Baker Oaks #4)

I ponder his question. I know I want him, and I know I want more than his perfect body.

My heart is aching to get to know him more.

Before the incident on the boat, I felt heard, cherished, valued.

I felt like he wanted to talk to me and truly listen, regardless of the topic.

I don’t remember the last time I held a conversation other than with Bee and Victoria about anything not academic.

Even my parents tend to revolve our conversations about my achievements.

They don’t do it on purpose; they just treat me like I’m still the fifteen-year-old girl who measured herself by the awards and prizes she got.

Gus made me feel like he just wanted to learn more about me, like he could care less about my academic achievements. I want more of that.

“I want you,” I whisper, but I don’t think he hears me, because he just sits quietly in the chair for what seems like too long, but it’s probably not long at all. He smirks and pulls me by my feet, dragging the chair across the space and closer to him.

“How do you want me? Be specific.” His smile is lopsided now, and his posture changes from semi-relaxed to attentive.

“Who’s asking for honesty now?” I ask.

“I’m done dancing around this. We either lay all our cards on the table now, or we can say goodbye and move on.

What is it going to be, Trouble?” The damn nickname will be my undoing.

My thumbs pick at my skin next to my nails while my eyes bounce between his.

I try my darndest not to do it, knowing it will hurt my skin, but sometimes, I can’t help it.

When emotions are out of control, I can control that, the pressure on my fingers and under my nails, the light pain, the outlet I need to act unbothered.

“I want all of you. I want to get to know you better too,” I reply, practicing what I preach. If I want honesty, I need to be honest too. He smiles softly back at me, leaning forward and dragging my legs even closer to him. Our chairs are touching at this point.

“Tell me more,” he says as he smiles wider this time with his eyes. The tiny flecks of honey in his dark eyes glimmer with excitement. His eyes are so dark, you really have to be close to notice them, or maybe they just glimmer when he’s happy. Either way, I’m glad I get to see them.

I drop my legs from his lap and stand. With our chairs so close, I have to stand with my legs wide open and his between them. He cocks an eyebrow at me, and I snort a laugh before I sit on his lap.

“I want your body,” I croon as I drag my hands from his hip, up his chest, to rest on his shoulders.

“I want your time and your thoughts.” I continue the journey with my hands, caressing his neck and holding his face between my hands.

He hisses at the contact, and I slide closer to him.

From this angle, his face is lower than mine, and he’s looking at me through his dark, thick lashes.

My breasts are right in front of his face, but he’s not looking anywhere but at my eyes, waiting for my next words.

I drag my thumb over his lower lip before adding, “I want your lips on mine and on every inch of my skin. I want to get to know them so well, I could recognize them in the dark. I want my body to know your lips and your hands as if they were my own, as if they’re an extension of me.

” His eyes darken, focused on my mouth, then back to my eyes, bouncing between them.

They’re full of emotion, and I can tell some of it is lust, but there’s a hint of something more.

I lower my hands and let them rest over his chest as I whisper, “But above all, I want to get to know your heart, Gus.” He sucks in a breath, and when I smile at him, he does the same before quietly bringing his hands up my back, holding my face.

“I want to try and be all in,” I say finally, hoping they’re the last words I have to say tonight before he finally believes me.

“Promise?” he asks with comfort and sadness in his voice. I won’t break a promise, so when I reply, I know it’s not easy.

“Promise.”

He pulls my face closer and kisses me breathless.

“Are you done playing house yet?” Gus says in a playful tone.

I groan as I look down and notice the soft, dark sheets currently wrapped around my body.

That’s when it hits me. The auction, the closet, glasses of wine at Gus’ condo, and rounds and rounds of sex.

Gus. Oh shit, Gus. I don’t move so I can continue to listen to the phone conversation.

The voice on the other end of his call replies to his question in annoyance, and it sounds just like Gus, but with a lighter accent.

Manny, on Facetime? My head is resting on his chest, and if I don’t move, neither of them will notice me here, so I don’t.

I don’t want them to stop talking. I would rather eavesdrop instead.

My head is pounding, and I feel like I drank a bar dry while running a marathon.

My thighs, my head, my back—hell, even my arms hurt.

“No, Gus. I’m not playing house. That’s not what I’m doing here.

I’m on a trip with Cara, and I’ll be home in less than two weeks.

I’ll be back to real life.” What the hell?

With Cara? I jerk, and Gus’ hand goes straight to my hair.

His abs harden under my touch, but he doesn’t stop talking to his brother.

I open my eyes and take in the beautiful room. Dark wooden floors with beautiful cream furniture surround us. Tall windows look out into the beach. The water is calm today, showing barely any ripples in the water.

Gus asks fondly. “Are you liking it, though?”

“Actually, I am,” his brother replies. I try to stay still, but I sneeze. I contain the sound, but my head jerks. I hope he can’t see I’m awake, but that goes out of the window when Gus mutters shit .

“Have some company?” Manny teases at the same time I turn my head to face Gus and mouth a silent “sorry.”

Gus looks concerned for a second, but it goes away the minute his eyes land on mine. Without dropping my gaze, he tells his brother, “Yeah, let me call you back, okay? Good luck with the outdoors and…whatever.” He hangs up the phone abruptly and tosses it away on the nightstand.

“Buenos dias, Trouble,” he whispers, smiling softly at me.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.” Before the words are completely out of my mouth, he brings his hands down and pulls me up so my face is resting below his chin. He tilts his head down for a quick kiss.

“You didn’t interrupt anything,” he croons. I wrap my legs around him, straddling his warm, naked body. I try to drop my head to his chest at the same time he tries to pull me up or something, because instead of laying on his chest, I end up bumping my forehead into his chin.

“Ugh, Gus!” I groan, twisting my body and laying flat next to him.

“Shit, Nellie, are you okay?” His hands hold my face as I cover my forehead.

“Agh, yes, you hard-headed man.” We both laugh, and when I open my eyes, I find his gaze locked on me, searching and worried with a hint of joy.

“You wanna kill me for real too? I thought death by orgasm would take one of us out, but apparently, just trying to cuddle with you will do that too.”

I try to stifle a laugh but lose my battle when he smiles brightly at me. It’s then I notice the glass cup next to him with dark caramel liquid I’m assuming is iced coffee.

“Stop being so dramatic, but yeah, sorry about that. Give me the coffee please, because whatever the fuck you gave me to drink last night ruined me. Everything hurts. Everything.” He hands me the coffee, and I take a sip.

Perfect. Not too sweet, not too salty. No whipped cream, but a tiny taste of cinnamon and maybe coconut sugar?

I’m not sure, but I guess I can always go snoop in his kitchen later to find out.

“The wine definitely is to blame for the headache. I stopped you after your second bottle. You were drinking it like water. As for the rest of your body…” He lets his words trail off before smiling knowingly at me.

“Oh, stop. Like you could even,” I sass, taking another sip of my coffee.

“Do you need a reminder?”

“Is that a threat?” I ask, leveling him with my gaze. I can’t, in this condition, have sex again. My body hums but also hurts, so I need to keep calm or run to take a cold shower.

“It could be a promise, baby girl, but you and I both know your body needs a break. Not forever, but maybe for the day.” He smirks and winks at me before getting up from the bed.

“I’m going to the gym, but I’ll be back in an hour.

Make yourself at home, but please be here when I get back, okay?

” he asks, and the sadness behind his words is not lost on me.

He thinks I would do that? He thinks I would wait for him to leave and then, what?

Leave him again? I thought we talked about this yesterday, about us trying to make this work.

“Gus, I meant it. I want more than just sex with you. I’ll be here when you get back.

Any plans today?” I ask, standing and dropping the black sheets onto the bed.

My body is on full display before him, and the way he looks at me sparks a fire in my belly.

Damn; to be looked at like that forever sounds like the best temptation.

“I want to spend time with you, so whatever you want. We do have to talk about what we’re gonna tell our siblings, but for now, I have to go, or I’ll miss my group. See you in an hour.”

He walks in the opposite direction, but before he leaves the room, I ask, “What group?” What does he mean by group? Maybe he has a team of people he likes to work out with.

“The other climbers. Rock climbing gym. It’s better to have friends than go alone, especially when it comes to climbing. Alright, baby girl. See you when I get back.”