Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
I scan the placement cards before we reach our seats. Derek and Alice are two tables over, positioned with a direct sightline to where we'll be sitting. Convenient.
Derek's eyes find Nadine first, then track to me, and his face has the same expression as clients who expected an estimate and got the actual bill. It's equally satisfying in both contexts. He didn't expect to see me, clearly misjudging Nadine.
"Nadine, I had no idea you were married," says a woman who introduced herself as Tara from accounting. "How did you two meet?"
"We met in college," Nadine explains smoothly. "Through my best friend, actually—his twin sister."
"And the wedding?" Tara leans forward, genuinely curious or maybe excited to get the latest scoop. Either way, I know whatever we tell her will reach every ear by the end of the night, which will serve our purpose. "I had no idea you were even seeing someone seriously."
"Vegas, a month ago." Nadine smiles at me and grazes my jaw with her nail. My body, clearly reading this as foreplay, instantly hums with anticipation. My pulse pounds furiously as I do my best to calm my cock down. "We kept it quiet—"
"She wanted a real ceremony," I say without missing a beat, desperately needing the distraction. "I said we could do that and the Vegas one. She said that was redundant and impractical. We compromised."
"He thinks we compromised," Nadine says, smiling up at me, making my heart do somersaults. "I made a unilateral decision."
"She did. Trust me, I know because I was there."
Tara laughs, and Nadine smiles at her wine glass. Under the table, her knee presses briefly against mine—not an accident, a thank-you. Between the physical touches and pretending we're an actual couple, my brain just short-circuits.
A filthy thought floats unbidden to the surface of my consciousness.
Nadine in bed, her hair fanning around her, moaning, begging. Nails scratching my back. Body bowing off the bed.
If I was just semi-hard before, my cock is now as hard as a crowbar. I'm so weak with wanting, it's not even remotely funny.
The candle between us flickers as Nadine reaches for her water glass. Her wrist passes too close to the candle, which is how my hand ends up over hers—a redirect, a half-second thing, the most reasonable response to an open flame. I let go before she has to think about it. Under my fingers, her wrist was warm, pulse visible beneath thin skin.
But fuck, every single touch burns me.
"He keeps looking over," Nadine says, mouth barely moving.
"Good. Imagine being bothered by your ex at your own wedding."
"We rattled him, huh?"
"Serves him right for inviting you."
Nadine smiles softly. "I'm glad you're here."
It's at this moment when I know—wherever she leads me, I'm more than willing to go. "I'm glad I'm here."
Nadine searches my face, and for one crazy second, I thought she would say something, but she doesn't. Instead, she scoots closer to my seat until her shoulder digs into mine.
Just before coming here, Rachel and Nadine agreed we should both be touchy. Apparently, it's the little things that would sell the lie. So throughout dinner, I keep doing just that. Planting a kiss on her bare shoulder. Brushing my knuckles along her cheek.
Nadine, as always, couldn't be outdone.
She rests a palm on my chest to whisper into my ear or buries her nose in the crook of my neck and shoulder.
What she doesn't know is I have dreamed of having her this close for so long. Too long, in fact. And while I look pretty normal from the waist up, my lower body is a different story.
My cock strains against my pants, so much that I'm starting to fear the seams will burst. And when Nadine rests her elbow on my thigh, I'm seconds away from an orgasm.
I guess the first order of business when we get back to our bedroom is take a long cold shower.
At dessert, Nadine makes me grab one of each—churros, caramel empanada, flan, a slice of Tres Leches cake, and some strawberries with cream to name a few. She, of course, only eats her favorites while I have to finish those she didn't like.
In the middle of biting a tamale with nuts and fruits inside, Tara leans over and grins at us.
"Your husband is a little obsessed with you, isn't he?"
Nadine opens her mouth to answer, but I beat her to it.
"Yeah," I say, looking at Tara. "I absolutely am."
Tara's smile widens. She has just handed me a moment, and I'm taking it.
I cup Nadine's jaw with one hand. My thumb rests at the corner of her cheekbone, tipping her face up to mine. I've never been this close to her, though God knows how many times I've imagined it in my head.
As so many filthy thoughts bounce around my skull, I capture her mouth with mine.