Shifting from one foot to the other, I balled my hands into tight fists at my side.
“You okay?”
Her voice slid over my skin, tender and sweet. The complete opposite of the thoughts tumbling around inside my head.
I cleared my throat. “All good. What were you saying?”
“Mochi.” A frown creased her forehead. “It’s the name of the plushie you got Millie and coincidentally the nickname of her favorite artist.”
It was my turn to smile. “I’m glad she likes it. Does that mean we’re doing this?”
There was a long pause. Too long. I didn’t know what I was going to do if she told me no. Somehow the thought of playing pretend with anyone but Kate didn’t sit well with me.
“Guess so,” she finally whispered.
I stared at her mouth for a few beats too long. She noticed. There was a soft intake of breath before she rolled her lips together. But instead of scolding me, she stared right back.
“But, I have...rules.”
Intrigued, I quirked a brow. “Just remember, rules are meant to be broken, Kitty Kat.”
“Tristan.”
“Yes, Kate.”
The glare she pinned me with was so mighty I thought for sure my balls would shrivel up and disappear.
“All right.” I held up my hands in surrender. “Tell me all about these rules of yours.”
Herpalms skimmed down her thighs once more. Was that a nervous habit? I couldn’t remember seeing her do it before, but then again, I hadn’t always been paying as close attention as I was now.
“One,” she started, index finger pointing toward the ceiling. “No touching.”
My lips parted with a witty comeback, but she kept going.
“No kissing, anddefinitelyno sex.”
She’d put so much emphasis on the last part, it was fucking hard not to be offended.
“Kate—”
“I’m not done.” She lifted her chin. “I know keeping it in your pants for longer than a week is probably near impossible for you, so all I ask is that you be discreet. I’m not planning on telling anyone this is fake. Please, don’t make me look like a fool.”
Her words stung. She could’ve marched up to me and slapped me across the face, and it would’ve hurt less. I didn’t want her to see me like that. For her to think I was some spoiled manwhore who didn’t give two shits about someone else’s feelings.
Even if it’s exactly who I was.
And since I couldn’t or wouldn’t drop my guard in front of her, I lashed out instead. “Same goes for you.”
The words left a bitter taste on my tongue. Made even worse when her stunned expression pierced through my ribs and sliced into my heart.
There was too much space between us. Moving fast, I eradicated the distance between us. Toe to toe, almost chest to chest, I whispered next to her ear, “On second thought, no. I don’t care if it’s just pretend. When you’re mine, Kate, no one else gets to have you.”
I hadn’t meant to sound so...territorial. But fuck, the thought of some asshole’s hands on her made my blood boil with a newfound rage.
Her breath hitched. My nostrils flared, sending her sweet, delicate scent straight to my lungs.
“Trist—”
