“What about PDA?”
My brows pinch. “PDA?”
“Yeah, like how physical are we getting?”
I smile. “As flattered as I am by your brazen pursuit to get into my pants, I don’t think we need to sleep together to sell this.”
“Your enthusiasm does wonders for my ego, thanks,” he says, matching my exasperation. “But I meant when we’re around people, are we holding hands? Kissing?”
I swallow what feels like gravel. I may come across as confident when it comes to the opposite sex, but in actual fact, it couldn’t be further from the truth. I have an okay level of experience, thanks to a few guys here and there, but it’s virtuallynon-existent when it comes to the sweeter side, likehand-holding.
“I guess that’s all expected… but let’s just keep the kissing for when it’s absolutely necessary.” I’m not even sure I like kissing. I don’t know if it’s smart to test the theory too hard with my hot neighbour.
He nods. “What about the living situation? Do we say we’re neighbours too, or is it all sounding too fake?”
“This is fake.”
West shakes his head, ignoring the way I clearly amuse him. “Should we just say we live together?”
“After three months?” I blanch. “Is that not, like, way too early in a relationship?”
“I guess it depends on the people in the relationship. What’s the quickest you’ve moved in with a guy?”
“Never,” I say, without pause.
That shocks him. His head rears back, eyes searching in all directions as if he’s looking for answers. “You’ve never lived with a partner?”
“I’ve never had a boyfriend.” Annnd, now he’s frozen on the spot. “I’ve been too busy raising Aurora on my own. I don’t have time for that. I’ve got enough on my plate just thinking about the two of us. I can’t add another person.”
“That makes sense,” he says more to himself. “It’s obvious Aurora is your priority. She seems like a great kid.” Something inside my chest blooms at his words. An acknowledgement that everything I’ve worked for has paid off. It’s nice to hear someone other than myself say it. “Still, it’s a shame.”
Like a record screeching, my thoughts stop abruptly. “What’s a shame?”
“Never had a boyfriend? Someone to dote on you and share the load. Someone to remind you how beautiful you are. Someone to worship you.” His hand flies to his chest, like some stricken Romeo. “Waking up tangled in the other person, the lines of yourbodies blurred, and the heat between you an inferno, but it’s too good to break away.”
My pulse is pounding in my ears, the image he’s painting like water raging over my head, pulling me down with him into whatever this fantastical state of living is. Must be all those romance books he reads.
“Getting lost in each other before you leave the bed again.” He hums. “When watching a woman strut through the house after you’ve made her see stars with your tongue is just as powerful for you as it is for her. The radiant confidence of a woman when she’s woken up to her man showing her just how much all that sass brought him to his knees, happily. Hungrily. I can see it now.” He groans. “You’d be fucking stunning.”
I was wrong. The water’s not raging over my head, it’s running down my thighs. This man was sent to torture me.
What’s going on? I’ve never had an attraction like this. I can’t even pinpoint what it is. Maybe we should get it out of our systems? That will help me think straight. NO! That will not help, Maevyn! You need topretendto like this guy. Chin up, shoulders back, and for God’s sake, keep those legs closed.
“Still with me, Trickster?” My focus is already unknowingly locked on his lips, and I continue to watch as they pull into a self-satisfied smirk.
“Dick.”
“That was for the no underwear comment earlier.”
“Yours was so much worse.” My voice comes out breathy and rough.
“What’s the verdict? Are we roommates or neighbours?”
“Neighbours. Makes more sense with a child involved.” Just having Westley on the other side of my balcony is an unexpected disruption to the world I so carefully crafted.
“So, what’s the story with your ex? Why did you break up?” I ask, needing to change the subject.
He hesitates, the confident, cocky guy from moments before gone. Has he been hurt? I don’t like the idea of him being hurt.
