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“You have some pretty imaginative daydreams.” Removing my earbuds fully, I placed them on the bed and glanced at him, while his eyes were glued to the show. It was damned near impossible to take my eyes off him. His body wash wafting in the air sent fire from my chest to my stomach. I made a promise to myself not to cave into my insatiable needs, but I couldn’t help it. Hardin did this on purpose. Maybe he has this deep perception that I wanted him.
Pulling myself up to my knees, I sat frozen, speechless. This was not part of the plan. He was my fake boyfriend, and it was taking everything in my power not to give in to him. I was undeniably attracted to him. It conflicted me. Should I sleep with him, or does that make me too brazen? It’s been a year since I had been with a man in this capacity, yet there was something about Hardin that made him so desirable. Okay, there were a lot of things about him that were desirable. His voice, his dreamy blue eyes, his smile, and his soft lips. Let’s not forget his God given perfect body, his brain, and his sense of humor; the list goes on.
“I have something to tell you and you do with it what you want.” When he rolled over onto his back, my gaze made a trail from his eyes to between his legs. It disappointed me that his lounge pants didn’t give me any hint of what package he was hiding.
Hardin clasped his hands behind his head. With a playful smile, he asked, “What’s up, Buttercup?”
“I didn’t invite you with me as part of this deal. I was, um, attracted to you the minute I walked into the office.” Shit, what in the hell was I about to say.Oh, by the way, that night I first saw you, I fantasized about you ravaging me in your office. Psh, fantasies are just that...non-existent occurrences. However, I was constantly left high and dry trying to find the man to relieve the unrequited thirst. Honestly, I never would have pegged Mr. Money Man with the six-pack to be that man. I mean, he could, or at least I’d hope so.
I held my hand up, only to give clarification. “I— I am not a commitment kind of girl. So, no strings attached. Call this a one-night stand that will go no farther than this room.” He jumped off the bed, quickly slipping his shirt on. “Did I say something wrong?”
“I need to take a walk.” He said nothing else as he quietly left the room. Throwing myself on the pillows, I groaned and chastised myself for driving him away. “You idiot. You just made yourself look desperate, and not only that, but you also deemed him as being nothing other than instant gratification.” In my defense, it was the alcohol talking and when I was buzzed my filter escaped me.
Six
Hardin
Thumbing through the pages of whatever random book sat on the table, all I thought about was the proposal that Desiree offered. I wanted her too, more than anything, but I was old-fashioned, wishing to do everything by the book.
Here was Desiree King throwing herself at me, and I lost what backbone I thought I had. What in the hell am I doing? Sitting here contemplating whether sleeping with her is a good idea. What if I fell in love with her and she broke my heart? She seems like the type of girl who would lose interest after a month’s time. I am not the most exciting person in the world. This girl needed to be with someone the complete polar opposite. She was stunning. She had a slamming body. She was intelligent, funny as hell and gifted, well she at least had a gift of persuasion. My personality was as dull as watching paint dry—I actually had someone tell me that, oh yea, it was my mother who made that comment. I recall it was about a month ago when she was chiding me for not finding a wife, reminding me that my older brother, Jonathan, had been married almost seven years already. Not only married, but my sister-in-law, Eva, had baby number three on the way. I’m twenty-seven years old.When I mentioned that my brother was a year older than me when he met Eva, she was finally at a loss for words.
Back to Desiree King. Aw hell, what will one night with this glorious, amazing girl hurt? Maybe she will find herself enthralled with what I can offer besides giving her money advice and feeding into her fantasies, if she actually fantasized about me, which I doubted. I can’t recall any woman fantasizing about me. But what did I have to lose? I needed to throw caution to the wind and go back upstairs with my head hung low, feeling like a dick for leaving. Either she would be happy to see me or be so pissed off she’ll kick me out of the room. The latter, I doubt, as there was nothing cold-hearted about Desiree from what I could tell. She’d been hurt in the past, just as I’d been. We’re like two peas in a pod, birds in a flock, I was like her moth to a flame. I was being pathetically clichéd, knowing Desiree was not a cliché kind of girl.
I knocked on the door lightly, which was the inconvenience of only having one key. Desiree opened the door, and I gave her no time to say anything before I cupped her face with my hands. Covering her mouth with mine, I kissed her deeply, our tongues engaged in a violent tango together. I shuddered when her hands climbed up my shirt. Not because of disgust, but because her hands were icy. “I thought about what you said, when you were, uh, pouring your heart out to me. I want you as much as you want me, no strings attached, and what happens here will stay in this room.”
Patting my chest, she responded with a smirk, “I thought about it too, I don’t mean to be a cock block, but I don’t think we are ready to go this route. Let’s stay in the fake relationship zone for now.”
I had to laugh, not surprised to hear this. “You offered to bring up my ratings by pretending to be my girlfriend. Okay, I get that. I thought you wanted me to make love to you, but that was just one of your head games, isn’t it?” With a glimmer in her chocolate eyes, she shrugged and sat down on the edge of the bed. “I am going to turn the tables and make a deal with you instead. We can continue with the fake relationship, so here’s my counteroffer. If this works and my ratings soar, I will buy you a new bike. Yours is looking worse for wear.”
Desi’s brow creased and her cheeks blushed, “Hey, I’ve had that bike for years and maintain it pretty well, so I haven’t had one mechanical problem with it.”
My end of the bargain offended her. However, my deal stood, because I couldn’t think of another wager. “It’s whatever, Desiree. Here is your part of the deal, if you actually find your perfect mate, which is doubtful, what would you like to wager?”
Jumping to her feet, she crossed her arms over her chest. “This is your deal, why do I need to think of what I would wager?”
“Since you’re obviously a betting man.” Desiree pulled back the bedding before she climbed on the bed. “Here is what I wish to wager. If I win, you owe me a Jamaican holiday at one of the Sandals resorts. I haven’t had a vacation in years and always wanted to go,” she teased, raising her brows.
“You’re Miss Moneybags, you can afford your own vacation,”I said, my comment met with rolling eyes and a heavy sigh.
“It’s late. Let’s discuss it more in the morning. I’m exhausted.” She yawned, nestling into the pillow she cuddled. I climbed onto the bed next to her, still with the idea to persuade her silently to sleep with me. However, that was a bad idea. Either she’d wallop me good, breaking my nose, or we’d both wake up full of regret for being weak and succumbing to whatever passion may stir up during our next few hours together.
Seven
Hardin
The Next Morning
Breakfast was delicious. The silence was awkward. I thought we had a breakthrough last night, but she gave me the silent treatment. Desiree wasn’t mad, unless she was one of these types that gave a cold shoulder as opposed to throwing dramatic temper tantrums. “Um, Desi?”
She turned to me with a calm in her eyes, “Yes, Hardin?”
I was crazy about her, yet; I would not tell her that, as it would go against the deal. “Are you upset with me? You haven’t spoken two words to me today.”
She didn’t respond and walked out of the room. I followed her down the stairs and didn’t stop until I was outside, giving her time to pay the bill and bid farewell until next year. Once she joined me outside, she said, “I’m not upset with you. There is no reason to be. I am upset with myself, embarrassed even, for pushing myself on you. It’s not something I normally do. Oh, and to make matters worse, I teased you, which I feel terrible about and I am so sorry.”
I stopped her, gently gripping her arms. “What happened last night is our fault, not solely yours. I will accept your apology, though it's not needed, I know you didn’t do this to be malicious.” I moved a tendril of her hair behindher ear, “I don’t think you’ve got a malicious bone in your body. Do you?” With a soft smile, she shook her head. Desiree was sweet, her persona Queen of Hearts was befitting; however, she never practiced what she preached.
Desiree fumbled to keep her heavy bag on her shoulder. I would have offered to help, but my hands were full of my bag, and our helmets. “It’s funny how you see what so many men don’t. Most of them see me as a sex kitten, never thinking I have a brain in my head. You’re the first one to see more than what’s on the surface.” I would never admit to her that all I saw was sex kitten also, perfect body, perfect rack—they’re real too, and a perfect ass. Her demeanor, and her smarts, attracted me to her even more.
