One Hot Fake: An Accidental Fake Marriage Romance, Sarah Brooks [mobi ebook reader TXT] 📗

and don’t think that I don’t understand how hard this is for you. Me being pregnant and you wanting to and it’s not happening.” She places her hand on mine. “It will happen. For real next time.”

“Thanks, Brooke,” I say.

“I did some research for you and found this wonderful therapist,” Brooke says, careful with every word. “What do you think?”

I’m silent for a moment. “Honestly, I’m okay now.”

“If you feel you need her—” Brooke says.

“I promise, I’ll see her if I go there again,” I say.

She smiles. “Okay.”

We talk about her baby a little. It doesn’t make me feel bad that Brooke is pregnant and I’m not. Our situations are vastly different, and besides, she got pregnant way before I did.

I’m dreading going home and having to face Declan, but he texts me at three in the afternoon, saying he’s home, and I’ve no choice but to leave.

“Will you tell him?” Brooke asks me as she walks me to the car.

“I can’t,” I tell her. “He’ll worry every time I have to go to Arlen.” That’s not the real reason. I can’t bear to expose myself like that to Declan.

I don’t want him to see how weak I am.

“That’s part of building trust in a relationship, Marian,” Brooke says. “You have to let him in if the marriage is to work.”

It’s easy for Brooke to say that. It’s different for her and Jason. Declan and I are practically married strangers. I conveniently forget that Brooke was in an almost similar situation as I am.

She and Jason were shoved together by tragedy, and even though her brother and Jason were friends, she didn’t really know him.

“I’ll see,” I say vaguely, having no intention whatsoever of telling Declan how close I came to fucking up my life.

“Bye,” she calls as I drive off.

I’ll push the whole sorry episode to the back of my mind and continue with my life. People do stupid things at least once in their lives. This one is mine.

I inhale deeply as I get off onto my street. My heart pounds hard against my chest. I see Declan’s car in the driveway, and suddenly I can’t wait to see him. I feel like it’s been months, and it’s only been two days. I grab my bag from the back seat and hurry in.

He flings the door open before I touch it and for a moment, all I can do is stare at him. A feeling of finally being home comes over me. Declan opens his arms, and I drop my bag and run into them. He wraps his arms around me, and I want to burst into tears from happiness.

After what seems like hours of just standing there, clinging to him, he finally extricates himself and grabs my bag.

“I’ve missed you,” Declan says.

“Me too.” I hadn’t realized how much until I saw him. “I’ll make some coffee.” Declan takes my bag upstairs while I go to the kitchen. I look around my home and appreciate it more than I ever did.

It’s good to be in my own space.

“So, tell me,” Declan says when he returns to the kitchen. “How was Arlen? What did Leonard want? You were scanty with the details on the phone.” He sits on the stool.

I hesitate for a moment. “Nothing important. Just being his usual stubborn self. Your idea was good. I’ll just ignore him until he’s ready to sign the damn thing. What about you? Anything new?”

Luckily, Declan doesn’t realize how little I’ve actually told him. He launches into the happenings at the pizza shop, and I’m shocked that people can do that. Act as a delivery company for a company that doesn’t even know it.

“That’s crazy,” I say.

“That was my reaction too,” Declan says.

I’m glad that Declan and I have a business in common. We talk about that all afternoon until shadows form around us.

“We should think about dinner,” Declan says. “Do you want to go out?”

“No,” I say. “The ideas I have for the evening won’t work well with an audience.” I make my voice husky and suggestive.

Desire jumps into Declan’s eyes. “Oh yeah. I’m sure I can rustle up some sandwiches for dinner.”

“Later.” I slide off the stool and move to the door. I turn back, and with a crook of my index finger, I beckon him to follow me.

I need a shower, but I need Declan with me. I need to feel his hard, masculine body against mine. He’s right behind me as I go up the stairs to my room and straight to the shower.

“I need company,” I tell him as I begin to strip off my clothes.

Declan follows suit, his heated gaze on me. Declan has a way about him that makes me feel like I belong on the cover of playboy magazine. He makes me feel ten feet tall and just as sexy.

When we’re both naked, he takes my hand and leads me into the shower. He turns the water on and pulls me into his arms. His hands circle me to cup my ass, and I palm his chest, loving the feel of hard muscle underneath.

His cock presses against my body, making me tremble with thoughts of how it will feel to have him fill me completely. Is it possible for a woman to be addicted to sex with a particular man?

“You look so thoughtful,” Declan says, sliding his hand along my jawline. He brushes my lips with his then stares into my eyes.

“I was wondering whether it’s possible to be addicted to sex with someone?” I murmur.

He chuckles softly. “That would make two of us.” The hand on my ass pulls me against the hardness of his cock.

Arousal juices pour out of me and coat my thighs. I wrap my hands around his neck, crushing my breasts against his chest, and open my mouth in an invitation.

He brings his lips to mine, and as soon our mouths touch, time stops, and all I can think of is how awesome it feels to kiss him.