Faking for Her

by Roberts, Emma

“Oh, treasure hunt!” Amber sat the popcorn down and clapped.

  “It was! And it was so much fun! It was really dark in there, and smelled damp. Like a cave. I could hear something dripping but it was like an echo from far away. Cole showed me the memorial wall and you could still see some names in it.”

  “Did you touch it for luck?” Her eyes were wide and anxious, even though she already knew the story ended with me coming home safe.

  I nodded. “I did! And he had this huge handheld floodlight. I used it for a while and discovered a few passages, but it was hot and heavy—”

  Amber guffawed, almost choking on a kernel of corn.

  “Stop it!” I threw some popcorn at her and she ducked and laughed.

  “He let you hold it and it was hot and heavy, huh?” She laughed as I threw more popcorn at her.

  “You’re so dirty!”

  “You’re the one sleeping with him. Good job, by the way. You’ve got to be breaking records for longest crush-to-bed timeline.”

  “You’re so rude!”

  She snorted, ducking to hide her face in the popcorn bowl.

  “But I haven’t even told you the best part.”

  That shut her up. Her laughter cut off and she sat up straight again, her full attention on me.

  “I found this!” I lifted the length of paracord around my neck out of my shirt. I’d wrapped the cord around the nugget of gold I’d found.

  She grabbed for it and leaned in to look at it closely. “Pretty! How much do you think it’s worth?”

  I hadn’t thought about that. Maybe it was worth something, but I didn’t care about the monetary value. The memories of that date with Cole were forever etched in my mind and I wanted the reminder of the fun we’d had together.

  “I have no idea, maybe twenty bucks?” I had no real idea how much a nugget of gold the size of a small strawberry was worth. I fingered the knobby precious metal that was warm from resting against my skin.

  “So that’s what gold looks like before we make it into rings and necklaces and stuff.” Amber studied it intently, turning it in her fingers. “I love that it’s not smooth. It looks like a river rock all beaten up with little indented holes. That’s so awesome. And unique! I bet no one in the world has a necklace like this.” She glanced up at me expectantly.

  It had never occurred to me that the nugget was a one of a kind thing. That unlike jewelry, this was something no one else wore around their neck. It made the find all the more special. I’d never been partial to jewelry anyway. Jewelry given as gifts had always seemed like an easy way out. Or done out of guilt, like Dad did for Mom. Every year on a special occasion, she could expect some new shiny thing to tuck out of sight in her jewelry box and never wear.

  “It’s heart shaped—”

  “Wait, what?” I glanced at it again. “It’s like a little strawberry!”

  She jutted her chin forward and stared at me pointedly. “And what are strawberries shaped like?”

  Like a heart.

  Now that she’d said it, I could see that the shining pendant resembled a heart.

  “It’s heart shaped, and he gave it to you on a date.”

  “I found it, he did not give it to me.”

  “He didn’t get permission for you to keep it? Do you really think whoever let him walk the mines didn’t demand a cut?” She arched an eyebrow at me like she couldn’t believe I was that naïve.

  “He said we could keep what we found.” Had he made some kind of arrangement to pay for whatever I found, so I could keep it? If so, that would be the sweetest gift I’d ever been given, and I didn’t even know for sure.

  “I’m sure the owner of the mine, which is a tour destination, was happy to give away a hunk of gold to someone on a free visit. Makes total sense.” She nodded her head, like it did make sense. But it didn’t. “Are you really going to keep trying to convince me you don’t have feelings for this guy?”

  “I don’t—”

  “I can see it on your face!” She shoved a flat palm toward my face and moved it in a wax-on motion. “You’re in love with him!”

  With the warm, heart-shaped nugget of gold between my fingers, the hum of excitement low in my belly returned as I thought about the possibility that he’d set something like that up for me without my even knowing.

  “I’m not in love with him.”

  Without another word, Amber upended the whole bowl of popcorn on my head. “You’re in love with him, admit it!”

  14

  Cole

  “Cole!? What are you doing here?” Laney stood in the doorway of her little apartment, blocking whatever was going on inside from my view, her eyes wide and anxious.

  The tingle that went up my spine wasn’t a good feeling. What was she hiding from me? Did I even have the right to ask? Was it any of my business?

  And what was I doing there?

  I tried to think of a way to explain showing up at her house that wouldn’t make me seem pathetic. I’d tried working. I’d tried sleeping. I even went down on the beach and ran an extra five miles in hopes I could work her out of my brain. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. Smiling. Laughing. Telling me she was ready to be the best gold digger she could be.

  Every emotion I felt for her was conflicted. Torn. I wasn’t sure whether she was messing with me, or if any of this was real, and I didn’t know how to find out. I couldn’t very well ask her if she was fucking with my head.

  Not a single damned person in this world had the power to make me doubt myself. No one but her.

  “I needed to see you. We need to talk.” Talking wasn’t what I needed. I needed answers. I needed her lush curves pressed against my body. I needed the relief only she could provide. I needed her.

  “Hi, Cole!” Amber’s head popped over Laney’s shoulder, the gleam in her eyes telling me she’d figured it all out. Fuck.

  I groaned internally. “Sorry, didn’t know you had company. I’ll go.”

  “It’s not a problem!” Amber’s tone was triumphant. “I was just telling Laney—” Amber yelped as Laney kicked her hard in the shin. Amber glared at Laney, and Laney made a don’t you dare tell him face.

  Again, that same sense of unease nagged at me. I didn’t know the whole story and it was digging at me.

  Laney spoke for her friend, still staring Amber down. “Amber was telling me how great it is that you’re helping me annoy my parents.”

  Everything about the scene felt all wrong and the muscles in my body snapped taut. What was Amber telling Laney that Laney didn’t want me to know? More and more, this whole thing was beginning to feel like a set-up, to humiliate me or mess with me somehow. I just couldn’t figure out why Laney would do that.

  “So I heard you two went and explored a ghost town?” Amber said in an extra-excited tone.

  Laney sighed and grabbed my arm, her eyes going wide as she did. She stared at the point of contact for a moment, then tugged.

  The scent of popcorn hit me in the face as I stepped inside and followed the two into the living room. A movie sat on pause at the title screen, and both women found their spots on the couch between scattered popcorn kernels. I stood near the doorway and crossed my arms.

  “Yes, we went to a ghost town.” I didn’t want to hang out with Amber. She was nice enough, but I was here to see the woman I’d promised to fake date to piss off her parents.

  “I had so much fun,” Laney spoke up, sounding suddenly shy. “I’ve been telling her about it.”

  Amber chimed in, “We missed the movie,” and giggled into her hand.

  I fought to not roll my eyes. That didn’t make me feel more comfortable. But Laney seemed happy. Still, something bothered me.

  “I know it’s fake, but thank you for being a good pretend boyfriend to my friend.” Amber smiled at me and her words hit me like a kick to the daddy-bag. “She needs this. If nothing else, to teach her how it feels to be treated right by a man.”

  I glanced over at Laney. Had she been in
a bad relationship?

  “It’s so sad though, it’s been so long since Laney went out on a date, and your first real dates aren’t even real,” Amber lightly teased her friend.

  Laney was quick to clap back. “I’m too busy to date. I have a life.”

  “Pfttt, babysitting and movie nights with me once a week? Bitch, please, that’s not a life.”

  Laney opened and closed her mouth a couple times, like she didn’t dare to let cross her lips every response that came to mind.

  “He said he needs to talk to me.” Laney glanced pointedly at Amber.

  Amber’s mouth dropped open and she stared at her friend. “He said we need to talk—most dreaded words ever.”

  “Fake, remember?” Laney waved her hand in front of Amber’s face.

  “Right,” she said, winking and hugging Laney. Amber stepped into her shoes, grabbed her phone and bag and headed for the door. “Call me!” She waved at Laney, then nodded at me, and the door closed behind her.

  Instantly, I moved toward Laney.

  Each one of her breaths came quicker as I approached. When I stood before her, the little tick of her pulse at the base of her throat sped like a criminal outracing the cops.

  I offered her my hand and hauling her to her feet, pulled her in close, and kissed her. The buttery, salty flavor of popcorn in her kiss proved my nose right, even if the mess of popcorn all over the floor and couch hadn’t. With both hands on her ass, I lifted her up until her legs clamped around my waist.

  “Yes,” I hissed. We fit so perfectly, it felt like she belonged with her legs locked around my body. The heat between her thighs warmed the front of my pants and my cock strained against the material. I thought I might burst with my need for her, and I carried her to her bedroom blinded by the kiss, praying I remembered the way.

  A moment later, I lowered her onto the bed, loving how she clung to me like she’d never let me go. I broke the kiss as she arched her back and lengthened her neck. Dropping kisses down the line of her jaw and tasting her throat, I savored the sweet flavor that was uniquely hers. Her peach-fuzz soft skin was delicious on my tongue. I wanted to taste more of her.

  Pressing a kiss to the skin just above the collar of her shirt, I lifted the offending fabric to find her braless. My cock leaped at the knowledge. Without hesitation, I took her tight nipple into my mouth, teasing it with my teeth before pulling hard.

  Laney gasped, her hands diving into my hair, tugging slightly and combing through it. Her fingernails slid along my scalp, sending shockwaves of sensation down my spine and lifting an army of goose bumps all down my back and sides. I let her nipple go with a satisfying pop and kissed the ample curve under the pink tip.

  With my tongue, I traced around her nipple, then down to the valley between her breasts, before trailing the tip of my tongue all the way down to her belly button. I kissed the spot just above her navel, then ran my tongue just along the inside rim of her belly button. She shivered, her lower back arching as I kissed and licked and blazed a hot, damp trail to the waistband of her pants. I didn’t want to be in a hurry, but touching her put me in a rush to have her. This time, I wanted it to be about her.

  Concentrating on slowing down, I took a deep breath, then another as I tugged down her pants. Underneath them, I found the cutest little pale pink lacy thong. I groaned with need as my eyes closed.

  The second her pants were clear of her toes, I threw them aside and thrust my tongue against the rough lace. I could taste her through it, and I inhaled deeply, loving her sweet smell and honeyed taste. For that brief second, she was my whole world.

  She moaned. Her hands gripped my shoulders, her fingertips digging in as her back arched again, pressing herself closer to my ministrations.

  “Do you like that?”

  When Laney only whimpered, I grinned. She was so damn innocent, and I liked it. But I wanted her to be just a little dirty. And I knew how to get her to be.

  I continued to rub my tongue against the satin and lace at the same rate, and I could tell that the sensations through her panties now weren’t enough. She wanted more.

  My cock strained painfully against my pants. I needed her. Craved her. She was mine. But I said, “Laney, you’re going to have to tell me what you want. I need to hear it from you.”

  Her eyes flew wide and I stopped what I was doing for emphasis. Her mouth popped open and she searched for the words, her face flushing slightly as she turned her gaze on me. Her eyes were glazed with passion and half begged me as much as her words. “No panties.”

  With a growl, I shoved the lace aside and off and focused on her clit—laving, sucking it into my mouth before nipping gently with my teeth. Each of her whimpers made my cock throb. I needed her to come. I needed to taste her on my lips. Needed to feel that flood of moisture on my chin.

  Nothing else mattered but the noises she was making, the way her fingertips bit harshly into my skin, the frantic bucking of her hips as she tried to grind on my face—like she could bring herself to the edge quicker if she helped. I was fine with that, we were working toward the same goal. Her pleasure.

  My hard-as-fuck cock demanded to be in her, but I ignored the need and pressed on. Her heavy breathing and little moans only added to my torture and I groaned as I drove my tongue into her.

  She was on the edge, I was sure of it, and I pressed harder. I worked my tongue in faster circles, thrusting into her entrance harder—a focused attack. When I backed off and gave her a single, long lick from entrance to clit, she let out a stunned sound that was all frustration.

  An evil smile crossed my lips. “Tell me what you need.”

  Laney sucked in a quick breath and it whooshed out. “Your mouth. Fingers. Please, Cole.”

  I went back to the targeted circle-slash motions around her throbbing little nub, making her think for a moment that I hadn’t heard her request. When I was certain she was desperate, I found her entrance with one finger and thrust it inside. The hand in my hair tugged. I inserted a second finger and pumped them into her.

  She cried out as she exploded, tightening around my fingers, a sweet rush of warmth overtaking her. I continued to lap her up, reveling in the small aftershocks that seemed to take her to a world filled with pleasure.

  “Hey, Laney, I forgot my phone.” Amber’s cheerful tone echoed through the apartment.

  I bolted upright, wiped a hand over my face and hurried to close the bedroom door.

  We glanced at one another, then Laney leaped out of bed. “Where are my pants?” she hissed in frustration, and I pointed to them. She hopped into them one leg at a time. “I’m back here.” She moved toward her bedroom door and pulled it open as Amber stepped into the hallway.

  “Did you have a good talk?” Her eyes were glittering as a huge smile overtook her face.

  I spoke up as Laney turned bright red and looked the other way. “We were just getting into it.”

  “I bet you were. Any idea where my phone could be?” Amber gave Laney a look and the two walked into the living room as I followed a bit behind, wiping my face once more.

  “Oh! Right where I left it. Oops.” Amber scooped the phone off the coffee table, still half-covered in popcorn, and gave her friend a wicked smile. “Why did you change your pants?” she asked Laney, who glanced down at them in shock. Amber shrugged and practically skipped to the door. “Whatever. Fill me in later. See you!”

  “Shit. She knew what was up.”

  I snorted. “Of course she knew. Just like she knew the last time. Why would you want to fool her?”

  “How can we pull off the fake thing if we’re real sleeping together?” Frustration and irritation flashed across her face as she glanced down at the pants she’d thrown on. “Why did you point at the wrong pants?”

  “I didn’t. You picked up the wrong pair. You really can’t remember which pants you were wearing?”

  “Not when you come over here and mess up my brain! I can’t think when you’re around.” She pressed her palms t
o her forehead, then threw her hands down by her sides, glaring at me.

  “Then maybe I should leave.” I didn’t want to leave, but she was being irrational, and I didn’t like the way she acted strangely when Amber was around.

  “Fine, go.” She gestured toward the door, though the expression she wore was more hurt than angry.

  Staring at her in disbelief, I walked to the door and put my hand on the knob. My cock practically screamed at me to have some sense. I didn’t want to leave. My cock didn’t want me to leave. I narrowed my eyes at her. Dammit, I didn’t believe she wanted me to leave either.

  I let go of the doorknob and turned to her. “I’m not leaving. Not tonight.”

  Not taking my eyes from her, I locked the deadbolt.

  Her chest rose and fell quickly, and her wide eyes were on me, shining with tears.

  Without a word, I went to her, lifted her into my arms, and carried her to the bedroom.

  15

  Laney

  “You sure you know what you’re doing?” Cole’s voice held an amused quality.

  The tandem kayak we were seated in swung lazily in the ocean waters as I glared over my shoulder at him.

  The sky was a crystalline clear blue, the ocean a deeper hue that matched the blue of Cole’s eyes. A warm gust of wind pushed us back toward shore, and I laughed. The spray of water from the paddles that was tossed on the wind felt good with the hot sun beating down on my skin.

  Yesterday we’d almost ended on a bad note. But once Cole took me back to bed, it hadn’t been about sex. Instead, he surprised me with an apology. I told him that it was stupid for me to blame him for grabbing the wrong pants. Then we’d laughed over the whole thing. And after that, it had been about sex. Wonderful, mind-blowing sex.

  “I know what I’m doing. Do you know what you’re doing?” I worked my paddling into a rhythm with Cole’s, and pretty soon we were out on the open ocean.

  A little brown bump appeared out of the water before us and disappeared, then another popped up to our right. I gasped when I realized they were sea lions, playing in the tide and diving for fish.