Lying for Love Read online

  Once she settled down, he tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned to him, he said, “We should go.”

  Her amber eyes widened. “Go? What? The game’s not over.”

  He swallowed the last of his beer. “There’re only three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Yeah, I think it’s over.”

  “Yeah and that’s the best part. Chill, dude.”

  He laughed at her choice of words and patiently waited for the ass-kicking to finish. He’d figured she wouldn’t leave before the game ended, but they both had to work tomorrow, and he looked forward to climbing into bed with her, even if only platonically.

  A few minutes later, with the Cowboys’ win official, she let out a whoop and raised her hand in the air. “C’mon. High five. Redskins can suck it!”

  Her enthusiasm was contagious, and he grinned like an idiot as he high-fived her. Apparently not satisfied with five, she threw both hands in the air and said, “High ten!”

  “Okay, crazy.” He smacked his palms against hers. “They won. I’ll call a cab.”

  If it was Friday night, he’d probably be as enthusiastic as she was, but he knew if he didn’t rein her in from her winning high, she’d want to stay and celebrate a little more and they’d both be miserable in the morning.

  Her lips twisted, and he thought she’d pout, but instead, she said “okay” and scooted off the bar stool. “I gotta pee. Back in a sec.”

  Miles called a cab, settled the tab, and decided he’d also to hit the restroom. Gina rounded the corner at the same time he did. They collided, and she stumbled backward. He snatched her around the waist, pulling her into his body to steady her.

  She grabbed on to his shoulders. “Wow. Thanks for the save.”

  “Anytime.” Damn, he hadn’t meant for his voice to come out so husky, but with her so close, her hands gripping him…God, what he wouldn’t do to kiss her, to taste those pink lips, slip his tongue inside her mouth. Tremors followed by a wave of heat coursed through him. His nerve endings sprang to life. His head tilted, lips parting of their own accord. Just one taste.

  “You okay?” Her voice broke through his fantasy.

  Giving himself a mental slap, he reluctantly released his hold on her. He needed to get a grip. It wasn’t the time. He cleared his throat and massaged his right temple. “Yeah, uh, just a little off balance. One too many beers. Will you wait at the front in case the cab comes?”

  “Sure thing.” Her eyebrows scrunched together as she scrutinized him. “You sure you’re okay?”

  Forcing a smile, he said, “Never better.”

  As he stepped around her, she smacked his ass and yelled, “Ass five! Go Cowboys!”

  He shook his head, and even though his heart still hadn’t recovered from the contact of Gina’s body pressed against his, he managed to laugh his way into the restroom. What a woman. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her.

  Chapter 2

  Gina sat closer than necessary to Miles in the back seat of the cab even though she knew it was silly and futile. Since meeting at that party five months ago, they’d been inseparable, becoming fast friends. She’d never been closer to a man than she was with him. They were compatible in every way, except sexually of course. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the equipment he desired.

  At first, pointing out hot men to him had been great fun. She’d truly wanted to set him up with someone, but as time went on, the prospect of him hooking up with anyone became less and less appealing. When she’d realized she wanted him for herself, she’d tried to lie to herself, tried to tell herself she had PMS and was temporarily insane. But that was the lie.

  Gina wanted him and wanted him bad, even though she knew it could never be. More than once she’d slipped up, held him too close when dancing, countless times when she’d given him a friendly smooch, got carried away, and almost licked his strong lips, almost ran her fingers through his dark chestnut hair, and asked him to try to feel something more than friendship for her. Thank god she hadn’t. It would have wedged a level of awkward between them that she wasn’t sure they would have recovered from.

  No, she loved Miles, and if platonic was the best she could get, she’d continue taking it. He was too special to her to lose over out-of-control hormones, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the feel of his arms around her, his hand holding hers, or the sparks of electricity that shot straight to her belly and lower when their lips met in a friendly kiss. Right? Sighing mentally, she tried to change the direction of her thoughts, but the warm, tingly sensation from the beer compounded by Miles’ touch wouldn’t allow it. Whatever. She’d enjoy the moment and pull herself together tomorrow.

  When the cab pulled into her apartment’s parking lot, Miles paid and they both scooted out and walked up the stairs to her home. She unlocked the door, and he followed her inside.

  Mmm. The two of them alone with nothing between them. Was it really out of the question? A little satisfaction between best friends? He closed and locked the door with those strong hands. Images of them slowly sliding down her abdomen, beneath her panties, one finger dipping into her wet, aching—

  “You in a trance?” Miles brushed a strand of hair that had loosened from the ponytail from her cheek.

  Arousing chills coated her cheek in the wake of his fingertips. “No, um, just thinking. Anyway, of course, you’re going to have to stay here tonight,” she said as she kicked off her shoes and tried to shake off the intense longing and sound normal. “I’ll get you a blanket.”

  “Blanket?” His brows narrowed, sea-green eyes projecting confusion. “You’re putting me on the couch?”

  What was she thinking? Any time he stayed over, they slept in her bed together. She just didn’t want to put herself through the fantastic torture of that tonight, but putting him on the couch would be completely out of character, so she’d suffer through it. “I was joking. C’mon. I’m sleepy.”

  He studied her for a moment then nodded. “Be there in a few. I’m going to check my email first.”

  “Okay.” Glad for a reprieve so she could get her head out of his pants, she took her time washing her face, brushing her teeth, and changing into a sleep shirt that hit mid-thigh before crawling under the covers.

  Fifteen minutes later, Miles strode into the bedroom. She kept her eyes closed and feigned sleep. The sound of him shucking out of his clothes made her go wet between her legs. She’d seen him in nothing but boxer briefs on many occasions so knew the delectable sight she was missing. Images of his muscular physique flashed through her mind as she imagined how it would feel to wrap herself around him—skin to skin.

  Aarrgh. The throb between her legs intensified, and she considered slipping her fingers beneath her panties and quietly easing the ache there, but if he noticed, she’d never be able to face him again.

  When his weight shifted the bed, her skin prickled, and she squeezed her thighs together trying to ease the pressure there. Thankfully none of his body breached the invisible line between them, or she might have squealed, had an instant orgasm, or jumped him…or all three.

  She seriously needed to get her shit together. Maybe if she called off her moratorium on men, if only for a one-night stand, she’d be more in control of her hormones around him. Maybe.

  Relieved and envious when soft snores came from his side of the bed, she forced herself to take deep abdominal breaths, hoping to relax and find sleep.

  Miles came up behind her, resting his hands on her bare shoulders before reaching around, his hands grazing her breasts as his fingers unsnapped the clasp of her bra. She shivered, nipples tightening, skin heating, her body coming alive under his touch.

  She turned to face him. He squatted, grasped the sides of her panties, and pulled them down her legs. When she stepped out of them, he gazed up at her longingly. The hunger in his eyes combined with his touch had juices coating her thighs.

  “So beautiful, Gina,” he said, his voice raw with need.

  He buried his face between
her legs, his tongue flicking over her swollen clit. Her knees shook, threatened to give out, the sensation making her delirious. She grabbed his head for support. He chuckled. “Problem?”

  She panted. “Feels too good. Hard to stand.”

  He stood and pushed her back on the bed and demanded, “Open for me.”

  She obeyed, spread her legs wide. God, she wanted his tongue on her again. Wanted him to lick her to ecstasy.

  As if reading her mind, he crouched between her legs, licking her as if she was a gourmet meal and he’d been starved for weeks. Her body trembled as it climbed higher. An inferno broke out, threatened to consume her, burn her to embers. Fisting his hair, she pulled him closer, grinding her pussy against his tongue, his lips.

  Just as she thought she’d die from the pleasure, she fell over the edge, split apart at the seams, the climax blurring her vision, shudders racking her body.

  * * * *

  Gina awoke, loving the warm body pressed against her, the muscular leg clamped between her thighs. Wait. What? Her gaze darted to the body next to her as she shook off her sleep haze. Miles. Oh Christ. She shot up in the bed and bolted away from him, mortified, as realization of what she’d just done flooded her mind. Thank god, he was still sleeping, hadn’t woken up while she’d been molesting his leg. Her face burned at the prospect. How would he have reacted? Would he ever be able to look her in the eyes again?

  She quietly scooted off the bed and tiptoed to the bathroom. Once there, she closed and locked the door behind her, twisted the shower knob, and leaned against the sink while waiting for the water to heat up. Holy crap, she couldn’t believe she’d done that. Her pussy still throbbed from the aftereffects of the body-shattering orgasm that dream-Miles had given her.

  She ripped her drenched panties off, tossing them into the hamper Oh no. What if she’d left, uh, evidence of her orgasm on his leg? Shit. Shit. Shit.

  When steam rose above the curtain, she stripped off her nightshirt, stepped beneath the flow of the water, and tried to wash away the intensity of the dream—not to mention the utter humiliation that made her want to hide in a closet for at least a week.

  For a change, going to work early appealed to her—anything to get her mind off how she’d crawled all over Miles in her sleep. Hell, the prospect of facing him, waking him up for work, had her face burning again. Letting out something akin to a sigh-growl, she reminded herself it was only a damned dream and Miles wasn’t aware of it anyway. No big deal. Yeah, right.

  After toweling off, she donned a big, fluffy robe—nothing sexy about it—and took a deep breath before entering the bedroom to wake him. Surprised but not unhappy to find him already gone, she sank down onto the bed for a moment. It wasn’t like him to leave without saying anything, and she couldn’t help but wonder if maybe he did know about the shameless behavior of her sleeping self.

  A buzz alerted her that she had a text message, and she sighed a breath of relief after reading Miles’ message.

  *

  When Gina had left the room, Miles jumped out of bed and dressed quickly. Not pulling her on top of his body and kissing her senseless had been the biggest exercise in self-control he’d ever mastered.

  He’d been shocked to wake up to her moans of arousal, her body pressed against his, her knees clamped around his leg. It was his wildest dream come true until he’d realized she’d been asleep—dreaming. Just a damn dream.

  He’d wanted nothing more than to help her out, relieve her ache, to slide his hand beneath her panties until his fingers found her wet heat. When her breaths had become wanton pants and her juices had soaked through her panties, slicking his leg, he’d almost come right then and there.

  His cock still ached, and knowing she was in the shower, naked at that very moment and possibly still sensitive and wanting sex, he knew he needed to get out of there before she finished. It wasn’t time, and he wasn’t in full control.

  He’d hurried out of the apartment to his car where he sent her a text message telling her he had an early meeting and he’d talk to her later.

  Once at his apartment, he jumped in the shower and relieved the pressure in his throbbing cock before dressing for work. The day dragged by, and he had trouble concentrating on the mountain of paperwork in front of him. His attention kept turning to his cell phone. Gina hadn’t texted him back from that morning, which was weird.

  The clock on his computer said it was almost noon. As if on cue, his stomach growled. He’d been preoccupied and had forgotten to eat breakfast. He shot off a quick text to Gina asking if she was ready to meet for lunch. Four minutes passed—no answer. Maybe she was busy. After waiting another ten minutes, he shot off another text, which contained three question marks.

  A few seconds later, his phone buzzed. The message read, “Uh, not really up to it today. Friday. Lots of work to finish before weekend.”

  Hmmm. She rarely turned him down for lunch, but he tried not to read much into it so he texted back, “Drinks later? Or just party tomorrow? Still on for that, right?”

  “Yep. See ya Saturday. Rest up for party time. :-)”

  Turned down for lunch and drinks. Yeah, definitely odd, but since they were still on for the party, he didn’t worry much about it. Plus, it gave him more time to go over his plan to reveal himself to her. It also gave him more time to stress over the possible outcomes and her possible reactions.

  At four thirty, Miles had had enough. It wasn’t as if he was getting much work done anyway—his thoughts constantly replaying the early morning erotic scene. So, he closed down his computer and headed out of the office.

  As he slid into his car, his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw Davey’s text.

  “Free tonight?”

  “Depends. You need me to help you move or something?”

  “No, ass. Dinner?”

  Miles wasn’t all that hungry, but he hadn’t visited with Davey in a while. “Sure.”

  “Come as soon as you’re off. We’ll have drinks first.”

  Before Miles could respond, Davey texted, “Ha. I said ‘come’.”

  Miles laughed out loud at his friend’s dirty mind. “Perv. Off now. Com…, uh, be there soon.”

  “Snort.”

  He pulled into Davey’s driveway twenty minutes later and knocked on the door. Davey answered right away.

  “Hey, gorgeous.” Davey greeted him with a smile and a hug.

  “Hey yourself.”

  “Well, c’mon in. Have a seat.”

  Miles stepped into Davey’s immaculate living room and sat on the bright white wingback chair. There was never anything out of place in that house, and he always worried he’d inadvertently dirty something and send Davey into a rage.

  “I haven’t seen you in weeks. Any new developments in the ‘I wanna bone the girl who thinks I like cock’ situation?”

  “Bone? Real nice, Davey.” Miles chuckled. “And, unfortunately, no.”

  Davey poured a drink. When he started pouring another, Miles waved him off. “I’m driving.”

  “Pfft. Driving where?”

  “Wherever you want to have dinner.”

  Davey cocked his hip to the side, hand resting on it. “Bitch, I’m cooking. Can’t you smell it?”

  Ah, yeah, now that he mentioned it, there was a delicious aroma permeating the air. “All right then. Bring it on.”

  Davey handed him the drink and took a seat on the couch across from him. After taking a hefty sip, he set his glass on the coaster on the side table. “How long are you planning to drag out your little charade?” He leaned forward and tilted his head to the side. “Or have you decided to join my team for real?”

  Miles snorted. “You wish.”

  Davey made dreamy-eyes at Miles. “Oh, sweetie, you have no idea.”

  Miles and Davey had met and become friends in college. They’d had a lot of the same interests and had quickly hit it off. Yeah, Davey had, on a couple of drunken occasions, tried to convince Miles that
Team Davey was where it was at, but Miles just laughed it off, never taking offense. They’d stayed friends over the years. Actually, he’d been Miles’ best friend until Gina took over that role. Davey, having an abundance of best friends, hadn’t been hurt by it and rooted for Miles and Gina.

  “How was Gina at work today? She seem normal?”

  Davey raised an eyebrow. “Normal? That girl’s never what I’d call normal. So, what’s the real question?”

  Miles sighed and massaged his temples. “Never mind.”

  Crossing his arms across his chest and putting on his best serious face, Davey said, “Oh no you don’t. What happened?”

  “Nothing really. She just seemed a little off via text message today.”

  Davey scrutinized him for a few seconds but thankfully didn’t press for more. There was no way he was going to give up the details. It was too personal, and really it was Gina’s business to tell, not his.

  “Now that you mention it, she did seem a little distracted but can’t tell ya much more. I was too busy getting shit done so I could leave early.” Gesturing with his glass, he said, “You’re obviously distracted too. You might as well spill it.”

  Miles squeezed his temples with thumb and forefinger, trying to keep a stress headache away. He knew Davey would continue to keep his secret, and Davey was the only person he could talk to about this particular part of his life.

  He reached for his glass and took another sip before speaking. The liquid stung a little. Davey’s drinks were always overly strong. He’d always wondered if the guy had an iron stomach. “You going to the party Saturday night?”

  “Bet your sweet ass I am. My party dress is pressed and ready for dancing.”

  Of course, Davey wasn’t really going to wear a dress but Miles wondered if he secretly wanted to. He’d caught Davey in his dorm room in a slinky, gold strapless dress one day. Miles hadn’t known what to say, but Davey didn’t miss a beat. He’d said, “It’s not fabulous enough for me.” Then he’d stepped behind the room separator, changed into shorts and a T-shirt, and they went to lunch together without another word about it. Although, every once in a while, Miles referenced that day for fun. It never failed to make them both laugh.