She took a step toward him. “This feels like a death sentence.”
“I’m going to kiss you.”
“I know.”
“And you’re going to have to get used to it.”
“Right, just like riding a bike. You fall off, you get back onto it.”
“Seriously, you think kissing me is like riding a bike?”
“Yep. It’s the best way I can deal with what’s about to happen.”
“I think I’m insulted.”
She burst out laughing. “Sorry, hotshot.”
He cupped her face. “Ah, now that has wiped that smile off you.” He leaned in close and just as he was about to kiss her, she pulled away, laughing.
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to, you know. Just ignore me.”
“This is kind of hard to do. You’re really messing with a man’s ego here.”
“Not intentional, I promise.” She covered her mouth.
“Seriously, you see kissing as a joke.”
“Not really, but come on, I’m practicing kissing Caleb Turner. It’s kind of funny.”
“You sound like a child.”
“And you sound jealous.”
“I’m a forty-year-old man, and I’ve got a suddenly giggling schoolgirl in my apartment who I’m convincing to play a part as my girlfriend. Believe me, I don’t feel jealous.” He felt old.
She hesitated as she placed a hand on his chest. “There, see, we’re fine. This is fine.”
He stepped up close, cupped her face, and tilted her head back. This time, there was no laughter and he was able to stare into her eyes. She had pretty, intense green eyes. Shocking in their color, but so enrapturing.
“Do you know how pretty you are?”
“If you keep telling me it’s going to go to my head.”
“You’re going to have to get used to me telling you because you are, so pretty.”
“Caleb?”
“Yeah.”
“Kiss me already.”
He slammed his lips down on hers. At the start, she was tense in his arms, as if she didn’t really know what to do and how to behave. He didn’t let up and explored her mouth, running his tongue across the full lips, and she opened up. Diving in, he let out a growl as she moaned.
They touched tongues and he tasted her. He wanted more. Sinking his fingers into her hair, he deepened the kiss, ravishing her mouth.
His cock was rock-hard. He wanted to fuck her. To have his name come from her lips in a desperate scream. He ached for more. Felt completely and utterly consumed with desire.
Just as he was about to walk her across the room, the doorbell to his penthouse rang. He didn’t know who it was and the kiss ended abruptly.
They stared at each other as the doorbell rang.
“Who do you think that is?” she asked.
“Not a clue.”
“An ex of yours, maybe?”
“Not a chance.” He never brought his exes, or anyone, back here. That was what hotel rooms were for. Not the best thing to tell this woman. “I’ll go see who it is.”
He stroked her cheek and their kiss still lingered in the air. Stepping away from her, he walked down the hall. Damn, he’d never had an instant hit of lust and need just from one kiss. Opening the door, he froze. “Hello, Dad.”
****
It was just a kiss. Nothing about it was special.
Lauren touched her lips and forced herself to stop.
It was just a damn kiss. People kissed all the time. Friends, relatives, partners, lovers. It was a natural process. Only her lips didn’t feel like a natural process at all.
They were … different. They were swollen from his kisses, but that was natural, wasn’t it?
She heard the door open and close and the sound of voices.
You need to stop thinking about the kiss. It was getting used to feeling him. That was all.
So why was her pussy slick and her tits swollen?
This wasn’t good. Still, she wasn’t going to let any of this go to her head. This was all an act.
“You’re leaving the office for extended periods of time. I’m worried about you and your mother just confirmed to me that you’ve asked for a plus-one for my birthday,” a deep, masculine voice spoke.
Lauren turned, eyes wide, and watched as Caleb and his father entered the room. There was no way to mistake Timothy Turner. Caleb looked so much like him.
He was here, in Caleb’s apartment. She was right there for him to see.
The clothes Mike had purchased for her were hanging up in Caleb’s sitting room, and she felt like the worst fraud in the entire world.
“I apologize, I didn’t realize you had guests.”
“Er, actually, Dad, this is perfect,” Caleb said. He advanced toward her and she shook her head. No, this wasn’t the way she wanted to be introduced to his dad. They’d just shared a kiss and now he wanted to start their lies. This was all a little too much.
Caleb put an arm around her waist, pulling her in close. She didn’t fight him as he led her toward his father.
“This is my girlfriend, Lauren Wyatt. She will be my plus-one.”
“How do you do?” Lauren asked, cringing inside. Was that what women said when they met their fake boyfriend’s parents?
Timothy looked at her hand and then at the clothes.
“Girlfriend?” He shook her hand and she gripped his firmly. There was no way she was going to appear weak. These two were considered some of the strongest businessmen in the world, apart from his father’s ailing health, even though he looked really good from where she stood.
“Yes, girlfriend. We were waiting to break the news next week, but seeing as you’re here now, and there’s no point in hiding it, well, we’re letting everything out today.” Caleb laughed.
Timothy let go of her hand.
Caleb stroked her hip and she was acutely aware of his touch. Her lips had to be swollen and red. His dad would know exactly what they had been doing.
“Lauren, my son has never mentioned you.”
“Good.”
Timothy glared at her.
“I mean, er, Caleb and I, we’ve sort of struggled with our relationship.”
“Lauren didn’t want me to tell anyone about our relationship and we’ve had a bit of a time of it as late,” Caleb said.
“You expect me to believe you’ve got a girlfriend when less than a week ago, you were in the papers from one of your orgies?”
She looked up at Caleb. This was exactly why she didn’t want to get into any of this. It was wrong of them to even think they could get away with something like this.
“That was my fault,” she blurted.
“Your fault?”
“Well, you see, I’m … I know the way it might look. Caleb’s from a very wealthy background and I, I mean, I clean for him. I’m one of the best cleaners he’s ever had. Our relationship really shouldn’t be happening but feelings like ours, they grew. He wanted to introduce me to his family, but I kept saying no. We got into a big argument because I told him it wasn’t fair, and he went out partying. Nothing happened, though, and we talked and I decided to finally meet you.”
She wished Caleb would just jump in and finish this. Lies weren’t easy for her. She looked up at Caleb and he merely smiled down at her.