Cherishing His Fake Fiancé Read online

  “Did you just say ten grand?” Lily sounded like she was about to choke.

  “I did.”

  “Why do you need ten thousand dollars?”

  “To gamble with, of course.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a little excessive?”

  “Perhaps but I believe if I were to propose to a certain someone on a whim, I’d get her one heck of a ring.” In order to whisper into her ear, I leaned forward. Our bodies were pressed together. There wasn’t a single inch between our skin. I could feel the heat radiating from her body. My hands itched to explore every crevice of her body.

  “I don’t believe I follow.”

  “You’re going to play a single hand of blackjack with that ten grand and if you win, I buy you that engagement ring and we go along with this crazy story of yours. If you lose, well, I guess it’s back to the drawing board.”

  “Are you crazy?” She exclaimed. “I can’t make a single bet of ten thousand dollars. That’s insane!”

  “Take it or leave it.”

  “That’s a down payment on a tiny home!”

  “This is the big leagues, Lily. It’s either go big or go home.”

  “I can’t...”

  “Sir.”

  I looked up and Ernest stood beside us with a marble clipboard in hand. Attached to it were my bank card and a copy of my receipt. I signed the bottom of it and returned it to him.

  “Here you are.” He slid a black chip across the table stamped with $10,000 on both sides of it.

  “So, what will it be, Lily? Will you take this gamble or will you leave empty handed?”

  She hesitated.

  I pressed the chip into the palm of her hand. “Don’t let this opportunity slip you by. It’s once in a lifetime.”

  “Can I have some water?”

  I studied her face. Tiny beads of sweat decorated her hairline. She was nervous.

  “How bad do you want me?” I whispered, my voice low and husky. “Show me.”

  Her fingers tightened around the chip. “Okay,” she said, nostrils flaring as she remembered to breathe. “What do I do?”

  “Put your bet on the table,” I instructed.

  She did as she was told and immediately, Ernest began shuffling the cards. While he did so, I fetched a couple of hundred dollars from my wallet and exchanged for chips.

  “What are those for?”

  “Ernie’s tip.”

  “Tip?”

  “If you win, he gets a slice of the pie, so to speak.”

  “Oh, okay.” She held onto the edge of the table with such strength that her knuckles were a deep shade of white. “That makes sense — I think.”

  “Is this the first time you’ve been in a casino?”

  “It’s the first time I’ve had so much on the line.”

  “Relax,” I whispered. “If you want me then the cards will work in your favor. Trust me.”

  “Good luck,” said Ernest.

  He dealt the cards and lo and behold, Lily landed herself an ace as her first card.

  “Excellent.”

  Then time seemed to slow as Ernest came around with her second card.

  “And blackjack!” Before I could stop myself, I had picked her up by the hips and spun her around and around. I could see the surprise written all over her face but especially in the way that her eyes threatened to bug right out of her face.

  I stopped and placed her down on a nearby stool.

  “Looks like we’re going to get married.” I couldn’t keep the grin off my face.

  Stepping forward, I made room for myself in the space between her legs. Naturally, she wound her legs around my waist and we gravitated around each other like there was no one there to watch us.

  I was drawn to that pretty face of hers like nothing else. There was no way I could have resisted the call of her lips.

  And then, it happened. We collided together in an explosion of emotions. I had held them back for so many years, dampened behind a self-imposed dam. But now, the flood gates had been opened.

  Hungrily, my lips danced against her, eager to commit that sweet honeysuckle taste to memory. When that wasn’t enough, I grabbed her by the back of the neck as if we could get any closer.

  To my pleasant surprise, her tongue slipped inside my mouth, exploring all on its own.

  Arousal stirred within me but I couldn’t take her here even though I was tempted to do so.

  Regrettably, I pulled away if only so we could breathe again.

  Her face was bright red. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as a means of distracting herself. “Wow...”

  “Looks like I owe you a diamond ring.”

  Chapter 7 (Lily)

  I COULDN’T STOP STARING at the ring on my finger. It all felt so surreal. Not only had my plan worked but judging by the kiss we had shared, Gayle was totally into the idea.

  “So... what now?”

  “You want a job, don’t you?”

  “Well yes, but honestly, that isn’t really what’s on my mind right now...”

  “What’s on your mind then?”

  “The fact that you kissed me.”

  “Did you like that?”

  “Saying that I ‘liked’ it would be the understatement of the year."

  “Is that so?”

  “I was going to wait until I got us home but if you rather I park the car on the side of the road, I can do that too.”

  “What?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  I could feel the tips of my ears starting to burn.

  “There’s no need to be shy,” he said as his fingertips wandered along the length of my leg. “It’ll probably help with our little story if we’re familiar with one another in a more intimate fashion.”

  I was glad that Gayle had his eyes on the road because had he looked over he would have seen a tomato where his neighbor had once been.

  “Don’t you think that’s taking this whole story a bit too far?”

  “Are you saying that you don’t want me because last time I checked you thought I had the body of a Greek God. Wouldn’t you want to see what that body looks like without all these clothes on?”

  I was left with my jaw agape. I couldn’t believe that Gayle was talking to me in this fashion. “I...” All I could manage was a string of stutters that made me look like an idiot.

  “But it’s up to you. If you want me, all you have to do is ask.”

  His words rattled inside my skull. “All you have to do is ask.”

  I had fantasized about being with Gayle for a long time — well before he was rich and famous so that wasn’t what I was gunning for. No. He had everything I had ever wanted like someone had just plucked him out of my dreams and transplanted him into the real world.

  All too soon, I saw my grandmother’s house. If I didn’t muster up the courage to do something about the passion welling up inside of me then I was sure to implode.

  Somehow, I managed to get out of the car before Gayle could open my door. I grabbed him by the tie and yanked on it so that we fell into our second kiss. I kept hold of his tie even as the kiss intensified as if worried that he would slip right through my fingertips.

  We shifted onto the hood of the car where I was bent backward.

  The kiss continued.

  My lungs burned but I did not dare pull away. This was much too good to stop.

  His left hand found its way underneath my dress where he teased the sensitive skin on my upper thighs.

  “Please,” I begged when our lips parted. “I want it.”

  Gayle did not need any more invitation than that. His thumb hooked around the waistband of my panties and gave it a slight tug. It wasn’t enough to rip the triangle of fabric off my body but it was enough to get it between my folds.

  I whimpered slightly and squirmed underneath his body but that only seemed to excite him because there was a massive erection trying to break free from the confines of his pants. I tried to help but he pinned my
hands above my head and attacked the side of my neck with kisses. His teeth grazed against it too but not enough to leave any marks.

  “Gayle...” I moaned as I lifted my hips into the air, begging for more than just a tease.

  “What’s the matter, baby girl?” He nipped at my earlobe and tugged on it.

  “I want you.”

  His eyes burned with lust as he looked down and drank in the sight of my body. “You should be careful what you wish for.”

  A second later, he had me in his arms. Effortlessly, he carried me across the lawn and towards his home.

  I had little time to admire the interior but let me just say it wasn’t the first time I had been in there and yet, it always managed to take my breath away. With his fortune, Gayle had upgraded his family home to one of luxury. Everything from the floors to the windows was made to impress and they certainly succeeded in doing just that.

  As we climbed the spiral staircase, I feared that my heart was going to explode right out of my chest. Was this really going to happen? Was I really going to fall into bed with Gayle Nash?

  This had to be some sort of dream and a wet one at that.

  Upstairs, we stepped into the last room on the left. It was the first time entering his bedroom since we had both adults. It was quite the change from his bunk beds and old baseball posters. Oh no. This room was sophisticated with a king-sized bed and black satin sheets. I didn’t have the chance to notice anything else before he threw me on the mattress. A second later, he pounced on top of me.

  My heart skipped a beat.

  “Welcome to the rest of your life, future Mrs. Nash.”

  Even though I had suggested that Gayle act as my fake fiancé, he was taking the role quite seriously and I didn’t mind it one bit. If this was added perk in addition to snagging myself a job, I wasn’t about to complain.

  He found the zipper to my dress and pulled on it until my entire back was exposed. Gently, he peeled the garment off my body and threw it aside. Since it had built-in cups I hadn’t bothered wearing a bra which meant my chest was now his for the taking.

  And that’s exactly what he did.

  His mouth was all over them. First of all, there was his tongue. It explored every single inch of my mounds trancing invisible patterns all over my skin. Then, it came to focus on my nipples. It flicked the excited little nubs back and forth until I was forced to arch my back with pleasure. The night had only started and already my toes were curled.

  Eager to have some fun of my own, I pushed him aside and rolled on top of his body so that I was straddling his hips.

  “Mmm, what are you going to do to me?” He asked.

  “Anything I want. You’re mine.” I surprised even myself with the sultriness of my voice. I just couldn’t help myself. This man had me possessed with the need to have him.

  I ripped off his clothing and I really didn’t care how much it had cost him to have that suit custom tailored. All that mattered was him naked in the shortest amount of time. That’s all I really wanted.

  Once his shirt was gone, I ran my hands down his torso. He was rock hard. I could feel his every muscle as they flexed underneath his skin.

  There were people who would kill to have sex with a man like this.

  Unable to wait any longer, I went for his pants. They flew across the room, joining my dress in a pile.

  His erection strained against his boxer briefs. “It looks like someone is happy to see me,” I teased as I rubbed his manhood through the thick fabric. “If you wanted me so bad, why did you tell me sooner?”

  “I can ask the same of you,” he returned.

  I was just about to pull them off when Gayle once again took control. I barely knew what was happening when he snapped my panties right off my body. A second later, his tip was pressed against my entrance. He rubbed it against my folds and found that I was soaking wet and for good reason too. This guy had sex appeal that was off the charts.

  He pushed his middle finger inside of me.

  I moaned and rocked my hips forward.

  Grinning, he added another and oh, so slowly, they started to move. I could hear my juices sloshing around. At this point, I was probably dripping onto the bed and making a mess of it.

  I threw my head back, eyes rolling into my skull. He had just added his thumb into the mix. It circled around my clit over and over again. I could barely take the pleasure of it.

  “Please...” I begged because his fingers just weren’t enough to satisfy me. I needed more — much more.

  He chuckled. “Feeling lucky?”

  “Very,” I breathed. “But I’d feel even luckier if you let me hit the jackpot.”

  Gayle did not disappoint. With one thrust of his hips, he was deep inside of me.

  I screamed as he stretched my every inch with his massive girth. I couldn’t believe how big he truly was. It felt like he was going to rip me apart at any moment.

  But then he started to rock with a steady rhythm and that’s when the pleasure really started pumping through my veins.

  I tried to hold back my climax but the euphoria was building up higher and higher.

  Gayle went harder and harder. Despite the sturdiness of his bed, it began to groan under our efforts but Gayle did not stop. He kept on pounding. His balls slapped against my skin, the sound echoing through the room.

  I bit my bottom lip to keep from crying out as white-hot pleasure erupted through every fiber of my being. My nails clawed at his shoulder blades trying to find something to anchor myself too as the orgasm took me up to cloud nine.

  Not a second later, Gayle pulled out in a rush and exploded all over my stomach — string after string of the stuff.

  Spent, he collapsed beside me, breathing hard. “You’re a piece of work,” he said.

  “I don’t know whether that’s a compliment or an insult.”

  “Definitely a compliment,” he clarified before he got up and disappeared into the adjoining bathroom.

  I was still in a sex-induced daze when he returned with a wet washcloth. He helped clean off his mess before crawling under the covers and spooning me from behind. “I think it’s safe to say that you’ll be staying the night, right?”

  “You couldn’t get me out of this bed even if you paid me,” I said.

  “Mmm, maybe we should make a habit of this.”

  “Maybe we should. After all, we are engaged.”

  Not actually, came that little voice at the back of my head, bursting my bubble. He’s just playing along with your little stunt.

  Chapter 8 (Gayle)

  THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I woke up to find Lily wrapped in my sheets. She had this angelic look on her face.

  Did I really sleep with this woman? I thought to myself.

  I laid there for a few moments and admired her beauty. Growing up, she had inspired my imagination but I never imagined that things would turn out this way.

  Sure, we had slept together, but did it mean something or was it just a part of Lily’s plan? Had she truly enjoyed herself as I thought she did or was this just a deliberate act to get a foot through the door.

  Was she using me? I wondered.

  No. She would never do such a thing.

  But the doubt still lingered, festering at the back of my mind.

  In the end, I chose to ignore it. I got up and headed for the bathroom. There, I jumped into the shower and allowed the warm water to wash over me. It helped clear my mind a bit and put things into perspective. Last night, Lily had asked me to act as her fake fiancé in order to land her job as a sports journalist. For some reason, I had agreed to play along but only after putting $10,000 on the line. Maybe we were both crazy.

  Either way, the deed was done. There was a ring on her finger now and it was time to convince the world that I had finally found the woman that would make me settle down.

  It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for my romantic future but hey, I had planned on proposing to Lily sooner or later. This just made matters a little
more... complicated.

  When I emerged from the bathroom, all I had on was a towel around my waist.

  Lily was awake. Her eyes were glued to my body and her face was written all over with hunger. This couldn’t be an act, could it? The emotion in our passion — the heat of kiss — that was real and I could feel it.

  Maybe that’s just what she wants you to think.

  Again, I pushed back that voice of doubt.

  “Morning,” I said with a smile. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Like you wouldn’t imagine.”

  “Good.”

  “You?”

  “Fantastic.”

  “So, how do you suppose we should go about this fake engagement?” She asked.

  “Tonight, there’s a fundraiser — a gala of sorts. I’ll bring you along as my date. It won’t take long for the people to notice that ring on your finger.” I took the towel off my waist and used it to dry my hair.

  Lily bit her bottom lip but she couldn’t keep her eyes off my member.

  “Like what you see?” I asked.

  “Oh, very much so.”

  “Like I said last night, we can make a habit of this.”

  “I’d like that,” she responded.

  She slipped out of bed and sauntered over. Her hips swung from side to side, tempting me. She wrapped her arms around my neck once she was close enough to do so.

  Unable to resist, I destroyed the distance that lay between our lips and kissed her like a starving man. I sucked at her bottom lip and nearly had her bent over the dresser but somehow, I managed to stop myself before things could get too far. “We can’t. Not now,” I said.

  “Why not?”

  “I have a game I need to get to.”

  She frowned. “Can’t you sneak in a quickie?”

  “If I’m going to have you then I mean to enjoy myself. You’ll just have to wait, sweetheart. But I think I gave you enough to think about.” I winked. “I doubt you’ll get too bored without me.”

  AT THE GAME, IT WAS hard to focus. Luckily, our pitcher was at the top of his game and he made quick work of the opposing team. Most innings were closed off with three or four batters and I was thankful for it.

  Is this really a good idea? I kept asking myself over and over again. I want to help her but is really the way of doing it?