Fake Out (Fake Boyfriend 1)

“Even when you scare me, I promise I’ll come running back,” I say. “It might take a while for my irrationality to be drowned out, but I will always overcome it. I know that now. You’re worth it.”

Damon steps forward, wrapping his arms around me and bringing his forehead to mine. “If we’re making promises to each other, I promise to not get ahead of myself, to consult you on everything before acting, and also to follow you wherever you want to go … unless baseball is on.”

“Of course.”

“I’m even willing to go to Canada. If that doesn’t tell you I love you, I don’t know what else will.”

“It’s a hardship, I know.”

“Guess we have a road trip ahead of us.”

“I’ll make snacks!” Mom yells from the kitchen.

“I think she was eavesdropping,” Damon says.

I lean in and whisper, “Lucky I didn’t mention the road head I plan to give you.”

Damon glances around the house as if looking for something.

“What?” I ask.

“Was waiting for someone who overheard you to jump out.”

“I really should learn to shut my mouth.”

“Or put it to good use.”

When our lips meet, I’m in a tortured heaven. I can’t believe I almost walked away from this. This guy owns me, and it’s killing me that I fucked up.

“Maybe we should save this for Canada,” Damon says. “You know, where your parents aren’t eavesdropping or watching.”

“The next five hours are going to be the longest of my life.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

DAMON

Apparently when Maddox is sorry, he really fucking means it. We’re both exhausted and covered in cum and sweat by the time we’re done. We checked into a hotel overlooking the falls two days ago and didn’t waste any time. We haven’t seen the light of day since. With room service and a spa bath in our hotel bathroom, it’s been totally worth calling into work and pretending to be sick.

“I can’t move,” he says.

“Then don’t.”

He’s on his stomach, his head buried in his pillow, and I’m panting next to him.

“My phone,” he grumbles.

“Is that your way of asking me to get it?”

“Yes.”

With an exaggerated sigh, I climb out of bed and smack his naked ass. “You’re lucky you’re good-looking.”

“Or what, you wouldn’t fuck me?”

“Oh, I’d fuck you, but I wouldn’t fetch your phone.” I locate it on the floor near his discarded pants and throw it at him.

While I stand here admiring him, he types out a text. Even though I’m spent, I want to tackle him and wrap myself around him.

I find my jeans and get dressed instead, using my shirt to clean up as much as possible. We should probably take a break. I pull back the curtain to stare at the falls, but my own phone goes off with an alert, letting me know a new apartment listing was just added that matches my search.

“Your sister’s texting, wondering why I’m not at work and if we sorted our shit,” Maddox says.

“Did you tell her we’re in Canada?”

“Yup. She yelled at me for leaving her out. I told her we haven’t left the hotel room in two days, and now she’s thanking me.”

I laugh. “You’re only with me to freak out my sister, aren’t you?”

“Nah, that’s just a bonus.” He holds out his hand and beckons me back to bed, but I don’t move.

“Shouldn’t we go see the falls at some point? Isn’t that why we’re here?”

“Says the guy on his phone.”

I lift my chin in his direction, gesturing to the fact he’s doing the exact same thing.

“What are you looking at?” he asks.

“Apartment listings,” I say absently.

Maddox frowns and opens his mouth to say something but changes his mind.

“What?” I ask.

“Come back to bed. We’ll do the falls tomorrow. We can spend all day in Canada and drive back to New York in the afternoon.”

“Isn’t the point of traveling to see things and do touristy shit?”

“Nope. It’s to make memories. And you know what I’m going to think about when someone talks about Niagara Falls? I’ll remember my awesome boyfriend fucking me until I’m legless.”

“Well when you put it like that …” With a flick of my wrist, I pop the button on my jeans and am naked again within seconds.

“I have a confession to make,” Maddox says as soon as I climb into bed next to him.

My arms snake around him and bring him close to me so his head is on my chest. “You’re actually married and have three kids.”

“You know about Stella and the triplets?”

“Stella? Really?”

He shrugs. “First name I could think of. What I was going to say is I think I knew I loved you weeks ago.”

“You didn’t say anything.”

“Uh, you were fucking me with a dildo when it happened. Didn’t think it was the best time to bring it up.”

I burst into laughter.

“But really, I don’t think I understood that’s what it was at the time. I remember thinking you were everything to me, but given the circumstances, that might’ve been my dick talking. Only now I realize it was the first time I knew you were my future, and that doesn’t scare me.”