Unexpected

“Asher,” I warn. He may be a rule-breaker, but I’m not. I’ve never smoked a cigarette, let alone tried drugs. I’ve never stolen anything, not even on accident; I’ve never even skipped school. Asher can break all the rules he wants, but not when it comes to me.

“Fine. Fine.” He exhales a sigh of impatience but, judging by the smile on his face, it's all for show. “Lay them on me.”

“I just have one.” Or ten, but I figure we should start with the big one and add more as needed. So far, Asher has been sweet, caring, and most importantly, respectful, but we’ve been at school. There’s only so much you can do with hallway monitors around every corner. In the outside world, there’s no telling what could happen, which is why I’m starting with the big one.

“Really?” One dark eyebrow arches. “I find that hard to believe.”

“Well, we’ve already kissed. So, people are going to expect more of that, and you’re not exactly known for keeping your hands to yourself.” I pause to gauge his reaction. True or not, Asher is rumored to be as much of a player as Liam. People may not be questioning the validity of our relationship yet, but if we go to a party and he’s not touching me somewhere scandalous, they will be. “So, your only rule is: above the clothes.”

“Really?” Asher pushes my legs open and scoots between them, close enough to make my heart race but still leaving a few inches between us. His eyes take me in, scanning their way from my belly button to my face. He’s got a look, one that matches how I’m feeling: confused, anxious, and a little turned on.

“What?” I laugh, nervously.

Asher stays there for a breath, likely gauging my reaction. I bet he expects me to push him away. I won’t, because I need to get used to him being this close if we’re going to pull this off, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to throw myself at the man and invite his tongue down my throat.

“Can’t handle being this close to me?”

Asher’s playful grin turns sinister. He runs his hand over the inside of my thigh, stopping dangerously close to my center and the air gets caught in my lungs. Warmth radiates from his hand to my core. It’s been weeks since Liam and I had sex. I’ve handled things myself in his absence, but feeling Asher's fingers makes me shudder in delight. “So, I can do this?”

I swallow hard but hold my poker face. Asher squeezes my thigh and rubs his thumb across the soft flannel over my panties. I may be coming unglued with need, but that’s my secret. If Asher ever found out he can turn me on, this whole fake dating thing would be ruined. You can’t have feelings for your fake boyfriend. It’s in the rule book. Okay, so there isn’t a rule book, or if there is I haven’t found it. But I have seen No Strings Attached and Friends with Benefits. In both movies, someone caught feelings and, even though they were only hooking up and not fake dating, it ruined them. Good golly, I’m rambling. My thoughts aren’t even making sense. “Yup, that's okay.”

Asher smirks and slides his hand upward and over my hip. He pulls my blanket away and discards it on the floor beside me. I hold my breath as his hand glides up my side. He stares at me, watching for a reaction when he cups my chest, purposely capturing my nipple between his fingers. “And this?”

“Um...” I might as well not have a shirt on. The cotton spaghetti strap could be made of air at this point. My other nipple hardens, impatiently waiting for attention. I’ve never wanted Asher like this before.

Thought he was cute? Yes.

Had a childhood crush? Of course.

But this feeling is different. It’s like poison in my veins, tangling and fighting with the existing desire I have for Liam. I know it’s wrong. I know they’re brothers. I know that this is all fake, but the way my hips instinctively buck to find Asher’s, and the way his hard length strains beneath his jeans, adding pressure in all the right places, it all feels too real.

“That’s fine too.” My voice cracks and Asher smirks. The desire to kiss him and see how far he’ll walk the line between what’s allowed and what’s not is strong. Too strong.

Asher grins, but his jaw is tight. A dark chuckle vibrates in his throat as he retreats to his side of the couch. I bite my lip to hold in a whimper. This cannot be happening. I cannot be falling in like with Asher.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you liked that.”

I roll my eyes and push myself off the couch. I’m in trouble. Deep, deep trouble if Asher can unravel me like that with a simple touch. I need some space before I do something I'll regret. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m going to get ready. Give me about twenty minutes and we can leave.”

“Oh, my gosh!” I yell over the music when we walk into the party. I don't know who’s house we’re at, but it’s big and filled with people. Dozens of cars are haphazardly parked in the front yard and a quarter of the way down the mile-long driveway, lining both sides. This house, it’s too ostentatious to belong to anybody we know. I mean, it

has pillars on the front porch. Colonial style pillars! In Florida! Whoever lives here, they’ve got that fuck-you-money.

My fingers tangle with Asher’s as he leads me deeper into the house. He’s obviously been here before because he has no trouble navigating his way through the maze of a first floor to the back yard. I glance up at him, slightly jealous of the confidence Asher radiates. I want to hide inside myself right now. I’ve never been good with crowds, or strange people, but he seems at home here.

Asher must sense the anxiety beginning to bubble inside me, because he unlaces our fingers and wraps his arm around my waist. My cheeks heat, but the building pressure in my chest dissipates. I thought it would take longer to transition Asher from jerk to friend in my mind. To my surprise, the switch was seamless. It’s like everything that happened between us the last few years is a fading nightmare and I’ve woken to the man Asher was always meant to be.

But then my stomach drops when I spot Liam a few feet in front of us and I remember everything about what Asher and I are doing is fake. I swallow my anxiety and get my game face ready. Tonight, I am Asher’s girlfriend. I took the title everyone wanted but never got.

I.

Will.

Make.

Liam.

Jealous.