Lights, Camera, Lies

I wasn’t sure how to answer, so I concentrated on the segment with the salesman being told that one of his recent customers was a fake couple.

Thankfully, he took it in good humor, instantly pointing out that the students must have been the fake couple. But he mentioned that Eileen and Eric needed to learn how to get along before making a major purchase like a car.

Then he was asked what he remembered about the big guy and the younger woman with auburn hair. “Oh, you mean the couple that came in before your show contestants?”

I burst into laughter, as Taylor squeezed my hand.

When Toby was told that we were a fake couple that had met less than an hour before, his jaw actually fell open. “No. You’re kidding me. Really?” He scratched his head. “But they’re professional actors, right?”

We collapsed into howls of laughter while the information came up telling people how to vote. It was odd that they were wording it more along the lines of, “best couple” rather than “most convincing couple”.

“Well, it certainly seems that we’re in the lead already,” Taylor said. “What do you think of the contest so far?”

“We’re crushing it!” I giggled.

Taylor stared at me with a wild, burning look in his eyes.

“I think the best thing about this contest is that we met,” I said, not even caring how mushy that sounded.

“That is definitely my favorite part too,” he said.

I was surprised that he leaned away, turning to face me instead of pulling me into his arms. “Alice, you know how much I want you. But if you want to take your time with some things, that’s absolutely fine.”

Realizing what he was talking about, I could feel my cheeks grow warm.

“I absolutely adore you, and of course I want to sleep with you in my arms. But if you’d like to stay in the guest room tonight, there’s a queen sized bed, a large window, and no video game noise.”

I nodded as his hand caressed my knee. “I think I’d like to sleep next to you.” Although I hadn’t quite decided yet whether we should do much more than sleep, I knew that my mind wasn’t in total control anymore. My long-neglected sexual desires were totally in charge.

Taylor leaned forward to give me a light kiss. “Good. I think I’d go crazy if I didn’t hold you all night.”

It was hard to process how taken with me he seemed to be. I would never have imagined I’d have that sort of effect on a man. Especially such an incredible man like Taylor. It didn’t make any sense.

We went upstairs, and when I saw his bedroom, a tiny squeak escaped my throat. “No wonder you weren’t super impressed by that house,” I laughed. “This is ridiculous.”

His bedroom was gorgeous, like a presidential suite at a hotel. The bed was mammoth. There was a door on either side, and a quick peek confirmed that one was a huge walk-in closet that was three times the size of my bedroom. The other was a marble-lined bathroom fit for a king.

“ Hey,” Taylor said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “When we win this contest, I want my own prize.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ll let me worship every inch of your skin.”

Thank goodness he was holding me, as my knees weekend for a second. “That could probably be arranged,” I said, hoping that it came out sounding saucy and not desperate.

Knowing that we were going to share the same space all night long had flames licking up my thighs. I stretched up to kiss him lightly. “I guess we should go to bed?” I asked.

“Yes.”

He took hold of the bottom of my blouse, slowly pulling it over my head. Fingertips trailed down my spine, then back up to unhook my bra.

He removed it slowly, as if he were unwrapping something fragile. The sensation of his lips around my nipple made me gasp.

“You’re so sexy, Alice,” he murmured.

Both of his rough palms caressed my breasts, making my head spin and my hips soften. Even though his touch was possessive, it was also sweet.

This wasn’t just physical. We were connecting. Bonding. More than ever, Taylor was making me feel like his. I’d never felt like I belonged anywhere, or with anyone. It was more intense than I would ever have dreamed.