Love or Lust (LOL): Part 2

“You do realize he has no interest in her, right?”

“No.”

Placing a hand on either side of my face when I attempt to break eye contact, he waits until I’m focused before he continues, “Neither of us wants anyone but you. We know we both can’t have you, but we’re both hell-bent on trying to win your heart. I shouldn’t be talking you out of being mad at him, but I can’t let you walk around with a scowl on your face.”

“But—”

“Pres, think about it. The only way to make it to the end is to play the part. If the girls didn’t think they stood a chance with us, they would vote us off in a second.”

“True.” I deflate like a balloon into his arms again and close my eyes.

“You’re just upset because you witnessed it. It was a shock. I get it. Plus,” he states, kissing me on the top of the head as he repositions himself the best he can, moving me so I’m lying across half his body. “You’ve kissed both of us. I don’t want to see it, but I know it’s happened, and I’m not upset you kissed him because I’m confident in my skills.”

“Your skills?” I tease.

“You have no idea, but whenever you’re ready, I’d be happy to show you exactly what I’m talking about,” he quickly replies, his voice taking on a serious and sultry tone. One that has the ache in my chest moving lower to a region that’s normally as dry as the Sahara.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I squeak out, closing my eyes, unsure of how to respond to his proposal. Because let’s be honest, that’s exactly what he was doing. Propositioning me to go beyond kissing. A thought that’s crossed my mind a time or two, but I know I’m not ready to go there with him. Or Lennon. Or anyone right now.

But I can see it happening. Sooner rather than later. And when I do think about it, Jace’s face is the first to come to mind. His sexy grin and mesmerizing green eyes the star of my daydreams.

Keeping my eyes closed, our conversation fades away, the only sound the beat of his heart beneath where my head rests on his chest. Between that and the warmth of his body, I’m lulled to sleep in minutes.

When I wake up, Jace isn’t in bed, but the shower is running. Staying curled up in the covers, I consider heading back to my place without saying goodbye when the bathroom door opens. Jace saunters out with a towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water cascading down his toned body.

My breath hitches. I’ve seen him at the pool. I walked in on him in only his underwear last night. I fell asleep on his bare chest. I shouldn’t be affected by his nakedness, but I am. Somehow, knowing the only thing standing in the way of me getting the full picture is a beige towel has me practically panting by the time he turns around and realizes I’m awake.

“Enjoying the show?” he asks with a smirk as he grabs some clothes and heads back toward the bathroom.

“Eh,” I reply, trying to play off the fact I’m incredibly turned on right now. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”

“Yet for some reason, your cheeks are flushed.” Two steps toward the bed and he’s within reach. I could pull the towel from around his waist with little effort. “Your breathing is strangled.” Another step and his crotch is eye level. There’s no hiding his arousal. The towel would need to be made of steel. “And you’re staring at my cock, licking your lips as if you want a taste.”

Touching my lips, I find them freshly dampened. Fuck my life.

“I...”

Nothing. I have nothing. No other words come out. I can’t form a thought to save my life let alone a sentence.

Bending down, Jace places a chaste kiss on my parted lips, deepening it when a soft moan escapes me. Before I realize what’s happening, his body is hovering over mine and I’m kicking the covers away. Once I’m free of the confines of the bedding, I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him tightly against me.

A growl quickly followed by a hiss slips from Jace’s lips, and then he’s devouring mine again. My mind goes blank, only able to focus on the feel of his body against mine. On the ache between my legs, the building in my core as he presses against me. My vision begins to cloud, and then the world around me goes blurry as my body begins to convulse.

One last thrust against me and a deep, erotic rumble pours from Jace’s chest. It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard, and as I try to regain control of my breathing, all I can think is how much I want to hear it again.

It’s after three o’clock when I finally leave Jace’s villa and head for my own. All eyes are on me as I walk by the pool. Everyone, including Lennon, is there, making it very apparent where I was coming from. Holding my head high, I keep my eyes trained on the path in front of me as I scurry by, not glancing back as I round the corner.

I should have.

Because if I’d been paying attention, I would have noticed that Lennon was following me. I’m about to open my door when he calls out my name. My body tenses, my hand freezing in midair as I reach for the door handle.

“Presley, talk to me. I want to explain.”

But he doesn’t need to. He shouldn’t have to.

“There’s nothing to explain. I’m sorry if I overreacted. I get it, I do,” I say without turning around even though I can feel how close he is. If I look in his eyes, I’ll break down. Not because he kissed Courtney but because of everything that happened between Jace and me this morning.

I’ve become a hypocrite, and I hate myself for it.