Fake It 'Til You Break It

Only a matter of time?!

Is he serious?

Because the most wanted shithead in the senior class has never once done a damn thing to lead anyone to believe we were a possibility. And it goes both ways.

Yeah, okay. As if they’d believe—

“That’s why you were drooling over him at the game!” Carley says.

Both mine and Nico’s muscles harden.

“I was not.”

“I knew it!” Our other friend Ava squeals, and my head snaps her way. “Me and Krista used to bet on when you two would finally hook up!”

“Seriously?” I question without thinking and all eyes fly to me.

Shit.

Ugh! I never agreed to this! What the hell am I supposed to do? Lie to my best friends?

“I always thought you had the hots for him but didn’t wanna say.” Krista grins, all proud like. “I used to plot with Trent, trying to hook you up, you guys are so alike it’s unreal, but he’d get mad and tell me not to push it.”

Nico’s chest flexes against my back and I hold my breath.

Krista smiles wider. “I bet he knew Nico had the hots for you but worried you didn’t feel it.” She gasps. “We can totally double date now!”

Oh, god. Shoot me.

And did she say we’re alike? Ha!

I try to sit up more, to remove my body from pressing against Nico’s overheated one, but he only tightens his hold, his lips hitting my ear.

“Stop it,” he whispers unexpectedly, and my abdomen constricts. “This’ll help us both, go with it. If you keep trying to pull away, I’ll whisper something so dirty in your ear it’ll have you squirming, and all your friends will witness me turning you on.”

What the what?

I try to fight the unexpected pull his nearness seems to have created, but apparently my eyes have a mind of their own, and I can’t stop myself from glancing over my shoulder, the move bringing my lips even with his.

His eyes are sharp and warning as his tongue sneaks out to flick my lips.

All I can think is thank god for padded bathing suit tops.

My traitorous nipples pebble without permission.

This guy...

The breathy “dang” that leaves Macy has my head snapping toward them.

“I just got hot,” Macy admits.

I gape at her, but she simply shrugs.

Krista gives her a high five. “Same. I’m going to find my man for a little ocean water rub down.”

I can’t help but laugh when she runs off to do exactly that, the rest of the girls laying their towels out and piling beside us.

Nico shifts behind me, and then suddenly his shirt is at our sides, the natural heat of his naked skin now pressed firmly against mine, nothing but the tiny strings of my top between us. While tension swims deep in my stomach, my body decides to settle into his.

“See how easy it is, D,” Nico murmurs for only me to hear. “No one will question us.”

I wish I was as sure as he seems to be, but hey, if he insists on sitting behind me, I might as well use him.

I lift my hips so I can shimmy my shorts down and kick them to the side, allowing my upper body weight to be fully held by his.

“If you don’t put those back on—”

“Quiet,” I cut him off, not bothering to keep my voice low as he did. “I need your body, not your words.”

Carley laughs beside me, slipping her glasses in place.

Nico’s chest vibrates with his groan, but after a second he leans back some, so I’m angled just right, the bright California sun beaming down on me.

Not a second after I’m settled in completely, accepting of my makeshift chair, Nico’s whispered words find my ear yet again.

“Use my body however you want, D. As far as everyone is concerned, it’s yours now.” He pauses a minute before continuing, “But remember, if you do, it’ll go both ways.”

Both ways. Meaning if I use him, he’ll use me, but how or in what ways?

Dirty ways?

An involuntary shiver runs through me and his chest shakes with silent laughter.

Asshole.

“Damn, this is gonna be fun.”

I’m not sure fun is the right word, but I’ll worry about that later. Right now, I’m enjoying the heat of the sun’s touch too much, almost as much as his warm body on mine.

I fall asleep.Macy skips into my room and does a little twirl, her neon romper causing her chestnut skin to glow even more, dark curls bouncing all around. “How’s it look?” She smiles, posing with her hands on her hips.

I laugh, turning back to my mirror. “Hot. The color looks awesome on you,” I tell her as I finish applying the last of my mascara.

“Thank you, thank you. I’ll probably freeze once it gets darker, but it’s worth it.” She chuckles, plopping on the bed. “What are you wearing?”

“I think my white shorts.”