The Bookworm's Guide to Faking It (The Bookworm's Guide 2)

She swallowed. “It’s not going to work.”

“It’s going to work.”

“I don’t sleep with people on the first date.”

“Then thank God we’re not on a date.”

She pulled two mugs down from the cabinet above her head. “I don’t know what you’re trying to achieve.”

“It would be great if I could convince you to admit that you’re my girlfriend.”

“What are you, five?”

“No, but I am determined.”

“It’s been twenty-four hours since we had the conversation about seeing where things go. You’re already putting a label on it.” She scooped cocoa powder into both mugs.

“I know, but there’s a benefit to admitting you’re my girlfriend.”

“Oh, is there? And what’s that?”

“I can do this.” I swept her dark hair to one side, exposing the side of her neck so I could kiss it.

“You appear to be doing it anyway,” she breathed, dropping a teaspoon in the right mug.

“Is it convincing you yet?”

“Nuh-uh.”

“What if I do this?” I ran my hands down her sides until I was grasping her hips. I pulled her back so her ass was snug against me and she had no chance of escaping my hold. My lips went to her neck once again, and I kissed a trail down from her earlobe to her collarbone.

“Not convinced,” she said, but her voice wasn’t as strong as before.

“No?” I kept kissing her, leaving soft, firm kisses over her tender skin.

Holley tilted her head to the side, her breath hitching when my teeth caught her neck. “No.”

She was full of shit, but if she was going to play this game, then so was I.

I buried one hand in her hair and pulled her head to the side, tilting it so I could kiss the corner of her mouth. I dotted kisses along her jaw, flexing my fingers on her hip, pulling her against me more firmly.

She turned her face and her lips found mine. It took her two seconds to turn around and wrap her arms around my neck. The ferocity of her kiss took me by surprise for a moment, but it didn’t last long before my body reacted to her.

I kissed her deeply, taking control. She didn’t mind if the way she yielded to me was any indication. She sank against me, and as her tongue found mine, desire rushed through me.

Fuck.

“Convinced yet?” I murmured against her lips.

“Not entirely,” she replied, her voice just as soft as mine. “And I don’t think you’re going to convince me in the kitchen.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.” She took my lower lip between her teeth and tugged lightly.

Well, well, well.

Here was a side of Holley I hadn’t expected.

“Where do you think I can convince you?” I tilted her head back and kissed down her neck.

“That way,” she breathed.

“I can’t see where you’re pointing.”

“Through there?”

“The sofa?”

“Oh, for God’s sake, Sebastian. My bed. Take me to bed.”

I pulled back and grinned. “Demanding. I like it.”

“I’ll change my mind.”

“No, you won’t.” I pulled her in for another deep kiss, cupping the back of her head so she couldn’t move away even if she wanted to.

“Not if you keep kissing me like that I won’t.” Holley pushed me back toward her bedroom. “I’m not going to offer again.”

“I don’t believe you offered. I believe you demanded.”

“Fine.” Amusement flashed in her eyes. “I won’t demand again. Ever.”

I grabbed her hand and dragged her through her apartment.

She didn’t have to tell me again.CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO – SEBASTIANrule twenty-two: not everything has to be faked.I shoved Holley’s bedroom door shut behind us and pushed her back onto the bed. I’d wanted to fucking do this ever since I’d laid eyes on her in the store that first day I went in.

Wanted to kiss her, to taste her, to feel her breathing against my lips.

It was all I’d wanted for years.

And now, finally, she was mine.

Whether she liked it or not, I knew it.

Holley was mine.

I covered her body with mine and kissed her, wasting no time. I wanted her to know how much I wanted her—how much I regretted all the time apart, how much I regretted not having her in my life.

How much I regretted not kissing her the first moment I saw her a few weeks ago.

She moved her hands over my shoulders, and her back arched as she sought to get closer to me. All I could think was that we were wearing way too many layers for this shit, so I pulled back and yanked off both my sweater and my t-shirt.

I did the same to her, tugging her up to remove the unnecessary clothes. Her bra was black and lacy, and it cupped her breasts perfectly.

I wanted it gone.

I ran my hands over her body as we kissed. Her skin was so soft and warm, and the roughness of the lace against my bare chest sent a shiver down my spine. I felt for the clip at the back of her bra and undid it. Her bra snapped open and I pulled the straps down her shoulders, tossing it to the side when she’d worked her hands free.