Fake (West Hollywood 1)

“Paddy? Paddy?” I tiptoed into his bedroom. A stupid thing to do since I was actively attempting to rouse the man. “Hey. Are you awake?”

Nothing from the lumpy shadow on the bed.

My heart tripped about inside my chest as I stood by him. Up close, I could see him much better in the low light. The line of his neck and curve of his shoulder against the white pillow and sheets. All of that masculine beauty sleeping so peacefully. I was a terrible person. He needed his rest. Also, maybe me making a pass at him would be just plain wrong.

Ever so carefully, I tiptoed back toward the door. A bedside lamp clicked on, illuminating the space. Busted.

“Norah?” He rubbed at his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Go back to sleep.”

He sat up, the sheet slipping to his waist. While it wasn’t a cold night, a sleep shirt would have been a good idea. For the sake of my raging libido if nothing else.

“I was just doing the camp counselor thing, checking you weren’t getting into any mischief in here. Eating candy and watching porn after lights out. But you’re all good.” I gave him a finger wave. “Night.”

“Hold on.” He yawned. “Why are you awake?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t sleep and I thought . . . actually, I didn’t think. Not really. And this situation requires a lot of thought.” I took a breath. “Okay. This was a mistake. I’m going to cease and desist with the word vomit and return to my room now.”

He canted his head. “What are you wearing?”

“Oh.” I gave my blue silk chemise a grimace. “Everything else Mei packed was sheer or had feathers. While this barely covers my boobs and ass, at least the matching panties are comfortable.”

“I’ve got to give her a raise,” he mumbled.

“She’s great. You should.” I took a step back toward the door. “I’ll let you get back to sleep.”

Instead of doing as told, he threw back the bedsheet and rose to his feet. Disheveled never looked so good. His sleepy gaze and ruffled hair. And he was wearing those saucy sleep pants that left nothing to the imagination. How was a God-fearing woman supposed to keep her thoughts chaste and pure in the face of such a garment? It was nigh impossible, not that I hadn’t been in a state of high horniness already.

“C’mon,” he said, ushering me out of the room with a hand on my lower back. But when we reached the doorway, he stopped.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, turning to find his gaze on my ass. “Paddy?”

“Shit,” he said, bracing his hands on the doorway and hanging his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be—”

“It’s okay.”

“No. It’s not.” His shoulders flexed, fingers tightening on the door frame. Like he was holding himself back. “Listen . . . there’s something I need to tell you. The thing is, this is complicated.”

“Because you’re my boss?”

“Yeah.” The angles of his face seemed so much sharper in the low lighting. The skin tighter somehow. “I’m more than happy to come sleep with you if that’ll help you feel safe. If you want me to sit in a chair in the corner and keep watch over you all night, I’ll do it.”

“Thank you.”

He just nodded.

“Total honesty, right?”

“Right,” he said.

Was I really this brave? That was the question. I rubbed my damp palms against my bare thighs. “I didn’t wake you because I’m afraid, though.”

“Okay.”

And that’s where I stalled. Completely and utterly.

For a moment he just looked at me, then he said, “You can have whatever you want from me.”

“I can?”

“Yes,” he said, tone definite. “You should know that.”

“No one’s ever said that to me before.”

Lips in a firm line, he stood there, braced in the doorway. Waiting on my decision. I took a tentative step forward, reaching up to place my hand where his heart beat strong and true. A dusting of chest hair, warm smooth skin, and the swell of his pecs. He held perfectly still, gazing down at me with more heat in his eyes than I’d ever seen. And I wanted it all. I stepped closer, close enough to rub my cheek against his chest. His grip on the door frame tightened to such a degree that some of the woodwork creaked in protest.

“This is a very nice house.” I rested my chin against him so I could see his face. To be this close to him for no other reason than I wanted to felt sublime. “It would be a pity to break it.”

“I just need you to make the first move,” he said, voice guttural.

“Pay attention, Paddy.” I smiled. “I already did.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

My words unleashed him. There could be no other description for it. He rushed me, one hand gripping the back of my neck while the other grabbed at my ass. The next thing I knew, my spine was against the hallway wall and he was lifting me via the hand beneath my butt. My legs wrapped around his waist and oh yes, this was perfect. We should never not be in this position.