From Friend to Fake Fiancé

Sliding in beside her, Mac continued exploring her body. “I’m thinking how lucky I am that you asked me here this week.” He trailed his fingertips over her hip, across her quivering stomach. “I’m thinking that touching you is the single most important thing in my life right now.”

Jenna reached up, running her hand along his jawline. “What are we doing here, Mac?”

He swallowed. He didn’t want these questions, the ones he couldn’t answer, settling between them in the bed. All he wanted was Jenna. He wanted to show her how magnificent she was and that nothing should ever bring her back down again. Not weight, not self-esteem and sure as hell not a man.

“We’re about to have a memorable night,” he whispered as he dipped his head toward her breast and slid his hand over the dip in her waist. “We’re about to ignore the outside world and pretend nothing else exists.”

She threaded her fingers through his hair. The slight tug had Mac smiling against her damp skin.

“You with me, Jen?”

Arching up to meet his lips, she replied, “I’m with you. I never want to be anywhere else.”

Mac ignored the stab of guilt, the sliver of fear he felt at her statement. They were getting caught up in the moment. She knew where he stood and grasped that this was their last night together.

Mac focused on pleasuring her, on keeping his name on her lips each time she moaned or cried out. When he hovered over her, Jenna’s hands trailed up his biceps as she looked him in the eye.

“I want nothing between us tonight,” she whispered. “I’m on birth control and I’m clean.”

Mac had never, ever been without protection. That was a major no-no. Most of the women he’d been with he’d just met and they didn’t stick around long enough to earn his trust. But with Jenna, he trusted her completely and when her legs wrapped around his waist he said nothing as he pushed forward.

Gripping the comforter for some shred of control, Mac shut his eyes and willed his body to stay still. He wanted to savor this moment, being with Jenna in every single way possible. With absolutely nothing between them, Mac pulled in a deep breath and started to move. Jenna had literally wrapped herself around him.

“Look at me.” He always wanted her eyes on him, but right now, this second, was most important. “Only me, Jenna.”

She tightened all around him and cried out, “Only you.”

As Mac’s release slammed into him, he captured her mouth. He couldn’t get close enough to her and he wanted to make this moment last. Jenna’s nails bit into his shoulders as she trembled and finally, her body went lax beneath his.

Mac eased to the side, tucking her against him. When her hand settled over his heart, the irony was not lost on him. She’d stolen it. The one thing in this world he swore he’d never give had been taken by his best friend.

None of this was okay. He didn’t want to give her his heart, he didn’t want Jenna in his world in every way possible. How could he protect her from all the questionable dealings he encountered? He’d just ordered a man killed, for pity’s sake, so she obviously needed protection from the filthy life he led.

He’d never hurt her, though. Not physically, not emotionally. He’d kill anyone if they laid a finger on her.

Heaviness washed over Mac as Jenna’s breathing softened. He laid his hand over hers, wanting to savor the moment a bit longer, but the flashing light from his phone on the dresser told him business was calling. His time in fairy-tale land was over.

Sixteen

Jenna rolled over, stretched and smiled as memories washed over her. Last night had been amazing.

Squinting against the sunlight streaming through the sheers, Jenna reached across the bed...encountering cool sheets. She sat up and glanced around the bedroom. The empty bedroom.

As she surveyed the area, she thought Mac could be in the living room or making breakfast to surprise her in bed, but she knew better. He was gone. There wasn’t a stitch of his clothing in here, no bag, no shoes. Absolutely nothing.

With the rumpled sheets and the masculine scent of Mac still all around, Jenna might as well be mocked for her error in judgment. She’d been afraid to get this close, to let her defenses down where Mac was concerned, but she’d taken a risk. She’d known the consequences going in and she’d said to hell with it.

Well, now she sat here all alone in a bed where they’d been intimate only hours ago, which just proved she’d been right all along. Nothing and no one could change Mac O’Shea.