Not that I want to or plan to.
I pat her arm and whisper to her, "Don't worry about the bill. Our phony relationship was my idea, so I will pay."
"Okay. Thank you, Dane."
"You're welcome, Rika." I love saying her name. It rolls off my tongue in the most satisfying way. "I am about to be a billionaire, after all. I can afford to spoil my not-girlfriend."
"You are such a gentleman. It's refreshing."
After I pay the bill, we take a taxi back to her apartment building. I walk her to her door, the way a gentleman would. Not because she called me that, but because I want to do it. I always walk a woman to her door. It's the polite thing to do.
Rika unlocks the door, swinging it open, but lingers on the threshold. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Dane."
I kiss her cheek.
She raises her brows. "That's all I get? I mean, we want everyone to believe we're hot for each other. Don't you think you should give me a real kiss?"
"Well---It's---" I want to do that, but considering how our first kiss affected me, I don't think it's a good idea. "I never kiss a woman on the mouth on the first date."
"Make an exception. For the sake of appearances."
"There's no one else around."
"But this building has security cameras on every floor. What if someone leaks a video of you not kissing me?" Her smile is teasing and sexy as hell. "Don't want potential customers to think you don't know how to please a woman."
"Ah..." I can't stop staring at her red lips. She might have a point about appearances. Or maybe I'm so desperate to kiss her again that I'll take any excuse. "Yes, you may be right."
I move closer, bending my head to seal my lips over hers. The first touch fires an electric jolt of lust through me, from my mouth straight down to cock. The scent of her overpowers my senses, and I thrust a hand into her hair, spreading my palm up from her nape so I can tip her head back. A breath rushes out of her. For this one moment, I let myself forget she's only pretending, that this isn't real, and I lose myself in the kiss. Her lips feel soft and slick and warm, and when I push my tongue between them, she opens her mouth more. I can't hold back, not when she moans and grasps my arms like she wants to do so much more than kiss. Thrusting deep, I devour her mouth and gorge myself on the flavor of her, on the sensation of our tongues twining and our lips colliding while we both cling to each other like we need our bodies melded but the air between us has become an impenetrable barrier. Any thoughts I might've had left in my brain fly away, leaving nothing except the blind, overpowering hunger to consume this woman like I've never done with anyone else.
She grasps my lapels and drags me into her body.
All of her, crashing into all of me... It feels incredible. I back her up to the doorjamb and grind myself against her, heedless of the fact I have a raging erection that's now jammed into her belly. She moans again, the sound so erotic it's fraying my last thread of willpower. I grip her arse with both hands, kneading her cheeks, then whisk one hand up to her breast and close my fingers around it, loving the way her flesh yields to me---except for the stiff peak. I want my mouth on that nipple. Now.
But I don't do it. I massage her breast and her arse, knowing that's as far as I should go, as far as I can go. I shouldn't even be doing that. How long we kiss, I have no idea. It feels like an eternity of pleasure. I don't want to stop, but I have to break away and give up the feel of her body and the taste of her mouth. It's what our arrangement requires.
So I step back, creating a distance between us. "Good night, Rika."
My voice sounds rough, almost hoarse.
Before she can speak, I spin away from her and stalk down the hall.
Chapter Seven
Rika
I toss and turn all night, tormented by dreams of Dane kissing me, Dane's body pressed against me, Dane's hungry groans, the way he'd fondled my ass and my breast. Yeah, sure, I had hauled him into me. I can't blame Dane for how hot our kiss got, because I suggested a real kiss, I pulled him closer, and I ravaged his mouth like a sex-starved lunatic. Sure, I haven't had sex in a while, but sheesh. I should have more self-control, shouldn't I?
Not with Dane Dixon.
The man can barely speak to me during office hours, but on our date, he didn't stammer the way he usually does. He was courteous, respectful, sweet, and funny---and he even held doors for me and pulled my chair out for me. He behaved like the perfect boyfriend. But he's not my boyfriend. I want him to be. Last night I'd realized that. I should tell him how I feel, but he's made it pretty clear he wants nothing to do with actual dating.
The next morning, I walk into the office with dark circles under my eyes that no amount of makeup can cover up. Twice overnight I'd woken from a dream of Dane so turned on that I had to relieve my lust the solo way. My hair is still damp because my stupid hair dryer decided to break this morning, so not only do I look like I broke out the booze and had a massive bender after Dane said good night to me, but I also look like a drowned puppy.
At least my clothes and makeup look okay.
I've just sat down at my desk when the phone rings. It's Dane's extension.
"Hi, boss," I say, feigning a cheerfulness I don't feel this morning. "What can I do for you?"
"Come into my office, please. I need to speak to you."
"Sure thing."
I march into his office, and when he waves for me to sit down, I settle onto a chair across the desk from him.
Dane shuffles papers on his desk, head down, moving only his eyes to glance up at me repeatedly. He must notice my wet hair and my dark circles.
I clear my throat. "I'm so sorry about the way I look this morning. I know it's unprofessional to have wet hair at work, but my hair dryer broke and---"
He raises a hand to silence my babbling. "I don't care about any of that. Chance and I have found you another position."
"Already?"
It's been one day since he asked me to be his fake girlfriend. He already got me another job? Maybe the slutty way I'd dragged him into me last night has embarrassed him, so he quick found me a new job. Right. He got up at two a.m. to hunt for another PA position for me.
Well, with this guy, who knows?
Dane fiddles with his tie. "Yesterday, after our discussion about the...uh...fake orgasm---" He blushes. Really blushes. And he clearly remembers my joke about orgasms. "I meant the fat---the fake girlfriend issue. You aren't fat. N-not at, um, all. Or ever. Or---"
"Relax, Dane, it's okay. I know what you were trying to say." Jeez, he's even more nervous than every other time we've spoken. So I give him what I hope looks like a sympathetic smile. "This is all kind of weird for me too."
"Is it?"
"Yep. Take a breath and start over. This is business, right? There's no reason to be nervous."
He takes a breath and sets his palms on the desktop. "Chance has a mate who owns a home business, and he needs a personal assistant. His name is Eddie Masters. He films fitness videos that he sells on his website, and he also offers live classes over the internet."