Fake It ‘Til You Feel It (Work For It #3)

15. Accidental Kisses

CHAPTER 15

ACCIDENTAL KISSES

MARS

I read the book this time. Or rather, Ivy and I read it together over the course of a weekend. Rocky won’t give me another one of her withering looks when I come up empty during book club discussion time.

As usual, Ivy fills up a basket with new releases before book club begins. We wander Coastline’s aisles together and separately, giving each other heated looks when we meet up. I pass her in the Mystery section, and the brush of her pinkie against mine sends electricity speeding through my veins, straight to my cock.

I can’t wait to get her home and bury my face between her legs, then my cock inside her warm, wanting pussy. Maybe tonight I’ll have her ride my face. That’s when she’s the loudest, and I love her loud.

Letting out a long, deep breath I try to get a handle on myself. Sporting an erection when we’re about to hang with a group of our friends is not ideal.

Ivy heads to the front counter to buy her books and I grab a corner of one of the couches. Colin sits on the other end and gives me a chin nod. Joanie sits across from us, chatting with Rocky about holding a book signing next month.

As I’d hoped, Ivy sits on the cushion next to me, even if she keeps a respectable, we’re-only-fuck-buddies distance between us. I don’t think what we’re doing is a secret, but she avoids public displays of affection aside from the occasional friendly hug. I resist stretching my arm across the back of the couch and playing with her hair, but just barely. Everything about her tempts me.

Rocky starts off the discussion, and we manage to make it almost an hour before the conversation devolves into something not related to the book. Stuart’s telling a story about him at a Bette Midler concert and a misunderstanding with a member of her security staff.

“I swear I was not trying to steal that feather boa,” he protests. Meredith pats him on the knee and we’re all bent over in laughter. I clutch my sides and Ivy wipes tears from under her eyes.

“Fuck, he’s funny,” she says to me. “Want me to grab you some water on my way back from the bathroom?”

I’m still laughing so I only shake my head in answer as she stands up. Ivy starts giggling again at Stuart’s story when she leans down and gives me the quickest forehead kiss. “Okay, babe.”

You know those cowboy movies where the saloon goes deathly quiet when the stranger walks in? Picture that, but quieter. One last laugh escapes me before my lungs seize. Everybody stares at us and I don’t move for fear of setting off some kind of chain reaction.

Ivy straightens and starts backing away from the couch. I glance up to see a what have I done look on her face.

“Aha,” Joanie shouts, pointing at Ivy. “A-fucking-ha! I knew it.” Ivy shakes her head like she’s trying to convince everyone they didn’t see what they just saw.

“Oh man, you’re in for it,” Colin whispers. “She’ll never let this go.”

Stuart has his hands clasped together under his chin, and Meredith regards us with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. I sit up straighter on the couch and look each one of them in the eye.

Ivy backs up several more steps like she’s about to turn and run. “It’s not what it looks…” I pin her with a look before she can finish the sentence. Because it’s exactly what it fucking looks like. She snaps her mouth shut and squares her shoulders.

“Fine, Mars and I are…” She looks down at me for help but I shrug. I love the cranky little look she gives me. “Mars and I are,” she starts again.

“Getting it on like Donkey Kong?” Stuart says. Meredith pats him on the leg.

“No,” she says, shaking her head.

“Doing the horizontal hokey pokey?” He tries again.

“Less hokey, more pokey.” I say, because I can’t stop myself. Ivy smacks me on the shoulder, and I give her the biggest grin I can. She’s holding back a laugh, tears springing to her eyes. Gotcha .

Colin nods his head and puts his hand up for a high five. I smack his palm and immediately regret it when my hand starts to sting.

“We’re all adults here. No reason to make a big deal out of it.” Ivy doesn’t sound like she believes her own words.

Joanie shakes her head. “Oh, honey. I’m going to make the biggest deal out of this.” Colin nods in agreement.

I smile to myself, a feeling of relief washing over me that I didn’t expect. This might change nothing in our relationship, but at least I don’t feel like Ivy’s dirty little secret anymore.