Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Royce
When I wake up, I’m twisted in the bedsheets, her warm body curled into mine.
I smile, my sights dropping to her. She’s still asleep, knees pulled to her chest, soft breaths escaping from her lips.
Her dark brown hair fans behind her, and I find myself tracing the freckles that are scattered across her cheeks.
I need to get up, to shower and get ready for my day, but I don’t want to. I want to stay here, in this moment, forever.
Something has shifted. Whether it was Kai or my dad’s words, I don’t know, but they stuck. I could still have this and have her. I didn’t need to push her away. My only problem now is if she wants this as much as me or if she wants to keep the fake relationship going and leave it as is.
She stirs in my arms, her eyelids fluttering and for some reason, I stop breathing. Her amber eyes seek out mine, and a small smile pulls at her lips, those dimples pressing into her cheeks.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” I whisper and she gives a sleepy laugh.
“It was one day.” She furrows her brows, lifting her head and tucking herself under my arm.
Her ear presses to my chest, and my heart skips a beat or two. “One day was too long,” I mumble as I press my lips into her hair.
She sighs softly.
“How’s your head?” I ask, inhaling her scent.
“Sore,” she groans. “This is why I don’t drink, I can’t handle it,” she whines. “I blame Nora.”
I chuckle lightly, tucking my finger under her chin and tilting her head back. “You’re beautiful,” I whisper.
She edges closer to me, a small smile on her face.
Just as I am about to kiss her and drag her into my lap, we hear a loud crash and bang followed by an, “Oh, fuck it.” Her eyes widen before she is rolling out of my bed, my tee sitting higher one side and her ass crease on show.
She rushes from the bedroom and I groan, my cock swelling inside my boxers.
“Edel,” I hear her voice echo around the large space and give a light chuckle.
Giving myself a moment or two, I roll out of the bed and grab my sweats, dragging them up, grateful that my hard dick has simmered down. I grab a tee and pull it over my head. Walking towards the lounge area, Edel is pacing, her hand pressed to her head.
“Oh my God.” She winces. “Why did we drink so much?”
“I blame Nora,” Athena says again and I smirk.
“Would you girls like coffee? I’ll pop out and grab you something before I have to leave,” I ask, closing the gap between me and Athena. My fingers lace through hers and I pull her into me, her back to my front as I place a kiss on her neck.
Edel looks between the both of us. “You don’t have to fake it in front of me.” She gives me a weak smile, and I can tell she isn’t fond of me.
Athena doesn’t say anything and I feel the tug on my heart. I step aside and widen my smile.
“We haven’t formally met.” I hold my hand out. “I’m Royce.” I flash her my best grin and she softens ever so slightly. She grips my hand, giving it a firm shake.
“Coffee would be amazing,” Edel hums, dropping my hand and walking to the sofa.
Athena rolls her lips. “She’s just a bit groggy,” she mutters.
I scoop my arms around her waist and pull her close to me. My forehead rests against hers. “Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask.
She blinks up at me, her fingertips walking up my chest before she’s playing with the thick neckline of my tee. “Because I didn’t know what to say.” Her vulnerability shows and my chest tightens.
“Baby,” I whisper, “what part of this feels fake to you…” I trail off, swallowing. “None of this is fake, not anymore, Lucky… I told you last night, I’m all in.”
Her lips part, my words finally sinking in and I hear Edel mutter something. We both turn to look at her, my brows knitted.
“Say something, you idiot!” she shouts across the room at Athena, and I choke on a laugh.
“Are you sure about this?” she finally asks me, her ambers locked on me.
“I have never been surer of something in my life, kid.” My smile widens, my arms tightening around her waist.
“I’m going to go back to the room,” Edel pipes up, sneaking past us. “I feel like you two might need a minute or… something.” She blushes before ducking out of the bedroom and closing the door.
Silence echoes, my heart is thumping in my ears. “Are you all in?” I ask, my voice is tight.
She’s breathy as I tease my fingertips at the hem of her tee, tracing them just underneath.
Her skin is warm. My lips press to hers, a soft moan escaping as her tongue finds mine, our kiss deepening.
My breaths are heavy through my nostrils, my fingers digging into her thigh and I need her to say the words.
Need her to tell me she wants this and I’m not imagining it.
“Yes,” she pants, breaking away.
I don’t give her a minute to catch her breath. My mouth is on hers, my spare hand cupping her cheek, our kiss hot and messy.
“The contract,” she whispers, her eyes widening as they bounce between mine.
“Fuck the contract,” I growl, smashing my lips back to hers.
As soon as those words left my lips, I felt a weight shift from my shoulders, but instead, it weaved its way into my chest. Her fingers splay against the skin of my chest, and I swear she can feel the way my heart is racing beneath my skin.
Letting my hands glide down her petite frame, I scoop her into my embrace. Her arms hang around my neck, fingers teasing circles between my shoulders. Our kiss falls lazy for just a moment before dropping her to the bed, a small smile on her face.
“As much as I want to bury myself between your thighs and make you come on my tongue...” I groan as I lay my body over hers, my eyes fall to her lips.
The thought of having her on my tongue and fingers… fuck. My cock swells in my boxers, pressing my hips against her has her wriggling beneath me.
“I have to go to work.” My whisper comes out as a sigh. “But mark my words, tonight… you’re all mine.” I cover her mouth with mine, kissing her slowly, taking in this moment as I imprint it into my soul.
What if I don’t get this chance again? What if she backs out after today? What if I pushed her too far?
Reluctantly I stop kissing her, my hands cupping her face as my thumbs gently brush over her pink cheeks. Her mind is ticking. I can see the way she is playing something on repeat in her head.
“Talk to me,” I whisper, brushing my lips across hers.
She’s hesitant. I can see the conflict in her eyes.
“This.” She passes her finger between the both of us. “What happens next? We agreed to play a part, and I can’t work out what’s real and what’s fake.” She pauses for a moment, her chest rising and falling beneath me, her beautiful amber eyes locked on mine.
“I told you, baby…” I cast my gaze on her, and I can see the worry that is buried deep inside, see the way panic masks her face and I fucking hate it.
If I had to get into it, I would say she has never been loved, doesn’t know what it feels like to be appreciated. I bet she’s the kind of girl that does everything for everyone yet doesn’t ever think about herself. Always an afterthought.
But not now. Not with me.
“This isn’t fake.” My tone is soft but to the point—I need her to know I mean this, need her to know how serious I was when I said I was all in. Because I am. I am all. Fucking. In. “Not anymore,” I whisper with a soft shake of my head. “Nothing about me and you, Lucky, is fake.”
I watch as she swallows, she isn’t convinced but I can prove it to her. I will prove to her how much I have fallen for her, prove to her that she deserves to be on a pedestal, with me at her feet, ready to burn the fucking world down for her.
Lowering my lips to hers, I kiss her, but this time I take my time. Pressing them ever so slightly harder, my tongue dips just past her lips, teasing her. My hand trails up to her face, my fingers grazing through the side of her hair, tilting her face up as we mould together, my kiss deepening.
My fucking heart is banging in my chest. I squeeze my eyes tight; my deep breaths escape through my nose. This feels almost painful, like if I don’t kiss her, if I don’t love her how she deserves, it feels as if I may just die at the thought of losing her.
My other hand slowly curls around her hip, lifting her body ever so slightly towards mine.
Flicking my eyes open, I break from her and watch as her eyes flutter open, flickering as she focuses on me.
Wrapping my fingers around her wrist, I place her small hand over my chest so she can feel how my heart is beating in my chest. How it’s beating for her.
“Don’t ever tell me this is fake.”
The breath catches at the back of her throat, her eyes almost misty.
“I meant what I said, baby, I’m done pretending.”
Her needy hands lock around the back of my head as she drags her lips to mine, kissing me as if I was the air she needed to breathe. Like this was our last kiss. A pain twists in my chest, my hands still firmly cupped around her face, holding her where I want her.
Pulling back, I rest my forehead against hers. My eyes fall, and her soft pants fill the room.
“As much as I want to spend all day kissing you, I have a race to win.” I smirk, and she nods, a sadness slipping across her lips. “I need you there, baby, I need you on the pit wall.”
Her eyes widen ever so slightly, looking at me as if I have said something she doesn’t understand.
“But,” she mutters and I kiss her, just to shut her up.
A soft moan escapes her lips and fuck, it does something to me. I want to hear the way I make her moan, record it, then get the soundwaves tattooed on me. Only for me. No one else will ever know what it means.
“No buts, I was a fool telling Nora to keep you away.” Her brow creases ever so slightly. “I want you there, watching me.” I scoff. “Fuck, Kai said something and it hit home.” I pause, my lips inches from hers.
“What did he say?”
“That you’re my lucky charm.”