Page 23 of The Masks We Burn
This is a fact. William has me all turned around, but it’s got to be a mix of all the stuff going on combined that’s putting me on edge. Slowly, I start mixing everything together, trying my best to ignore the thick air surrounding us. After he rummages around and makes two coffees, he leans against the sink, and to say it’s messing with my focus is an understatement. I can literally feel his eyes on me, and while the simple act should only exacerbate my annoyance, it’s kind of turning me on.
My blood rushes in my ear as I take special care with dropping exactly two tablespoons of egg mixture into each mini muffin cup. His gaze burns into my skin, lighting a path as it roves around.
“Take a picture, it’ll last—”
“No, it won’t. Wouldn’t do it justice.” His low tone travels through my nerves and straight to my clit, leaving me speechless. Rare, I know.
When I move to put the muffins in the oven, my inseam brushes across the sensitive bundle and I have to bite back a moan.
Holy shit.
Right as I stand, the heat leaves my body, and I realize he’s granted me mercy and has turned around, filling the sink with soap and water. The space gives me a second to breathe and compose my smutty thoughts. I try to tell myself it’s only because it’s been a long time, but the truth is, William is a walking tease. And not even on purpose, which is what makes it even worse.
“When’s your first meeting?” I ask, a hopeful attempt to re-steer our conversation.
“Tonight, actually.”
“Oh, that was fast.”
He nods, turning off the water and leaning against the counter to face me. “Yeah, I’m pretty stoked about it.”
“I want to go with you.” I’m not sure how that came out of my thought bubble and turned into speech. I don’t even have the faintest clue what the fucking association is, let alone having the desire to go. But he burst the bubble as quick as it came.
“I’m not sure you can.” He moves behind me, gathering the dirty dishes and tossing them in the sudsy water. “You’ll have to talk to your dad.”
The secrecy behind it intrigues me, and I decide I will, in fact, talk to my dad, because now, I want to go. I need to know what was so important to William that he would agree to a whole fake ass engagement.
I nod, checking on the muffins before turning around and resting my hip on the counter. I grab my coffee, a feeble attempt to distract myself, and take a sip, loathing how fucking good it is.
Who raised this guy?
I push the thought away and replace it with my own answer. He’s still an asshole, no matter how housebroken he may seem.
“I don’t need your help in here,” I repeat.
He lifts a dark brow, and the slight twitch of his lips says he’s holding something back. “I know, but my ma would have my hide if she knew I was just sittin’ around while you made me some food.”
“I told you, I don’t like feeling like I owe someone something. You brought me dinner, I’m making you breakfast. We’re even.”
“You made me dinner first.”
“You brought me flowers,” I counter.
“Is this how our entire engagement is going to go? Tit for tat?” He tilts his head, a playfully delicious smirk on his face.
Why is it always the asshats with the best smiles?
I shake my head and return to the equally good coffee he made. “Yes, and I’m already thinking of ways to pay you back for this.”
“You’re low-key annoying.”
“And you’re insufferable. What a pair we make.” Moving past him, careful to keep enough room between us in the narrow kitchen, I grab my laptop off my bed and return to the dining room table. “Might as well look up a few ideas while you’re here.”
He nods, joining me and leaning back casually in his chair as if we’ve done this a million times. Even through the strong aroma of the coffee, I can smell his clean scent and it wakes my blood up more than the caffeine. Which leads to my dilemma.
As childish as it may seem, I meant what I said last night about staying ahead of him. He’s a natural flirt and looks too fucking good for me to hold on to petty anger for much longer. But I refuse to get involved with him more than what we already have. Hell, we literally went from never seeing each other to being thrown into a weddingandfake relationship within a week. I can’t imagine what will happen in a month if I’m not smart and intentional with every move from here on out.
There will be no repeat of the incident with the ex that shall not be named. But also, being around William has left me horny as fuck. Maybe I need to order one of those rose vibrators I saw on my classmate Tasha’s IG. She was pretty sure it took her to an entirely different realm of existence, and I’m curious if it will help take this constant edge off.
