Page 44 of The Game We Played

Tanner hops by me. Benny decides it’s time to make an appearance and begins licking my face. I push the dog away. “Knock it off, Benny.”

“Tanner’s the winner!” Mom shouts as he crosses the finish line.

“Let me help you up, loser.” Tanner extends his hand. I consider spending the rest of the day laying here. But I don’t. I accept his hand and he pulls me to my feet.

He wraps an arm around my waist and draws me near. “It’s time for my winnings.”

“This is fake,” I growl at my twin sisters.

Beth winks.

“Sure, it is,” Anne says.

“Go ahead, honey,” Mom shouts. “A bet is a bet.”

“You really shouldlisten to your mom.”

“Fine.” I tap my cheek.

“I want a real kiss.” His eyes darken as he stares at my lips.

“It’s a bad idea.”

“Darling, I’m the king of bad ideas.”

I don’t get the chance to speak before his lips meet mine. Sparks explode in my stomach at the slight touch and I gasp in surprise. He doesn’t hesitate and thrusts his tongue inside.

I moan when his taste hits me. It’s everything I expected. And feared. Because now I want more. I want to kiss Tanner when my parents and sisters aren’t around. And see what happens.

I’m not supposed to lust after my fake boyfriend. But here we are.

Chapter 14

BREAKING: TANNER LONG MIC’D UP. FILTER MALFUNCTIONS IMMEDIATELY Flirting caught on record

Tanner

“Thanks for coming.” I kiss Alaia’s cheek.

“Of course, I came. I said I would.”

Yes, she did. But after our kiss on the Fourth of July, she’s been acting weird. I thought our kiss was better than the fireworks display, which was pretty awesome. But Alaia obviously doesn’t agree.

Except she clung to me and was a full participant. Her tongue dueled with mine and she wrapped her leg around my waist.

If it weren’t for her dad clearing his throat, I would have taken her to the ground and stripped her bare before sinking into her wet heat. My cock twitches.

I nod to her note and pen. “And it’s a good opportunity to discover a story?”

She shrugs. “If a story lands in my lap, I’m not pushing it off.”

“What if I land on your lap? Will you push me off?”

Her gaze rakes over me. “I’ll probably end up with a broken lap.”

I wink. “I can land gentle.”

She giggles. “Tanner Long is many things but gentle isn’t one of them.”