CHAPTER 9
“SO, THIS IS IT. Welcome home.”
Chloe stepped in front of Ben and through the door. “Wow.”
Sand-colored walls, dark wood flooring and pristine white crown molding combined with Ben’s total lack of kitsch—or anything even remotely personal—completed the illusion that she was touring a swanky show home.
“It’s like you live in a catalog.”
Something flickered in Ben’s amber eyes—hurt?—but he turned to shut the door and when he faced her again, his easy smile was in full bloom.
“A nice catalog, though, right? From one of those upscale stores?”
“Definitely a nice one,” she agreed, figuring that he didn’t need to know “nice” was code for bland. Besides, who was she to judge? Her apartment was serviceable and clean, but it wouldn’t be scoring a magazine spread any time soon. She’d bet you could barely hear the pipes or the neighbors’ TV in a place like this. “How long have you lived here?”
“A year and a half.” He threw his keys on the kitchen counter—granite, natch—and pulled his black peacoat off. He hung it in the small closet to their right, then did the same with Chloe’s.
A year and a half? She’d have been less surprised if he’d said yesterday. Spartan was too kind a description.
“Want a tour?” he offered, picking up her suitcase.
“Lead the way.”
“Okay, let’s see. Kitchen.” He pointed to the left. In addition to the granite, Chloe saw what she expected to see in a high-class condo: galley style, open concept and lots of stainless steel. “Living room.” High ceilings, a sectional and a man-size television. “Bathroom.” Glass-encased mega shower with rainfall showerhead. “Office-slash-second-bedroom.” She wasn’t even paying attention anymore. At least not until he stopped in front of the last door on the tour.
“And this, this is where the magic happens.”
“If you have a waterbed, I’m outta here.”
Ben grinned as they stepped inside and he set her suitcase on the dark hardwood floor. “Obviously, as my guest, you can pick which side of the bed you want.”
Chloe walked over to the big bed and pushed on the end of the mattress, relieved that it didn’t slosh. “Why choose when you’ll be sleeping on the couch?” she said sweetly.
He leaned a shoulder against the door frame, crossing his arms.
Was he actually handsomer here in Seattle, or was it her imagination?
“My house, my rules.”
“Come on now, sweetie. Don’t you mean our house?”
“You’d really make me spend our honeymoon on the couch? Even though we’ve already slept together?” He shot her a sexy half smile and added, “Twice.”
Ha. As if she could forget. In fact, she had a sneaking suspicion it was the driving force behind her decision to agree to this ridiculous scheme of his. Her brain had tried to reason with her lady parts, but they weren’t having any of her logic.
“Yeah, but that was back when we were strangers. We’re married now. According to all sitcoms in the history of the world, that means sex is just a distant memory for us.”
“Aw, man!” He reached for his wallet and pulled out the ring. “I’m not sure I want to give this to you anymore.”
Truthfully, neither did she. Chloe had spent their weekend apart replaying every X-rated moment of their nights together. Their fake relationship had affected her more deeply than she’d realized. How was she going to deal with more? But even as she thought it, she heard herself say, “Then why don’t you put that away and tell me what you do want.”
Her brazen invitation lit a dangerous glint in his whiskey eyes. Chloe licked her lips, unable to speak as he shoved the ring in the pocket of his jeans and started toward her.
Ben was on the prowl, and it was sexy as hell. He reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head as he stalked closer. By the time he stood before her, so close that she could feel the heat rolling off his body, Chloe was so turned on she could barely breathe.
Oh, God. This. This was what she’d wanted from the moment she’d lifted her gaze from the cash register to find him standing there.
She raised her arms so he could tug her T-shirt up and off, and he growled his approval as she reached behind her. The purple demi-cup went slack. She tugged the bra the rest of the way off, dropping it where it fell. Their wordless striptease continued in tandem, as they slowly divested themselves of their jeans and underwear, then stood to face each other.
“Please tell me that was enough foreplay, because I’m going to explode if I don’t get inside you right now.”
Chloe moaned her agreement and the next thing she knew, they were on the bed and his weight was pressing into her everywhere but where she needed him most. She rocked her hips against him.
“Jesus. Hold on. Condom,” he said, crawling over to the end table.
She was impressed at how quickly he managed the task at hand. Then he was back on top of her and she was so wet, so ready for him. They both groaned with satisfaction as he entered her, and she raised her knees to make sure he was as far in as possible.
“I thought this would never happen again,” he confessed against her neck, and he thrust inside her so deep and so slow that she couldn’t form the words “same here” through the pleasure that was speeding through her veins like liquid fire. She wound her legs around his hips, urging him to go harder and faster, and he obliged.
She’d never gotten this hot this quickly. Already a familiar tingle was growing low in her belly, and she knew she was close.
“Make me come, Ben,” she pleaded, and he plunged into her so forcefully that she gasped with delight. She dug her fingernails into his back as the orgasm hit, sharp and fast. The whole world came apart and only Ben’s weight pressing her into the mattress kept her together.
She’d never had a quickie before, but if that’s what they were like, she definitely would be having one again. Long and drawn-out had its charms, but she’d never felt anything quite as intense as what had just happened between them.
Ben rolled off her and they both lay in the tangle of sheets, staring at the ceiling, trying to catch their breath. With her hormones sated and no longer clouding her thoughts, Chloe realized things were starting to feel real. Terrifyingly real.
What were they even thinking? Who was going to believe their lies in such a permanent setting? This wasn’t a quick breakfast with a stranger. This was dinner at his house with his bosses. People who’d known the real Ben for years and saw him on a daily basis.
“Ben, I’m not sure I can do this,” she blurted, imploring him to understand.
“Too late,” he joked. He rolled onto his stomach, his entire side pressing against hers as he lowered his beautiful face close to hers.
She didn’t like the way her resolve waned in direct proportion to his nearness. The earlier desire to run had been replaced with something else. Something dangerous. The part of her that wanted to stay.
“What I mean,” she stressed, “is maybe it’s not such a good idea, me staying here.”
“I thought we decided you moving in here was the best chance we had to learn enough about each other to pass as a happily married couple on Saturday.”
“We did, but—”
“I also thought we decided that this was the easiest way to make sure you have a presence in the house so that a casual observer would believe my wife has been living with me for whatever undetermined amount of time it’s been since we got married.”
“I know, but—”
“I’m not Patrick, Chloe. This is you and me. Just like before. We’ve got each other’s backs. No matter what.” The words, spoken like a vow, stole her breath.
“Besides, it’s not as if any of this is real,” he reminded her.
The sting of truth pulled her out of her spiral of panic.
Chloe nodded. “You’re right. Okay, I’m in.”
Ben looked at her. “You’re in?”
“I’ll stay.”
“That’s just… Okay, then. Great.” His smile was boyish. He leaned off the side of the bed for a moment, and then flopped down beside her. When he raised his hand, his grandmother’s wedding ring glinted between his thumb and index finger.
With only a tremor of trepidation, Chloe took the ring from him. Ben was right. He wasn’t Patrick. And she wasn’t the scared twenty-two-year-old who’d fled down the aisle and across the country.
As she slid the ring back onto her finger, she made a vow to herself. She was going to stick this out until Saturday, no matter what. Ben needed her help, and she wasn’t going to run out on him.