“Just kidding. You can leave your clothes on.” She visibly relaxes. “For now,” I add, only to see her eyes flare with desire.
“You’re insufferable, you know that, don’t you?” She scoots closer to me, wrapping her arms around my neck as she did the first time we kissed.
“I do.” I lift my hand and brush her hair behind her back before sliding it along her shoulder and around the back of her neck. “Five full minutes. No stopping. No pulling back. Got it?”
She nods. “Got it.”
“Good girl.” I lower my lips to hers, tentative at first, then more possessive as she parts her lips for me. I never knew kissing could be like this. It’s not something I’ve ever wanted to dobefore. Sex and kissing have never been on my radar. Don’t get me wrong, I knew I would do both someday, but I never knew what I was missing by not kissing. I can only imagine how good sex with Josie would be.
She moans into my mouth, and I almost lose it, the sound so raw, filled with so much desire that my cock hardens painfully. She presses her body closer to mine, her breasts pushing into my chest so hard I can feel her nipples poking me through the fabric of our clothes.
Naked kissing next time—definitely naked kissing next time.
I have no idea how much time has passed—all I know is that if I don’t stop kissing her now, I’ll have her naked and nine inches deep inside of her before I even figure out why she’s lying about being my mail-order bride.
Breaking the kiss, I pull back, watching her press her fingers to her lips, surprise on her face. “Oh.” She sighs, her eyes shifting to my lips as if silently asking for another kiss.
“My turn,” I say, breaking the spell. “I’ll take truth.” I’m not sure I can handle another dare.
“Okay, truth.” She sits up straighter, tapping her index finger against her still kiss-swollen lips. “Why did you sign up for a mail-order bride?”
Even though I was expecting the question, it still catches me off guard. Why did I sign up? “I joined the military right out of high school. I was young and impulsive—I needed structurein my life. I thought I would find it there. Instead, I was left with memories that still haunt me, even after fifteen years in the military.” I pause, trying to sugarcoat a life that wasn’t anything like what I expected. “I met a lot of good people along the way. But I’m not proud of some of the things I had to do.” I don’t go into detail—even my therapist at the sanctuary doesn’t know all the details. I don’t want to burden Josie with them.
“I’m sorry.” She places her hand over mine and gives it a squeeze. “I hate that you went through that.” I can tell she wants to say more on the subject, but instead she changes the subject. “Okay, it’s my turn.” She gives me a small smile and my heart beats faster.
What is it about my little liar that has me tied in knots, willing to do whatever she asks me to do?
“Dare. Ask me to give you a dare.” I plead. The need to touch her again is pounding down on me like the rain outside.
“Dare.” She whispers.
“I dare you to let me kiss you between your legs.”
five
Josie
This is crazy. I’mnot actually going to let him kiss me there—am I?
I should stop him, tell him no to the dare. But for the life of me I don’t want him to stop. I need to at least tell him the truth, that I’m not his mail-order bride—give him a chance to pull away and stop before it’s too late and he regrets everything.
“Stop.” I place my hands on his chest with a little shove. “I’m not who you think I am.” I pause, waiting for him to scream and yell at me, something I’m more than familiar with since that’s the life I grew up with—parents that would rather scream and yell than calmly ask questions.
“Let me guess, little liar. You’re not really Jane, my mail-order bride.” He leans close—close enough that I can feel his hot breath against my lips. “You’re only pretending to be, which I’m still confused about.” I expect to see hurt or anger in his eyes. Instead, they seem to be dancing in amusement.
“Let me explain. But how did you know I wasn’t your bride?”
“Oh, Josie, you’re still my bride, just not the one I expected—you’re better.” Dang, this guy is a smooth talker. “Your boss, Aspen, was worried about you breaking the news to me that my mail-order bride had run away, so she thought it best to call me and give me a heads-up.” Relief washes over me in more ways than one. I can finally relax around Brewer, and he’s not upset that his mail-order bride ran away. “But that doesn’t explain why you told me you were my mail-order bride.” He gently strokes the side of my cheek. “Why, Josie?”
With a deep breath, I open my mouth, and everything I’ve been holding back about my family life spills out. I should be embarrassed telling a virtual stranger that my parents treated me more like a servant than a daughter. On the day I learned I had a full scholarship to my dream college, they tried to sabotage it. They finally left me alone after I threatened legal action against them.
“I’ve been working hard to build a life and a future for myself. When I saw the ad for the job at Aspen’s company, I jumped at the chance, especially after reading reviews about couples who found love and are now living happily ever after. That’s the life I wanted. I’m sorry I tried to steal it from Jane and force you into it with me.” The shame of saying those words out loud hits me harder than I expected. I lower my gaze so I don’t have to face the look of pity, hate, or indifference—you name it, I can’t bear to see any of it on Brewer’s face.
He places his fingers under my chin and lifts my head to meet his gaze. I shut my eyes tight, still not ready to face whatever I see in his. “Open your eyes, Josie.” Knowing it’s better to face my demons head-on than hide, I open them. The look I feared isn’t there. In its place is a look of possession and love. “I’m glad you pretended to be Jane. It might not have been the most ethical thing for you to do, but I’m not sure what I would have done if you had just walked into my cabin, told me the news, had me sign a few papers, and then walked out of my life without ever knowing what your kisses feel like.” His eyes drop to my lips as he lowers his head. “Stop me if you don’t want this.”
Without hesitation, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer. “You haven’t finished the dare.”
“As you wish, little liar. But I’m altering the dare.” With a wicked gleam in his eyes, he picks me up bridal style, carries me to his bedroom, sets me down, slips off my clothes, then removes his own before guiding me to lie on the bed. “I’m still going to kiss you here.” He runs his hand up the inside of my thigh and through my wetness. “But I’m also going to make you mine tonight, forever.” A flash of lightning lights up the room, as if sealing the deal, and I know Mother Nature just gave us her blessing.
