Page 37 of Obnoxious Bad Boy

Vex kisses my nape and puts a big dollop of hummus on a piece of bread, which then lands in his mouth.

“No, but I could use a T-shirt because my sweater’s slashed. It would be a minor inconvenience, since I’m going home later, but it’s in this spot exactly at the line of my nipples so it looks err… awkward.” I take a deep breath. “Sorry, but… you know? About us?”

Yasmin meets Vex’s gaze above my shoulder and relaxes with her cup. “I mean... I have to, since I’m essentially his beard—”

“It is not like that,” Vex says as she grins, happy with her joke. I must look very confused, because Yasmin leans forward and meets my eyes with a more serious expression.

“No, that’s true. I’m his beard, and he’s my merkin. We both just want people to stay out of our honeypots.”

Vex laughs. “Jesus, Yas, don’t say merkin when I drink! What if I choke to death?”

I settle with my arm around Vex’s neck, my ass firmly in his lap. Pride swells in my chest. He might be seeing me in secret, but he still wants his best friend to know about me. Now I’m itching to tell Matt.

“Oh, so you’re… gay?” I ask, and then Vex fills my mouth with hummus and bread.

Yasmin shrugs. “Nah. Romance and sex are overrated. Not interested at all.”

“And since she looks the way she looks, not being bothered can be an uphill battle,” Vex informs me as he pets my stomach. “It’s just easier if people think we have something going on.”

I prefer that a lot over him flirting with girls all the time, but I guess that’s my lot for having such a handsome man.

“And speaking of appearances…” Yasmin smiles, and if her thin brows were painted on, they’d be wiggling. “We got so many bookings after yesterday’s video. But people are asking about Aaron. Would it be okay if I took a picture of you? I’d caption it with something about you doing fine and all that, but also make the pic really sexy.”

I snort-laugh and almost choke on my bread? “Me? Sexy?” I’m many things but I still struggle with the concept of being desirable.

Vex pulls me back against him, wrapping those strong, tattooed arms around me. “You are so sexy,” he says and nuzzles my ear in a way so sensuous, I might have gotten aroused if I hadn’t come twice already.

“Ew,” Yasmin says without malice. “Touching is gross.”

I laugh, weirdly at ease with her. I can’t remember the last time I was this relaxed around strangers. Though, to be fair, I’m rarely relaxed even around people I do know.

“Okay, but I’ll be the one approving the post?”

Yasmin grins and grabs her phone. “Look at him, little social media star!”

“Only because this is for your business!” I say as I get up, but I still look for confirmation in Vex’s eyes, because I’m out of my depth.

He smiles and brushes hair out of my face. “Of course you get to approve the picture. Are you fine with being shirtless?” he asks as his warm hand rises along my ribcage, eventually settling over my nipple.

“Are you sure I look good enough for that?” I lower my voice, even though Yasmin can still hear me and sniggers.

“You even have a battle scar,” she says, but I need an answer from someone who is attracted to men.

Vex swallows, stroking me gently. “You’ll never satisfy everyone, but I think you’re beautiful.”

“Yes, you’re his favorite type of guy,” Yasmin says as Vex shuts his eyes, as if annoyed with her spilling his secrets.

It does give me the confidence boost I need though. Being good in class or choosing a cool outfit is very different to posing half naked, but Vex’s words fill me with pride. I’m sick of second-guessing myself. I’m uncompromising in my fashion choices, in my literary opinions, and even in the porny stories I write, so why is sexual attractiveness such a hurdle for me?

Vex showed me many times how horny he is for me, so it’s time to stop overthinking it each time.

I am sexy. I am beautiful. And I will be confident.

If I tell myself that a hundred times, I might just believe it.

I take a deep breath. “So what do I do? How do I pose?” Yasmin looks around, and as her gaze zeroes in on a corner next to a big painting depicting a dark folklore scene with demons dancing alongside women, she points there. “Maybe in that spot, with cups of coffee?"

Vex sucks in my earlobe, but then chuckles and pats my thigh. “Let’s do it.”