“She’s not your…God.” Adele seems to choke on her words. “You’re coming with us tomorrow. I need you there.”

“We leave tomorrow. I can’t. That’s why I went today.” Not exactly true, but the explanation works.

“You’ll disappoint your father.” She lowers her voice, until it sounds like she’s almost crooning to me. “You don’t want to disappoint him, do you? You’re always such a good boy, Andrew. You always do what I say. What I ask from you.”

My skin is literally crawling at how she’s talking to me and I close my eyes, take a deep breath and pray I don’t fall apart. Yet again. I’ve been on a nonstop emotional bender since I came back here. I knew it would be bad. I didn’t expect all this, though. “I’m not going with you, Adele. It’s time to cut the ties for good.” I hang up on her before she can say anything else.

I look at Fable to find that she’s rolled back over so she’s facing me again, those intense green eyes watching my every move. My stomach bottoms out and I wonder how much she heard.

“She giving you a hard time?” she asks softly.

I nod. Don’t say a word.

Pushing the blanket off her body, she gets up on her knees and comes to me, resting her hands on my shoulders, her face in mine. Her lids lower and she stares at my mouth, I can see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, feel the comforting warmth of her touch. This girl, she just…

Does it for me.

But I don’t know how to put it in words and tell her.

“Thank you for everything today,” she says, surprising me.

I frown as I reach out and tuck a strand of silky hair behind her ear. “I should be thanking you for all that you did for me.”

“Yes, you should.” A tremulous smile curves her lips. “But I wanted to thank you for being so honest. For telling me about your sister and sharing that part of your life with me. I know it wasn’t easy.”

My fingers linger on her soft cheek and I stroke my thumb back and forth. “Thank you for being there for me. Listening to me.” And holding me in your arms and letting me cry.

She crawls on top of me, her legs on either side of my thighs and I automatically grab her, splaying my hands across her perfect ass and hauling her in close. God, she feels amazing like this, nestled up so close against me you couldn’t fit a slice of paper between us. “Drew.” Her voice is whisper soft as she leans in and presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “This is our last night here. Together.”

My body hurts at the realization. This is it. We go back to our regular lives come tomorrow evening. I can’t wait for this torture to end, yet knowing that I won’t have Fable pretending to be my fake girlfriend any longer…

That stings. More than I care to admit.

Sliding one hand up her back, I slip it beneath her sweater so I’m caressing bare, smooth skin. She trembles beneath my touch as she leans in, her hair falling all around our faces, her lips hovering just above mine. I know what she wants.

I want the same thing.

Tilting my head back against the headboard, I cup her nape and pull her in, our mouths meeting in a soft, lingering kiss. I sneak my tongue out and lick her upper lip, trace the edge of her lower lip, savoring her sweet, decadent taste. A little moan escapes her and I take the kiss deeper, clutch the back of her head harder as I plunder her mouth with my tongue.

I’m overcome with my need for her. I’ve never felt this way before and memories flood me of our night together. When she so selflessly brought me to orgasm and never asked for anything in return. I want to do the same for her. Give her whatever she wants, whatever she needs from me. I want to be with her, our na**d bodies entwined all night long.

We slept all afternoon until late into the night. I also need to make sure she wants this. Wants me…

“Are you hungry? I mean, we only just woke up.” I say this after I break apart from her kiss, my lips tingling and already eager to be back on hers. I think I’m trying to give her an out, I don’t know. Which is so stupid, but I don’t want us to get in too deep only for her to back off.

I know I’m ready. But is she? Really?

Pulling away from me, she reaches for the hem of her sweater and tugs it up and over her head, tossing it onto the floor. She has on a simple white bra, trimmed with lace and the tiniest white satin bow in the center. So innocent and sweet looking, though my thoughts are far from that as I stare at her, contemplating how I can get her out of that damn bra without looking like I’m moving too fast.

“I’m hungry for you,” she whispers, her eyes glowing, her swollen mouth glistening from our kiss. “Take off your shirt, Drew.”

Without hesitation I reach for the bottom of my shirt and tear it off, leaving it beside me on the bed. Her gaze never leaves mine as she wraps herself around me, her legging-covered legs curving around my waist, her arms going around my neck. She buries her hands in my hair and I close my eyes, absorbing her scent, the feel of her warm body so close to mine. Our upper bodies are skin on skin, her bra the only barrier, and the satiny smooth fabric arouses me further as she brushes her chest against mine.

As our mouths find each other, I’m overwhelmed with emotion for this girl. I’ve craved this connection with her for days. Hell, I’ve craved this sort of connection with someone for years, always too afraid to believe in it.

But I’m a believer now. Thanks to my one week girlfriend.

Thanks to Fable.

Fable

Drew Callahan truly has the most beautiful male body I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve laid eyes on more than my fair share of masculine bodies.

I’m so distracted by his ever-persistent mouth locked with mine that I finally break away from his kiss, happier to soak up all of this exposed muscle and sinew first. Last time we were together, we were shrouded in darkness. Too scared to look at each other for fear of what we really might see.

Now I want to see all. Everything. I want to stare into his eyes the first time he enters me. I want to keep our gazes locked when he makes me come. I want to hear him whisper my name when I make him come…

A shiver moves through me as I slide my fingers across his broad shoulders, down his arms, lingering on his rock hard biceps, skimming over the dark hair that covers his forearms. He remains utterly still, but I can feel his hot eyes on me, devouring me as I intently search his flesh with my hands. I touch his chest, the tips of my index fingers gliding over his ni**les simultaneously and he jumps a little, making me smile.

But my smile fades as I become enraptured with every bump and groove of his washboard stomach. I slow my search, let my hands completely map his abs and I feel his muscles quiver beneath my touch.

Lifting my head, I find him watching me, his brows raised, his mouth quirked in a half smile. This is by far the happiest I’ve seen him since the afternoon he took me to lunch and kissed me in a fairytale alley while it rained, with white lights twinkling all around us.

Without a word I press my lips to his, keeping my eyes open until his shutter closed and I find myself falling so easily under his spell. This kiss is hungrier, more urgent and I let him take the lead, revel in how he rests his big hand at the top of my chest before sliding it up to lightly touch my throat in a wholly possessive gesture that has me reeling.

That same hand slides back down, his fingers dipping beneath the loose strap of my bra, pushing it off my shoulder. He does the same to the other strap, magically removing the bra from me within seconds and my bare br**sts are crushed to his chest, my ni**les hard against the warmth of his skin.

“I want you,” he whispers in my ear, sending shivers careening down my spine. “So bad it’s killing me, Fable.”

I love that he says my name in the same breath that he declares he wants me. Rather than become lost in the darkness or blinded by the past, he’s here. With me now, touching me and kissing me, slowly grinding his erection against me. I’m completely absorbed by him, lost within him and there’s no place I’d rather be.

He grabs hold of my waist and pushes me down onto the bed so I’m flat on my back, his hands pressed on either side of my head on the mattress as he leans over, his mouth never leaving mine. In this position, he’s not as close as I want him, and I curl my legs around his hips, desperate to draw him near.

Breaking our kiss, he pulls away and slides down the length of my body, his hands at the waistband of my thin black leggings as he slowly, patiently tugs them down, taking my panties along with them. I’m trembling, my breaths are coming too fast and I stare up at the ceiling, biting the inside of my lip when his fingers brush against my thighs, my knees, my calves as he strips me. I feel his breath against the very center of me and I close my eyes, dizziness swamping me when I feel those large hands of his pushing my thighs apart.

He’s studying me down there and I don’t know what to think, what to say. He releases a ragged breath, his hands gripping my h*ps and then he’s kissing my chest, running his lips all over my flesh until I feel his tongue lick first one nipple, then another.

I can’t take it any longer. I’m not one to remain silent in bed, I never have been, not that I’m a total screamer. But his touch, his mouth on my skin feels so good, I arch into him and cry out. I’m on complete sensation overload, totally na**d and exposed and I’ve never felt so cherished. So alive.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispers against my br**sts as he worships them with his mouth. I sink my hand into his hair and hold him to me, writhing beneath his busy lips and tongue. I’m still baffled. Honestly, I don’t quite know how we got to this point. I hated him on sight. I did this only for the money. I thought he was a f**ked up mess. I still think he’s a f**ked up mess.

But so am I. And he’s so beautiful, so thoughtful, so vulnerable. We can be a mess together. I want to heal him. I know I can heal him.

This joining of our bodies is the first step.

“Hold on,” he murmurs. I open my eyes and his face is in mine. He steals a quick kiss and removes himself from me, getting off the bed. “I’ll be right back.”

I watch him leave and I throw my arm over my eyes, trying my best to calm my racing heart, my accelerated breath. My body is so ramped up, it won’t take much to send me right over the edge. I’m trembling, so full of adrenaline and desire and whatever other mysterious emotions are swirling inside my body. I’ve never, ever felt like this before. Ever.

The realization leaves me breathless.

Drew slips back inside the room minutes later, shutting the door and turning the lock into place. I watch him quietly as he walks toward the bed and sets a small box of condoms on the bedside table. I meet his gaze, one eyebrow raised and he smiles.

“We lucked out. There’s a box in the bathroom under the sink. They’re always there, like towels and shampoo and soap. They keep this guesthouse busy, like a hotel sometimes, I swear. My dad always has business clients staying here.”

Huh. Well, if the Callahans always have guests staying with them, at least they’re providing a safe haven.

I can’t ponder the condom issue too long though. Not when Drew is busy undoing the snap and zipper on his jeans, letting them fall from his h*ps to a heap around his ankles before he kicks them off. My mouth goes dry at the sight of him, how he fills out his black cotton boxer briefs so perfectly.

And then he’s taking those off too, and I’m staring unabashedly, marveling at how big he really is and how that might feel when he finally joins his body with mine.

As in, it might hurt. All of a sudden, I’m scared shitless.

I swear he can sense my change in mood and he tries to reassure me. He gathers me in his strong arms, holding me close. I shut my eyes and bury my head against his firm chest, breathe in his clean, unique scent. He’s gentle, he’s tender but he’s also persistent and soon we’re kissing, searching each other’s bodies with busy hands, rolling around the mattress like a couple of kids in a playful wrestling match.

But there’s nothing playful about this big, muscular man pinning me to the bed, my arms spread above my head, his fingers locked around my wrists as he studies me with those beautiful blue eyes.

He slipped the condom on only moments ago. I know he’s ready. I’m ready. But I’m still nervous. This is such a turning point in our relationship, something we can never go back on. I won’t forget him or this night. He’s permanently writing himself in my personal history.

“There’s no going back,” he whispers, as if he can read my mind.

I slowly nod, too overcome to find words.

“Once I’m inside you, you’re mine.”

Oh. I never, ever thought hearing a guy say that would arouse me so much, but it does. I’ve always thought of myself as an independent person. I belong to no one.

But the idea of belonging to Drew fills me with so much joy, I’m afraid I might burst.

“I want you to be mine, Fable.” Loosening his hold on my wrists, he dips his head, nuzzling my cheek, my nose. It’s the sweetest, sexiest gesture and I moan as I circle my arms around his neck and cradle him close.

“I want to be yours,” I answer in a breathy whisper. “I want to belong to you, Drew. Only you.”

He kisses me, at the same time sliding his body into mine. Inch by thick inch, taking my breath away with the shear size of him and I tense up, holding my breath as he rocks deeper and deeper into me.

“I’m hurting you.” He presses sweet, quick kisses all over my face. “Relax. Breathe.”

I do as he urges, trying my best to ease the tension from my abdomen and it becomes easier, Drew pushing inside me. His entire body is tense from holding back, his skin covered in a fine mist of sweat and I wiggle my hips, spread my legs a little bit wider, allowing him to sink deeper.