The Plus One Pact Read Online Crystal Kaswell

Categories Genre: Alpha Male Tags Authors: Crystal Kaswell Advertisement

Advertisement

So that came up in this morning’s conversation. Good. Better if Ivy can be as open as possible. "Or the very active amateur," Cynthia laughs.

Ivy's lips curl into a smile as her eyes find me. "I bet you didn't."

"I didn't," I agree.

"But theory is different than… experience," she says. "It plays out differently."

"Even so." This time, I pull her into a slow, deep kiss.

This time, Mom clears her throat, even as Cynthia hoots and calls, "get a room."

And the game continues. Mom opens the next card, and her lips curl into a frown. Still, she pushes forwards. "I'm nervous about getting married."

Immediately, Daniel looks to Cynthia.

Immediately, the air in the room gets stale. Too hot.

There's something between them. Something they haven't discussed. Something they need to discuss.

"It's normal," Mom says. "It's a major commitment. And it's a big to-do."

But Cynthia still shrinks back. "I, uh… excuse me. I'm going to get some air." She stands and moves to the backyard.

Daniel watches her. "Let me talk to her."

Mom shakes her head. "Give her a minute. Then talk to her. It is normal, mi vito. Not everyone is as steady as you."

He nods of course, of course, but it doesn't wipe away the worry from his expression.

"Let's take a break," Mom says. "Have some free time. Pick up after dinner. In fact, Daniel, let's take a walk. Talk a little."

Daniel raises a brow. Is she really offering us alone time in her house?

But that is part of intimacy.

Sex.

Maybe she is.

And he should know better. We're Latin. We don't need to pretend sex doesn't exist the way Americans do.

"Sure." He stands and follows her to the kitchen. "We can walk down to the beach."

She nods. "After the walk, I'll send Romeo and Ivy to the beach. So, you and Cynthia get some time to yourselves."

But that only makes him frown.

Are they having a sex problem?

But he was so flirty earlier. Or is that an overcorrection?

I have no idea what to think. It's hard to imagine Daniel struggling with anything.

But I suppose, if I really do like Ivy, stranger things have happened.

I wait for them to move to the backyard, where they're going to tell Cynthia the plan (no doubt in nicer terms than hey, stay here as long as you want, but don't be surprised if you come inside and hear your soon to be brother-in-law coming inside).

Then I move a little closer to Ivy, and I fall back on to what I do know.

"So… how should we take advantage of our alone time?" I ask.

She smiles. "This game gave me an idea, actually." She smiles. "Secrets we can share."

"Oh?" I ask.

She nods. "I tell you one of my fantasies. Then you tell me one of yours. Then…"

"Then…"

She nods. "Should we meet upstairs? Or start here?"

"Upstairs," I say. "And in lingerie. To make it more fun."

"I didn't bring lingerie," she says.

"Then I guess you'll have to start naked."

Chapter Nineteen

Ivy

So much for solidarity. The second the word sex falls from Romeo's lips, I forget all about the frustration in Cynthia's eyes. But then it's probably better if I stay away from the situation.

The man invited me here to impress his family, not counsel his brother's fiancée. She has cold feet. That's normal.

She seemed madly in love, overall.

She probably just needs time.

Not advice from someone who, let's face it, didn't do so great on the marriage front.

Guilt settles in my stomach. But it dissolves as I climb upstairs and take my place in the bedroom. As it turns out, Romeo bought something for me. A silk robe in a sleek shade of teal. An expensive gift. Maybe to make it look like he'd bought me something.

Maybe for some other person.

Maybe as a part of his routine. He doesn't just make you come. He buys you presents on Valentine's Day too.

Is this real or fake? I can't tell. I'm already dizzy from all this back and forth.

I undress in my bedroom alone. There is something about being totally and completely naked. An honesty to it. Look at me, nowhere to hide, no way to pretend.

That feeling of lying naked with someone after sex—

I miss that.

I really do.

The way the act strips away the emotional and physical barriers.

Maybe we can find some of that. Not all of it. But some of it.

Or maybe the robe is a sign. That he doesn't want to get naked with me. Not that way.

After all, we're not really a couple. We're not really in love. We're only pretending.

I can't control how honest he is. Only how much of myself I share. And that's scary. Terrifying, really.

I slide on the robe. The silk feels soft and smooth against my skin. Somehow, the cool sensation is even more sensual than the warmth of his touch. The luxury of it, maybe.

The way he picked the color for me. Because I wear it a lot. Because it looks like my eyes. Because I love the ocean.


Advertisement

Advertisement