Best Fake Day Read online

  The old lady in the navy cotton dress wrapped her plump arms around Izzy before surprising him by giving him a hug that was a lot stronger than expected. She then took his hand and one of Izzy’s and pressed them together.

  “Vorrei che l’amore e il dono di tanti bambini!” she said as she gave their hands a squeeze and gave thanks for the bouquet which she carried in her hand and scooped up the basket in the other as she walked across the square.

  Breath froze in his lungs. Love? Children?

  “What did she say?”

  “She said we should make the most of our wedding night,” he swiftly lied.

  She eyed him with suspicion. “Oh really?”

  “Yeah.” He forced his lips into a smile. “She said we should have lots of sex.”

  “Hmm...” she said with brows arched high in mock belief. “A wise lady,” she said with a teasing grin.

  “Do you have what we need?”

  “Huh?” she responded, as though he’d interrupted the depth of her thoughts.

  “The photographs. Do you think we have enough?”

  Her chocolate eyes flared as though she’d too forgotten about the reason for being there. “I’ll...erm...just check.”

  Relief dropped the tension from his shoulders. There was no way he wanted to share that ‘wise’ lady’s wishes of love and children for them. It was a conversation Izzy needed to have with someone other than him. Someone more able to provide those things. But if Izzy was content to play along with the sex inference then he wouldn’t disappoint.

  They needed to get each other out of their systems, and if sex was the way to go for just this one day then so be it. He would deal with the repercussions later.

  * * * *

  Equipment checked and gathered, the only sound between them was the roar of the engine as Jack drove them back to the hotel. Izzy closed her eyes and tilted her face to the sun as she replayed their ‘wedding’ through her mind. If it wasn’t so fake it would be so perfect. A glorious setting with the warm fingers of sunlight reaching into the courtyard enough to warm her skin on the outside as Jack heated her on the inside. He seemed so open as they danced on their private cobbled dance floor and then scooping her up into his arms. He made her feel...special.

  Now it seemed he wasn’t playing anymore. All mischief had been sucked out of him the moment love and children had been mentioned. Sure, she was no linguist but she’d read enough romance novels to know that was what amore and bambini meant. But if playing dumb meant he had to show his next move then so be it. If he was moving them on to the next step then she would follow if that was the only way to get him out of her skin and out of her head. Hell, if she could fake a wedding, she could fake a wedding night.

  When they arrived at the hotel, Jack helped her out of the car, then grabbed her equipment. As he walked ahead of her, she had doubts ringing like alarm bells in her mind. Her breath caught as they approached his room, then released with a force that took oxygen from her toes when he stood outside her room. The bridal suite. Wordlessly, he opened the door.

  “Wait here,” he said as he stepped inside then closed the door in her open-mouthed face.

  Just as she was about to plant her hands on her hips and pout, he opened the door and scooped her into his arms again.

  “What are you doing?” she gasped. “We have no camera or audience now.”

  “Humor me.”

  She snaked her arm over his shoulders, feeling the play in his biceps as he maneuvered her and the frothy full skirt of her dress over the threshold. Emotion clogged her throat as she realized he was doing all of this for her, not for some fake photographs. Mr. I-Hate-Weddings was a closet romantic still in denial. And when he set her on her feet her emotion almost poured with more force than the fountain she’d wanted to drag him into. Tears stung the back of her eyes so she blinked them away. On the bed were scattered red rose petals, and a table of food had been set up, complete with champagne on ice, but what caught her attention was the huge wedding cake by the balcony doors.

  “You got cake,” she said dully.

  Jack frowned and cocked his head to search her eyes. “Did I get the wrong type?”

  “No.” She gave a small head shake. “It’s perfect,” she sniffed.

  “Are you crying over cake?” he asked with concern in his eyes, reaching out to sweep his thumb under her moist eyes.

  “No. Yes. No.” She sighed. “It’s not just the cake—it’s everything.”

  “In a good way?”

  “A very good way.” Like in a he-must-have-seen-my-wedding-scrapbook way.

  “Then would you like some food? Cake?”

  She took a steadying breath and shook her head.

  “Not hungry?”

  She didn’t dare look up, her gaze fixed on the wall of chest that she ached to touch. Skin to skin. “Not for food,” she whispered.

  His cupped hand forced her chin up. The look he gave dissolved her insides, making her suddenly aware of all the parts hidden by the dress. “Then what do you hunger for, Bella?”

  “You.”

  Chapter 8

  Izzy’s honesty stole the breath from his body, until he was a shell of hardness everywhere.

  “Is that really what you want?”

  “It is. You know it is. I think you’ve always known it.” Her brown eyes were unflinching, open to the point of absorption. “But I don’t want it to be fake.”

  Jack shook his head slowly. “Oh, it will be real. Very real.”

  “Just the way I like it.” Again with the honesty. Did she have any idea what she was doing to him?

  “Then let’s make it a night to remember.”

  Izzy lifted her face to the ray of sunlight streaming through the balcony. “In the day?” She smiled.

  “I’m very thorough.” He grinned back.

  But she wasn’t entirely confident. He noticed her run her tongue over her full pink lip. Noticed the way her pulse beat in her throat. And the curve of his lips dropped. “I can’t give you more than today, Izzy.”

  “I know.” She looped a hand through his jacket, clutched his tie, and tugged it down until he lowered his head. “So let’s not waste time.”

  Minx. He would make her pay with that tie later until she begged for release in more ways than one. Obeying her easy command, he covered her lips, smiling with satisfaction as she moaned and released her grip on his tie. He wrapped one hand around her compliant body, and used his other hand to push his fingers through her silky hair, releasing every pin and dropping them to the floor. When her locks were finally freed into a careless tumble of waves he took a step back to survey his handiwork. God, she looked amazing.

  Not moving her alluring gaze from his, she slid her hands to his abdomen and unbuttoned his jacket so slowly it could only be a tease. She moved slowly and methodically as she started at the top and worked her way down until she reached the last one just above his waist. His erection swelled as her gaze dropped to his waistband.

  She paused as if considering her next move, fingers gaining a tremble. He shrugged his shoulders to help as she took her hand journey north to push his jacket from his shoulders. And then her lips were on his skin. He hissed in a breath as she worked at his shirt, releasing a button then rewarding his bared skin with her mouth, over the hollow of his collarbone to his pecs.

  She spread her warm palms over his pecs, widening his half-open shirt. A soft breeze made silky tendrils of her caramel hair dance and tantalize over his heated skin. Her actions seemed borne of instinct rather than experience and that thrilled him even more.

  His Izzy. His Bella.

  Except she wasn’t. She was his here and now.

  Miss Here-and-Now was busy sending a flame to his groin as she swirled her delicious tongue over his nipple. Jack closed his eyes and threw back his head. How had he ever thought this would be wrong?

  Soft yet purposeful fingers were trailed lower over the ridges of his abdomen, and Jack’s lids popped open at
the same time as the button on his trousers gave relief to the throb of his groin.

  But not enough.

  And this time the dark pools of Izzy’s eyes betrayed the hesitancy he felt in the tremble of her fingers.

  Reaching between them he stilled her as his much larger hand covered her delicate one. Her brow arched in question. Jack lifted his right hand, allowing his finger to gently graze down her cheekbone.

  “You’re trembling,” he said, surprised to hear that his voice held a waver of its own. Well, not too surprising, he reasoned as their hands remained pressed against his erection. “Are you scared?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “Of this,” she admitted on a breathy sigh. “Of not doing this.”

  A fierce longing skittered to his belly. “Then you have nothing to fear. We are doing this.”

  He dropped the hand holding hers while sliding his other hand to her back to reach the tiny button of her dress. He sucked in a breath as she tugged his zipper down, rasping against his burgeoning shaft. Her tongue ran nervously over those soft, pink lips.

  “But one of us is seriously over dressed.” He flicked her top button open, anxious to free her from the tight confines of her bodice. Desperate to put his mouth on the offerings she’d showed him yesterday. He ached to taste those rosy nipples. To take those peaks in his mouth the way he had imagined all night.

  She stepped back. Jack cocked his head, his brow furrowed.

  “Can I—Can I wear the dress for a bit longer?” she asked before catching her bottom lip with her teeth. “I want you to get your money’s worth,” she coaxed with a shy smile lifting her lips.

  And she wanted to carry on the pretence for longer he knew. “I already have.” He chuckled. “But I’m more than happy to take on a challenge.”

  She gasped as he scooped her into his arms, striding over to the bed where he lay her down, surrounded by the rose petals scattered there. He couldn’t help but stare at her in appreciation.

  “And I’m more than eager to please,” he said as he dropped to his knees at the foot of the bed and tugged off her shoes.

  She pushed herself up on her elbows. “I do believe I was in the process of pleasing you. Was I not doing that to your satisfaction?” she asked with a frown, but her eyes gleamed with anticipation.

  “On the contrary. Satisfaction was about to make an appearance.”

  “Oh.” Color surged into her face.

  “Plus, I’ve realized I’m more of a traditionalist than I thought.”

  “Wedding traditionalist?” she squeaked as Jack lifted her foot over his shoulder.

  “Uh-huh,” he murmured as his mouth nibbled the underside of her knee. He smiled when he felt her shudder.

  “Really?”

  “I have a favorite song,” he said with a wicked curve to his mouth as he pushed the dress to her thighs and allowed his fingers to explore their silkiness. He fought for control at the sight of the blue garter drawing his gaze along her slender legs and higher.

  Another challenge he would accept.

  “Oh,” she said huskily as his fingers grazed the edge of her knickers. “A-And what song is that?”

  “Here Comes the Bride.”

  * * * *

  That was going to happen very soon! A gasp escaped her parted lips. She arched her body, dropping her head on the soft bed. Jack’s thumb stroked lazily over her arousal dampened knickers as his lips moved to her other leg. She couldn’t help but notice the shot of fire in his gaze just before he snagged the garter with his teeth. Those lazy strokes continued as he peeled the garter down agonizingly slowly.

  He grasped her ankle as she tried to wiggle it off. Jack seemed as though he was quite happy to go with the slow-and-easy approach. He was driving her crazy. Now both of her calves were resting over his muscular shoulders. Warmth was rising from the tips of her painted toes to join the furnace inside her belly.

  A slide of fingers into her knickers and she was ready to explode.

  Strong hands gripped her thighs as she tried to shuffle down toward him. The fact that Jack stopped his ministrations was more than a warning she needed to stay put.

  He rose to stand at the foot of the bed and Izzy’s heart froze. Panic threatened as she wondered if he was about to walk away. Instead, he raked that piercing gaze over her, his expression so intense it sent a shiver down her spine. And she returned the favor, lavishing attention as he stood wearing only his opened trousers resting on lean hips, his chest wonderfully naked, allowing for appraisal of every muscle and contour.

  Finally, he moved.

  All bravado seeped from her. The firm, insistent bump in her chest reminded her to breathe. To think. Even though her instinct was screaming at her to scoot backward, away from danger, her body refused. Breaths now came at a galloping pace as Jack braced himself over her.

  Only Izzy heard the silent purr of her body as she welcomed the masculine weight pressed against her. Despite his massive height they fit. Coming together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Every soft feminine place now cushioned the hardness of male.

  With his elbows pressed into the bed at each side of her shoulders, Jack paused, his eyes searching hers for a moment that seemed too long. Until the telling sounds of intermingled breaths of want became almost too much to bear. Just when she was about to vocalize her protest he dipped his head. So close she could see the clench of his jaw and the flutter of a rapid pulse at the side of his tanned neck.

  She wondered what would happen if she tilted her hips just like this...

  Jack covered her gasp with his mouth. She rolled her hips a little more, feeling the hard length of him press at the point where moisture was beginning to pool. This time a low moan echoed at her lips.

  Lifting a hand, she traced the outline of his shoulders, pressing harder as his tongue flicked inside her mouth. She stroked the curve of his bicep, liking the strength, the heat; liking the tremble she felt meeting her palm.

  “Why are you trembling?” she asked with a shaky voice, as his mouth left hers to suck in a breath.

  “Because I’m trying so damn hard not to take you right now.”

  “Then don’t try.”

  Jack swore.

  Izzy smiled.

  “I want you to be ready, Izzy.”

  “I am. Are you?”

  He swore again. Resting on one arm, he grabbed Izzy’s wrist and pulled it away from his arm. With a lustful look that melted her bones, he pulled her hand between them and pressed it against the erection fighting for freedom against the waistband of his pants. It was thick and hard.

  “I-I guess you are.”

  He tilted his head and gave a tight smile. “Allow me to find out if you are too.”

  Her invitation was a widening of her legs as she straddled over Jack’s hips. With one swift move he slipped his large hand inside the delicate silk knickers and cupped her mound. She arched her head back as Jack stroked her feminine folds. He licked and nibbled the length of her neck with his tongue until she offered him her mouth. He took it hungrily. She dug her toes into the bed as she lifted her knees, raising her hips to offer greater access. Two long fingers pushed into her slick heat, rubbing and teasing the bundle of nerves that held her release button. Oh God, if he did that again she was going to...

  “Open your eyes, Izzy,” he commanded as she tightened and convulsed around his fingers.

  Her gaze locked with his, their eyes widened at the same time she gasped. Heat crested inside her, both painful and pleasurable at the same time. It was too much. It wasn’t enough.

  Tearing his mouth away, Jack reared up. With her head still spinning and her body throbbing, she watched as he slid a hand into his pocket and pulled out a condom. Thank goodness one of them was still having coherent thoughts. He dropped it on the bed and with a rough push shoved his trousers and pants over his hips so he was out and standing very proud.

  She parted her lips and blinke
d, wanting to drink in the sight of him for as long as possible, until the point where she was drowning in him.

  Unable to resist she lifted up her upper body, her aching breasts straining against the bodice of her dress. With her arm settling in the sea of organza around her waist she trailed a finger down his length. Jack threw back his head and hissed. She watched his shaky hands wrestle with the packet. She gripped his taut shaft, unable to resist exploring as she stroked along his hard, silk covered penis. It was like the feel of the soft rose petals that brushed her naked thighs but with a hell of a lot more potential.

  When she rubbed a thumb over his straining tip, he cursed. Within seconds he had her flattened into the bed with one of his hands gripping her wrists above her head. Izzy gasped, her pulse thundering as he took a hold of the side of her knickers and with one tug the seam ripped apart.

  With a slow glide he pushed inside, filling her completely, making her gasp loudly. She didn’t need him to wait. Foreplay had commenced days ago. She was ready then. She was more than ready now.

  “Is this what you wanted? Is it?” he asked in a ragged tone that set her body alight.

  All senses tended to by him. His sound, his touch, his taste, his smell, and the sight of his body between hers, those eyes expressing concern merged with blatant desire. He was asking if she was okay. She answered with a reassuring tilt of her pelvis that had him deep inside her core. She bit back a curse, grabbing her lip with her teeth as the exquisite sensation threatened to overwhelm.

  “God, yes,” she gasped as he slowly pulled back before plunging back inside, almost setting off sparks behind her eyes.

  The tilt of his throat allowed her tongue access, so she swept it upward, tasting the hint of salt on his skin and the smell of potent male. He dropped his head as she nibbled on his jawline before sweeping her tongue between his lips. She raked his bare back, making him shudder. The taste of him was drugging as she explored his mouth, earning a return of the favor until it became a playful duel with satisfaction the reward for both competitors.