The Agreement: A Fake It Novel

by Kensie King

  Another girl came up while Lucas took his seat again. I put my full attention into her performance. All I had to do was get through the rest of this class and then I could take a breath. But throughout the entire thing, I felt Lucas’s eyes on me, his gaze steady and hot. When I let myself glance over, I wasn’t surprised to find a small smile curving his lips or his finger tapping patiently on the arm of the chair.

  Like he was waiting. For what, I wasn’t sure.

  I had another class an hour after this and then I planned on getting dinner before I went to the theater.

  Besides, wasn’t Lucas supposed to be at work? This whole arrangement made it possible for him to work as much as he wanted under the guise that he had a home life as well.

  Shouldn’t he be somewhere else? Not looking at me with that heated stare?

  “Mr. Pierce?”

  I blinked and looked at Carl. “Yes?”

  “Class is over.”

  “Oh.” I nodded. “Of course. Everyone did a great job. Next week we’ll be transitioning to scene three.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Pierce!”

  I waved as they walked out, until there were only two of us left in the room.

  Me and Lucas.

  He stood from the chair and walked over, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “That was interesting.”

  “You make a wonderful Juliet.”

  He made a noise of amusement low in his throat, but to my surprise, he lowered his chin and ran a hand through his hair. “Huh. Well. I think I need to practice more.”

  “Are you…blushing?”

  “No!” But when he looked up, his cheeks were tinted pink. “It’s not—”

  “You are blushing. Wow.”

  “It’s my first foray into acting. You have to cut me some slack.”

  “I think you did well,” I said with a smile. “Really.”

  His eyes met mine again. “You’re not just saying that?”

  I glanced around. “You didn’t pay for the class so I’m not obligated to say anything.”

  “Oh. Right. Of course I’ll pay for the class.” He reached back as if to pull his wallet from his pocket.

  I caught his arm. “That’s not what I meant, Lucas.”

  He stopped, eyes lifting to mine. “You called me Lucas.”

  Before I could release him, he’d moved his arm so he could take my hand, warm fingers closing around mine.

  Soft and strong at the same time. I almost melted when he brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

  “Thank you for letting me in today,” he murmured, eyes meeting mine over our hands.

  My throat dried. “Uh—you’re welcome. You surprised me.”

  “I told you I wanted to spend time with you. This was even better because I got to be here for something you enjoy.”

  He sounded so sincere, I found myself giving another smile. “I do enjoy it. I have another class in forty-five minutes.”

  He released my hand even though it looked like he wanted to linger. “I understand. I don’t want to interrupt. Have dinner with me tonight.”

  My mouth popped open in surprise. Wasn’t it enough he’d come to my class?

  “You really don’t have to—I mean, of course, if you have another event coming up work, we can. You know, if you need to—to talk about something.”

  “Now you’re blushing,” he murmured with a smiling, brushing my cheek with his finger before I realized what he was doing. “I don’t have an event. I want to spend time with you.”

  “That’s…” What was I supposed to say? In that moment, I wanted it. I wanted to feel his hand on mine again, to listen to the timbre of his voice as he spoke.

  To tell him where my heart was at now because we hadn’t been able to share much about ourselves.

  “Please,” Lucas said. “Say yes.”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. That’s…”

  “Good?”

  He grinned and pocketed his hands. “Yes. Good. Text me when you’re finished up here and I’ll make sure everything is ready.”

  “Everything is ready?”

  “You’ll see,” he said as he turned to the door. “I’ll see you soon.”

  With that promise, he strolled out the door, leaving me watching his back and aching for something I wasn’t supposed to be aching for.

  13

  ____________________

  LUCAS

  It was perfect for Roe.

  I’d come to discover that he preferred romance over ceremony, a pair of comfortable jeans over a suit, and laughter over seriousness.

  I hoped I’d be able to give him all of those things tonight in an effort to get him to see that I could be more than the man he’d come to think of me as.

  Once I made sure the candles were all lit, I took the elevator back to the penthouse to pick up Roe.

  He was ready for me, standing in front of the wide bank of windows and watching the world change to oranges and reds as the sun sunk toward the horizon.

  The outline of him against the windows, long and lean, made desire course through my body. He’d gone with jeans, as I’d expected, but pulled on that same suit jacket I remembered from our meeting that first day. It mixed professional with casual in a way that had me itching to touch him.

  When he turned, his head angled as he took in my outfit as well. “Am I underdressed?”

  “No,” I said, striding toward him because I couldn’t seem to help myself. “You look…perfect.”

  I stopped in front of him, ignoring my natural instinct to reach out and touch him. He’d shaved, and even from a few feet away, I could smell soap and cologne and whatever it was that made Roe smell like Roe. Or Ronan, the man I’d met at a party and spent an entire weekend devouring like I was starving for affection.

  Roe made me feel like that again, like I’d found an oasis after years in the desert and I was finally allowed to indulge.

  “Thank you,” Roe said softly.

  And I swore his gaze dropped to my lips when he said that, heat in his eyes I hadn’t seen since the day before I’d left him at the B&B.

  “Are we still having dinner?” he asked.

  “Yes. Come with me.”

  I led him to the elevator and then stepped aside so he could get in, placing a hand on his back as he did. I expected him to pull away, but instead it felt like a shiver raced through his body.

  It ignited a flicker of hope in me so strong, I took his hand as we made the short trip to the rooftop.

  He opened his mouth, either to protest or say something else, but the words didn’t come out when the elevators doors opened and he saw what waited for us.

  “This is dinner?” he asked, voice so low I had to lean in to hear him.

  “Excuse me?”

  He leaned over, breath touching my ear. “We’re having dinner up here?”

  The heat against my cheek and neck made my whole body flush with instant need. I squeezed his hand as my dick ached in my slacks.

  “Yes. A rooftop picnic.”

  I released his hand and touched his back again, encouraging him to walk to the spread I’d put in the middle of the roof, complete with a thick blanket and pillows to sit on. The champagne was already on ice and strawberries sat on a silver tray.

  It was all lit romantically with dozens of candles in lanterns and bulbs swaying on lights overhead.

  “I thought we were going out,” he said, glancing over.

  My stomach twisted. “We can. Of course we can if that’s what you want. I’ll—”

  “No. Lucas.”

  Chills raced through me when he said my name. His gaze ran over my face before he smiled.

  “This is perfect. Unexpected, but perfect.”

  “You sure?”

  He looked out at the city as a slight breeze tickled a stray hair on his forehead. “I’m sure.”

  “Would you like a drink?”

  He turned back and followed me to the blanket, sitting down with
another grin. “Sure. I have a few hours before I have to go.”

  My hand froze on the champagne glass. He had to go somewhere else? Out with friends, or was it a date?

  My jaw clenched as I poured the champagne, sudden and insane jealousy running through me. It wasn’t like we’d set any rules about dating other people, but it had been implied. At least on my end.

  I wasn’t going to be with anyone else and I didn’t want to share him with anyone either.

  “It’s the theater,” he said finally. Quietly.

  My shoulders relaxed and I turned to hand him the glass. “Theater?”

  He shrugged and sipped the champagne. “It’s good. I usually go for beer, but this is good.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Just another side job.”

  But he’d gone there last week as well, saying he couldn’t miss it even though it had been our first week together in the penthouse. It meant something to him and I wanted to know what. I wanted to know all of it.

  Being patient was hard when I felt so close to what I wanted, but so far away.

  “How many jobs do you have?” I asked, then remembered the coffee shop. “Now?”

  To my relief, his lips curved. “Just the community center right now. The other is sort of a…passion project.”

  “I’d love to hear more about it.”

  He considered this, drinking more champagne and reaching for a strawberry. “You know that old theater on Mason Street? The one with the curved windows?”

  “The movie theater? Is that still open?”

  “It is.” His gaze traveled up to the sky. “Barely. Mr. Carson wants to sell and I don’t—” His eyes came back to mine and he shook his head, clearly checking himself and what was going to say. “It’s a long story. But for the last year, he’s let me show classic movies there every Saturday night. There’s a whole group of us that go.”

  He smiled. I realized how much I wanted that smile to include me. How much I wanted to be part of something that made him so happy.

  “How about you?” he said abruptly. “Any passion projects?”

  I pulled over the other bag of food and grinned. “You.”

  He rolled his eyes and I cursed myself for shattering the moment. He’d seemed open and I might have ruined it.

  “Clever,” he said, keeping it light. “What’s for dinner?”

  “Steak.” I pulled out two trays I’d had delivered less than twenty minutes ago. “Yours is medium like you like it. Baked potato, loaded. A salad. I couldn’t remember. Blue cheese or ranch? I got both, but…what?”

  He stared at me, eyes full of confusion. Or was that wonder. “How did you know? I don’t think—"

  “Dinner. That night at the B&B.” I shook my head. “Shit. I didn’t even think that it might bring up bad memories. I’m so—”

  “No. Don’t apologize.” He pulled the tray in front of him. “It’s one of my favorite meals. It’s not a bad memory. It’s a nice surprise.”

  “That I remembered?”

  He nodded. I remembered a lot and I’d been paying attention since he moved in.

  My shoulders relaxed slightly. It was hard feeling like every move I made might be the wrong one. Like everything I said might push him further away instead of bringing us closer.

  But that longing inside of me to know him better, to be a part of his life, wouldn’t go away.

  So I took a risk. “Tell me about her.” He looked up, eyes wide. Vulnerable. “Your mom.”

  For a whole five seconds, I thought he might stand up right now and walk away from me. That I’d ruined it completely.

  But then he set down his fork. “She was bright.” He smiled. “The brightest, happiest, most optimistic woman I’d ever known. Even when she got sick. There was something about her that made everyone love her—that made everyone want to be around her. It sounds cliché, I know, but that’s who she was. The best of everything.”

  I completely understood because I could see the same thing in Roe. The way he greeted the doorman every time we left the building. The way he laughed when he was talking with Elise on the phone. The way his eyes crinkled when talking about the people he’d befriended at the coffee shop when he’d still been working there.

  Everything about him was bright, just like he said. The brightest star I’d known for a while.

  “She sounds amazing,” I murmured.

  Roe sighed and laid down on the blanket, staring up at the sky. “You have no idea. She was my inspiration. She was the reason why I’m here.”

  Slowly, I stretched my hand across the blanket, just a breath away from touching him. He didn’t notice, or maybe didn’t mind, so I moved that last inch.

  My thumb brushed his palm. He eyes flashed to mine, startled. And there was something else…something I couldn’t place. It didn’t look like anger. It looked like longing.

  I weaved my fingers through his, lifting his hand to link with mine, to make even the smallest connection I’d been dying for since he’d come to live with me.

  “Thank you for sharing that with me,” I said softly.

  His eyes searched mine for a long moment before he answered. “Thank you for listening.”

  We were suspended there, two people on the brink of something that felt huge. Something I knew would change my world.

  His gaze dropped to my lips, and my blood shot straight to my groin. God, I wanted him. All of him, right here on the rooftop. I wanted to smooth my fingers down his cheek and slowly take off his shirt. One button at a time to build the anticipation for both of us. And then I wanted to follow the same motion with my mouth, moving from his lips down to his abdomen before taking off his pants.

  I wanted so much, and it was killing me taking it slowly.

  Roe swallowed. I’d die to know what was going through his head right now. If he wanted me as much as I wanted him.

  Only one way to find out.

  I eased down, bracing myself with one hand beside his head and using the other to brush my thumb on his lips.

  “You’re amazing, you know that?” I asked him. My voice was low, rough, and full of need.

  His lips parted, tongue darting out to wet them.

  “Roe,” I growled in something that came out like a warning. He was testing me, and I didn’t even think he realized it.

  Then his lips moved just slightly, pressing a kiss to the pad of my thumb, and all coherent thought left my head. All I knew was that I needed my mouth on his, my hands holding him close.

  I closed the gap between us, caressing his cheek while my lips brushed against his. Soft. Warm. And waiting for me.

  I heard his quick intake of breath, heard the oh so quiet moan that left his mouth, turning me on so completely it was a wonder that my composure hadn’t snapped yet.

  I slid my tongue along the seam of his lips, a slow taste that I hoped drove him as crazy as it drove me.

  When his hand came up to squeeze my jacket instead of pushing me away, I knew this was affecting him as well.

  His lips parted, giving me access to his mouth. I licked inside, my tongue mingling with his.

  “I’ve been wanting to do this since the first day you moved in,” I murmured.

  His lips brushed mine when he said my name. “Lucas. Wait.”

  But my mouth was already making a path down his cheek and to his jaw, smooth from his shave before we came to the rooftop.

  He smelled like soap and sunshine, like everything that was right in the world.

  “Lucas,” he said again.

  I kissed his neck. “Hmm?”

  “I don’t know. Uh…” He cleared his throat and then pressed his hand against my chest. “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

  My cock was pressing hard against the zipper of my slacks and the only thing I could manage to think was that this was an amazing idea. We clearly still had chemistry and I thought he wanted this the same as I did.

  “You don’t?” I asked, trying to get my brain to focus.

  Roe s
cooted out from beneath me and then stood quickly, making me blink.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, glancing at the food, then the candles. Looking anywhere but at me. “This isn’t a good idea. It’s—I’m sorry,” he said again.

  And before I could respond, he strode away from the blanket.

  “Thank you for dinner,” he said over his shoulder as I stood.

  “Roe.”

  He didn’t stop, just made his way to the elevator, looking like a man on a mission.

  A mission to get away from me.

  I shoved my hands in my pockets, thinking better of going after him. That would definitely be pushing it too far.

  But then I realized that was it for tonight. He was going to go to the theater, and I wouldn’t see him again at least until tomorrow, which felt far too long at this point.

  Patience, I reminded myself. I didn’t have any other choice. If I wanted to make progress with Roe, I needed patience.

  But the way he stood and left so quickly made me wonder if he really felt anything for me at all, or if he was just going through the motions to get through this year so he’d never have to see me again.

  14

  ____________________

  ROE

  “You should come over,” Elise said on the other end of the phone.

  I stared out the wide bay of windows in the living room, my gaze drawn by the buildings, the people, the planes I saw go by. I could stand here for hours watching everything. I only wished I could see more of what was going on below. The rush of the city, the cars, the people.

  But I couldn’t complain too much considering the view from my old apartment bedroom window was of a broken and rusted metal staircase.

  “I really don’t feel like going out,” I told her.

  “Then have a drink and stay in.”

  I smiled at the suggestion and glanced down at the rum and coke I already had in hand. “Already done.”

  She laughed. “I know it’s hard. I wish I could come visit, but I don’t get off until ten and Mr. Steiner refused to change anyone’s schedule now that corporate is breathing down his neck.”