Chapter 5

JAMIE'S POV

I was stunned. Unable to move. 

This wasn't happening. 

Ethan's lips loved slowly on mine, his tongue practically begging for me to let him in. My eyes closed involuntarily, and just when I parted my lips, he pulled back. 

I opened my eyes to see him staring right back at me as he sat down. I saw the heat, the fear, and pleading. Then he turned back to Trevor.

“What? Have nothing else to say?” The corners of his lips rose up in a smirk. 

I could only watch, with no words. 

My heart was racing faster than ever before. 

Ethan had actually kissed me.

And his lips were so soft. Just like I had imagined. It was amazing. 

He grabbed my arms underneath the table and held on tightly. He was apologizing. 

I couldn't take it, the burst of emotions within me, the spark I just felt and quickly pushed his hands to his side. Ethan had no idea what he was doing to me and I wasn't ready to disgrace myself because of a kiss. 

“That's enough, Trevor!” Margaret snapped at him, but her eyes were suddenly trained on me, like she knew. 

She was just like her grandson, overbearing yet warm. I kept eating, like nothing had happened, because to Ethan, it was all acting. 

The table turned quiet. We ate in silence, and the only time Ethan spoke was to answer his grandma or ask me how the food was. 

I had to give it to him, he was really acting like a doting boyfriend. It was just the first day and I could understand why his ex never wanted to leave him alone. 

No, I shouldn't think about that. I need to freeze my heart, to remain nonchalant if I was ever going to survive the next few weeks. 

After dinner, Ethan got a call and excused himself, leaving me and the rest of the family. 

Margaret stood up to leave, while the rest just stared at me. 

“I wouldn't have guessed Ethan swung the other way,” his aunt, Amelia, broke the silence. 

Trevor scoffed loudly. 

“You should know better, Jamie. You're his best friend,” he said. 

I could already smell the trouble Trevor was going to give me. He couldn't face Ethan head on so he wanted to focus his attention on me. 

Did he think I was easy to break? 

“I do and I have to say, Ethan is an amazing lover,” I crossed my arms and glanced at the lady by his side. “Can't say the same about you though.” 

It was a silent jab and Trevor knew it.

His face darkened and he stared at me coldly. 

Indeed, compared to Ethan who was faking his relationship, he would feel hurt. I had mildly noticed how Trevor never gave any attention to his so-called fiancee. 

She had to eat in silence. 

It made me realize why Margaret was hesitating on choosing an heir. 

One was a workaholic, with no time for family while the other was just an ass. 

Ethan arrived, putting his phone away. 

“Come on Jay,” he held out his hand. 

I hesitated. Did he think I was a fragile woman who couldn't stand on her own and needed help? 

“Seems like your boyfriend doesn't want to go with you,” Trevor snickered. 

Ethan was about to respond, when I took his hand and stood up. 

“Stop trying to guess my mind, Trevor. You'd fail,” I told him. “Wolfly,” I dragged. 

Ethan's grip tightened and he pulled me out. I had no idea where he was taking me to but I followed him out of the house and into the garden.

As we walked, I noticed he kept looking behind us like he was worried something was following us. When we were finally far away from the house, he let go of my arm like it burnt him. 

I bit the insides of my cheeks, trying not to get annoyed. Not now, at least. 

Ethan finally looked at me. “About earlier…” he trailed off.

“Which part?” I arched an eyebrow like I had no idea what he was talking about. 

If he was going to apologize for stealing a kiss, then I'd like to make him uncomfortable first. 

He swallowed, his gaze falling down to my lips. His eyes darkened a bit, a detail I wished I didn't have to notice but I did because I was staring at his face. 

I wanted to know exactly what was going on in his head. Every little bit. 

Did he enjoy kissing me? Was my taste good enough for him? Would he be attracted to me, even a little bit? 

“Just… everything,” he eventually said. “You are doing quite well.” 

I crossed my arms, definitely not going to let him escape. 

“You stole a kiss from me,” I muttered. 

His face turned red, and he quickly looked sideways, like he was scared someone was listening. 

“I…” 

I moved one step closer to the impossibly handsome man in front of me.

“Were you trying to seduce me?” 

He shook his head violently. “No, I was just trying to prove that this whole thing is real.” 

“So kissing me was the best way?” I dropped my arms slowly, my arm brushed my belt which was the only thing holding my pants right now. 

Ethan was too attractive. All he had to do was look at me with those warm eyes of his and I would get hard. 

And he did, not at me but at the little dent on my trousers. 

“Wait, don't tell me you got aroused?” A small frown formed on his head. He sounded quite concerned. 

I was being bold right now, very different from how we usually interacted, but I would back away if he got a tiny bit uncomfortable. 

“I did. I'm not immune, Ethan, so you should know better.” 

His hands found his neck and he rubbed it nervously. 

“I will consider that next time.” 

“So you won't be kissing me again?” 

“Unless absolutely necessary,” he vowed with a serious face. 

My hope deflated so fast. I should be glad he was saying no, at least this way I wouldn't get too attached. Or get my hopes up. 

“In that case, we should head back soon. Your family would be waiting for us.” 

He offered his hand and I accepted it willingly. 

As we walked back, I realized one thing. There was no way we would be able to end this fake relationship unscathed.