One Midnight Kiss: A Billionaire Fake Fiancée Holiday Romance

Sex

Fox had this way about him. He was confident, almost cocky, but disarming at the same time. It was hard to resist, even when part of me screamed to maintain my defenses. He was the kind of man that could break my heart and I did not want to deal with a broken heart ever again. The first time nearly killed me. A second time would probably finish me off for good.

“I suppose you did alright,” I conceded, trying to keep my tone playful.

He chuckled, his grip tightening slightly. I recognized that look in his eyes. “Just alright? I think that deserves better than ‘alright.’”

“How about I take a quick shower and make us an early dinner?” I suggested.

His grin widened. “I’m dirty.”

“Excuse me?”

“I need a shower. The smart thing to do is to conserve water and shower together.”

I had to laugh. “Oh, I see. You’re kind of a big man. I’m not sure if you’ll fit.”

“Trust me, I’ll fit. You can just get really close to me. Hell, you can mount me. I’ll make sure you get clean.”

Just hearing him talk like that made me wet. I licked my lips. “Okay.”

“Show me the way.”

He released me and followed as I led him to the bathroom. It was half the size of his and my shower was all very basic. It would be a snug fit, but that was half the allure. That and getting to see him wet and naked.

I turned on the water, adjusting the temperature until steam began to fill the small space.

When I turned around, he was undressing. I laughed at his lack of modesty. He stepped out of his briefs and looked at me.

“Do you need help?” he asked.

“If you’re offering.”

I raised my arms and waited. He stepped up and pulled the shirt over my head. Next, he pushed my pants down.

I stepped into the shower, the hot spray hitting my skin. He stepped in behind me. I felt his hands on my waist, pulling me against him. The warmth of the water mingled with the heat of his body. I closed my eyes and let myself be in that moment. It was like being wrapped in a cocoon, just me and him. Nothing beyond the glass shower door mattered.

The touch of his lips against my neck sent a shiver through me. He gently turned me around to face him. His hand cupped my face and then he kissed me.

I kissed him back, matching his intensity, letting go of the lingering shadows of past pains.

“Fox,” I murmured against his lips.

“I know,” he said. “I’ve got you.”

He turned us so he was standing under the spray. He pushed me against the shower wall. His hand grabbed my wrist, lifted it above my head, and pressed it to the wall. I sucked in a breath.

He kissed the back of my neck while his hand slid around my stomach and moved down, lower and lower.

His other hand still held my wrist firmly above me, a gentle assertion of control that made my heart race.

“Relax,” he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. His tone was soothing, yet the command was hard to ignore.

The water cascaded around us. As Fox’s hand ventured lower, I dropped my head back and to the side. His teeth clamped down on my flesh as his hand slid between my legs. His expert touch seemed to know exactly how to drive me wild. I could feel every nerve ending humming with anticipation and desire.

His fingers trailed over my clit, sending shockwaves through me. It was overwhelming, the sensation of being completely at his mercy while simultaneously feeling so powerful, so cherished.

Fox’s movements were both deliberate and intuitive, as if he had known my body as long as he had known his own. His other hand, the one not pinning me to the slick tiles, worked with a kind of skilled urgency that brought me closer to orgasm.

“I need a condom,” he said against my ear. “Please tell me you have one.”

I groaned, my body craving the release. “No.”

“Shit. Okay. That’s fine. I’ll finish you.”

“Or, we could… you know. You’re the first man I’ve been with since my husband.”

He went completely still behind me. “You’re on birth control?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve got a clean bill of health.”

“Okay,” I said. “Please. I need you.”

Fox hesitated for a moment, his breath tickling my neck. Then, as if making up his mind, he released my wrist gently and shifted slightly.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me back against him. I bent forward, putting both hands on the shower wall.

Fox’s body pressed firmly against mine, the steely length of him nudging at my entrance as he positioned himself. The tip touched me, a teasing promise before he entered. Gasps escaped my lips, sharp and needy.

The fit was tight and oh so perfect. Each thrust pushed me against the cool tile wall, the contrast of temperatures driving my senses wild.

Fox’s hand returned to my hair, pulling it gently so that my head tilted back toward him, exposing my throat. His lips and teeth marked their path with a possessive urgency that made my pulse soar. The raw energy between us in the cramped space just made it all even better.

It wasn’t long before we were falling into sweet ecstasy together. The timing was perfect. The water turned lukewarm. I knew it would turn ice cold in a few seconds.

“We better get out before we freeze,” I said.

He chuckled and hopped out behind me. I handed him a towel before reaching for my own. We dressed without saying a word, but it wasn’t awkward. It just kind of felt normal.

An hour later, he was still at my place. Fox settled in like he owned the joint. It was Saturday night, and we were both dressed in loungewear and barefoot. Fox insisted on putting my books on the new shelf. He had taken it upon himself to alphabetize them, which would have annoyed me if it wasn’t such a domestic sight. He had this way of making himself comfortable anywhere, like he had always belonged. Maybe that was why I hadn’t told him to leave yet.

I was in the kitchen, attempting to throw dinner together. It wasn’t going well. The chicken had burned and now the smell of charred yardbird filled the air. I had not cooked like this in a long time, and it was like muscle memory pulling me back. I used to do this every night. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

Andrew.

I could picture him sitting at the table, glass of wine in hand, smiling at me like I was his entire world. I loved cooking dinner for him. I used to think about being a stay-at-home mom. I would make cookies with the kids and have dinner on the table for him when he got home.

I glanced down at my left hand, at the thin, fake ring I had put on weeks ago. My stomach twisted. It was so similar to the ring Andrew had given me. It was almost freakishly identical.

“Natalia.” Fox’s voice broke through my thoughts. He was standing right beside me. I hadn’t even noticed him come into the kitchen. “I guess you like it extra crispy.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

I didn’t want to tell him. I never wanted to talk about it. But I couldn’t stop the words from coming out. “I was just thinking about the last time I cooked like this,” I said. “For Andrew.”

“Oh. Did you burn that chicken too? Because that’s no reason to break up with someone.”

“No, although I wish I had burned the whole damn house down.” I hadn’t told anyone this story before. I had buried it so deep inside that even thinking about it felt like reopening an old wound. But for some reason, standing there with Fox, it didn’t feel like weakness. It felt like letting go.

“There was a dinner party,” I began, my voice thin and brittle. “I invited everyone over. All of our friends. It was a nice get-together, or at least I thought it was. I spent the whole day cooking, trying to make everything perfect.”

Fox didn’t interrupt, didn’t move. He just stood there, listening.

“Abigail showed up early,” I said, the name sour on my tongue. “She was Andrew’s coworker. We had her over before. I thought we were all friends. We had shared recipes with each other.”

Fox’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything.

“They announced it over dessert,” I continued, feeling like I was back there in that room, watching it unfold in slow motion. “Andrew stood up, and he said he had something to share. Then he and Abigail looked at each other and they announced they were together. In front of everyone. I thought I was hallucinating. I couldn’t understand why no one else was shocked.”

I took a shuddering breath, looking down at the fake ring on my finger. It felt like it was burning into my skin. “Andrew had told everyone,” I said quietly. “Over the course of several months, he told all of our friends that we were separated, that I was okay with it. That I was supportive of his new relationship. And I had no idea. We were still fucking married.”

“I can’t imagine,” Fox said.

“No, you can’t because they toasted me,” I squeaked, my voice breaking. “Like, they raised their glasses and toasted me for being so gracious, for stepping aside. Abigail looked me in the eyes and thanked me. I just froze.”

I had relived this moment so many times but saying it out loud made it feel raw and new. The betrayal, the humiliation. I felt like I was going to crumble into a million pieces.

Fox didn’t say anything at first. He just slipped his fingers under my chin, gently tilting my face up to meet his gaze.

“I might have roughed him up a little the other night,” he said.

I blinked, caught completely off guard. “I’m sorry. What did you just say?”

Fox shrugged, like it was nothing. “I gave him a scare.”

“Him? As in Andrew?” I asked, trying to read his expression. He was smiling, but there was something almost wicked about it. “How? When?”

“I might have bumped into him at a restaurant,” Fox said casually, as if he were discussing the weather. “Let’s just say I made it clear he’s not welcome in your life anymore.”

I stared at him, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “You—” I started, but the words got tangled up in my throat. “You did what?”

“He’s a coward, Natalia,” Fox said, his voice softer now. “And he didn’t know what he had. You didn’t deserve that. Fuck him.”

I felt lightheaded, like the ground had shifted beneath me. He leaned down, his lips brushing mine before I even realized what was happening. The kiss was gentle, almost tentative, like he was giving me a moment to pull away if I wanted to.

But I didn’t want to.

When he pulled back, I could see something in his eyes that I hadn’t noticed before. It wasn’t just the usual flirtation or amusement. It was something deeper, something real.

Was I falling in love with him?

Fox gave me a lopsided grin. “I’m not the greatest guy sometimes,” he admitted. “But I promise I’m not like that. I would never betray someone like that, not even my worst enemy.”

I felt a laugh bubble up in my chest, surprising even me. “I’m still not giving you my phone number,” I said, trying to regain some semblance of control.

“Yet,” he said, pressing a kiss to my temple. It was such a simple gesture, but it felt like a promise. Like he was telling me he wasn’t going anywhere, even if I hadn’t asked him to stay.

He pulled back, looking at the charcoal chicken still sitting on the stovetop. “I’m suddenly craving pizza.”

I let out a relieved breath, nodding. “That’s funny, so am I.”

He grabbed his phone, stepping aside to place the order. I watched him as he talked, pacing around the kitchen like he owned the place. It was strange how natural this all felt. How easily he fit into the empty spaces in my life.

He didn’t even freak out about the chicken.

When he hung up, he turned back to me with that infuriatingly charming smile. “I should have asked earlier, but you like pepperoni, right? Because I can call them back.”

“Pepperoni is great,” I said, feeling the corners of my mouth lift despite myself. “But thank you for asking.”

He crossed the room in two strides, pulling me into his arms. I let him hold me, resting my head against his chest. For the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe I wasn’t destined to be alone forever.