Provoke_ A Seaside Pictures Novella (Seaside Pictures #3.7) - Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,18

me on the couch. Until we were making out like we were in high school.

I lost all track of time, but at some point, he pulled away with a cheeky grin and whispered, “Netflix and chill, any questions?”

“Not anymore.” I grinned back at him.

He slowly got up from the couch. I was so disappointed he wasn’t taking things further. While at the same time, I wondered how I was going to find my footing and go back to being his life coach after he’d gotten so deep under my skin by way of kissing like a god.

He grabbed my pills, changed the number on the bottle, crushed up another one, and put it in peanut butter, then handed it to me.

I took it and then grabbed my bottled water to wash everything down. He was staring at me funny.

“What?”

Braden grinned. “I was just wondering if it would be gross or insanely erotic if I lined your lips with blueberry jam, took a nice lick, then sucked off your tongue until you orgasmed by way of peanut butter…”

“You—you—” I sputtered. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“You say, ‘good idea, Braden, let’s do that next time. But for now, my lips are bruised, and even though I know you want to see me naked, I’m injured. So, let me sleep—but stay.’”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Good.” He left the room and returned with two pillows and a blanket, then lay down right next to the couch and handed me one of the pillows.

I got as comfortable as I could, and then I dropped my hand toward his head and ran my fingers through his hair. “I like your hair.”

He snorted. “It’s bright.”

“It’s yours.” I shrugged, earning a genuine smile from him.

“Yeah, you need to stop looking at me like that. I’m trying this new thing called self-control, but you’re beautiful, and you taste like heaven, and it makes me wonder what you taste like everywhere. I’m pretty sure the damn coffee table is gonna make me hard whenever I glance at it because all I’m going to picture is devouring you on top of it. Sorry, what was I saying again?” He winked.

I burst out laughing and squeezed his hand tighter. “Thanks for carrying me today.”

“We all have moments we need to be carried, Piper,” he said softly. “I’d be honored to carry you anywhere.”

I fell asleep holding his hand and silently wondering how I would ever eventually let it go.

When I woke up, it was to find Braden on the floor, sprawled out and shirtless, allowing me an incredible six-pack-fueled view. His hands were tucked under his pillow, giving him a devastatingly handsome look with his ruffled hair and inked-up skin.

My rock star.

No. Not mine.

Client. He was my client.

Ugh, even my brain was on board with my heart.

I’d known him for what? Almost a week, and already we were kissing. Already, I was breaking so many rules. And for the first time in years, I didn’t care. I was putting myself first instead of my job.

It wasn’t like we’d slept together. We just kissed. Okay, so we made out, a lot. And flirted. And yeah, I was tempted to grab my pillow and scream into it. I was so in over my head.

I wanted the fantasy of waking up next to him, of being able to just hang out with him. But I needed to help him—by any means necessary. So today I was going to wake up and attempt to keep from begging him to stay home and kiss me all day. Because as good as it sounded, sometimes a person needed saving, even if it was just from themselves. Braden needed that right now more than my kisses.

He turned to his side, making the blanket fall even farther down to his hips. I leaned a little closer to the sofa’s edge and studied this new development. Was he in boxers? Briefs?

I gave my head a good shake. I’d never done this before, crossed the professional line with a client. But with Braden, it was like I wasn’t even aware it was happening until it was already over.

I finally did grab my pillow and put it over my face, ready to scream when I heard Braden’s low chuckle.

“You freaking out or something? Let me know if I need to make chocolate chip pancakes. They solve everything…” His lazy look gave me shivers.

“You should put on clothes.” I finally found my voice.

His eyes narrowed. “But do you really want me to?