Free Sweet Deception (Truth) by Grace Henderson Page A

keep my face as emotionless as possible whilst still nodding along. I wasn't the life of the party. It all felt a bit too contrived and I couldn't relax. I was just lifting a piece of steak to my mouth when something brushed against my leg tickling the bare skin. I reached down to scratch the itch and carried on eating. Just moments later it happened again, but instead of just a tickle, it was something firmer, sending a shiver round me. Was that – No, it couldn’t be. I coughed to clear my throat and peeked up at James through my hair. The corners of his mouth were turned up in a cocky smile I knew only too well from Blake. He raised an eyebrow as I choked on my steak and the cutlery clattered onto the plate. Yes it was, it definitely was. His leg had made its way up the length of mine in a caress. He was coming on way too strong. What was his deal? I wondered whether I had done anything that gave him the impression he could. I picked up my drink to calm myself and took a steadying breath.
"So, James, how come you haven't got a girlfriend?" I asked. He smiled like he knew what I was doing and I heard my Gran's tut as she carried on eating.
"Just haven't found the right one yet I guess."
"So why wasn't the last one the right one?" I shot back.
He eyed me carefully before responding. "I obviously wasn't the right one for her. She cheated on me with her yoga instructor." Bitch. Why was I such a bitch?
    Gran intervened, “So, who wants dessert?” She looked round at everyone and when her eyes landed on me they silently scolded me for being rude.
    “I’d love some please Julia, what are we having?” James asked.
    Gran smiled at his politeness and answered, “Well I have fresh strawberries. I can give you ice-cream with them or whipped cream?”
    He replied, “I’m definitely a whipped cream kind of guy.” She nodded and turned as James grinned and winked at me. I blushed bright red and looked away. He was definitely hot on the flirting.

The meal carried on with Gran asking him more questions and doing her best to bring me in on the conversation. When we finished, Gran and Margaret sneaked off silently to do the washing up telling us to make ourselves comfortable in the sitting room. He patted the spot next to him on the sofa and I shook my head in response. "I don't bite you know," he cocked his head to the side and smiled that sexy half smile. "No, but I do," I snapped back.
He laughed," Wow, getting kinky on the first date. I am a lucky man."
"This is not a date." I bit out.
He held his hands up in a surrender. "Okay, okay. I get it." He got up and swaggered his way over so he was up close. Close enough to make me swallow hard. Then he moved his arm up to hold onto the mantelpiece behind me and I was caged in. It didn't scare me, but it made my mouth dry and there were no thoughts but his hard body in front of me. "You may not want this to be a date, but I can tell you want me." He leant his mouth down to my ear and whispered," You want me bad." He pulled back but only slightly and his face was only inches from mine. My eyes flicked to his and there was fire, desire. He moved and then his lips were on me and my mind was trying to register why I shouldn't be doing something that felt this good. He licked my top lip trying to get me to open up and then I felt Blake's hands on my waist.
But it wasn't Blake; I just wanted it to be. I pushed out to James' chest and he stumbled back slightly. I shook my head and blurted out, “I can't. I'm seeing someone."
He looked faintly amused which I didn't understand. "I know."
My eyes lifted from the ground, "What do you mean, you know?"
He leant against the wall with his arms folded. "I mean, I know you're seeing someone. I know you're seeing Blake. He's a mate."
I was still confused. "So why would you do that, if he's a friend?"
He took a deep breath in then blew it out." Well I don't think he quite wanted it to go that far. I've been a naughty boy. But I just couldn't