I watched with amusement as Addison’s face turned from cherry red to eggplant purple. It seemed like steam might shoot out of her ears at any moment.

She jabbed a finger in my chest. “Let’s get one thing straight here: whatever action I do or don’t get is none of your business or concern.”

“Actually, my dear fiancée, it is my concern.” When I placed my right hand on her shoulder, her upper lip curled in disgust, so I removed it. “Look, you can’t argue with the facts. Everyone needs a good fucking from time to time. It’s a good stress reliever.”

“How do you manage to twist everything to make it about sex? We were just talking about kissing, nothing remotely close to anything so physically extreme.”

“Hey, I just made an observation based on your response. It’s not my fault you’re a tad frigid.”

A growl erupted from Addison’s lips, and for a moment, I thought she might lunge at me like a rabid dog out for blood. Instead, she tossed the folder down on the table before stomping over to the minibar. Color me surprised when she grabbed a bottle of Jack and a Coke. She kicked the fridge door shut and then grabbed one of the monogrammed Jefferson glasses to mix the drink. Turning around, she held my eye as she proceeded to drain the cup. After swiping the back of her hand across her mouth, she slammed the glass down. Closing her eyes, she shuddered as the alcohol reverberated through her system.

Seconds passed before she opened her eyes. “Okay. Now I think I can actually speak to you again without wanting to choke you.”

“Well, choking me would involve touching, which is part of our homework.”

The corners of Addison’s lips twitched. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you, Barrett.”

“I will take that as both an insult and a compliment.”

Addison laughed. “I would expect nothing less.”

“So, what should we start with?”

After pursing her lips in thought, Addison replied, “Holding hands, then hugging—that way we can work up to the kissing.” She said the word kissing with the same disdain as someone would say toxic waste. Was she that repulsed by me? Or was she really the prude I thought her to be? The way she just threw back that drink… I’d never had any trouble reading women, but this one had me baffled.

Taking the initiative, I closed the remaining gap between us. Once we stood directly in front of each other, I said, “Hold your hands up.”

Addison eyed me warily before complying. When I smacked them with mine like girls did on the playground in elementary school, she snorted. “Seriously?”

“Baby steps.”

She must’ve liked my tactic because she started hitting my hands back. Just as her brows furrowed in a Is he going to keep this bullshit up all night? look, I stopped my hands in midair. After she did the same, I reached out to curl my fingers around hers. Just like that, we were officially joined. “Holding hands accomplished,” I said with a grin.

Although I could tell it slightly pained her, Addison smiled back at me. “Okay. Now let’s tackle the hugging,” she suggested.

Or I could just tackle you and give you the mercy fuck you’re dying for. ‘Gagging for a shag’ is what Ty would probably say; I decided it was best to keep that thought to myself.

We dropped our hands, and thankfully Addison didn’t pull some smartass move like wiping her hands off on her pants like she was de-germing herself. With a deep breath, I stepped even closer to her than before. Even though the top of Addison’s chin hit at chin level on me, I somehow felt like I was looming over her.

Slowly, I reached out to wrap my arms around Addison’s back. When I drew her against me, she remained limp like a rag doll with her arms pinned at her sides. “Come on, Addie. You gotta work with me here.”

She scowled up at me. “Don’t call me Addie. Only my family calls me that.”

“Newsflash, sweetcheeks, I’m your fiancé. Therefore, I am family.”

Her huff of frustration fanned against my shirt. Reluctantly, she brought her arms up to encircle my neck. She took a quick, deep breath, as if to prepare herself.

“It’s really not so bad, is it?”

“Actually no, not really.”

Although I hated myself for it, I kinda liked the way Addison felt pressed against me, the way her soft curves fit against the harder angles of my body. I especially enjoyed the way her soft tits pressed against my chest. I was sure if anyone could have seen us there, locked in an embrace, they would have thought we were a real a couple. I slid one of my hands down to the small of her back.

“Okay, I think that’s good,” Addison murmured.

“Yeah, it does feel good.”

“No, I meant that’s good, like enough.”

“Oh, yeah, right. Got it.” I jerked my arms away. “Guess the only thing left now is the kissing thing.”

She chewed her bottom lip apprehensively. “Uh, I guess.”

Jabbing a finger at Addison, I said, “Don’t act like you’re some condemned woman on death row. I’ll have you know that a large part of the female population actually likes kissing me, and an even greater portion would give their eyeteeth just to be in your shoes.”

With a smirk, Addison replied, “You really are to be pitied for having such an inflated ego and delusional sense of self.”

“Listen sweetheart, if anyone is to be pitied, it’s you and your inability to experience the pleasures of the physical side of life.” Reaching out, I grabbed her arm and yanked her to me. “But get ready, because you’re about to get one hell of a pleasurable experience!”