Festive Faking (Rust Canyon #1)

by Siena Trap

The first time I saw him, I thought he was the hottest man I’d ever seen. Then he went and ruined it by opening his mouth.

Lowering my voice so only she could hear, I teased, “Come on, Freckles. Are you really gonna deny dear, sweet Meemaw’s request for a show?”

I promise I don’t bite.” I waited a beat before adding, “Unless you ask nicely.”

Aspen’s mom looped an arm around mine, leading me away, but not before she called out over her shoulder, “You better hold onto this one.” I didn’t need to peek back to know Aspen’s face was a deep shade of scarlet. Even though she was out of earshot, I lowered my voice as I shared a secret with her mother. “I’m the one who’s trying to hold onto her.”

“You think I’m teasing you about your freckles, but I fucking love them.” She sucked in a sharp breath, but I kept going. “I love how you never cover them up. I’m desperate to count every single one as I memorize your body, inch by inch.”

My buzz from the bar had long worn off, but I was drunk on the way Mac made me feel. It was a high I would be chasing for the rest of my life.

“What we are about to do is a claiming. But I need you to understand that it’s not one-sided. It’ll make you mine, but at the same time, I’ll be yours. Understand?”