I throw my head back as his tongue draws figure eights around my clit, teasing and taunting me and taking me right to the edge before pulling away again.

"Please," I moan with a hint of frustration.

"Look at me," he hums, positioned nicely between my thighs.

I did as he asked, looking down to see Tristan's usually soft brown eyes, dark and hungry instead, gazing back up at me.

"Patience baby, good things come to those who wait," he taunts, blowing lightly right where I want him to flick his tongue instead.

"Tristan," I growl. "Less. Talking."

He dutifully gives in to my demands, finally putting that very talented tongue exactly where I want him. My hands are in his soft dark hair and my legs are thrown over his shoulders. He is so strong that no matter how hard I try to buck my hips every time he hits that spot, he holds me exactly where he wants me and he makes me take every last bit that he is giving until I've climbed up to the very top of my high and come crashing down again.

Ecstasy, pure bliss, I'm floating on cloud fucking nine. However you want to describe it, it's fucking amazing and a feeling I would be content with waking up to every morning for the rest of my life.

I watch him carefully as he cleans up the mess that he made and he never once breaks eye contact as he licks my juices clean from his lips. Once he's satisfied, he kisses his way up my body making sure to pay extra attention to his favourite places. Finally he is close enough that I can grab him by the back of his neck, pull him towards me and kiss him back.

We're lost in each other. Lips, tongues and hands are everywhere, then before I realise what he has done, Tristan plunges his hard cock deep inside me.

I gasp for air, my eyes shooting open and I'm quickly snapped from my state of deep sleep.

My heart is pumping as I lay flat on my back staring at the dark ceiling. I don't even need to send my hand down my pants to know that between my legs is definitely very wet.

I just had a sex dream about Tristan. A seriously hot and very realistic sex dream about Tristan.

Well fuck.

***

Scarlett is sitting on the balcony enjoying breakfast in the morning sun when I drag myself out of my room. I slide the door open and collapse into a chair beside her.

"I hope that's a mimosa," I grin, eyeing off the orange juice in her glass.

"No, should it be? Do we need alcohol at 9am?" She questions, raising one of her perfect brows, a sly smirk on her full lips.

I sigh. A long, loud and not so relieving sigh.

"I think I've got feelings for Tristan."

"Yeah? You think?" She sounds amused by my confession and not at all surprised.

I lean forward to see what she is eating while I think about how best to answer her and what details I should elaborate on, and scrunch my face up at what looks like a bowl of pure health. Yoghurt, chia seeds and lots of fruit. No mimosa and no refined sugars, I'm so not interested.

Tristan would like that though.

The fact that I know that and that it's my very next thought, is exactly why I'm sitting here having this conversation.

"That," I point to her bowl, "is way too healthy. Sunday's are for pancakes. Preferably with a choc chip cookie dough ice cream and a mountain of maple syrup."

"It's delicious. Stop stalling," she scolds me. "Tristan?"

"Ok, I know I have some level of feelings for him, like more than friends. I have no idea how he feels, but I think that maybe he feels something. But I don't know, and honestly, why would he like me when he could have any woman he wants. The man is built like a god, and he is so incredibly good looking, so why would he want me," I'm rambling, I know this. But I can't stop.

"It's just we've been spending a lot of time together, and we're really close. There's been a few... moments. I also know that he cares for me like obviously cares for me as a friend, but I think I'm starting to feel more and I just don't even know if it's all in my head."

"Mack!" Scarlett interrupts me and I look at her expectantly. "Of course he has feelings for you. We can all see it. But you know he won't act on that unless he thinks you're ready," she says gently, but with absolute certainty.

"What?" I practically splutter.

"It's obvious to everyone except you. Think about it, Tristan and I are friends too- I would say we're quite close because my circle is small- but he doesn't treat me at all like he does you. He has always gravitated to you, wanted to protect you and will do anything for you," Scarlett explains and I realise she is right. It's always been a different friendship between Tristan and me. "The question is, are you ready? Because I'm pretty sure he is just waiting for some sort of signal, a green light from you."

I bury my head in my hands, "I... I don't know. I need coffee."

"I'll make you a coffee, then talk me through it, how did you suddenly realise this just now?"

After Scarlett places a coffee in front of me, I tell her all about the last two days starting with our friend date on Friday night, including the little details, like how he let me use him as a human pillow, sleeping in the same bed and his comments the next morning. I told her all about the fake relationship, and the moment I realised what all the little butterflies meant. Scarlett listened patiently, she let me talk through all the things I needed to and asked questions when appropriate.

"Ok, so what are you going to do about it?" She asks.

"Uhh, nothing?" I laugh. Not an amused laugh, more a nervous giggle. Because there's no way I'm doing anything about it. I don't do that.

"Why not? Times have changed, it's ok for women to make the first move you know."

"Oh I know that. I just don't know if I'm ready to rock the boat. There's nothing wrong with going slow and seeing where my feelings take me. Is there?"

Although I think the truth is I'm scared of rejection. No matter how certain Scarlett is about how Tristan feels, he hasn't actually said it to anyone.

"Plus, I'm still newly single. I'm sure there's a time limit for jumping into relationships. Because that's what it would be with Tristan. A full blown actual relationship."

"It's been three months since your relationship officially ended, and it was over long before that. It sounds like you're just making excuses Mack," Scarlett calls me out. She's right of course I am. But I'm not going to admit that.

"No, these are genuine concerns!"

Scarlett doesn't even bother with a verbal response. The look on her face speaks volumes. I lean back in my chair and swirl my coffee in my cup. I hate that she's right and I hate that I'm too scared. I'm still not doing anything about it though.

I'm contemplating the pro's and con's of sending a good morning text to Tristan when my phone buzzes. A little bolt of excitement flows through me as I hope to see Tristan's name, but then feeling a little bit deflated when a text from Mel pops up on my screen instead. It quickly buzzes four more times as a series of photos come through. They are all dresses with the question, which one for next weeks engagement party?

"Shit!" I exclaim.

"Everything ok?" Scarlett questions, looking up from her own phone.

"Yeah, I just forgot about this engagement party next weekend and I absolutely have nothing to wear!"

"Oh the one you're taking Tristan to as your date, the one where your ex will be too? What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall there, maybe Mel can send me updates."

"Yes, that one," I give her a deadpan look.

"You can borrow something of mine," she says casually and I burst out laughing.

"Yeah, no. Thanks for the offer but there's no way I'm fitting in you're clothes! You are easily one size smaller than me."

Scarlett frowns, scanning me from head to toe. "You're not as big as you think you are, but let's go shopping then. We'll find a dress that will simultaneously make Tristan drool while hiding his hard on all night and remind Noah what he lost."

A few hours, six dress shops and not a single purchase later, I'm standing in my underwear in an all too white dressing room while Scarlett hands me another three dresses to try on.

Everything has either been too tight, too short, too long, too casual, too formal, too revealing, or it just didn't look right on me. Don't even get me started on the prices in these shops Scarlett has brought me to.

She hands me a navy coloured, mid-length full lace dress with long sleeves and an open back, another that is blush pink satin halter and a third that captures my attention immediately. I bypass the other two and go for that one first.

It's a steel blue satin dress, there are cut outs on the side under the breast creating a bandeau top and allowing the back to be mostly open, with a very low cowl cut to sit just above my ass. It's midi length, hitting mid calf, covers all the right bits modestly, yet the way the back is open and the way it covers just the right amounts of skin mean it's appropriate, but still sexy.

"Yes! Yes, yes yes! That's perfect," Scarlett exclaims when I step out of the dressing room.

I spin around to check it out from all angles, but even without the mirror I feel comfortable and alluring. Even in the bad lighting of this room, I know that this is the right dress for me. The shop assistant comes over to see if we need any help, stopping short and with the smile on her face I can tell she agrees.

"You know I've seen countless women try this dress on, I've never seen anyone fit it quite like you," she says and I can tell it's not just a sales pitch, rather a genuine statement.

"You can pair some silver strappy heels with it and put your hair in a high pony with thick waves or curls," Scarlett says stepping behind me to gather my hair up off my neck.

"It's perfect!" I smile broadly, seeing the look come together in my mind and getting excited to get dressed up next weekend and show off this dress.

As I look at my reflection, doing one more turn in the dress, I can't help but hope that Tristan will also be flawed when he see's me. As for Noah, I couldn't really care less what he thinks. He's not even a consideration in my life anymore.

Scarlett insists that seeing we are already out, we should spend the rest of the afternoon getting a mani pedi, followed by facials and massages. Treating myself like this is something I never really did before. Like ever. Not only did I not have the time, I never had the money to spend on myself. So I enjoy it all, and afterwards I feel amazing and not even a little bit guilty about spending my money.

And yeah, when I finally got a text from Tristan later in the day asking how I was, and what I was up to, my heart fluttered. It's not even a question anymore about what I feel. I find myself looking forward to every interaction with him, day dreaming about him and what he might be up to and imagining a future where there is an us.

A/N
Sorry for the delay and then short chapter! I know I say it all the time but life is hectic.

Scroll on, because I felt bad and have decided on a double update!

Thanks for reading <3