Fake It ‘Til You Sleigh It

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ethan

“Did you bring me here to feed me to the sharks?” Chase asks, eyeing the water warily.

“Nah, sweetheart. The sharks wouldn’t dare come near you. They’re too afraid.”

We’re alone on the speedboat, watching the sun sink below the horizon, casting its last golden rays across the gulf. The boat rocks gently, and I use it as an excuse to snuggle up to Chase. She lets me hold her, and we quietly take in the view. The scene is like something from one of our romance movies. Just us, the sound of waves, and the day’s fading light.

But this isn’t a scripted scene with perfect lighting and calculated camera angles. This is as real as it gets, and I’m done playing the charming lead. I want more.

Being home has filled holes in me I didn’t know existed. Yeah, I still have an image to maintain—fans are always watching. But here, I can breathe. In Florida, I’m a guy who helps with his mom’s craft store and laughs at his dad’s bad jokes. I can take my boat out at sunset and remember who I was before Hollywood changed me. This is the real me—the version Chase has been seeing.

She’s different here too. Away from expectations, her sharp edges soften. I see it every day —how she gets swept up in my mom’s wild family traditions, how her phone stays forgotten in her bag. I’m seeing moments when raw joy breaks through before she can lock it down again.

But fuck, I’m in dangerous territory. While I’m imagining a future where this isn’t just a PR stunt, Chase is building walls faster than I can tear them down. Every time she lets herself be vulnerable, panic follows. When she truly smiles—those real ones that hit me straight in the chest—fear immediately darkens her eyes. She’s opening up, sure, but like someone waiting for the ground to disappear beneath her feet.

How do I prove that this could be more than a holiday fling?

“The sunset is beautiful, but it’s got nothing on you, babe.”

“You see, this is why you need me to write your lines,” she quips. “Your flirting game is… lacking.”

I move in, my lips gently grazing her neck, and when her breath falters, I know she can’t deny the magnetic attraction between us. “The way your body responds, darlin’, I’d say you’re into me.”

Chase stiffens and pulls away. “Oh, you’re mistaken, pretty boy. My body’s just scared of being thrown overboard and sinking into the dark abyss. Do you not remember the last time we were on this boat? You strapped me to a pool floatie and launched me forty feet in the air.”

“You mean the day you kissed me?”

“Oh, that day…” Chase taps her chin, feigning deep thought. “I don’t remember you, but I do remember Fernando, the clit-flicking fish prince. It’s so sad because he’s still trapped in a fish body by an evil sea witch with anger-management issues.”

“Right, let me guess. One kiss from you will turn him human?”

“Bingo!” She snaps her fingers. “Then we’ll live happily ever after in an underwater sex dungeon, where he gives me orgasms daily. Twice on Sundays.”

And there it is again. Our little back-and-forth, like a well-rehearsed dance. Keeping me at arms length.

She shuffles over and sits on the starboard side of the boat, her gaze fixed on the fresh evening sky and its shimmering stars. Off in the distance, a flotilla of boats covered in decorations and sparkling lights bobs along, getting in position for the Christmas parade. My mom’s giant flamingo topper towers above the rest.

“So why aren’t we boating with your family?” Chase asks. “Aren’t we supposed to be in the parade?”

“Well, I thought for your first time, it might be more fun to watch it instead. Just us. No family. No fans.”

“Can I be honest? When we were decorating today, I felt like I was giving a makeover to a garbage barge. All those janky cords and lights. I was sure it was going to look like a floating flea market. But I have to admit, at night, with all the boats lit up, it’s not completely hideous.”

“That is some high praise there, sweetheart. Careful, now. People will think you’re falling in love with Florida.”

“There’s more of a chance of me falling in love with you.”

Our eyes meet, and we’re lost in each other for a moment. But then her lips curve into that smirk I know so well, and I brace for impact.

“Which means absolutely zero chance.”

Well, that hurts more than a bee sting to the dick.

My typical arsenal of charming one-liners and smooth moves has evaporated, turning me into a fumbling idiot. I don’t want to fall into the same old player routine. Not with Chase.

I wish she could acknowledge the man behind the heartthrob mask. The guy who gets so anxious before each take that he sweats through his fitted T-shirts. The man who spends hours in the shower rehearsing lines, until his fingers are prunier than a 90-year-old’s ass. I need her to realize that I’m an actor who genuinely aspires to be taken seriously, especially by her.

When Chase looks at me, I know she thinks what everyone else does—Ethan Barrett, Hollywood’s charmer, a leading man with plenty of style but lacking substance. To most women, I’m a fantasy come to life, a walking, talking embodiment of their wildest dreams.

A passing thrill.

To bang and forget.

I’m just a fuck on their bucket list.

Turns out, shaking off a persona you’ve honed for years isn’t easy. I don’t fault Chase for seeing me that way. But it’s not the real me… not anymore. And I need her to understand that.

I notice her shoulders tremble slightly, and I spring into action. I reach into the picnic basket I’d stashed earlier and pull out a soft blanket.

“Here,” I say, my voice coming out huskier than intended.

“Thanks. I wore this stupid dress because I thought we were riding on the SS Holiday Disco Barge,” she grumbles, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders.

I’m relieved she’s covering up, because that dress is testing every bit of my self-control. It’s a knockout green, with a neckline that accentuates her cleavage and a skirt that’s teasing my imagination. My fingers itch to reach beneath it and feel her soft skin, to coax her sweet moans back into my ear.

But I want to give even more than that. I want to tell her how incredible she is. How her talent leaves me in awe every day. How her fierceness and vision inspire me to become a better actor, a better man.

I take a seat next to her, trying to appear casual, but every muscle in my body tenses. My usual charm is nowhere to be found, leaving me unsure of how to act without my go-to moves.

“So,” I manage, clearing my throat with a chuckle. “Who’s the genius that decided leading ladies in Cherish Channel movies have to wear dresses for parades? Seems a bit impractical for December, don’t you think?”

“That was me,” Chase admits with a sigh. “But I had no clue they were freezing their tits off. I’m totally changing that for my future movies. So, get ready to act like you’re hot for parkas and snowsuits.”

I let out a laugh, but it’s cut short by a deep, bellowing horn that pierces the night air. Chase jumps, instinctively gripping my arm.

“What the hell was that?”

“That, sweetheart, is the start of the Marco Island Christmas Boat Parade.”

Right on cue, the first boats round the bend, lit up like Vegas on New Year’s Eve. The cheers from the shoreline crowds fill the air, with the enthusiastic ringing of cowbells adding to the excitement. We’re far enough away that we’re surrounded by darkness, fully taking in the spectacle.

“That’s… actually pretty incredible,” she admits, her eyes fixed on the show.

You’re incredible , I long to say, but I’m not quite ready to face another rejection just yet.

I take the champagne and flutes out of the picnic basket, popping the cork with a flourish before handing her a flute.

“Ooh, very suave,” she says, eyebrow arched. “Now I see why the women are lining up to be your rotating arm candy.”

It’s confirmed. She still thinks I’m a douchebag ladies’ man.

And now, I’m paying the price for living up to that shallow image. I’ve had my share of ladies. Actresses, models, fans who wanted a taste of the “King of Christmas.” I played the part, reciting Chase’s scripted lines as foreplay and making their holiday rom-com dreams a reality. But none of them ever wanted me .

“Okay, I gotta know,” Chase says. “Where do I rank on the Ethan Barrett Starlet Scale? Am I a solid 7? Or have I reached the coveted 8.5?”

Ouch. Is that really all she thinks she is to me? The idea of Chase being just another quick fling has me ready to hurl myself into the bay.

I take a deep breath, looking her straight in the eye. “Chase, you’re not like the rest. You play in a whole different league.”

“Oh please. I’m being serious. Don’t give me your heartthrob lines. We both know I’m not your usual type.”

Something snaps inside me. How can this brilliant, hilarious, insanely talented woman not see how amazing she is?

I set my glass down, turning to face her head-on. “That’s right. You’re not my usual type. You are something else entirely.”

She tries to cut in, but I can’t control myself. Words just tumble out like I’ve cracked open some kinda emotional floodgate.

“You’re whip-smart and funny as hell, and yeah, you make me crazy. Sometimes I don’t know whether to argue with you or shut you up with a kiss. You challenge me, and you call me on my bullshit, and make me want to be better. That’s not something I’m used to. I really like that about you.”

I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, happy to use it as an excuse to touch her.

“So no, you’re not my woman of the week, Chase,” I continue, my heart pounding. “I don’t know what this is, but you’re the woman I can’t stop thinking about, the one I want to impress, the one I…”

The weight of my realization hits me like a sudden plot twist. She’s the person I can’t picture my life without .

Chase stares at me, her expression unreadable. The silence stretches between us, filled only by the gentle lapping of waves against the boat and the distant sounds of the parade.

I’m laid bare, raw as hell. It’s like I’m out here, treading water in a churning sea, just waiting. And she’s either gonna toss me a lifeline or let the abyss claim me.

Come on, Chase. Say something. Anything.

She clears her throat, her voice dry. “Wow… I’m going to steal those lines for my next script. Maybe you’re better at wooing than I thought.”

Words aren’t getting through, so I switch to action. I softly cradle her mesmerizing face in my hand. “Chase,” I whisper, bringing our lips so close we’re almost touching. “I want you. I need you. Please.”

That single word—please—ignites an inferno between us. Her mouth comes to me with a hunger that sends my senses reeling. She battles for dominance, and I gladly surrender, letting her shatter my defenses.

Her hand reaches over, bold and unapologetic, palming my fast-growing hard-on through my pants. A groan escapes me, swallowed by her relentless kiss.

She offers a gentle squeeze, and my hips instinctively move towards her, craving more.

Her fingers trace the length of me, triggering shockwaves of pleasure.

I’m pulsing.

Throbbing.

Every nerve ending aching with need that only she can satisfy.

She breaks away, her mouth charting a blazing course down my jaw, my neck, her breath hot and ragged against my skin.

“Chase, you drive me out of my goddamn mind.”

She meets my gaze, her eyes dark and predatory with a wicked smile. “Good,” she whispers, her hand still stroking me.

In a torturously slow teasing motion, she bunches up the skirt of her dress around her hips and slides her leg over my lap. Her fingers nimbly release the button of my pants as she lingers above me, allowing just enough space for me to slide my pants down to my knees.

“You might have had your share of women,” she murmurs, her voice a sultry whisper, “but I’m the one you’ll never forget.”

She grasps my rock-hard cock in her hands, steadying herself on my lap, and my body tingles with want. I hastily dive into the wicker basket and grab an entire strip of condoms. I was hoping the evening would go this way.

“Quite presumptuous of you, don’t ya think?”

“Not sure if you know, but I grant Christmas wishes. And I guessed what yours might be.”

“Maybe you really are magic.” She sets the condoms aside with a smirk. “For later.”

I bask in her wetness as she nestles my shaft between her legs, rubbing against the fabric of her see-through panties, the flimsy barrier driving me wild with anticipation.

“You’re so damn wet.”

“I’m drenched for you, Ethan.”

She moves against me, slow and deliberate, a sweet torture that has me gripping her hips, my fingers digging into her soft flesh.

Her lips part, and the subtle gasp that escapes sends a shiver of anticipation down my spine.

Chase tugs down the top of her dress, guiding my head and pressing my face firmly against her breasts. My stubble grazes her silky skin as I lick and kiss my way to her nipples. I suck hard, anxious to hear that sweet moan of hers again.

She rocks her hips more forcefully, and I can tell she’s climbing faster than expected. I reach around from behind and yank her lacy underwear to the side. I take two of my fingers and soak them in her wetness before plunging them inside her. She gasps at the sensation.

“Mmm, Ethan, that feels so good.”

“Tell me what you want.”

“More. More!”

I finger fuck her pussy, and she rides my fingers hard. I’m pushing so deep, and she’s grinding with purpose. She’s right there, and I sense her walls tremble. Her slick muscles squeeze around me, and suddenly I’m sucking so hard on her breasts I’m marking her.

I want her to know that she was mine, even if just for tonight.

“What are you… doing to me… I’m—” Her moans crescendo, pitching higher and higher—like a melody of need.

Her muscles lock tight around my fingers as her orgasm takes control, ripples of pleasure cascading over her. Until she finally goes limp, collapsing on top of me. I can feel her heart racing against mine, her breath choppy. Knowing I’m the man who got her to this peak… It’s deeply satisfying.

I long for more. So much more. But at the very least, I can give her this.

“Are you done, baby?” I whisper, still sliding my fingers in and out of her, savoring the feel of her velvety walls.

Chase hazily murmurs, “Fuck me hard,” before diving her tongue into my ear. The euphoric feeling unleashes a rush of pleasure to all the right places.

Holy hell. She knows that sends me right to the edge.

I hastily grab the condom and roll it on, stroking myself with a rough, eager touch. I want to give her every fucking inch I’ve got. To bury my cock so deep in her that she’ll feel me for days.

“You got a position in mind?”

Her eyes meet mine. “Take charge, Ethan. Take me how you want me.”

I almost detonate right then and there.

In a swift, dominant motion, I lay her down on the boat, pressing up against her entrance. “Brace yourself, babe,” I rasp, my voice barely recognizable. “It’s gonna be fast and intense. Once I’m inside you, I won’t stop until you’re screaming my name.”

I drive into her with a powerful thrust, a groan ripping from my chest as her tightness envelops me. Instantly, I’m pumping feverishly, my thickness filling her completely, every inch of me claiming her. I’m out of control, head spinning, hips grinding shamelessly into her with wild abandon. The boat rocks beneath us, swaying in time with our frantic rhythm.

“Fuck, Chase. You feel incredible.”

“So do you… God, Ethan, you’re so deep.”

Her nails dig into my shoulders—sharp pinches of pleasure that spur me on. Her hips rise to meet each of my thrusts, urging me deeper, harder. The sounds of slaps, skin on skin, grow louder, more desperate, echoing across the water.

Insistent. Raw. Urgent.

“Fucking yes, Ethan! Yes!”

Her breath hitches as I hit a spot deep inside her, that special spot that makes her cry out, her body trembling around me. She’s getting close, and I can feel her pussy tightening, her muscles clenching.

I need to be the only one who makes her lose control like this.

I want her to crave me, to feel like I’m the air she breathes. I have to be the only one who satisfies her, the one who knows exactly how to touch her.

I have to ruin her for anyone else.

“Yes, Ethan. Like that. Just like that.”

She quivers, and suddenly both our bodies are tingling, vibrating, circling around nirvana—pleading with us to fully succumb to the pleasure.

“You’re so fucking perfect, Chase,” I growl, the words escaping my lips like a secret.

She is. Unlike any other woman, perfect. The word repeats in my head with each forceful plunge.

Perfect, perfect, perfect.

“Come for me, Chase. Say my name.”

Her body tenses, her inner muscles clamping down on me. “Ethan… I’m close. So close.”

I capture her mouth in a searing kiss. “Let go, baby. Let me hear you scream,” I growl.

And she does. Her climax ignites, her body quivering as she’s screaming my name. The sight of her coming undone beneath me, the sound of my name on her lips, sends me over the edge. With a final, fierce thrust, I explode, my body convulsing as I pour myself into her.

As we lay there, panting and spent, I press my forehead to hers.

“You’re fucking perfect.”