Page 74 of Growing Into Love

CASS

I wakeup the next morning wondering if the previous night really was a dream.

But there’s a pair of strong arms around me. I press my face against Jaz’s bicep and smile into his skin. I’m giddy, exultant, ecstatic, delirious…I’m a thesaurus of joy.

He feels the same way I do. He wants me too.

And I get to spend all day with him today, watching the other classes compete, knowing that he wants to kiss me. Knowing that this is real. No more lies—no more David, or Theresa, no more pretending.

And then tomorrow, it’s time to beat Nigella once and for all.

Jaz shifts beside me, and I can feel his erection pressing into my left thigh. It sends a shock of excitement through me. He’s hard forme. The thought makes me wriggle against him—I can’t help myself.

“Morning,” he says blearily. Then he notices his hard-on. “Oh, shit.”

He moves to get up, but I grab him and pull him toward me, wrapping one leg around him. “A very good morning indeed,” I say, and he groans.

“Don’t you dare,” he says.

“Dare what?” I ask innocently.

He hitches my leg higher up his waist, his hand rough on my thigh. “Not till tomorrow,” he growls, grinding against me in a way that makes my head spin and my breath snag in my chest.

“Jaz,” I gasp, but the next second, he’s thrown off the covers, grabbed some of his things, and scampered to the loo. Bastard.

I hop out of bed and peruse the closet, wondering what to wear. I only brought one dress, for tomorrow evening, so I choose a pair of nice jeans and a navy V-neck. The color looks lovely against my skin and the neckline shows off my cleavage. I grin as I toss the outfit onto the bed. Jaz comes out of the bathroom fully dressed and ready. I catch his eyes raking down the length of my bare legs.

“Put some clothes on,” he says roughly. My stomach quivers. I’m burning to kiss him again. The look in his eyes tells me he’s feeling the same.

“Jaz,” I say, taking a step toward him.

He holds up a hand. “Don’t,” he says, and there’s an ache in his voice. “If I start kissing you, I won’t be able to stop.” His lips twitch. “I won’t be able to keep quiet either.”

A shudder runs down my spine. I feel as if I could sprout wings and fly.

“Fair,” I say. As I pass by him to use the loo myself, he grabs my hand, pressing it against his chest before kissing each of my fingers one by one.

“Soon,” he promises.

I change and brush my teeth. I splash some water on my face and stare at my reflection. There’s no denying the glow that emanates from my every pore. I feel like I’ve swallowed the sun. Joy radiates from my features, making my hair turn liquid gold and my eyes bright as jewels.

I kissed Jaz. Jaz kissed me.

And we’re going to keep doing it!

I punch the air.

Yesterday, everything felt hopeless. How quickly the world can change.

I take out my phone to text both Zara and Autumn the latest development. I hope Autumn can keep this a secret from Dec until we get back to Hart’s Crossing. Jaz and I need to sort out what we are, where we go from here. We need time just the two of us, without distractions.

I can’t wait for our trip to New York.

But first I’ve got a competition to win.

I feelthe familiar buzz of nerves as Jaz and I head to Windy Acres.

I always get jittery the day before a show, but now there are other buzzy sensations as well—namely the ones caused by Jaz sitting in such close proximity to me. Every time he shifts in his seat or flexes his hand or clears his throat, it’s like a shot of adrenaline spiking through my veins. It feels like I had ten cups of coffee instead of one.

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