Page 85 of Forbidden Hearts
I may be rattled, but I don’t want to send her back to her room. “We cuddle, Sunshine.”
We climb into bed, and she rests her head on my chest. “Sunshine, huh?”
“I see why your student chose it now.”
She grins. “Because I’m bright and sunny.”
“Sure.”
Phoebe tucks her head in the crook of my arm. “I like this.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Good. So, tell me about Texas.”
Her head pops up, resting her chin on my chest. “It’s a great program, even if it isn’t quite as good as the one at Vanderbilt, they’re going to take all but two classes, so it won’t set me back all that much. The money I make this summer will cover it.”
“Why transfer? I don’t get it.”
She shrugs. “Change is good.”
I’m not buying that. “Yes, but I remember your dad talking about the hell you went through to get into Iowa.”
Phoebe looks down at her hand. “Iowa wasn’t for me, okay?”
“I’m going to assume this has to do with whatever that humiliating experience was?” I push carefully.
When her brown eyes meet mine, there is pain lurking in them. “Today has been a really good day. I’ve racked up four orgasms in eighteen hours, got into my audiology program, and feel pretty damn good, so let’s not ruin it.”
“Okay. Subject dropped.” I lift three fingers, giving her the Scout’s honor.
She grabs my hand, pulling it to her and lacing our fingers. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Being sweet.”
“Did you think I wasn’t?” I ask.
Her laugh is short, and she tries to cover her mouth. “You were so mean to me! You basically called me ridiculous at every turn and didn’t want me to watch Liv because you thought I was inept. So, yeah, you were not what I would call sweet.”
I shift, forcing her to sit up. “And you were what?”
“I am the freaking ray of sunshine to your cloudy overcast flowing around.”
I scoff. “Bullshit. I’m fun.”
“I didn’t say you weren’t. I said you weren’t sweet, but I was wrong. You are sweet, like a melted marshmallow under all that charred outside.”
“Oh, fuck that.” I dive at her, tossing her down, and I cage her in. “I’m not a melted anything.”
She giggles before blowing the hair away from her face. “Total mush.”
“Do I feel like mush?” I ask, already growing hard again.
Seriously, what the hell kind of magic does this girl possess? I am like a teenager again.
“No, definitely not mush there.” Her eyes sparkle with amusement.
“Say it again, and I’ll find something else you can do with that mouth.”
