Page 33 of Private Tutoring
16
HARMONY
Why did I feel like it was the first day of school all over again? The expansive penthouse suite stretched in every direction. Wide windows took up an entire wall. Stephen sat in front of them, a pensive look on his handsome face. Did he not want me here?
Doubt crept in, and I wished I’d brought my bag so I’d have something to hold onto as I stepped out of the elevator. The doors closed behind me, and I jumped, my shoulders hunching toward my ears.
Roberto sat on the couch, but he stood quickly and rushed over. “Harmony. You made it.”
I frowned. “Yes. Did you think I wouldn’t come?” That wiggle of nervous excitement that had dogged my every move since talking to Roberto after class intensified. I’d been shy my entire life, but this was on a whole other level. Every look they cast my way put a tremble in my knees. I tried to push it aside, but then I remembered last night, and my knees shook for a different reason.
Stephen grasped his knees and sat back, his chest expanding in a huge breath. “Come in and have a seat.”
“You make it sound like she’s in trouble.” Matthew, calm, dependable Matthew, held out a hand toward the couch he stood behind. “Would you like something to drink?”
I shook my head, not trusting my stomach to hold anything down. I’d managed a few bites on the drive over, hoping to keep it from growling and giving the churning bile a chance to calm. “I’m fine. But thank you.”
“So polite.” Roberto’s crooked grin put me at ease, and I inched toward the couch. He tagged along and sat beside me, leaning into the cushions with a casualness I envied.
“Roberto invited you here to talk about last night.” Stephen jumped right into the conversation. “And to discuss the future.”
“Yes.” He hadn’t asked a question, but I had to say something. My nerves refused to let my mouth stay closed. Funny, because in almost any other situation I’d find myself unable to speak at all. The way they treated me unlocked the chains on my tongue, giving me a voice for the first time in my life, offstage.
Matthew took a seat on the low glass coffee table, stretching out his long legs so his feet rested alongside mine. “Will you tell us what you and Roberto talked about?”
I scanned their faces and tried to read each expression. They varied, but for the most part, all I saw was curiosity. The time for truth stretched thin and dramatic as I gathered my courage. “I told Roberto that I have a crush on him, and our time together made it worse.”
“And what do you think about stopping after last night?” Stephen remained recalcitrant, his grip on his knees tightening until his knuckles whitened.
I licked my dry lips. “I don’t want it to be over. What we did last night was amazing. I don’t think I can stop.” I sucked in a quick breath. “I will, if that’s what you all want, but you asked what I want, and I want to be with you. I like all of you, and you’llonly be my professors for a little while.” I’d worked on this all afternoon, but sitting face-to-face and saying the words out loud was a hell of a lot harder than saying them to myself.
Roberto’s quick smile gave me courage, and I leaned back enough to let the couch cushions cradle my shoulders. “Okay. Matthew, Stephen, what do you want?”
They shared a look, all three men communicating in silence. I’d known they were friends and that they worked well together, but this was on another level.
I knotted my hands together in my lap and tried to wait. Tried. And failed. “I want to keep having sex with you. All of you. We’d have to keep it a secret, but that shouldn’t be too difficult.” I waved one hand at the large room around us. A few paintings gave the walls color, but otherwise it was a clean, nondescript room that could have been in any showpiece magazine. “We don’t have to make a decision beyond that. We can see where things go.”
I wanted this too badly to give up without a fight, but I’d back down if that was what they needed.
Roberto winked at me and waved toward Stephen. “Still waiting on you two. I’m with Harmony. We can keep things quiet. Set some rules. Boundaries.”
Rules and boundaries. I could handle that. I swallowed the urge to continue trying to convince them.
Stephen ran his hands through his hair, then down his face. A groan thick enough to choke the room emerged in the silence. “I want you, Harmony.” He raised his head and met my gaze, our eyes locked in a rush of hot desire. “But I have concerns.”
“Me too.” Matthew tapped his shoe against mine. “I’m worried about you. If we do this, we’re all at risk.”
“I can handle myself.” I almost launched to my feet, a need to show physical defiance almost taking over. Instead, I drove myself deeper into the couch. I’d never been confrontational.What was happening to me? Sex. Beautiful, indescribable sex. That was apparently all it took to change me. “I realize this is a risk for you too. Your careers.” I paused for a breath when the weight of our decision tightened my chest.
“Our careers are our concern. We’re supposed to be looking out for you.” Matthew reached forward and touched my knee.
An electric current ran up my arm, jolting my heart into overdrive. “I appreciate the concern. Really. That’s why I suggested we keep it a secret.”
“If we do this, we need to solidify the rules.” Stephen stood and paced. Sunlight flashed over his toned shoulders and showed the stiffness in his stride. “At school, everything is professional.” He shot a look at Roberto. “Absolutely no contact on school property.”
“What about tutoring? I still need help with my grades.” I hated asking because it made it sound like I wanted special treatment. “Never mind. I’ll talk to my sorority sisters and see if one of them will help me.”
“No. It will look strange if we stop so soon.” Roberto glared at Stephen. “I can keep things professional at work. Stop looking at me like that.”
