Page 48 of Loving Lies (Granton University 3)

“Six,” he growled, tickling her until she yelped. “There’re six bumps there, woman. Don’t go downsizing my six-pack.”

“Six?” she lifted her eyebrows as if she didn’t believe him. “Are you sure?”

“Well, let’s check your counting skills.” Taking her hand, he made her smooth her fingers over every sculpted ab muscle he had, counting aloud as she passed over each one.

“Wow,” she murmured, tracing them again. “I can’t even imagine how much football training you had to do to get all these. And how healthily you had to eat.” Abandoning his stomach, her curious hand found his arm and began to investigate the rock hard muscles there.

“Whatever. Sneak me in a Snickers bar, and I’ll show you just how healthily I don’t eat.”

Tess grinned. “Craving chocolate, are we?”

He actually whimpered. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Gee, I don’t know.” She let out a low whistle. “Chocolate contraband is a much heftier fine than burritos or hamburgers. You might have to owe me big time for a Snickers.”

He loved the teasing glint in her eyes. “I’ll do anything,” he swore, placing his hand solemnly against his heart. “For chocolate, I’ll be your slave for life.”

“Hmm.” Tapping her red-painted nails against her chin, she studied him for a moment, silently deliberating before she nodded. “Okay, then. I’ll take it. I hereby command you to kiss me. Like you mean it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he murmured and went in with purpose. Jonah could never kiss her enough. Their mouths seemed like they had been made to fit together. So, he kissed her, on and on. And he touched her with reverence, keeping it as clean as possible, even though in his mind, their actions kept getting dirtier and dirtier. She reciprocated, learning each and every inch of his bared chest as she kissed him back.

Sometimes they’d take a break, just to lie against each other and talk about anything and everything. And sometimes they’d kiss some more. Exhaustion wore him down, but he was afraid to fall asleep. He didn’t want the night to end. And yet, a time came when he grew too tired to kiss and too tired to talk. He rested his face against hers and soaked in the feel of her body against his as sleep stole into his foggy brain.

“Thank you for coming back tonight,” he slurred, needing to say it before it was too late.

“Thank you for not getting mad at me for coming back.”

“Mmm.” God, even the feel of her hands running through his hair was drugging him unconscious. “I’ll always welcome you back,” he promised before he remembered nothing else.

When he woke briefly to catch a nurse checking in on him, he tightened his arm around Tess, prepared for a fight to keep her. But the nurse said nothing about his bed companion, and he sighed out his relief as she left the room. Tess slept on, so he closed his eyes and joined her.

The next time he woke, sunlight streamed into the room, and she was gone.

Chapter Thirteen

“LET’S GO BUG PAIGE at The Squeeze. Bet we can sweet talk her into giving us a free latte and muffin.”

When a distracted Tess didn’t immediately answer Bailey’s suggestion, but yawned instead, Bailey bumped their shoulders together. “Besides, it looks like you need a caffeine pick-me-up. Seriously, what is wrong with you? You got plenty of sleep. Hell, you went to bed before I did last night.”

Tess winced. She felt crappy for not telling Bailey about her midnight visit. But it was something special between her and Jonah.

“I’m fine,” she mumbled. “And I don’t really want to go into the food district quite yet.” That was where the massacre had taken place. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to walk over that ground again. She couldn’t believe Paige could go in to the coffee shop she worked at each day, either, though that probably had more to do with the fact she worked with Logan and got to see him there.

Bailey let out a depressed sigh. “Yeah, I had a feeling you’d shoot that idea down. So, how about that ice cream parlor on Lincoln and Pine? It’s completely off campus and has the best frozen mocha drinks.” When Tess didn’t immediately answer, Bailey growled. “Oh, come on. It’s beautiful out, neither of us has to work this afternoon, and we’ve just gotten out of our last class for the day. How can you say no?”

“I just…” Tess sent her friend an apologetic cringe. “I kind of wanted to head over to the sports complex and see if I could talk to the head football coach for a minute.”

“Oh.” Bailey let out a groan and rolled her eyes. “So, this is about Jonah…again.”

“Sorry, but I—”

“No, no. I get it. I’m out. Hunky football player’s in. Let’s head over to the sports complex already. You never know, maybe my cowboy will be jogging laps around the track or something.” She snorted, obviously not believing her own suggestion.

But Tess brightened anyway. “Really? You’ll come with me?” That was so un-Bailey-like.

“Well, obviously, if I ever want to spend any time with you again, I guess I better.”

Looping her arm through Bailey’s, Tess grinned and skipped them along the sidewalk in a faster walk. “You’re the best, do you know that?”

---