Page 96 of Loving Lies (Granton University 3)

“We’ll figure something out,” was all she could say.

He nodded but didn’t look too hopeful.

When he didn’t notice two girls who’d come out of a room halfway down the hall and stopped to stare at him, then whisper amongst themselves, Tess breathed a sigh of relief.

Tugging her room key free, she ignored her door and instead rested her head on his shoulder. She stroked her fingers up his arm, keeping his attention on her so he could continue being oblivious to the girls still gossiping about him.

“Have I thanked you for last night yet?”

He seared her with a surprised look. “You have it backward. I owe you the huge thanks.” Then he leaned in and smiled devilishly. “It was my birthday sex, after all.”

She flushed because hearing the S word aloud always made her uncomfortably hot. Except today, the uncomfortably hot part was a little too delicious. She wanted to molest him, right there in the hall.

As if reading her mind, Jonah’s grin grew, and she decided what the hell. She grabbed a handful of his shirt and kissed him hard on the mouth. She paused only long enough to say, “I love you,” before going back up for seconds.

He groaned against her lips, and his warm body melded to hers, reminding her all over again how much he’d lit her up last night…and this morning…in the shower.

“When’s your first class?” He buried his fingers in her hair and kissed her jaw, then her throat.

“In fifteen minutes. So, sorry. No time for hanky panky.”

“Damn.” He blew out a breath. “That’s what I thought.” With a last peck to her nose, he stepped back. “Okay, then. I’ll let you go for now. But I’m returning for you this evening.”

Tess swerved back to him, a thrill rising inside her. “You are?”

“I only have days left with you before you’re gone for the entire summer. Hell, yes, I’m spending every available second with you until then.”

She was such a goober; the college freshman in her emerged, his announcement making her giggle and blush. “Okay. I’ll see you tonight, then.”

“Yes, you will.” His gaze promised her a whole heap of deliciousness. Then he turned away to hobble off.

Tess would’ve stared after him all the way back to his truck, but Bailey opened the door, grabbed her arm, and yanked her inside their room. “At least tell me you’ve had a shower this morning, unlike yesterday.”

Remembering her shower, in detail, Tess let out a dreamy sigh. Oh, how she’d had a shower. “Yes, I took a shower at the hotel, mother.”

“Good.” Bailey didn’t say another word until she shut the door, locked it, and spun to Tess. “So?” she demanded, eyeing her roommate up and down, just as she’d done the morning before when Jonah had brought her back. Then she repeated the same question she’d asked yesterday. “Are you still a virgin?”

Today, however, Tess had a different answer. Her face lit up, and she squealed, “No!” Jumping up and down, she was unable to control her enthusiasm. “I’m not. Oh, my God, I’m totally not.”

“Holy shit.” Bailey joined in, holding her hands and jumping with her. “I can’t believe you actually did it. This is so big.”

As they were hollering and twirling together in a giggling circle, a tap came on the bathroom door, and their suitemate popped her head into the room. “What? What’d I miss?”

“Paige!” Bailey cried, letting go of Tess to drag Paige into the room. “Get your ass in here. Tess isn’t a virgin anymore. Can you freaking believe that?”

“Whoa,” Logan said from still in the bathroom. Lifting his hands, he immediately skipped in reverse back toward Paige’s room. “TMI.”

Before she’d met Jonah, Tess would’ve buried her face into her hands and died of mortification to learn that Logan knew what she’d done last night. But the new, Jonah-improved version of her could handle it.

Paige captured her attention, grabbing her hands and squeezing. “Oh, my God. Are you okay? Did you like it?”

“Did she like it?” Bailey slung an arm over Tess’s shoulders and pointed at her face. “Just look at this girl’s smile. Her cheeks would burst if she spread her lips any wider than they already are.”

Tess tossed back her head and laughed, feeling so very alive and euphoric.

“Well, my goodness,” Paige murmured, beaming at her. “Congratulations.”

“I know. It’s about time she joined the rest of us dirty sinners. Ever since I’ve fallen off the wagon, she’s been way too pure for my taste.”

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