Page 98 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

Zoe pursed her lips and swallowed deeply as she watched Philip’s hands and imploring facial features. Tears stung her eyes as she nodded.

“Plus, you dropped out two months into a final year you’d already paid for. I’m not totally philanthropic.”

His words made her laugh.

“Right,” Lorenzo said. “Session one, tomorrow. Two hours. We start with drills. Scales. We play a piece you know, and I’ll find a piece you haven’t played. We assess. See how the break from practising has affected you. And we’ll plan from there. Yes?”

Zoe nodded. “Thank you, Lorenzo.”

“You’re welcome, Zoe. I set up a marimba in our old room. You can practise all day. Record yourself on your phone. Watch yourself. See what’s changed. Bring your marimba in tomorrow if you’d prefer.”

Philip signed a farewell, but just as Lorenzo reached the door, he turned. “It’s good to have you back, Zoe.”

As the door closed, she deliberately moved to the stage and dropped down onto the second platform, looking down at the wooden flooring and metal edging. When she’d walked into the concert hall, she wasn’t sure which side of the floor she belonged on. But as she ran her fingers along the platform, she realised it in the very deepest part of her.

Grabbing her phone, she took a photograph of her view and sent it to Alex.

My audience is a little smaller than yours, but this is MY stage.

Dots bounced as she waited for a reply.

First came the picture. He’d edited it and drawn a stick man on the front row in the very centre.

Me, watching you perform.

She sent a laughing emoji and a heart.

Send me a picture of you.

She did as he asked. A selfie, with the stage behind her.

There was a pause. A long one. Then dots.

You look happy, Rocky. Really fucking happy. And it looks good on you.

His words made her feel warm inside.

More dots.

And this is what you looking all happy does to me.

The next message was an image. Of Alex. From the chest down. With a white sheet that just skimmed his lower abs, and an obvious erection beneath the sheet.

She quickly closed her phone as heat rushed to her cheeks. Then she opened it again.

You’ve reached Zoe. Unfortunately, she can’t come to the phone at the moment because her boyfriend just gave her a heart attack and she died.

When he responded, she couldn’t help but laugh.

You’ve reached Alex. Unfortunately, he can’t come to the phone right now because he’s too busy coming to the hot pic his girlfriend just sent him.

The idea of Alex gripping himself beneath the sheet sent a pulse to her clit so strong she felt the urge to touch herself right then and there. It took every ounce of self-control to stand up and head for the door.

That’s so unfair. I have to catch the bus home before I can respond to that.

You want to see what you do to me?

Oh, crap. She should say no. Yes.

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