Page 5 of Come Here and Kiss Me

“The board?” I repeat in disbelief, almost like I need to hear myself say it out loud to him.

That’s when it becomes real.

A nightmare come to life.

I open my mouth to ask about my father, but he reads my mind and cuts me off. “Yes, your father was cc’d as well.”

I stumble back, unable to hold myself upright for a second.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he orders in a stern voice, cocking his head to the side.

“Like what?”

“Like this is my fault.”

I resist the urge to attack him. Instead, I snap, “Who the fuck videoed us and emailed them?” My entire body shakes with anger, embarrassment, and even fear. Fear of what is to come…

From my father.

The university.

Ronan?

“It was anonymous, but they called for my resignation.”

My bottom lip drops open as I realize what he’s saying. Ronan’s a professor, but he doesn’t have tenure yet. They’ll fire him for this. My father, the dean, will make sure of it. No one crosses him.

Ever.

“What the fuck?” That’s all I can manage to whisper. “That explains the texts from my father.”

“Give it.” He snatches my cell phone out of my hand.

Fuck me.

I fall back onto the bed, the sheets unfortunately cold now, and blink away all thoughts of my father. I try to focus on last night and the reality that a video of what happened between us got out. My throat goes dry. It’s not like I have a stellar reputation, but I don’t need any more judgment. I don’t want people to see me at my most vulnerable.

Naked.

Spread eagle.

Begging to make me come.

It’s hard to breathe as Ronan drones on, cussing at something my father sent. I’m there, but I’m not. It’s like I’m having an out-of-body experience, hanging on for dear life.

“Are you even listening to me?”

Feeling snarky, I remind him, “I thought I did a great job of listening to you last night. I was such a good girl for you, remember?”

“I’m serious, Brooklyn.”

Not backing down, I insist, “So am I.”

Something about his tone begs me to look back at him. He tosses my phone on my bed and swallows hard. His Adam's apple is prominent in his throat, catching my attention without even trying. Heat overwhelms me, recalling the way my lips felt against his skin. Even if he is a selfish prick, Ronan has always done something to me that no one else ever has.

I thought last night would be a release. Just a one-night escape from the shit happening in my life. From everything I’ve been running away from, landing right in his arms and on his dick. Panic threatens to overwhelm me, but I don’t show him. I remain stoic and unbothered. That’s my reputation, and I have no plans of letting him see the real me.

Nobody does.

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