button and then said, “Okay, go ahead.”
“Hey, squirt.”
Her nose scrunched up as she rested her head on the back of the couch. “Ugh, what do you want?”
“I called Mom, so you can stop texting me reminders about doing it. I told her I was settling in well with classes and I just loved having you living with me.”
“Way to screw up the whole thing. She’s never going to believe you like having me around.”
He gasped in what I interpreted as mock outrage. “I am completely convincing. Hell, they still think I’m in college when I’m not even in the country.”
“This is true,” she conceded.
“How’s everything going with getting back onto so-whority row?”
“You think you’re really clever, don’t you? How long have you been waiting to use that one?”
The only response was Brody’s cackling.
“Ugh, I don’t have the mental energy for you. Have fun fucking your way through Italy or wherever the hell you are.”
“You really overestimate my stamina. I’m almost flattered.”
“I’m hanging up now,” she said.
“No, wait. Seriously. How is everything going with getting back into the house?”
Sophia looked perplexed, like she wasn’t sure if he was actually asking or making fun of her somehow.
“It’s going okay. I think I have a good shot at making it back in for next semester.”
“That’s awesome.”
Sophia’s face softened at his words.
“Because I was going to see if Drew wanted to stay for the rest of the year, and I figured I’d have a better shot at getting him to agree if he didn’t have to share the apartment.”
“And there it is,” Sophia said, her voice strong as if she’d been expecting his reasoning, but there was no missing the disappointment on her face. She got up and wandered into the kitchen.
“I haven’t made any definite plans,” Brody continued. “But are you interested in staying for another semester, Drew?”
I watched Sophia remove a bottle of water from the refrigerator and take a drink. I wanted to go to her, both because the sight of her head thrown back and her throat working was hot as fuck and because she looked like she needed a hug, but I also wanted to focus. What Brody was asking was important.
“Yeah, maybe. Just let me know, and I’ll see what I can work out.” I didn’t want to waste a ton of mental energy on the pros and cons of staying another semester until Brody told me what his plans were for sure.
“Okay, great. I’ll give you a call soon and let you know.”
“Sounds good.”
“Later, man. Bye, Sophia.”
She didn’t bother replying, but it didn’t matter. Brody hung up before either of us could’ve gotten a word out anyway.
I dropped my phone onto the table as I stood up so I could make my way to Sophia. She was setting the bottle on the counter when I reached her and slid my hands around her waist. I liked how she leaned back into me, allowing me to support some of her weight.
I pressed a soft kiss into her hair. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just sorority drama.”
“Anything I can do?”
She turned around and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “First, you can kiss me.”
That was something I would gladly do. I lowered my face to hers so I could press our lips together. The kiss was soft and sweet at first, but as it typically went with us, our hands started to roam and our tongues tangled.
She ground her pelvis into my erection as I moved a hand up to cup her face so I could deepen the kiss. Christ, this woman did it for me.
Needing to catch my breath, I began trailing kisses along her jaw. When I’d made my way to her neck, I asked, “Was there a second thing you needed?”
“Yeah,” she replied, her voice breathless and turned on.
“Gonna tell me what it is?” I asked right before claiming her mouth again.
We hadn’t gone much further than kissing yet, but it felt like we were quickly approaching the next step…whatever that might be. I was definitely excited to find out.
She was the one to pull away this time, and I dropped down so I could suck on her neck.
“God, that feels good,” she moaned. “I…I need…”
I pulled back so I could look deeply into her eyes. “What do you need?”
She took a deep breath. “I need you to be in my bachelor auction.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
D R E W
It had been a long night at Rafferty’s. Well, truthfully, every night felt long when my day was filled with classes and helping