then and there. Because I would do almost anything for more of that grin.
And that scared the hell out of me.
Because I didn’t know how much longer this could possibly last, and I didn’t know how I’d survive it being over.
Chapter Twenty
Thea
Words scrambled on the page in front of me as my boyfriend trailed a line of kisses up my neck. “Leo.” What was supposed to be a groan came out as more of a whimper. “I need to study.”
“I’m helping,” he replied, the words whispering over my skin.
I’d known letting him into my bedroom tonight was a disastrous idea. But it was growing harder and harder to resist him, especially after our incredible date two days ago. And he’d promised to work on homework while I studied for tomorrow’s Western Civ exam.
Pretty sure our ideas of “homework” weren’t quite on par.
Despite every good intention to ignore him, I found myself twisting my head to meet his gaze. Except, my eyes caught on his luscious mouth instead. So damn tempting. “Whatever you’re doing, it’s definitely not helping me study.”
“We don’t get enough time together.”
That much was true. Other than Sunday’s outing, we’d had nothing but stolen moments. Leo wanted me to sleep in his bed, but I couldn’t bring myself to give in with Vincent in the house. My former stepfather-to-be hadn’t come right out and called me a whore, but I had a feeling he was thinking it. Not that I particularly cared what he thought of me. I just had no desire to fan the flame of what was already a volatile situation.
“I know.”
The fact was more apparent than ever with Vincent’s deadline looming. One day. That’s all I had to convince Tristin to come home. I’d kept hoping that a miraculous solution would appear to me, preferably in the form of some kind of fairy godmother traveling in a giant pink bubble. But I still had nothing. All I could do was seek out Tristin tomorrow and hope he would see reason.
Leo placed one last, lingering kiss in the crook of my neck before withdrawing. “At least there are no classes Thursday and Friday.”
“Yeah, days we’re supposed to use for studying.”
Fall break wasn’t so much a break as it was a couple of days reserved for preparing for midterms, which were next week. My Western Civ professors were giving their exam a week early, supposedly to help us lowly freshman survive the stress of midterms by getting it out of the way. However, with the test looming a mere twelve hours from now, I couldn’t find it in me to see the gesture as benevolent.
“I had an idea about that,” Leo said, moving to the edge of the bed, as though to leave. “How would you feel about sharing a suite with me at The Harbor Inn through the weekend?” His eyes took on that mischievous glint I always found irresistible. “Just the two of us and a big, comfy bed and room service.”
God, that did sound amazing. “You do realize I actually have to study.”
“Yes, and you’ll have plenty of time to do that while I’m at practice. Work hard and play hard—isn’t that the motto?”
“You’re assuming your father won’t have shipped me back to Kansas by then.”
His face hardened. “I told you. I won’t let that happen.”
Yet, I wasn’t sure he would get a choice in the matter. What was he going to do, offer to take over my college and living expenses? He wouldn’t have the means if his father went through with dissolving his trust fund.
“You can’t promise that.”
He lunged, moving so fast, I was lying on my back, his body posed over mine before I had a chance to react. Not threatening, but determined. “I can’t control what my father does, but I will take care of you, Thea. That’s a promise you can take to your grave.”
His aquamarine eyes were flashing with too many emotions to decode each one. But no part of me doubted that he meant every word. I’d known for weeks now that he didn’t merely want me for my body. But it still amazed me when he continued to prove it.
I looped my arms around his neck. “I believe you.”
“Good,” he rasped, lowering his mouth to mine.
Our lips had barely touched when an insistent knock sounded at my door. Leo groaned and rolled off of me. “Fuck my life.”
I laughed at his frustration, though I was feeling quite a bit of it myself. Maybe the suite wasn’t