Page 20 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11

I smiled too. "I can't believe how lucky I am.” I leaned closer to her, my lips stopping a fraction of an inch from hers. “Now, about that predicament. I think I can probably assist you with that." I grabbed my t-shirt by the nape of the neck and pulled it off.

She ran her fingers down the line of my abs.

I still felt that spark of electricity run through me every time we touched.

I thought it might go away once we didn't have to hide our relationship anymore.

The sneaking around, the excitement, the forbidden dynamic.

But it was still there. And I wasn't sure that I wanted it to ever disappear. I knew for sure that I’d never grow tired of her calling me professor in that sexy way she always did.

I leaned forward and kissed her. Softly at first and then more passionately.

She clasped her hands behind my neck as I pulled her ass to the edge of the counter.

Now it was time for dessert. She’d been so good with those detectives.

And now I was going to reward her. Well, reward both of us.

Because I couldn’t stop thinking about her delicious cunt.

Her phone started vibrating in her pocket.

She unwound her hands from my neck and grabbed her cell.

"Don't answer it." My lips drifted to her neck. I wanted to bruise her skin again. I wanted her to go to class and for people to finally know it was me that had marked her. I pressed my lips against her neck harder.

"But it's probably Melissa." She turned her head away from me so she could see her screen. "She's here."

"Maybe you should tell her to come back." I kissed down her neck and across her clavicle.

"James, she walked here." She put her hand on my chest.

I sighed. "Her timing is impeccable." I leaned down and grabbed my shirt as Penny slid off the counter.

Her phone buzzed again. "She's at the front desk. They told her we weren't here."

I laughed. "Oh, right." I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called down to the front desk.

"Is there a Melissa down there asking to come up?

" I put my hand over the receiver. "Is her last name Monroe?

" I asked. I was pretty sure Ian had mentioned Melissa’s last name to me once.

I was a pretty good stalker, but Ian was much better.

"Yes."

"Yes, please let Melissa Monroe up. Thanks, Ben." I put my cell phone back in my pocket. "So, what can I expect today?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well," I said as I wrapped my arms around her, "every time she's seen me, she's been mad at me."

"No she hasn't."

"Yes, she has. She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you. She doesn't even know you. Maybe tonight she can finally get to know you better. I want you two to be friends too."

"I'll try to be super charming." I flashed her a smile.

"Yeah, I don't think you need to try to be charming. It comes quite naturally to you."

A dinging noise sounded through the apartment. I nodded toward the elevator doors and released her from my embrace. "I'm probably going to need another shot." I grabbed the bottle off the counter and poured vodka into my glass.

Penny laughed and went to go let Melissa in.

As soon as the doors opened, Melissa ran out of the elevator and gave Penny a big hug.

"Where the hell have you been? How are you feeling?

How's your head? I can't believe everything that's been going on.

.." her voice trailed off as she released Penny from her hug.

"Oh my God. This place is amazing." Melissa walked past Penny and toward the windows all along the back of the apartment.

She folded her arms across her chest as she looked out at Main Street below.

"It's pretty awesome, right?" Penny asked as she walked up next to her.

"I didn't even know Main Street could look this pretty." Melissa turned toward Penny. "No wonder you're never at our dorm anymore. This place is amaze-balls. I might never leave either."

"Amaze-balls, huh?" I said as I walked up behind them. "Hi, Melissa, how are you?"

Melissa rolled her eyes as she turned to look at me. "I've been better, James."

"Oh. I'm sorry..."

"You're sorry? Yeah, you should be. You know what? You and I need to talk."

I lowered my eyebrows. "About what?"

"You know what."

"Hey, Melissa." Penny put her hand on Melissa’s arm. "Maybe you and I can talk real quick? I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

"Yeah, which is another thing I want to talk about. But first I need to talk to your boyfriend."

Geez. Why did it always seem like Melissa wanted a fight? Penny just needed a fun night in with her friend. Couldn’t Melissa see that? I glanced at Penny. Told you she hated me.

Penny shrugged. But she looked as confused as me about what Melissa was upset about now.

"If something is bothering you..." I started.

"Bothering me? Of course something is bothering me. Don't you remember our conversation the first time we met?"

"I remember that it was rather one sided."

"Very funny. But you promised me that you wouldn't hurt her. And do you know what you did that very night? You broke up with her. So yeah, you could say that's been bothering me. You lied to me."

I didn’t break up with her. We were just on a little break while I sorted out my shit. "I don't think you understand the circumstances."

"Oh, no, I do. Penny told me that she didn't tell you she was a sophomore. Which doesn't seem nearly as bad as having a secret wife."

For fuck’s sake, this girl was something else. "I know I messed up. But Penny has forgiven me for that. For both things. And I was just..."

"Right," Melissa said, cutting me off again. "You were trying to protect her or some crap like that? Well I don't buy it. Because this whole thing," she said, pointing down to the news vans. "That doesn't protect her at all."

"Penny and I both want this. The way people are reacting is not my fault."

"Yes it is. Of course it's your fault. You can't cheat on your crazy ex-wife with a student and not expect things to blow up. You're like a celebrity."

Wow. Okay then. I didn’t cheat on my ex-wife, she cheated on me. Why did everyone believe what they read in tabloids? "I'm not a celebrity."

Penny started laughing. And it was like once she started she couldn’t stop. For some reason that made me start laughing too.

"What is wrong with you guys?" Melissa asked.

We both continued to laugh. The last few days had been so fucking stressful.

"Oh my God. You're drunk, aren't you? That's your drunk laugh." Melissa turned toward the kitchen. The bottle of vodka was still open on the counter. "Is that what you've been doing holed up in here?"

I couldn't seem to stop laughing.

"Stop laughing at me," Melissa said.

"I'm not laughing at you. I'm sorry," Penny said, still giggling.

"Whatever, I can't even judge you for this whole underage drinking mess you have going on. Josh gets me alcohol all the time. One of the many perks of dating an older man. Or super old," she said and looked at me.

"I'm not super old. I'm only 27."

"27 is the new 20," Penny said.

"Okay. I need a drink too because you're both being ridiculous. I'm glad this is going to be fun. Because I passed on a very sexy date with Josh to hang out with you guys." Melissa walked over to the kitchen.

"See, she's always mad at me," I whispered.

"Well maybe you shouldn't have broken up with me," replied Penny.

"I didn't break up with you. I just said I needed some time." I smiled at her. "I really wish we were alone right now.” I put my hand on her waist and let it slowly slide down to her ass.

"Oh my God, James." She grabbed my hand and moved it off her ass. "Apparently you get horny when you're drunk too?"

"No, I just always want you."

"You know, you're supposed to be charming Melissa, not me. I mean, not like that obviously. In a gentlemanly way."

I laughed. "Don't worry. The only ass I want to touch is yours." I slapped her ass and walked toward the kitchen. It was time to win over Penny’s best friend.