Page 107 of The Surprise Play

Crap. He needs to leave. I can’t do this.

Clearing my throat, I lean to the other side of my chair and force a brave smile. “Well, I guess you’ve got places to be. Unless you need my help with your upcoming test.” I can’t help a sigh as I look back down in my lap and mumble, “Or another assignment.”

He doesn’t say anything, and I wince.

Yeah. This is it.

Here comes the speech.

He’ll be nice about it. I’m sure he will. And he’ll probably have some really valid reason for not wanting datenumber two. Is it because I’m a virgin? Am I too innocent for him?

That seemed to be an issue last night.

Maybe he doesn’t want to be with someone he can’t sleep with right away.

And if that’s the case, then I don’t want him anyway. He might be hot, and the things he said to me last night were spine-tingling and all, but if he’s only in it for sex, then this isn’t something I want to pursue.

Even though the thought of it ending is killing me.

And even though the idea that I won’t ever get to sleep with him is surprisingly crushing.

Seriously, what is wrong with me?

I look up again, drinking in his face, those flickering eyebrows, that ticking in his jaw.

Should I give him an easy out?

He’s too nice to want to hurt me.

Closing my eyes, I softly whisper, “It’s okay, Wily. You don’t have to say anything. Just go. I know I’m not the kind of person you usually go out with, and I get it. You’ve had some time to reflect, and you’ve realized that?—”

His large hand covers my fidgeting digits.

I glance up again, and now he’s the one drinking me in.

“I need you to help me graduate,” he rasps.

“I know.” I give him a tight smile. “And I will.”

He shakes his head. “How?”

I tip my head in confusion. “Well… just how we have been. Unless you need me to adapt my style to suit your needs better or?—”

“No, I mean, how am I supposed to concentrate on anything when you smell so good and you’re so kind andyou make me feel so… and you’re sitting here looking so…” His lips start to curl up at the corners. “All I can think about is kissing you, and I don’t know how I’m gonna be able to learn anything or concentrate on anything else but you.”

I go still, my lips parting as surprise whips through me like a tornado.

I don’t even have time to react before he’s cupping the back of my head and pulling me close.

Our lips crash together in a hot, hungry kiss, and I grab his hoodie, curling my fingers into it as his tongue lashes against mine.

He groans as we deepen the kiss even more, his hand running up my leg and gripping my hip. He nudges me forward and I follow his lead, climbing into his lap and nearly toppling over on that little stool.

I yelp, grabbing his shoulder as we tip sideways.

He laughs, pulling us both to our feet. I gaze up at him, all out of breath and lost for words. He’s staring back at me, his face flickering once more with doubt before he shakes his head and lunges for my lips again.

I can’t resist him, reaching up and fisting the back of his hair as I dive into this heated kiss.