This day has been a rollercoaster of emotions, marked by the unexpected goodbye to my father as he returns to his life in Princeton. Diego listened to my concerns, sitting through my worries and sorting through my thoughts in a caring manner that I didn’t even know I needed.
Then the sex, my God.
It’s been amazing.
Round after round. We both needed a shower, a nap, and food. The first two are already done. The meal was the last part before he warned me there would be another round. Something that had me squealing with excitement as I ran down the hall with his t-shirt in hand and begging off sex until after we ate.
“Best weekend I’ve had in . . . well, ever.”
The playful tone in his voice matches the soft grin tugging at his lips, and I couldn’t have said it better myself.
“Same.”
I beam up at him. My fingers trace lazy circles on his ribcage as I watch him cook.
“Let me take you out next weekend.” He turns down the burner and covers the chicken to cook longer. I attempt to slip from his grasp, only to be caught, twirled, and lifted into the air. “Somewhere nice. Not a go-kart track or abandoned field, I swear. Something that doesn’t involve helmets.”
My feet barely hit the floor before I’m trapped against the counter. His lips are on my neck, nibbling the skin and sending goosebumps into my hair.
“You trying to spoil me now?”
“Maybe.”
I clutch him tighter, using his body as leverage to lean closer to the counter to give him more access to my neck. If he wants to smother me in kisses before we eat, then I’m game.
“Damn, Diego, you really did get her.”
I jump, completely startled. My hand almost hits Diego in the face as we scramble at the sudden and unexpected voice bellowing across the loft. I freeze, every muscle in my body locking up. Heat rushes to my face, burning from my neck to the tips of my ears. I don’t know whether to duck behind the kitchen cabinets or run into the other room.
Diego stiffens beside me.
Standing at the entrance of the open-concept loft is a taller blonde guy, similar in age to Diego, with a more muscular build and wearing a smirk.
“What the fuck, Holli? You have a key for emergencies.”
Diego’s voice is low, clipped. A dangerous calm that makes me swallow hard and tug on the edge of his shirt despite the counter blocking his friend’s view. The guy walks further into the loft, dropping his helmet on the sofa as if he’s staying.
“So, you must be the professor. I’ve heard all about you.”
His eyes rake over me in a cheap and sultry way. If that isn’t repulsive enough, it’s the words and the betrayal in them.
He knows about us?
Diego told his friends about me?
Stunned doesn’t even begin to cover what I’m feeling. A horrible chill sweeps over me, settling deep into my bones at the realization that we’re not as secret as I thought.
“You told your friend about us?”
The words rip from my throat, slicing through the tense air. My heart pounds so hard I feel it in my throat, swimming with the bile that’s suddenly there. Diego’s face drains of color. His mouth parts, but no words come out. His hand still lingers near my waist and hovers uselessly.
“Yeah, said he needed to pass your class to graduate.” His friend runs a hand through his hair as if preening for my effect. “He’s just one credit away.”
The sickening feeling drops into my stomach. The threat of vomiting intensifies with every word that spills from this guy’s mouth.
“Is that true?”
I move away from Diego to get a better look at the emotions flickering over his face while looking at the floor. My hand trembles as it covers my mouth. My wide eyes move from my lover to his friend and back, waiting for a horrible confirmation that I already know is true.
