Once he’s on stage, he shakes the dean’s hand and places the crown on his head. He flashes that handsome smile as he blows kisses to the crowd. I shake my head and laugh. He loves to ham it up.
The crowd goes quiet again as the dean prepares to announce homecoming queen.
“And the Hollis U homecoming queen is…Poppy Wylder!”
Chapter 23
Poppy
My jaw unhinges as the crowd cheers and whistles. Anna hugs me and screams, “Yeah, baby!”
I look at her with wide, unbelieving eyes. “No way…this can’t be happening…”
Anna just smiles. “It’s absolutely happening.”
“B-But how? No one knows who I am.”
She laughs. “Of course they know who you are. You’re dating the hockey captain. They’ve seen you two together the past month all over campus . It’s a no-brainer that they’d want you to be homecoming queen.”
Nick’s teammates cheer and clap for me too as Anna gives me a gentle shove toward the stage. I slowly make way over. It’s not till my face starts to ache that I realize just how hard I’m smiling.
A giddy feeling courses through me. Maybe it’s silly, but I’m thrilled to win. Especially since I spent my college career up to this point keeping to myself, too busy studying and working to have much of a social life.
“Get over here, hot tutor,” Nick’s voice booms through the PA system.
I look up and see him eyeing me from the stage as he steps away from the microphone. I walk up the steps and over to him.He grabs my hand, pulling me against him. He sets the glittery plastic crown on my head.
“Congrats, homecoming queen.”
I chuckle, a nervous, giddy feeling crashing through me. I feel self-conscious as I stand in front of all these people, the center of attention. But I’m happy and excited too to share this moment with Nick.
He cups his face in my hands, his rich, bourbon gaze fiery and focused.
Heat flickers in my belly. Goosebumps race all over my skin. I breathe in the scent of his spicy, woodsy cologne. In a moment when we’re surrounded by hundreds of people, he’s still making me feel like the only one worth looking at me.
And that’ssucha turn on.
I reach up and grab his forearms, relishing how strong and firm he is. My gaze settles on his mouth, how thick his lips are.
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” the ballroom chants.
Nick chuckles and looks around at the crowd before looking back at me.
“What do you think, hot tutor? Should we break the rules?”
I should say no. I made those rules for a reason.
But right now, when Nick St. George is looking at me like this—like he’s never wanted anything or anyone more than he wants me—I throw my rules out the window.
I don’t bother to answer him. I just stand on my tiptoes and press my lips to his mouth.
His lips are soft and firm as he kisses me. He hums against my mouth, like he’s completely content. Tingles shoot through my entire body.
His hands tighten around my waist as he pulls me harder against him. Like he can’t get enough of me. I was already pressed up against him, but that wasn’t enough for him. He wants me closer. He wants more of me.
The world around me goes quiet. This entire ballroom is cheering and screaming and whistling, but I can’t hear a thing. All I can feel, all I can process is Nick’s mouth and hands on me.
He groans as he kisses me harder, and a whimper lodges in my throat.Oh.
