Page 19 of Her Possessive Daddies

"And what he wanted was you." Tessa wiggles her eyebrows. "Sounds like neither of you are as out of practice as you think."

"Just wait and see if he texts." Tessa stretches, her joints popping. "That is, if he knows how to operate a damn smartphone at his age."

"Will you stop!" I swat at her with the pillow. "He's not that old."

"Sure, sure. Maybe he'll send you a telegram instead. Or have his butler deliver a handwritten note on fancy stationery."

"You're ridiculous." I push myself up from the couch, my legs wobbly from the long shift. "I'm going to bed before you start suggesting smoke signals."

"Morse code!" Tessa calls after me as I head toward my room. "Don't forget to check your carrier pigeon in the morning!"

"Oh my god. Goodnight, you freak!"

I close my bedroom door, muffling our continued laughter. My phone feels heavy in my pocket, and I resist checking it for the hundredth time. His smile, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners, makes my stomach flutter.

"Get it together, Abbie," I mutter, changing into my oversized sleep shirt. "He probably won't even text."

From the other room, I hear Tessa's door click shut and her muffled humming as she goes through her nighttime routine. The familiar sound grounds me, brings me back to reality.

I crawl into bed, setting my phone on the nightstand. Face down. Out of sight, out of mind.

Yeah, right.

My phone suddenly buzzes against the nightstand, and my heart leaps into my throat. An unknown number lights up the screen.

Hope I'm not texting too late. Just wanted to make sure you got home safe. - Corey

Play it cool, Abbie.

Just got in. Thanks for checking :)

It was really great to meet you.

I smile, burying my face in my pillow.

The pleasure was all mine..

More to come, I’m sure……

The butterflies in my gut do backflips.

Good night, Corey.

Sweet dreams.

I clutch the phone, grinning like an idiot at my ceiling. The way he says my name, even in text, makes my skin tingle. Next time can't come fast enough.

10

COREY

Seth drones on about quarterly projections while I check my phone under the conference table. Another message from Abbie lights up my screen.

Psychology lecture is so boring tonight. Save me.

My lips twitch. I type back:Pay attention. I don't want to pay my therapist anymore.

"You couldn't afford my rates ;)"

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