Page 64 of False Assumptions

He squeezed her ass with one hand, making her open her eyes again. “Hey. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She lifted her head to look at him better. “I was just thinking about how much time we wasted. And how it’s all my fault. I should’ve talked to you before tonight. I’m really sorry.”

With one hand behind her head, he pulled her in for a kiss. “I wish you would’ve listened to me sooner too.” His mouth pulled into a crooked smile. “But then I wouldn’t’ve been able to read my kickass poem in front of everyone tonight.”

She laughed, giving him a light smack on his chest, that turned into a caress. His pec flexed under her palm, and he gave her a sexy grin. “I’m sure you could’ve still read a kickass poem anyway. But that was pretty amazing. I had no idea you could write like that.”

His face turned serious, and he shrugged one shoulder. “I just wrote what I felt. I didn’t care about impressing anyone but you. That was my only goal.”

“Well, you did. It was beautiful.”

“So was yours. Heart-wrenching. But beautiful.”

She dropped her gaze, still feeling self-conscious that he’d heard her poem. “I didn’t want to do that one.”

“Why not? It was so raw and powerful. Everyone loved it. I think they clapped louder for you than anyone else.”

“Really?” Her eyes met his again, looking for any sign of exaggeration.

But his blue eyes were dark and sincere. “Really. You didn’t notice?”

She shook her head. “I wasn’t paying attention to anyone else. I saw you come in, and I begged Dr. Moore to let me perform one of my other poems. He wouldn’t let me.” She swallowed, her mouth dry as the anxiety from earlier flooded through her again. “I didn’t want to perform it anyway, but especially not in front of you. I knew you’d know what it was about.”

Both arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight against his chest, and he fitted her head under his chin. His voice rumbled into her ear as he spoke. “Hey. No. Never be afraid to reveal how you feel to me. I will always be a safe place for you.”

She nodded against him, too overcome by his words to articulate her own. He pressed a kiss to her temple. “But now, I really want to read the rest of your poems. You were always too shy to show them to me before.”

Stiffening, she started to pull away, but his arms tightened around her. “Not right now. When you’re ready.”

With another nod, she relaxed against him. They stayed in his bed, enjoying each other until they were both so strung out on pleasure that they could barely move. But her rumbling stomach got them up and dressed, and Evan sent a message to his roommate that they should all meet for dinner at a little twenty-four-hour diner not far from their apartment.

Sliding back into Evan’s car made Layla feel like she was sliding back into his life. For good.

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