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’s such a 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.
It’s so rough and desperate-sounding, and I want to hear him do that again and again.
I don’t know how long we stand there and kiss. It feels like it could be minutes.
He suddenly pulls away, and my lips feel cold. I run my tongue along my bottom lip, aching for more.
I stare up at him, certain that my eyes look like two big saucers. But I can’t help it. I’m dizzy after that kiss, and he didn’t even use his tongue.
His eyes are dazed as he looks at me. He blinks, and the focus in his gaze returns along with something sharp and hot.
He traces his fingertip along the hinge of my jaw, then asks me the hottest question I’ve ever been asked.
“You want my tongue now, honey?”