He looks up as I remove his T-shirt and throw it onto the bed, his gaze heating when I make no move to cover my nakedness, his bottom lip disappearing between his teeth.
“Fuck it.” He drops the lid of his case down, then reaches for me, one hand circling the back of my neck over my hair, the other winding around my waist. “They can wait.”
I let him kiss me hard. Let his tongue scandalize my own. And I give as good as I get. I arch into him, and dip my fingers beneath his waistband, just enough to make his abs twitch. I drag his bottom lip through my teeth, then pull away, lazily sliding my hand down his torso to cover the tempting bulge straining his shorts. “Maybe you can be late...” I give him a quick squeeze then turn from him and bend with way more wiggle than necessary to pick up my skirt from the floor, “But I can’t.”
Sometimes it’s not so bad to be built like me.
“What’s shaking, sweet?” Freshly showered and no longer smelling like sex and Sonnie, I’m sitting with my back against the headboard of my bed with my iPad propped on top of a pillow on my knees. Thank God for Nina. A distraction from my far-too-successful distraction. I grin. Can’t help it.
“Not a lot. How’s where you are?” She drags her long blonde hair over her shoulder and leans her chin on the top edge of the guitar in her lap, her pouty lips poutier than usual.
“I know that look.” The polar opposite of the one I’m wearing right now. “What’s happened?”
She shrugs her shoulder but shakes her head. “Mom wants me to start paying for my room. Said since Roy is no more, she needs the help. I have to get a job or move out.”
I’m not a violent human being. I really am not. But I swear if I had that woman here in front of me now, I’d smash her head off something hard until some decency shakes loose. I’m not supposed to give students money. School policy. I take a steadying breath and try and calm myself before I open my mouth. “I could help. I’m not gonna be around much after summer, but I could send you money to tide you over until you start college. Because you will get in, Nina. Don’t doubt that.”
“What? You... you’re leaving?” Her eyes go round and suspiciously shiny before she sniffs away all emotion and pushes her shoulders back. “I don’t want your money. Thanks.”
My gut twists in knots. “Sweet. You knew the music workshop was only temporary. I’ve got a new gig starting in September.”
“Yeah, sure I did. Listen, I gotta shoot. I forgot I’ve got a ... a thing. I’ll maybe catch you tomorrow.”
I scowl at my reflection in the iPad’s screen. Good mood gone.