Page 130 of The Other Side of Green

But he did the same in return.

I licked his stomach, following grooves of slim, but defined muscles that curved and dipped, breathing in the scent of his skin, warm and musky. The curve of his hipbone, where his long powerful legs bent. Down his arms to the tip of his fingers that curled against mine.

“You’re so beautiful.” I lifted my head, my trip of exploration almost complete.

He huffed a laugh, slipping his fingers around my cheek.

There was one place I still hadn’t been, although it thickened between us, a rigid reminder of the power I had over him.

Sliding back down I wiggled between his legs, skimming my fingertips across the soft flesh of his hard-on. He shivered and the heat between my legs pooled hotter. I ran my fingers over him again, experimenting with his reactions. He pushed up when I returned to the base and naturally, I slipped my hand around his thickness, running my hand in a curve this time. He groaned and pushed back into the mattress. I gave a little smile to myself as I dipped forward and pressed my tongue flat against his head, surprised at the salty little blast that exploded against my taste buds. Wanting more, I licked again, still holding his cock in the circle of my hands. I opened my mouth wider, dipping his head inside me and sucking gently, still pressing and licking with my tongue.

“Ok-ay.” Strong hands angled under my armpits and hoisted me up.

“Did I do something wrong?”

He gave me a sleepy smile, white teeth flashing. “That was everything right.”

I pouted. “Why did you stop me then? I was enjoying myself.”

“And believe me, I was too.” He pointed at the drapes against the window where daylight now illuminated the edges “But you wouldn’t have made it back to campus in time.” A moment lapsed between us.

“Would you think I was weak if I made the deal with them?” I pulled myself up to sitting, gathering the comforter around me.

“I won’t let you do that.”

“Why? It’s my choice to make.”

Smiling, he leaned forward and brushed a delicate kiss across my mouth. “Because it wouldn’t sit right with you. You’d do it to make us feel better now, to make things right, but then you’d remember Grams, you’d remember the protests and you would feel like a fraud.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he pushed his pointer finger against it. “And believe me I know because I’ve been living this way for four years.”

“So what do we do? We leave together to start my career that Evan seems to be planning? I still let down all the people who marched on my behalf, who spoke up for me and against injustice? And Grams still doesn’t get her wish that I make it through college? And you don’t get your teaching qualification?” I paused. “Or we stay, and you get sacked for something that’s a lie and still don’t get your teaching qualification?”

Jack shrugged.

“I’m going to get back to campus.” I slipped out from the covers, grabbing my clothes off the nearby chair.

“I’ll make sure you get back safe.”

“In what? Your pretend car?”

I thew a smile toward his pouty face. “I’ll get a cab. I need to think.”

“Lyra…”

“Think I said. Not do…”

Pulling on my clothes quickly, I leaned down and pressed a kiss to his warm mouth. “I’ll text you when I’m back on campus.”

“Be safe.”

“I will.” Another kiss and I sped out of the room. I really did need to think.

I didn’t get far when Evan called to me from the kitchen area. “Where are you sneaking off to?”

“School. This thing I have to do.”

He cocked his head. “Wasted.”