Page 59 of Forbidden Heart

What if JJ’s so hurt and upset he never speaks to me again? Or worse, what if he drops out of the competition? What if the guys’ a cappella group falls apart because of me? They’re all going to hate me and—

“Should have skipped class today,” JJ chuckles. He doesn’t sound upset. His eyes are dark and heated as they travel down my body and stop where my nipple is pressing up against my now damp dress. I look down, too, and there is a large, wet palm print the size of Charles’s hand over my right breast.

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I jump to my feet. Except the floor’s still covered with soap and my feet fly out from under me. I let out a panicked cry moments before Charles comes to my rescue. He wraps his arms around my waist, and I crash right back down onto his lap, my pulse thundering in my ears.

“Room for one more?” JJ teases. He glides into the apartment like a professional skater, clearly showing off before he settles on the floor on my other side.

“So this was your idea?” Tate asks him, gesturing at the soapy floor.

“Who, me?” JJ says with fake innocence, his eyes twinkling. “Of course not.”

“Yes, it was,” I protest, though the wet floor is the least of my worries. I glance at my Knight in Shining Armor nervously, but he doesn’t seem to mind that I’m sitting astride Charles, or that he caught me making out with Tate.

“So...” He gives a strand of my hair a teasing tug. “How did the songwriting go?”

“It was amazing,” I cry. “JJ, you’re a genius!”

“You’re the genius.” JJ grins. “And I’d love to hear what you’ve got so far.”

“I have the entire song! It just came to me.” I tell him, and then I can’t help it. I start to sing.

The euphoria from earlier floods my veins. Its current overtakes me and pulls me through the lyrics and melody. I feel the song with every ounce of my being, and pour everything I have into my rendition.

I forget that my voice is whiny. I forget that all three of my princes are watching me. I forget that I’m still straddling Charles and that JJ walked in while I was kissing Tate. All I remember are the words.

And the words sound absolutely perfect.

“That was beautiful,” Tate breathes when I finish the last note.

“Absolutely brilliant,” JJ chimes in. “I knew you could do it.”

I grin and turn to Charles expectantly. For a few seconds, he just stares at me, and then he covers my lips with his.

I gasp and kiss him back. Then I realize that Tate and JJ are both watching and quickly pull away. I struggle to catch my breath when Tate threads his fingers through my hair again and captures my lips with his. My body ignites, but so do my cheeks, and I pull away from him, too.

“JJ,” I cry, turning to look at my Knight in Shining Armor. “I—”

“Yes?” he asks, zeroing in on my lips.

When he leans closer, my heart starts pounding so loudly in my chest that I’m sure all three princes can hear it. Maybe I could write a song about it chiming like a clock, ticking away the seconds until...

“Roonie!” JJ snaps.

“Y-yes?”

“Stop torturing me already and kiss me.”

Chapter 23

When I walk into the kitchen on Saturday morning, Charles pulls me into his arms and kisses me within an inch of my life. He leaves my brain a scrambled mess, which only scrambles further when Tate takes his place.

My Prince Charming sucks on my upper lip, sending desire coursing through me. I try to reciprocate, needing more, but he suddenly pulls back, leaving me breathless.

“Coffee?” he asks, handing me a steaming hot mug.

“Oh, um, thanks,” I mumble, though my mind is miles away.

Why does he keep doing this to me? Why does he keep pulling away and leaving me wanting more?