She laughed sheepishly.

“Nope, I’m studying. When I realized the time, the game was over.”

“Oh, good girl then,” he said with a laugh, “but yeah, we won.”

“Awesome! Did you score any goals?”

“I did, the winning one.”

“Awesome, way to go.”

“Thanks, how was school?”

“Boring, except this guy keeps trying to get in my pants.”

The way she said it so nonchalantly had Phillip’s teeth on edge.

“Don’t make me kill a kid, Claire, please.”

Her laughter made him smile.

“I won’t. I’m sort of done with all that. I want to focus on school and dance. I want to actually do something when I get older.”

Words couldn’t describe how much what she said meant to him. With a grin, he said, “That’s fantastic, Claire. I want that for you, too.”

“I know, which reminds me, I am almost done with my solo. When I’m done, can you come see it?”

His heart jumped up into his throat as he slowly nodded, despite the fact she couldn’t see him.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Awesome! I’m like tired, so can I call you tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” he said, fighting back tears. “Goodnight.”

“Night, Phillip.”

When the line went dead, Phillip leaned his head back and grinned up at the ceiling. If he had known she would have changed this much just from dancing, he would have put her in it months ago. He wished his sister and mother was there, so they could see the transformation she was making. Slowly but surely, his Claire was coming back to him. He knew they wouldn’t care but, then again, maybe they would have. Maybe they would have been clean and supported Claire the way he was going to.

Letting out a huff of air, he sat up, reaching for his phone again and clicking on Reese’s name to text her.

Smiling, he wrote:

Thank you.

Only a second passed before she said:

What? I didn’t give you an orgasm today… did I?

Laughing out loud, Phillip typed back quickly.

No, not today, but the night is still young.

This is true, but really, what did I do?

Claire asked me to watch her dance, and she is doing really well. I have a feeling it’s because of you.

Maybe, I am pretty freaking awesome. ☺

He laughed as he wrote:

Haha. Maybe you are.

Oh, I know I am! But really, it’s all her. She’s phenomenal, Phillip, honestly. She’s just been in a shitty place but, between the both of us and Harper, I think we can make her world better.

Phillip smiled as he wrote:

I agree, but really, thank you.

Anytime. ☺

When she didn’t write anything after that, Phillip laid his phone down and smiled, but soon he was reaching for his phone again, his need for her greater than he thought. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, lose himself in her, before kissing the hell out of her.

Typing quickly, he wrote:

What are you wearing?

He worked his lip as he waited for her response. When his phone dinged and a picture of her in absolutely nothing came over the phone, his body tightened as he bit down hard on his lip.

Typing quickly, he wrote:

I want you in my mouth. Right. Now.

Come and get it.

You wish.

I’ll be waiting.

Keeping his feelings locked up from this girl?

Yeah, right.

Chapter 11

COMING OUT the studio, Reese was surprised to find Phillip in her parking lot, getting off his bike. A smile formed on her face, and her heart picked up in speed as she took him in. It had been some long nights thinking of him. To see him now set her body on fire. Of course, he looked delicious. Wearing a pair of fitted jeans and a tee, he moved with ease as he put his helmet on the back of the bike. One would think that riding a bike and wearing a tee shirt would be crazy at the end of February but, like always, Tennessee’s weather wasn’t sure if it wanted to be cold or hot. Reese swore that the weather was bipolar in this damn state.

When Phillip looked up, his gaze meeting hers, all thoughts of the weather went out the window, as a slow, devilish grin crossed his gorgeous face. Tucking his hands in his jeans, he met her on the steps, grinning as he took her in. He was so blunt about it, slowly moving his eyes up and down her body, his tongue coming out to run over his bottom lip. She wished she would have looked better but then again, with the way he was looking at her, like she was something to eat, maybe the gym shorts and tank weren’t as bad as she thought.

When his eyes met hers again, she smiled. “Nice bike.”

He looked back at the bike before turning to meet her gaze. She would have liked to admire the bike but staring at him was way more fun.

“Thanks, I’d love you take you for a ride.”

“I bet you would,” she said suggestively.

“I would, it could be fun,” he said with a wag of his eyebrows.

Reese laughed as she rolled her eyes. “No doubt about that.”

Crossing her legs, she pushed the strap of her bag back up on her shoulder as she said, “So, what are you doing here?”

Looking at her through heavy-lidded blue eyes, he whispered, “I came to put you in my mouth, remember?”

Jesus, if her body was on fire before, it was on the verge of exploding now. Hoping that her voice didn’t betray her by letting him know how much she wanted to be in that sexy mouth of his, she croaked out, “Unfortunately, I am walking out the door.”