“What happened?”“You did.” She whispered, her eyes locking onto his. “You’re making me fall for you, and I know I’m going to be hurt in the end.”

“[Rick] “Do you know how beautiful you are?”Disbelief shimmered in her eyes. “Thank you, but—”He closed the distance between them. She gasped as he grabbed her hand and laid it on his straining erection. “This is what you do to me. From the moment I laid eyes on you I wanted you. By the end of the night, you’re going to believe it, sweetheart. Make no mistake.”

“[T.J.] I pulled my arms out from underneath her body and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I love you, Anna.”The surprised look on her face told me she hadn’t seen that coming.“You weren’t supposed to fall in love,” she whispered.“Well, I did,” I said, looking into her eyes. “I’ve been in love with you for months. I’m telling you now because I think you love me too, Anna. You just don’t think you’re supposed to. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. I can wait.” I pulled her mouth down to mine and kissed her and when it ended, I smiled and said, “Happy birthday.”

“Camilla, you…my God,” he whispered against my skin, his voice sounding oddly strained. “Sweetheart, do you even know? You’re so perfect and you don’t even realize.”The endearment seeped into me like a touch, warming me as much as his body did. “Did I say a good thing, Professor?”“Oh, you said an amazing thing. Tonight I’m going to make very, very sure you know how much it means to me.”

“You’re not dying,” he said.“How do you know?”His eyes latched onto mine. “Because I’d never let that happen.”

“Look what just happened,’ she said softly, allowing laughter to leak into her words. ‘You just shared something of yourself—and the world did not end. Nor did I fall hopelessly at your feet.’‘Why do you bother, then?’ he asked hoarsely.She stroked a hand in his hair. ‘Because I want you to know that it is possible.”