Page 5 of Forbidden Heart

“We do.” JJ shifts closer to me, so our knees are touching.

My pulse spikes, and a part of me wants to jump back while another begs me to stay. It’s like I’m possessed by two fairies, the good one reminding me that I already like Tate and Charles, while the bad one is telling me to stop thinking and enjoy the moment. They war within me, and I know I should listen to the good fairy—I know I should—but I’m not sure I want to.

“So, tell me about yourself.” JJ leans even closer.

“Oh, um...” My cheeks flush. What am I supposed to say? Hi, my name is Roonie, and I couldn’t get into college or find a job. All my friends moved away and my home life sucks, so here I am? “There’s really nothing to tell.”

“Well, how’d you get so damn good at writing songs?” he prompts, and a warm feeling spreads through me.

I know JJ doesn’t actually mean it. He’s just happy the guys don’t have to audition with their original song, Apples. But his words still make me smile.

“I just sing a lot,” I tell him. Not that my songs are any good. If they were, I’d be going to LUV Academy myself, instead of crashing in their dorm. “How did you get so good at singing?”

JJ smirks, and it sets my heart on fire. I remind myself nothing can happen between us, but my treacherous body doesn’t listen.

“Maybe I’m just good with my mouth,” he whispers. I blush the color of roses, and JJ chuckles in satisfaction. “Did you want a demonstration?”

“Y-you mean a singing demonstration?” I blurt, even though I know that’s not what he’s implying.

“Damn, you’re cute.” He starts to lean closer, and I jump to my feet.

“Hey, hey, hold on.” JJ grabs my hand before I can make my escape. “You forgot something.”

“W-what?” I blush again, staring down at our joined hands.

“You know what.” JJ slowly gets to his feet and pulls me toward him, his eyes not once leaving my own. “Do you want to kiss me, Roonie?”

My cheeks flush with embarrassment even as my eyes lock on his mouth. There’s a small smudge of purple I hadn’t noticed before, right there in the corner of his lips, but somehow it only makes him look even more endearing.

How can I be this attracted to JJ? And what would Tate and Charles think if they found out?

“Roonie?”

My gaze snaps up to his.

JJ raises an eyebrow, waiting, and I realize that I must have been standing there staring at his lips for an awkwardly long time. As if that’s not embarrassing enough, JJ repeats his question, his gruff voice sending a shiver down my spine. “Do you want to kiss me?”

“Yes,” I say quickly and then flush scarlet. JJ never even said he’s into me. He’s probably just a flirt. And none of that matters, anyway, because I already can’t choose between Tate and Charles.

“Okay.” JJ steps closer.

“Okay, w-what?” My eyes widen, and I take an instinctive step back. Only, JJ’s still holding my hand, and he doesn’t let go.

“Then kiss me,” JJ says, gently tugging me closer.

“M-me?”

“You.” JJ smirks. “Don’t tell me you’ve never kissed anyone before?”

“I...” I feel a huge wave of guilt, because my first kiss was with his roommates. Both his roommates! What’s he going to think when he finds out? That I kissed them in this very room?

“Roonie?” JJ presses.

“I um, kind of kissed...” I lower my voice and quickly blurt out, “Tatencharles.”

“You what?” JJ frowns. “I didn’t catch that.”

“IkindofkissedTatencharles,” I say, talking even faster.