Page 60 of Illicit Education

I pursed my lips, considering my options. Just moments ago, on my way up to his office, I’d been ready to quit.

But you know what? I could handle Cabot Reed.

And he could handle a little gushing.

So I pulled the manuscript out of my bag and looked down at it fondly, wiping at the stains where my tears had fallen on the front page earlier. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever read.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Cabot

I’d allow this woman to read any manuscript she wanted just to see that radiant look in her eyes again and again. She spoke a mile a minute, and had been for the past thirty minutes. But instead of growing bored or irritated as I usually did when people rambled, I was completely engrossed.

I could listen to her speak on literature for hours.

Everything she pointed out, every profound moment within the story, every word choice she’d made a note of… mirrored my own feelings about the manuscript.

My mother’s greatest work sat in the hands of this young intern, and the way Rylan loved it so fiercely sealed my fate.

Sitting across from her like this was intoxicating.

I knew she’d been special when I selected her for this internship. But now…

I shook my head.

It pained me that my mother would never meet Rylan Blake.

She would have loved her.

“What?” Rylan said, tilting her head. Then her eyes widened slowly and her cheeks flushed the palest pink. “Oh God, you don’t agree with my feedback.” She slumped back in her seat and laughed nervously. “This was a test, wasn’t it?”

I nodded.

“And I failed.”

“You absolutely did nothing of the sort.”

Rylan’s eyes widened and she sat up, leaning forward again. “Really?”

I nodded again. If I spoke, I might praise her. And that wasn’t me. Not in this setting anyway. Now, throw her across my lap and let me mark her… then I might praise her.

Fuck.

I pushed the thought aside.

“I can’t tell what you’re thinking.” She laughed nervously again. “Like… ever.”

Thank fucking God for that.

I leaned back, swiveling my chair back and forth as I held her gaze. “I seem to recall you didn’t like when I shared my thoughts with you.”

Her nostrils flared and her eyes darkened. Christ, I loved how reactive she was, how animated. Every thought played out in her facial expressions.

“I didn’t—” She closed her mouth, ran her tongue over her teeth. Then she lowered her gaze, head slightly bowed, and my cock jumped in response to the submissive pose. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it.”

I hissed a breath through my teeth.

She whipped her head up, a challenge in those deep brown eyes.