“Beg for me, baby,

scream out my name.

Get on your knees for me, baby,

let desire

erase all the

shame.”

Before he could continue, I hopped out of my seat, tilting the last bit of my espresso down my gullet as Shawn abruptly stopped playing.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry. I just realized the time!” I hid my flushed cheeks as I slipped the strap of my bag over one shoulder. “The song is really great. Truly. Very sexy. Can’t wait to hear it live.”

Shawn set his guitar to the side and stood. “Giana,” he tried, but I was already rushing toward the door. I tripped on the leg of a table, windmilling forward before I balanced and did a little spin to keep from running into one of the baristas carrying a tray of dishes.

“So sorry, I’m going to be late if I don’t get going. But I’ll see you soon!” I threw behind me.

“Wait!”

I stopped, heart thundering, turning with a flush I knew was too furious to hide staining my cheeks.

Shawn ran a hand over his hair. “Can I… would it be possible for me to get your number?”

The blood drained from my hot face.

It was working. Everything Clay and I were doing… it was working.

And for the first time, I realized the implications of that.

Swallowing, I held out my hand, typing my phone number in quickly when Shawn pressed his phone into my palm. I gave it back just as quickly, forcing the best smile I could.

“I’ll text you,” he promised.

I threw a wave over my shoulder as I turned, trying to keep my smile calm and collected. But the way he stood with his hands in his pockets, one brow arched, told me he saw right through the act.

It also told me he liked that he’d ruffled me.

When I pushed through the doors and out into the heat growing thicker by the minute, I smacked my palm against my forehead, dragging it down my face with a groan.

I might as well have had I’m a virgin! flashing on my face in neon lights.

Embarrassment faded into shame, and just as quickly into panic, as I raced across campus, my pace growing practically to a gallop.

What the hell did I think I was doing?

Here I was playing this… this stupid game with someone so far ahead of me it was unreal. Shawn was a musician. A hot, talented, male musician. How had it not occurred to me that he’d likely fucked a dozen girls, if not more, by now?

And I?

I hadn’t even gone to second base.