She glanced across at me then and offered me a bashful smile. “Thank you again for … everything.” It was evident she was uncomfortable, attempting to escape as quickly as possible.
She unlocked the car door and was about to get out, but I reached over the seat and curled my hand softly around hers, stopping her from going. She peered over at me, her nerves real.
“I know what I said was a lot to take in, but I meant every word. I’m not going to walk away, Grace.” I smoothed my thumb over the top of her hand, her skin so soft, electricity moving up the digits and through my entire body. “I know you feel the same way, to an extent.” My obsession with her was devouring, infuriating. “And you don’t have to admit that right now, but you will have to eventually, Grace.”
I leaned in just an inch, but there was still a considerable chunk of space that separated us. I didn’t like that. “You’ll have to admit it to yourself, and then to me, because I’m not walking away. I’m not giving you up.” There was determination in my voice, hard resolve. “The sooner you realize that, the easier this will all be, the easier it will be to accept.”
She licked her lips, and I lowered my sight to watch the deed, my heart beating and my body coming alive from, from her close proximity.
“I know,” she murmured, her voice gentle, absolutely feminine.
I should’ve let go of her hand, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Instead, I pushed even harder, knowing what I was about to ask her may very well have her retreating into herself, separating herself from me. This was so wrong, desiring my student, confessing that she was mine, but screw logistics and regulations.
“Let me take you to dinner, Grace. Let me show you how it may be with us, how much I mean what I said.”
I could see how swiftly her pulse was thumping behind her ear, wanted to reassure her, let her know that there was nothing to be afraid about. I was here for her, in this for her.
Now that I had fully opened myself up, allowed my emotions and sentiments to come forth, a physical proclamation of what she meant to me, there was no stopping it. There was no turning back.
“Let me take you out,” I whispered again, lower, gentler.
“Okay,” she all but muttered.
Pleasure flooded within me at her acceptance.
I held my hand out. “Let me see your phone.” I was trying to be kind, not so demanding. She didn’t hesitate as she handed her cell over. I entered in my number and handed it back to her.
I didn’t bother telling her I already had her number, that being a professor at the university provided me access to student information. I didn’t tell her because I knew how it would sound.
“Now you have direct access to me,” I replied, and knowing she could reach me privately at any given time had me feeling even more possessive.
She didn’t say anything while she toyed with her phone, and a second later I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I knew without glancing at it that she’d sent me a text … so I’d have her number as well.
“Now you have mine,” she added softly.
I grinned, longing to touch her, to run my fingertips over her smooth skin, to separate her lips and put my thumb between them and make her taste me. God, she drove me wild and all she had to do was sit there.
I knew I may come off as hardened, apathetic even. But when it came to Grace, she held all the cards, even if she didn’t know it.
When it came to her, I was putty in her hands.
I shut my bedroom door, leaned against it, closed my eyes, and lay my head back on the wood. As soon as I’d come home, I’d guzzled a gallon of water and rushed directly to the shower. I’d hoped the heat and steam would help me feel a little better, but being so unused to drinking had really kicked my ass.
My heart was hammering, and my headache was still going strong.
All I could do was keep reliving everything Seth had told me. God, it seemed so odd pronouncing his name. He’d always just been Professor Baldwin to me, and those two words combined together, spilling from my mouth, felt appropriate.
Saying his first name felt extraordinarily personal, erotically intimate, as if we were closer than we really were. But then again that’s exactly what he wanted.
All the things he’d told me had been obvious. He wanted me as his, only his and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Not that I would’ve declined.
I was just puzzled, overwhelmed. I wanted him, had for longer than I could possibly acknowledge.
Although all I wanted to do was go to sleep, I slipped my phone out of my pocket and dialed Alexis’s number. I’d put her off long enough.
She picked up on the first ring, and her quick sigh told me I’d ticked her off. I couldn’t blame her though.
“Hey,” I said a bit sheepishly. I sat on the edge of the bed and kicked off my shoes, wiggling my toes about and shutting my eyes.
