Maybe if I stay still like this my body will figure out that it needs to sleep and stop thinking about the woman next to me, who causes a very uncomfortable erection along with these complicated feelings.
Poppy has a business. Of course she has. Despite the delay in delivering her assignments, she always has interestingtakes on my class when we're discussing a more controversial topic. Now I can see why, she has real-life experience to give that nuance that younger people don't always have.
"Blake."
I don't like that she's no longer treating me with a title, it's dangerous the way I want to hear my name on her lips, nothing between us. But I didn't have a choice, did I? I couldn't say no. Not to her. Not when she's stuck here with me. I already think it's unfair to her that she has to spend the night with me, not knowing how I want to drive my cock into her, over her, everywhere.
We're too close. Too fucking close. I don't want to share a classroom with her, so why would I want to share a gym mattress? It's wrong to want her this way.
I stay still, faking sleep. But it's like she knows it takes me a few minutes to fall asleep, that I wouldn't fall asleep just like that.
"I didn't get to ask you a question."
I hold my breath and turn around.
"Yes?"
Her eyes are set on mine, an uncertainty mixed with boldness in them. Like her question might rip me apart. Perhaps it will.
"Do you think I'm pretty?"
It does.
"What? What kind of question is that?"
"I'm just wondering." A blush appears on her cheeks.
"Anyone with eyes would think you're pretty, Poppy."
She hums.
She fucking hums, like she wants to hear that from me.
"But what do you think?"
"I think you're beautiful."
Her eyebrows shoot up, her whole face turning red with my words. She opens her mouth and closes it immediately after.
Would it be so bad to give in?
Yes.
She's your student.
Not anymore. Apart from a pesky assignment. That hardly counts.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean,” she whispers.
If only she knew. If only she knew how much I've been holding back, knowing the wrongness of my feelings for her.
"I'm dead serious." I should tell her she's the ugliest woman I've ever seen, that it sickens me to be next to her. But I can't. Not when I see her expression, I like her confidence, the way I see her around everyone else. I want to elevate this woman, not allow her to doubt herself.
And it's that feeling that brings me closer. Or maybe it's just selfish pure greed. To want her, to have her all to myself, to keep her in this gym with me forever.
Her lower lip trembles as I get close enough to feel her breath on my cheek. There's no going back from this.
“Poppy…” My voice breaks on her name. “Tell me to stop.”
