“You’ll always be my baby,” I say before he can finish. Laughing, I say goodbye again and we each disconnect the call.
I draw a deep breath and meet Shane’s warm gaze.
“Well, that went well,” he says.
“It did.” Acting on impulse, I lean forward and kiss him, expressing everything he makes me feel without using my words.
His tongue slides against mine, the moment quickly heating up, the kiss going on, arousal settling low in my belly, desire pulsing between my thighs.
He places a hand on my leg and breaks the kiss, his dark eyes meeting hers. “We really need to get back to your place.”
“We so do.”
He straightens in his seat. “But there’s something we need to talk about first.”
With my mind still hazy from his warm lips on mine, I’m not thinking all that clearly. “What is it?”
“Where we go from here. At least for the next two weeks while class is still in session.”
I freeze, knowing the wonderful feelings I’ve experienced since he showed up on my doorstep are about to disappear. Temporarily, I hope, but it hurts. Still, I am adult enough to understand and handle it.
I straighten my shoulders. “I get it. We can’t be seen together.” But is he going to disappear from my life as if our time together never happened? “What are you thinking?” It is his job on the line. No matter how my heart feels, because I know I am falling hard for him in a very short time, I can handle a few weeks apart. I have to.
“I need every possible angle of professionalism covered. To start with, nothing changes in public. I’m the professor, you’re the student.”
I nod in understanding.
“And for the final exam, I’m going to have my teaching assistant proctor the exam. I’m going to assign random numbers to each student and grade anonymously. If anything ever gets out about us, nobody can say I favored you at all.”
“Makes sense.” I pause. “You’ve really thought about this.”
“The whole trip here. My time with you is precious.” Taking my hand, he holds it up to his face. “I don’t want us to risk anything or have anything taint our future.”
I blink, shocked by the tears that suddenly fall from my eyes. “Future?”
He meets my gaze, staring into my eyes. “I know it’s fast. I know we have a lot to learn about each other, but that’s what I want. The chance for a very real future.”
“I want that, too.”
“Good. Then let me do everything I can to protect it.”
I nod. Because I’ve never wanted anything more.
***
Shane
Is there reallysuch a thing asthe one? Because I sure as hell am certain Amber is it for me.
The whole way home from the hospital, my focus wasn’t on my sick father but his attitude towards Amber. I’ll be damned if I’ll tell her the rude things my father said. Instead I’ll do everything in my power to get through the next two weeks and move on with our lives.
I drop her off at her house and walk her to her door, stepping inside.
“Can you stay?” she asks.
“I wish I could, but I think we need to just say goodbye.” Before I can react, I step closer, easing her against the wall. “But don’t think it isn’t hard for me. Don’t think I don’t want you. I’m just trying to be smart.” I’ve been weak the last two days, giving in to my need for her, but we need to walk a fine line from now on.
She strokes her hand down my cheek, her gaze soft on mine. “I understand. There will be plenty of time after class ends.”
