I touch my forehead to hers. “I love you, Skyler. I’ve been falling for you since the moment we met. You don’t have to respond. I didn’t tell you to put you on the spot or anything, I just...I just can’t hold back the way I feel about you any longer. I need you to know how important you are to me.”
She surprises me by rising onto her tiptoes and pulling me in for a deep, passionate kiss. When the two of us finally part, we’re both breathless.
“Ben, you have no idea how happy that makes me,” she says, caressing my cheek. “I love you, too. So much, it hurts. And I’m just so happy to hear you feel the same way.”
I slant my lips over hers, and she opens to me. Our tongues tangle as my fingers weave into her hair. The world falls away as my love for Skyler rushes through my veins. I can’t recall a time when I felt this happy, holding Skyler tight against me in the middle of a classroom—
Someone clears their throat behind us.
Skyler pulls back with a gasp and spins toward the sound.
An older dark-skinned woman smiles patiently at the two of us.
“Nice to see a couple that doesn’t skimp on the spice,” the woman says. “When you’re ready, please make your way to the front station and we’ll get started.” She gestures to the station where the other students have already gathered.
“Yes, ma’am, thank you,” Skyler says, a crimson blush painting her cheeks.
The woman—our instructor—winks at Skyler and then heads to the front of the room.
Skyler looks up at me, the red in her cheeks making her eyes shine like gems. “I guess we should stop making out and go join the others.”
“We will...” I grasp her wrist and gently pull her back against my chest. “But first, I want you to know that when we get back to the hotel, I’m going to show you exactly how much I love you, Baby Bird. I’m gonna love you so hard, you’re gonna need me to bring you breakfast in bed in the morning. That’s a promise, and Daddy always keeps his promises, doesn’t he?”
She captures her bottom lip between her teeth. “Yes, Daddy.”
I plant a final kiss on her cheek.
“Good girl. Now, let’s get cooking.”