Either my chemistry teacher buys that explanation, or she doesn’t want to deal with the alternative—that one of her students just had an orgasm in class—because she nods vigorously, waving Flynt toward the exit. “Let them through, everyone.”
On the way past the football players desk, Flynt pauses and looks the pale-faced student dead in the eye.Mine, he mouths, carrying me out into the rapidly filling hallway.
Show them who your Daddy is, baby.
Those words ricochet around my head. My reaction to something so…twisted is something I could never have anticipated. I liked Flynt calling himself Daddy. Referring to me as little girl. It made me feel coveted and protected. It made me feel safe enough to let go.
Instead of taking me to the nurse’s office, Flynt kicks open an exit door and brings me outside, the cool mid-morning air rushing over my fevered skin. His jaw looks like it’s trying to crack walnuts, as usual, his big chest heaving up and down.
This is when the reality of what just happened starts to crash over me.
I start to struggle in his arms. “Let me down. Now.”
“No.”
My throat constricts. “I can’t believe you just did that.”
He presses his forehead against mine. “You gave me no choice. Iwarnedyou.”
Unbelievably, when he’s this close to me, my pulse clamors in the hopes of a kiss.Pathetic.“You’re not in a position to warn me about anything.”
Flynt does set me down on my feet then, his ten long fingers diving into my hair. “Tell that to my fucking soul, Ayla.”
It takes me a full ten seconds to catch my breath. “You…you just gave me my first orgasm out of jealousy. It shouldn’t have been like that.”
My words seem to penetrate the air around him. He winces, his dangerous rebel’s face losing some of its color. “I went insane. You made me insane.”
I shove at his shoulder. “You madeyourselfinsane. Stop blaming me foryourbehavior.”
His eyes remain closed for long moments. “This is why I tried to do the right thing. I’m not normal when it comes to you. I want toruinyou, Ayla.”
“No, you don’t,” I whisper, undone, shaking my head. “You just feel somuch. We can find a way to channel it the right way. Can’t we?”
He laughs without humor. Turning and pacing away, he rakes his hands down his face. “Not a hope in hell.”
Anger and sadness clash inside of me, making my stomach pitch. “Then I guess this is the end of the line.”
I turn to stalk away, but I only make it one step before my hair is wrapped around his fist and his mouth is moving hot against my ear. “It’s never the end for us.”
Tears pool in my eyes. “We’ll see.”
I leave him staring after me, knowing he’ll follow. Knowing it deep down in my bones.
We don’t speak for the rest of the day.
But his regard, his protectiveness, is more potent than ever.
four
Flynt
I kneelin her front yard with my fingers buried in the soil. When she comes to the window and looks out at me, I beg for forgiveness with my eyes.
She snaps the curtains shut and I rasp her name like a dying animal.
Having Ayla angry with me is like having a circular saw cutting into my throat.
She’s right. What I did is unforgivable.