“I distinctly remember telling you to text me when you left work tonight.” Alexander’s rough voice penetrates the darkness.
“Son of a bitch.” The glow from my cell phone leads me to my once savior. My savior that I no longer need. He’s going to need one for scaring me.
“You’ll think,Son of a bitch.” He reaches me in one step and grabs my chin, holding it tightly. The darkness surrounds us, enhancing our solitude and making the situation dangerous. I don’t have control over my emotions or my libido as the anger evaporates and lust settles in my lower belly. “I told you to message me.”
“I was late.”
“That makes more of a reason to message me, now, doesn’t it?” He leans down and grazes his lips along the shell of my ear. “So, I wouldn’t worry.”
“I didn’t think you’d still be up. I was going to message you when I got into my car.” I inhale, taking in his familiar scent. Musk and sandalwood. The fragrance that haunts me every night. The one that causes me to wake up aching and desperate for a repeat performance.
I stiffen.Don’t get all weak in the knees. You’ll only get hurt.
“You were wrong. I am up. And I was worried about you.” His hand slides along my jaw and cups the back of my neck, sending goosebumps in every direction. “And disappointed. I thought we’d established you were a good girl that told the truth and listened.”
His hot breath fans along my skin as his other arm braces against my back, holding me in place. “Imagine my surprise when I find your vehicle in the dark and you walking to your car.” He fists my hair, tugging harder with each sentence. “Alone. Without messaging me. And after you said you wouldn’t put yourself in danger again.”
Desire curls deep inside of me, but we can’t. I can’t. I brace my hands on his chest and push backward in a failed attempt to get away.
“I expect you to tell me the truth and to obey me.” His mouth slams against mine, and instead of shoving him again, I curl my hands in his shirt and haul him closer.
Oh, God. This is so wrong. Yet, it feels so right. I whimper and give him access to my mouth. The second his tongue slashes against mine, I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him with every ounce of frustration I’ve experienced since I walked into my calculus class and saw him standing behind the lectern.
He grasps my ass, hauling me upward until my legs are wrapped around his waist, and he presses me into the metal of my car.
Time unravels as we remain entwined. I’ve never wanted anything as desperately as I want him.
“Shit.” He pulls back, dropping my feet to the ground. “I shouldn’t have done that. I promised myself I wouldn’t touch you again.” He rakes a hand through his hair as I gasp for air. “I can’t do this. It’s wrong.”
“No.” I shake my head, trying to get rid of the cobwebs keeping me from forming a logical thought. “You’re right.” I wrap my arms around my body, scrubbing my palm over my upper arm and clutching my cell phone in my other.
If I rub hard enough, I can get rid of the memory of his touch. “I can’t risk my future over….” The wordyougets stuck in my throat. I cough and shine the flashlight on the ground. “It never happened. You were just ensuring I got to my vehicle safely, and I appreciate your concern. Your teacher/student level of concern.”
“Here.” He retrieves my key fob from the ground and hands it to me.
When our fingers touch, it’s like a physical ache travels from my fingertips to my heart. It’s foolish. I straighten my shoulders. “Thank you. I apologize for not messaging you, but I’m fine. The light must have burnt out, and the woman who was supposed to leave with me was called away from work.” I snatch open my door.
The loud squeaking sound of the hinges fills the night sky. Lord, I’m babbling again, but I can’t stop. “And someone came into the shelter when I was getting ready to leave, so there was no way to close up for a few minutes. I’m fine. I’ve parked here for years.” I slip inside. Just stop. Shut your mouth and stop talking. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine. We can forget this night ever happened. I mean, I’ve already forgotten.”
“Daisy.” He grabs the door frame, stepping between it and the car as I try to yank it closed. I can’t shut it without cutting off his legs and head. Fine. I’m not strong enough to do it. He towers over me, and all I want is to fall into his arms again and quench the ache between my thighs. Stop. You’re being desperate and pathetic. I slam the back of my head into the headrest.
“It’s fine. I’m not yours to worry about. Let it go.” And I don’t just mean the door. If he doesn’t step away from my car soon, I will lose it.
“Daisy.” His voice is stern this time, drawing my eyes up to him. “It’s not that I don’t want to. But I can’t. I can’t risk my job. Not just at the university.” He shakes his head and shrugs. “The university isn’t that big of a deal. I’m filling in for a semester while another professor is on sabbatical. But if I got fired at the university, it would tarnish my reputation, which would hurt my father’s reputation.”
“You don’t have to explain anything.” I blink, not even realizing there are tears in my eyes. Shit. Now I look like a big baby.
“Yes, I do.” He squats beside the car and cups my cheek. “I want you more than my next breath, but it would ruin our lives. You need this class to get into medical school, and I can’t upset my father if I want to inherit his business.”
“You’re right.” I don’t like it, but he’s speaking the truth. Starting a relationship with my professor would nix my plans for medical school. It’s not a relationship. It’s sex. Stop with the pie-in-the-sky thinking. “My father is depending on me completing this class on time. He’s already talked to the head of the entrance committee at his alma mater. Everything is in the works for me to start classes in January. All I have left to do is pass my last two classes and complete the interview process.”
So why does that leave me feeling empty?
He strokes my cheekbone. “Promise me you’ll be safe.”
“I promise.”
He gives me a weak smile. “That’s my good girl.” He straightens and moves onto the other side of the door. “When you get home, send me a message.”