“Please, Blake.”
“The day after the Faculty Ball.”
“The Faculty Ball?”
“It marks the end of the semester. By then class will be over, grades will be submitted, and your thesis will be finished. If you still want me then, I’m yours.”
Her heart swelled. She loved him. And forever…well, she would do just about anything for forever with him. Even give him up for a while.
“Okay,” she said, still feeling unsteady. “I’ll agree to that, if you agree to my terms.”
“Which are?”
“We wait until after the Faculty Ball, and then you come home with me.”
“I’ve been to your apartment before.”
“I meant my hometown. Come home and meet my mother. It will be better than having her meet you here, where she’ll…” Swallowing, she looked around his kitchen. The thick crown molding and stainless-steel appliances. “Well, she might judge you based on your house.”
Standing, he stalked toward her. God, completely naked. Why couldn’t she stop staring?
Reaching behind her neck, he pulled her in and kissed her flush on the nose. “Did you just invite me to meet the parents?” he teased. “This must be serious.”
She nodded. “Well, there’s only one parent. But yes, I’d say it’s serious.”
“Glad to hear it, because I’m serious too. And I might have terms of my own.”
“Which are?”
“I want you to move in with me. Not as the maid or as my student. As my lover.”
Her breath hitched. She glanced around the stately home. “Here?”
“That was the idea. Unless you don’t like it.”
“No, it’s not that. I love your house.” Something held her back from saying yes. Being under his control, financially, physically. She’d struggled and studied and worked her whole life so she’d never have to answer to a man. Even though she knew he’d never hurt her, it was hard to give up that dream. “I just meant…I spend all my time here anyway.”
His expression was soft and painfully understanding. “It would be different if you were with me, every day. Every night. But it’s okay. You don’t have to answer now. After the semester. It can wait.”
Her sigh held relief and gratitude. “Thank you.”
“I won’t rush you, because I need you to be sure. Once you’re with me, I’m not going to be able to let you go.”
She shivered at the dark note of possession in his voice. After her exams, she’d be able to think straight. Then she’d tell him yes, wouldn’t she? She couldn’t imagine telling him no. Her love for him posed a greater threat than a domineering man ever could. Blake had gotten under her skin and buried deep in her soul. There would be no going back from this. She was looking over a ledge she knew she would jump over, gauging the distance. If she were honest, she was already on her way down.
“Just promise me something,” he said. “I may not always be near you, but I will never be far away. If you’re ever in trouble or need something, you let me know. Promise me.”
She melted, her heart a puddle. “Oh, Blake.”
He gave her a crooked smile. “Nothing is too small. You need a light bulb changed or find a spider in the shower, I’m there.”
“Okay, okay,” she said with mock forbearance, even though she found it sweet as hell.
Her old boyfriend, Doug, had only been interested in her when they were together. And her mother, as wonderful as she was, had enough to manage with her work that she didn’t concern herself with how Erin did on a day-to-day basis.
Especially lately, when she couldn’t even seem to take a phone call.
Just as quickly, he turned the topic to safer ground. “So, it’s been a long time since I met any parents. I’m not even sure what that entails.”