Always You (Love Hurts 1)

“Really?” I replied, amused.

“You don’t understand how stressful senior year is, especially when you’re having an affair with the teacher.”

“Oh, so that’s what this is?” I said, raising my eyebrows. She blushed, and I laughed. “You’re so easy to mess with.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, but her face was smiling.

“I’m looking forward to spending some time with you. I mean, I know we’re always together, but this is different. This doesn’t feel sneaky, or wrong.” She stretched out her long legs, my eyes drawn to them like a magnet. “I want tonight to be special.”

I knew right away where she was going with that, and I was determined not to pressure her, no matter how badly I wanted her. I should’ve been more at odds with myself. The idea of sleeping with a student should’ve been tearing me up inside, much more than it was. But it wasn’t. I was worried about my job, and how all of this could affect her, but all of my reservations about taking us further had little to do with my feelings about being her teacher and everything to do with the rest of my life.

“I want this to be special too, Wrenn. But I’m not going to rush you. I want you to be ready, even if that means waiting a month, or a year,” I mumbled. She turned to me, her expression one of surprise.

“Dalton . . . I’m not a virgin,” she said quietly.

“I don’t care about that, Wrenn. This isn’t about that; this is about you. I want you to want me. I want you to need me. And no, I’m not about to burst into a song,” I said wryly. She laughed, her face lighting up at my joke.

“I think you underestimate just how much I do need you, Dalton. Am I nervous about sleeping with you? Yes, but it has nothing to do with anything, other than the fact that I really like you. If it’s too much for me, I’ll tell you. I promise.”

She looked out the window at the lines of trees we were passing. She shivered, and I moved the heating up to two, and then put my hand back on her thigh.

“So, not long until you’re a free man, Mr. Reid. What are your plans after your contract finishes?” She asked, changing the subject.

“Well, that depends on a few things,” I said, running my hand over her thigh.

“Like what?” she pressed. She leaned her head back against the headrest, facing me, waiting for my answer.

“I guess it depen

ds on what I get offered next. Whether I still want to teach. What you’re up to . . . ” Why was my heart racing? Talking about the future scared the shit out of me, but talking about a future with Wrenn was almost unbearable. “If we’re together, and you’re in Boston, then that’s where I’ll be, too.”

She smiled at me and wrapped her hand over mine, and the feel of our skin touching was incredible. She stared at me for a minute, as though a thought was forming in her head.

“Do you think we can do this? I mean, actually make it work?” she asked quietly.

“Why not? People form relationships all the time. Why not us?” I shrugged.

I sounded so sure of myself, so sure of us. What I didn’t admit was that I’d asked myself that same question. What if, after all this, we just didn’t work? I squeezed her hand again.

“I can’t tell you how this is going to turn out, Wrenn. All I can do is promise that I will do my best to make this work, if that’s what we decide we want.”

She nodded, her eyes meeting mine. “I think I’m already past making that decision,” she said, her voice soft.

***

I pulled into the cobblestoned driveway of the cabin, the movement waking Wrenn up. She gazed out of the window in confusion, as if she’d completely forgotten where she was. She glanced at me, blinking a few times, then back at the log cabin that was our home for the night.

I’d gone all out, wanting to make this special. I couldn’t wait to see her face when she saw how beautiful it was inside.

We got out of the car, the fresh country smell almost overwhelming.

“This is beautiful.” She turned slowly, taking in the breathtaking views of Forest Lake and its surroundings.

“Wait until you see inside.” I grabbed her hand and walked up the path to the front balcony. Using the key that had been left for us, I opened the lock, swinging open the door. Wrenn went in first, and I followed her.

“Holy shit. This place is amazing,” she squeaked.

I grinned. For the amount I was paying, it had fucking better be. One night had almost cost me the equivalent of one week’s pay.