Professor

I nodded, not speaking.

“Grace, you realize that being with a professor in that capacity is like a huge crossing-the-line kind of thing, right?”

I nodded.

“And he’s like so much older than you. He’s at least in his mid-thirties. You’re not even twenty-one. You’re okay with the age gap? You’re okay with the fact he seems really possessive of you, enough to follow you to the club and almost strangle a guy that was grinding on you?” She held up her hands. “Although maybe I kind of love Professor Goode for doing the latter.”

I could have laughed at that, but this moment was too serious, too sobering. “Yeah, I am okay with that.” My voice was heavy with emotion.

My heart was thundering a mile a minute, my palms were sweaty, and my tongue felt thick. I’d never uttered these words out loud to anyone, not even to myself. Yet here I was, knowing that there was no going back. Lucian wanted me, and he wasn’t going to walk away. And that’s just what I wanted.

“I mean this is a no-turning-back kind of thing, Gracie.”

“I know,” I whispered.

Why couldn’t I have what I desired? Why couldn’t I get what I deserved? The man I loved wanted me, and damn it, I wasn’t going to turn that down even if it was against the rules. Even if it was considered crossing lines.

“I hope you’re sure of what you’re doing,” Sherry said softly.

“Me too.”

She reached out and took hold of my hand. “But I’m here for you, always, okay?”

I smiled and nodded.

“And I want you to be able to confide in me about anything, even when our professor wants to make you his … everything, apparently.” Her eyes widened, and I did laugh then.

“This is a little crazy, isn’t it?”

“A little,” she said and chuckled. “But it’ll make one hell of a story one day, right?”

I nodded, hoping she was right.

“How about we forget about this for right now and dig into that ice cream and watch some Netflix?”

“Sounds perfect.” Leave it to Sherry to make it seem like things would be okay, even if it was only for tonight and consisted of a sugar overload and a rom-com.

13

Grace

Later that evening

Sherry had left ten minutes ago, it was late, but here I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling and holding my phone as I contemplated calling Lucian. He was probably asleep, and actually talking to him made me nervous.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about him. All I could imagine was being with him, having him hold me, kiss me … fuck me.

My breath started coming in faster pants, arousal licking across every part of me. I felt flushed, tempted to reach between my thighs and touch myself. This was ludicrous, but God, this all felt so incredible.

And then my phone rang.

My arousal instantly took a back seat, but as I lifted my cell and saw a number flash across the screen, the name Lucian in bold letters above that, all I could picture was him entering his number into my cell earlier today.

I licked my lips, that desire rising up almost violently once more. Should I answer? Let it go to voice mail?

No, I wanted to hear his voice. I needed to.

I hit the answer button and brought the phone to my ear. I tried to calm my breathing, but I had a feeling he’d be able to tell exactly what effect he had on me even if it was through the phone.

“Hello?” My voice was a little shaky, and I licked my lips and pushed myself up on the bed, leaning against the wall so my legs hung off the side.

“Grace.” He said my name so softly, his voice almost a husky growl. It was as if saying my name brought him immense pleasure. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

I shook my head, then realized he couldn’t see me. “No, I was awake.” And about to touch myself to the thought of you. I heard shuffling on the other end, almost as if he was moving against sheets. Was he in bed? I didn’t know why that surprised me. It was late. But then I thought about him lying in the bed where I had slept, his hard, lean body taking up a lot of the mattress, his sheer size making me feel so feminine and small.

“It’s late, but I needed to hear your voice, I needed to make sure you were okay after everything we’d discussed, after I told you how I felt.”

My entire body became hot, my arousal climbing even higher at just the sound of his voice. “I’m okay,” I whispered.

“Good.” He said that one word like his main concern was my well-being. That’s how I felt when he looked at me, when he said those very personal, life-changing things to me. “The last thing I want is for what I said to make you uncomfortable or afraid.”