Professor

“I don’t want to ruin you,” I finally said. “I don’t want the love I have for you to twist and drive you away.” Because the power I felt when I was with her was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

“You love me?”

I looked into her eyes and growled. “I love you more than I’ve ever fucking loved anything in my life.”

“Then that’s all that matters.”

The air left me. “My sweet, innocent little Grace.” I shook my head slowly. “If life, the world, was so easy…”

She was the one to shake her head now. “Why can’t it be?” she asked softly. “You love me. I love you. Nothing else should matter.”

And it didn’t, to an extent. It wasoutside influences that had me fearing her being plucked from my life, like a flower being pulled from the ground.

But my Grace was strong, fearless. She moved closer, pressed her breasts more firmly against my chest.

I stared into her eyes. “I meant it when I said I won’t let you go,” I said softly, our lips still inches apart.

“I know,” she whispered.

I didn’t say anything else as I leaned in and kissed her hard and deep, just wanting to imprint myself on her. All control had fucking gone at that moment. I hoped she was ready, because the restrained Lucian she knew was gone.

19

Professor Goode

Delicious.

Addicting.

All mine.

I kissed Grace like stopping would be my death.

Nothing else mattered but this one moment and making Grace feel good, making her see that I wanted her above all else. I couldn’t have walked away if my life had depended on it.

Hell, I’d gladly die in this very moment, with Grace’s lips pressed to mine and the sweet sounds of her moans filling my ears.

She broke the kiss and gasped. “I feel like if I don’t hold on to you, I won’t be steady. I won’t be here, like this is nothing but a dream.”

Before I could tell her to touch me, to hold on to me, to use me, she had her hands wrapped around my neck, her fingers playing with the short strands of hair at my nape. I kissed her again, and she made these small noises in the back of her throat. I swallowed the sounds, needing more, wanting her to surrender every part of herself to me. This was what I’d wanted from the moment I saw her, from the second I realized I couldn’t let her be with anyone else.

It had been so fucking hard staying back, keeping my distance for as long as I did. But no more. No matter the repercussions, no matter the rules I broke being with her … Grace was mine.

I couldn’t stop this. I wouldn’t. I forced myself to take a step back, but took her hand in mine, keeping her close, afraid she’d run if she really saw my desperation for her.

“I don’t want you to let me go,” she whispered.

“Never,” I said instantly. I couldn’t help myself as I reached out and moved my thumb along her bottom lip, pulled the soft, slightly damp flesh down, and watched it move back into place when I let go. She was so fucking beautiful, so pliant and giving, and fearless, not letting her inhibitions control her. I’d show her how precious she was to me.

Her breath hitched a bit, and I leaned down and took her mouth in a kiss again, pulling her close because I was addicted to her. She felt good in my arms, like she was always meant to be here.

Take her. Show her what it’s like to be yours.

And so I moved back, looking down at her swollen red lips, a slight glossiness on them from our kiss.

“This could get you in trouble with the university.”

“I don’t fucking care about anything but you.”

Her breath hitched. “They’ll say this is wrong.”

I shook my head slowly. “Let them. How can this be so wrong when it feels so damn good, so right?”

“You don’t care?”

I shook my head again and stared into her eyes. “The only thing that matters is you. I don’t fucking care about anything else.” I slipped my hand behind her head and gripped the base of her skull. “This can be so damn easy, Grace.” My mouth was close to hers, but I didn’t lean in that last inch and kiss her again.

“Then take me to your room, Lucian,” she all but moaned.

Christ. Yes.

I felt this carnal need for her, one that wasn’t just about wanting to feel myself buried deep inside of her, but one that told me she was mine irrevocably.

She was pliant in my arms, pressing her breasts against my chest, her nipples hard, her arousal coating the air like the smell of a fresh rainfall.

Before I lost myself and took her right up against the fucking wall, I had her in my arms. This small sound of surprise left her, and she held on to me, her hands grasping me like a lifeline. Her legs were draped over my forearm as I strode down the hall to my bedroom.