I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, feathering kisses across her brow. "What are these thoughts you think I won't like?"
She bites her lip, her expression morphing from contentment to worry. "I think maybe we should—"
A soft knock at the door cuts her off. She whips her head in that direction and then looks back at me, panic in her gaze.
"Shit," I mutter.
She scurries off my lap, putting half the room between us before I can say anything. The office smells like sex. Like Caroline. I reluctantly climb to my feet to meet whoever is out there. If it's a male student, I might actually kill him. But I can't just ignore them and hope they go away. My office hours don't start for another hour, but my students know I'm usually here. They don't come visit unless they need something, which means whoever is out there needs something.
Caroline sinks down onto the sofa on the far side of my office.
"Breathe, princess," I murmur to her and then turn toward the door, cursing myself for not telling her about my meeting with the Dean before I fucked her. She still thinks my career is at stake here. I'll tell her after I deal with whatever student is knocking.
"Come in," I call, my voice curt, impatient. My irritation isn't intended. It's automatic. The longer I'm dealing with this, the longer I have to wait to have my princess in my arms again. I find I don't much care for that fact.
The door swings open.
"Fuck," I mutter.
"Hi, Professor King," Kennedy says.
"Oh no," Caroline whispers, her face paling rapidly.
"Oh, I'm so sor–" Kennedy's instinctive apology cuts off, her grimace turning to confusion. She blinks at her sister, who is staring at her in horrified dismay. "Caroline?"
"Fuck," I mutter again. This is not how I wanted this to go down for either of them.
"What are you doing here?" Kennedy asks.
Caroline looks at me like a little doe caught in the headlights, frozen in shock. She's counting on her daddy to fix this and make it right. And I'm not at all sure I can. But I'll be damned before I let her lose her sister.
"Miss Thorne, why don't you have a seat?" I suggest, pointing to the chair next to where Caroline is seated.
She stumbles in that direction while I cross to close the door.
Caroline watches, her expression stricken. She's so pale. I just want to snatch her up in my arms and cuddle her, promise her that everything is going to be all right. I can't promise that though.
"What's going on?" Kennedy asks, glancing between the two of us.
I open my mouth to speak, but Caroline beats me to it.
"Um…remember after the Masquerade when I told you that I talked to one person all night?" she asks her sister.
"Yes," Kennedy says, drawing out the word.
"Well, Jared, um, Professor King was that person. Only, I didn't know who he was then," she hurries to add. "Not until you told me when we were outside later."
"Oh," Kennedy says.
I move back to my desk, leaning against the corner closest to Caroline. With her and Kennedy seated side by side, the similarities I missed before are blatantly obvious. They share the same long lashes and high cheekbones. Their noses both turn up slightly at the end. They're both tiny, barely over five feet. They also share the same complexion and full lips. Yet, I feel nothing when I look at Kennedy, except the stirrings of guilt and regret.
Looking at Caroline lights up my system like fireworks. My arms ache to hold her, my lips to kiss her. And my cock…Christ, what this gorgeous little thing does to my cock.
"But that's not the only time since then that I've seen him," Caroline blurts out. "I'm in love with him."
Kennedy gasps, but I can't look at her. Caroline is all I see, her big obsidian eyes pleading with me for forgiveness. As if I could ever feel anything but awe and pride to have her claim me so boldly.
"I love her too," I say, my voice quiet, emphatic. "I realize that's probably not likely to sway your opinion of me after everything I've put you through this year. I've been an unbearable ass and caused you a world of grief."
Kennedy glances from Caroline to me again, gaping in open disbelief.
"He's not a bad man, Kennedy," Caroline whispers, her hands locked so tightly together, her knuckles are white.
"I…" Kennedy reaches up to touch her forehead. "I am so confused."
Caroline expels a breath. "On Halloween, I agreed to meet him the next morning, but then you told me who he was, so I didn't go. I didn't want to betray you like that. When you told me that he offered to write you a recommendation, I worried that he did it because he found out that we're sisters."
Kennedy pales.
"I didn't," I say before Caroline can. "I didn't know you two were related until she told me after I'd already spoken to you, Miss Thorne. I offered to write your professor recommendation because you deserve it. I want to help you."
Kennedy looks at me in outright suspicion.
"I've been an unbearable ass," I repeat with a grimace. "You're one of the most gifted writers I've ever taught, Miss Thorne. But I know how tough this world can be, especially for someone as young as you. The criticism can be vicious. In my quest to prepare you for that by making you a stronger writer, I overstepped. I was an ass. I let my own experiences eclipse one important fact. You aren't me and my experience isn't yours."
"I'm not you," she agrees, her voice as soft as ever. "I realize your path was difficult, but you don't get to decide for me how my story will go. I'd appreciate being able to forge my own path instead of being pigeonholed into this damsel in distress role you're casting me in."
There's a light in her eyes, a little thread of steel in her voice that I've never noticed before. Kennedy Thorne may be a hopeless romantic who looks at the world through rose-colored glasses, but she isn't helpless or naïve. Like Caroline, she has claws…and courage. More than I think I let myself realize.
"Understood. I'd like to help you if you'd let me. Despite how we've started off, I do believe I can assist you." I hesitate and then sigh. This isn't how I wanted Caroline to find out about my decision, but it is what it is. "If you'd rather not, I'll understand. I'm prepared to resign immediately if that's what you'd like. I've already spoken with the Dean."
"Jared, no," Caroline gasps, her face falling.
"Being with you is worth any price, sweet baby," I say, smiling gently. "I won't hide you or pretend I feel less for you than I do. The Dean has agreed to let me finish out this semester…if your sister is willing to give me a second chance. But this will be my last semester here. You've reminded me of who I want to be, princess. It's not the resident asshole professor."
"Jared." Her eyes fill with tears. "You aren't an asshole."