Her Collateral Bride: A Lesbian Age Gap Romance

without looking back.

A backward glance seemed like it could have undone

everything, including all the things Haley didn’t understand,

and all the things she hoped for.

Chapter 16

Claire

What was she thinking, telling Haley to go to her room? It

was exactly the opposite of what Jenny wanted Claire to do

and warned her against. Claire had arrived home and had been

headed to her office for a few minutes alone before she found

Haley and explained that they couldn’t keep doing what they

were doing, and that she was going to send her home. Instead,

she’d found her under her desk, and she couldn’t make herself

say anything. She couldn’t make herself stop wanting Haley.

The girl was so naughty, despite her innocence, so beautiful,

so enticing. It was a powerful combination and Claire had just

lost her brain. Not that it justified sending Haley to her room.

Claire knew she should have put a stop to things, but she

couldn’t. And now what? She was heading there. To her

bedroom, after waiting a decent amount of time, like that

would fool anyone in the house. Like she had to, because she

didn’t. She told herself that she’d been trying to give herself

time to make the right decision, but she already knew she was

going to make the wrong one. She told herself it was because

she wanted to give Haley time to reconsider, but she knew she

wouldn’t. For some reason, Haley wanted her. She wanted

beyond what Claire thought she was willing to give.

Maybe that would drive Haley away, when she knew

everything. When she found out Claire wasn’t capable of

giving her everything she needed and wanted. What were they