He dropped her off at her house and walked her to her door, stepping inside.
“Can you stay?” she asked.
“I wish I could but I think we need to just say goodbye.” Before she could react, he stepped closer, easing her against the wall. “But don’t think it isn’t hard for me. Don’t think I don’t want you. I’m just trying to be smart.” He’d been weak the last two days, giving in to his need for her, but they needed to walk a fine line from now on.
She stroked her hand down his cheek, her gaze soft on his. “I understand. There will be plenty of time after class ends.”
He braced a hand on the wall behind her, dipped his head, and closed his mouth over hers, devouring her, his entire body consumed with desire. His cock throbbed against the rough denim of his jeans, and he rubbed himself against her. Moaning, she threaded her fingers into his hair and held him in place, rocking her hips against his.
Dammit, he was too close to saying fuck it and taking her to bed. But if he did that, he wouldn’t want to leave in the morning. There would never be a good time to part ways, and eventually they’d get caught by someone and his worst nightmare would happen all over again.
With regret, he stepped back, leaving the warmth of her body, and she released her hold. “Go, Shane. Just leave now.”
He nodded, drawing in a rough breath. “Bye, beautiful. I’ll talk to you soon.”
She smiled but he caught the sheen of frustrated tears. Forcing his heavy legs to move, he headed out to his car and closed himself inside. He laid his head on the steering wheel and groaned. Doing the right thing shouldn’t feel so damned wrong. He consoled himself with the fact that the next two weeks would pass slowly but they would pass. And then nothing could stop them from being together.
Chapter Six
With the economics final coming up, Amber increased her tutoring to twice a week. She didn’t want to risk failing and having to take the course all over again. In addition, she invited her study group over to her house for an extra session. She sensed she wasn’t the only one struggling, and she thought another couple of hours talking about the material would help.
She was grateful the other students didn’t hold her age against her as a reason not to include her. And though she had a wealth of life experience they didn’t, she enjoyed their company.
They showed up around seven and she had put out chips and soda. As usual, the girls came together. Tamara Acker, Bonnie Green, and Rhonda May arrived arguing over whether or not a guy Amber didn’t know was interested in Rhonda as something more than a friend. The guys, two of them, Dan Markham and Jeff Rhodes, came late. Also as usual.
The discussion about said guy’s interest in Rhonda continued even after the study group guys showed up.
“What do you think, Amber? If a guy flirts, is he interested?” Rhonda, a pretty brunette, asked.
She crunched on a baked chip before answering. “Depends if he’s a natural flirt with everyone. I’d have to know his personality before I could answer that.”
“You see? And he is a flirt with most girls,” Rhonda said to Bonnie and Tamara. “It’s not just about me.”
“Except the way he looks at you is different,” Tamara argued.
“Agreed.” This came from Bonnie.
“So, two against one,” Amber mused. She’d never gone for the overtly flirtatious ones. Both Levi and Shane had that intense focus in common. Once they saw what they wanted, they just knew. They didn’t need to flirt with the world.
Speaking of Shane, he hadn’t disappeared on her. In the week since he’d dropped her off after the trip to the hospital to see his dad, he texted her nightly to talk and they really were getting to know each other a lot more. Not just superficial things like he preferred vanilla to chocolate, though he did, but that his mother lived twenty minutes away and he wanted Amber to meet her before school started again in September. He was neat, not fastidious; she liked a clean house as well. And he was pretty good at sexting, as she’d learned a day or two into their nightly talks.
“Amber? Where did you drift off to?” Dan asked.
She blushed and shook her head. “Sorry. I was thinking about my son,” she lied. “He was supposed to call earlier and didn’t.”
Dan frowned. “Well, we said we wanted to get started. Unless you’re feeling like you don’t need us now that your grades have gone up?”
She blinked at his somewhat annoyed tone. Of everyone in the room, she liked Dan the least. He had an attitude that rubbed Amber the wrong way, and he definitely preferred when other people didn’t do well in class and he did.
“I’d hardly call C’s a solid enough grade,” Amber said, hating how defensive she sounded. “Of course I need all of your help. I suggested this meeting, didn’t I?”
“Shut up, Dan,” Tamara said. “Amber has responsibilities you can’t understand.”
Now Amber felt bad about lying regarding her thoughts, but Dan didn’t have to be such a jerk. Still, they’d taken her into their group, making it worth putting up with his bullshit that included bragging about how he was going into his father’s financial firm after he got his MBA. Like everyone, he had years of college and then business school to get through first.
The rest of the night passed without incident and they parted ways, but they’d see each other in class on Monday.
Seven more days until the final.
Seven more days until she could see Shane in public and act on her feelings.
She could handle a week.
After locking up for the night, she headed for the bathroom, washed off her makeup, brushed her teeth, and changed into her favorite silk nightshirt.
She’d just climbed into bed when her phone rang and her body immediately responded, knowing it was Shane on the other end. “Hi,” she said on a breathy whisper.
“Hey there. How was study group?” he asked.
“Productive.” She didn’t like to mention the other students to him since they were in his class. No reason to let him know what an ass Dan was. He would be out of her life soon enough.
“Are you in bed?” Shane asked, his voice low and gruff.
She shifted on top of the covers. She hadn’t crawled underneath yet. “I am. How was your day?”
“Busy. Buried in research.”
“And you love it,” she said.
“I do.”
She’d come to realize he was most at home in his office at work or in the house he was renting, researching and getting lost in his economic theories … that she despised, and that was putting it mildly. Good thing they had other things in common. They both loved dogs but neither had time for a pet, at least right now, neither loved to cook but they both knew how since they didn’t want to starve and she had another mouth to feed.
But she hated his taste in pizza toppings and they had to order half and half. Pepperoni made her want to gag and he hated mushrooms. She could live with that, she thought wryly.
She yawned, the sound coming out of her mouth before she could control it. “Excuse me,” she said, laughing.
“Someone’s tired.”
She stretched out on her queen-size bed. “I had a long day studying, but I’m a little worked up with all those theories and things in my head. I don’t know if I’ll be able to fall asleep so fast.”
“I have the solution for calming your mind.” He chuckled, the sound low, deep, and sexy.
She squeezed her thighs together, knowing exactly what he had in mind. Sometimes he sent her sexy text messages, and other times he talked her through what he’d do to her if they were actually together. “Yeah? Tell me more.”
“Well, I know if I were there, I’d use my mouth to make you come before filling you deep with my cock. Seeing as how we have to wait for that, I’ll just have to give you an orgasm another way. That’ll take your mind off of math and theory and put it exactly where it belongs. On feeling good. On me.”
“I can do that,” she murmured.
“What a
re you wearing?” he asked.
“A silk nightshirt and underwear.”
“Mmm-hmm. Okay pull those sexy panties down your legs and expose that sweet pussy for me.” His voice rumbled low in her ear.
Doing as he asked, she placed the phone beside her, put him on speaker, then hooked her fingers into her underwear and wriggled them down her thighs, pulling them completely off. They’d only be in the way. “Done.”
“You know what to do now, don’t you?”
Her breath hitched at his gruff voice, her finger automatically going to her clit. She was already wet with arousal, and she ran her fingers through the moisture and moaned aloud at the delicious waves rippling through her.
“Good girl. Do what you like best. What you’re going to teach me next time we’re alone together.”
She began to move her finger in circles, the tip sliding repetitively over her sensitive clit. Normally it would take her a long time to come if she was alone, but in the last week, with Shane instructing her, whispering naughty things in her ear, it wasn’t difficult at all.
“Shane,” she said on a low groan.
“Keep going. Do you want to know what I’m doing?” he asked.
She closed her eyes, unable to withstand the sensations and focus on anything around her. “Yes.” She arched her hips and pressed down harder.
“I’ve got my hand around my cock, my eyes are shut, and I’m imagining you, working yourself until you come.”
At the admission, she realized his breathing had picked up and taken on a rougher sound. He was obviously pumping himself with his hand, his body as primed and ready as hers was.
On that thought, she whimpered and squeezed herself harder. Stars flickered behind her eyes and everything around her exploded in bright lights and wondrous sensation. “Shane!”
“I love that you scream my name when you come. God, yes. Fuck, Amber.”
She heard the words, her name, and knew he’d reached his orgasm as well, and her body gave another little tremor before her legs fell to the mattress and she lay trying to catch her breath.
“Damn, if this is what you do to me over the phone, I can’t imagine the next time we’re together.”
She couldn’t help the smile that lifted her lips.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Gonna sleep okay now?” His voice sounded raspy and so close, as if he were by her side. But his arms weren’t around her and she was alone.
“I will but I miss you.” The words came naturally and without thought, making her realize she was in so deep with this man.
“I miss you, too. Another week.”
“Seven days. We’ve got this,” she said as much to herself as to him.
“And then we’ve got each other.”
On that very pleasant thought, they said good night and she rolled over, her body satisfied and her thoughts on Shane as she drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
The last economics class fell on the day before the final exam. Amber didn’t think she’d ever feel ready, but she knew she’d done all she could to get herself to the point where she could walk into that room with some confidence.
Shane was going over the more difficult concepts when she heard the low buzz of her cell phone in her bag. She’d forgotten to shut it off before walking into the lecture hall, but he didn’t seem to notice.
A quick glance told her it was Carrie, who rarely texted, so Amber peeked at the message. EVERYTHING IS OKAY but L.J. had a little accident. Five stitches in his leg. Wanted you to know but promise he’s FINE.
Panic and worry rushed through her. She believed Carrie and trusted her to take care of her son, and if something really serious had happened, that text would have said to call her immediately. But to Amber, stitches were a big deal.
It meant her boy’s first trip to the emergency room, his first time getting sewn up, without his mom there. Worried and needing to talk to L.J., she gathered her things and, without a glance around her, rushed out of the room. Without waiting, she dropped her things right outside the door and pulled out her phone.
A second later, Carrie’s face was on the screen. “He’s fine, Amber. I promise you.”
Tears fell from her eyes. “I believe you. It’s just that I’m not there.”
Carrie’s expression was soft and understanding. “He was a champ.”
“What happened?” Amber asked, leaning against the wall outside the classroom.
“He didn’t listen and ran to give Samuel the pair of scissors. I’m sorry, honey. I feel terrible and responsible.”
Amber shook her head. “No! It could have happened while I was there, too. I know he’s in good hands. Can I talk to him?”
“Samuel took him to the ice cream shop across the street from where we’re staying Uptown. I really felt like we were intruding on Landon’s privacy after so long.”
Amber smiled in understanding. “Would you have L.J. FaceTime me as soon as he gets back?”
“Of course. Are you ready for your exams?” Carrie asked.
“One down, a paper turned in, and one more to go.” Amber didn’t mention that it was the hardest one. She didn’t want anyone to know how much she’d struggled.
“Well, good luck and we’ll talk soon. And don’t worry.”
Easier said than done, but Amber didn’t want Carrie to feel worse than she already did. They disconnected the call just as the class ended and the students streamed out of the lecture hall.
Realizing she’d taken her backpack but left her small purse on the floor by her chair, she waited for everyone to leave and headed back inside. She saw her little bag on the floor and bent down to grab it.
When she rose, Shane was by her side. “Is everything okay? You bolted out of your seat and scared the shit out of me.”
She managed a smile though she still felt shaky and was beyond upset. “I’d left my phone on by mistake. Carrie texted me. L.J. fell and needed stitches. She said he was fine but I needed to talk to her.”
His gaze was one of complete understanding. “And? He’s okay?”
She bit down on her lower lip, which had begun trembling. “He is. He was running with a pair of scissors.” She shook her head and muttered, “Boys.”
Shane raised a hand and slid his palm behind her neck. “Did you speak to him?”
“No. He went for ice cream with his grandfather.”
Shane’s low chuckle reassured her somewhat. “If he’s up for ice cream, he must not be in too much pain. I’m sure they numbed the area first.”
Tears began to fall from her eyes unexpectedly and Shane swore, then pulled her into his arms. “Shhh. He’s fine. You’re just upset because you weren’t there for him.”
“How did you know that?” she asked.
“Because I know you.” He slid his fingers through her hair, and she let her emotions free, sniffling into his white dress shirt beneath his jacket. She liked that he always dressed for class, taking even summer session oh so seriously. Her professor, she mused, her thought taking her off guard.
Hers.
She wanted him to be hers, because in the short time she’d known him, she’d fallen in love with everything that was Shane Warden. But she wasn’t ready to tell him. Not while they were still in professor-student limbo.
“You okay now?” he asked.
She nodded, wanting another minute in his safe, secure arms.
That was her mistake.
“I knew it.” Dan stood by the last row of seats, his phone in his hand, aimed at them. “I knew you didn’t raise your grades on your own.”
“What the hell?” Shane, who had already separated himself from Amber, strode up the aisle toward the smug punk. “What are you doing?” he asked him.
“Proving what I suspected. That she fucked her way to a passing grade.”
“But… No. I didn’t! I had a tutor. I–“
Shane held up a hand, cutting her off. “Don’t bother arguing with h
im,” he said in that authoritative voice she remembered from the first day of class. “I’ll deal with this. Amber, you can leave.”
She blinked but the tears fell anyway, the entire emotion of the last few minutes catching up with her … along with the fear that Dan’s accusation could cost her everything.
* * * *
Amber paced back and forth in her house. It was the not knowing how Shane was handling Dan that both concerned and frightened her. She’d come home from the incident shaken, but L.J. had FaceTimed her almost as soon as she’d walked in the door, so she’d had no choice but to put on a bright smile and talk to her son.
Instead of expressing pain or being upset, L.J. had been eager to show her his stitches. He had ice cream stains on his face, and he was chatty as ever, allowing her to breathe, at least about him. She duly lectured him about the dangers of running with scissors and not listening to his grandparents but figured he’d been punished enough by the hospital experience. She had no doubt the stitches and numbing had hurt him badly. She winced at the thought but forced deep breaths into her lungs. He was fine.
Was Shane?
This was his worst nightmare, the one thing he’d gone out of his way to avoid happening … and she’d caused it. She’d remained in his arms despite the risk. She’d let them get caught by someone who clearly had issues either with her or anyone he felt threatened by, though why he’d targeted Amber made no sense.
She rubbed her hands over her arms and tried to concentrate on studying for tomorrow’s test while she waited to hear from Shane. It wasn’t easy … and he never called.
He did return her text with a generic answer. Don’t worry. I have it handled. Will talk to you after the test. Good luck.
Handled how? Don’t worry why? What was going on? The not knowing was killing her, but she understood he wanted her to focus on the exam, and she needed to do just that. Unfortunately she tossed and turned all night.
The next morning, she dragged herself to the test, tired, cranky, and concerned about how she’d handle the exam on little sleep and the worry clawing inside her.
Sexy Love: A Sexy Series Novella (The Sexy Series Book 4) Page 7