by H. M. Ward
My voice catches in my throat, “No,” I clear my throat and say it again, louder. “No, it’s not true. Whoever told you that was misinformed.”
The dean‘s shoulders don’t slump with relief when I say it. “Anna, we know you’re an adult and can make your own choices when it comes to dating, however, when coupled with academia—”
I cut him off. “Nothing happened.” My hands are clutching the arms on the chair so hard that my knuckles are turning white. I don’t let go. This has me so angry that I can’t stand it. “Cole Stevens has been an excellent supervisor. My internship is going well, which is why I can’t understand who would say this.”
“You haven’t been sleeping with him?” He asks me pointe blank.
I don’t think he means it literally, so I shake my head, “No. We do not have a sexual relationship. This is ridiculous! Graduation is too close for me to start over. You have to believe me.” I’m pleading with him. It hurt that Cole rejected me, but this makes it even worse.
“I’d like to, Anna, but the person who brought this matter to our attention has proof that you did stay at Mr. Steven’s residence on multiple occasions.”
My skin prickles as I realize what it means—someone has been following me. All those times I felt like someone was watching me, I thought I was insane, but now I’m angry.
“So, let me get this straight, Dr. Grillo. Someone provided you with proof that we were having sex. Is that what you’re saying?” I’m at the edge of my seat, ready to bounce out of it. Fury is fuming silently inside of me, threatening to explode. This is so wrong.
“Please Anna, calm down. It’s enough to have your internship pulled and have Mr. Stevens reprimanded. We cannot allow even the appearance of indiscretion when it comes to academics. You know this, Anna. Do you want people questioning your grades? Do you want them to say your class rank had nothing to do with your mind? They will -- especially with regards to you. You’re at the top of your class. I’m sorry Anna, but we can’t let this slide. You’ll have to find another internship and start over in the fall.”
“But that means I won’t graduate until December.”
“I’m sorry,” he says. “There is nothing I can do about that. The internship is a requirement for graduation.”
“If I get another internship and complete the requirements in the next three weeks, can I still walk in August?” I don’t breathe. I didn’t want it to come to this, but this is what it came to.
The dean leans back in his hair and looks at me like he feels sorry for me. “If you can complete the requirements, then yes.”
I nod slowly. I don’t know what to say. It hurts that my words don’t matter, that the appearance of a relationship was enough to damn me. A question crosses my mind, “Have you spoken to Mr. Stevens yet?”
Dr. Grillo nods, “Yes. He knows the repercussions for such an accusation.” I wait for him to explain, to tell me more, but he doesn’t. Instead he stands and says, “Go to the registrar’s office, get new forms, and if you manage to talk someone into an internship now, file the papers directly with me.”
CHAPTER 5
Emma isn’t home yet. I move around the tiny apartment, wandering like I’m lost. I don’t know what to do. Jesse was right. My internship with Cole is void and I have to start over. Nerves choke me, but I have to do it—there are no other options.
Dialing her number, I wait for Sophia to pick up. “Sottero Studios,” she says, even though she has caller ID and knows exactly who it is.
“Ms. Sottero, this is Anna Lamore. We met earlier this summer at an internship interview.”
“Yes, Anna. How can I help you?” Although that’s what she said, her voice sounds clipped, like she doesn’t want to waste more time on me.
“I need an internship. I’m willing to work every waking moment for the rest of the month.”
She sighs. “What happened? Did Cole fire you? I told you to avoid that man, but you didn’t listen. Why should I take you now?”
That is a good question. “You shouldn’t,” I say. “I should have listened to you. I’m sorry to have bothered you. You’ve been more than kind. Thank you for your time—” I feel dejected and embarrassed.
She cuts me off, “Oh, don’t be so melodramatic, Anna. It’s not the end of the world, it’s an internship. Come to my office tomorrow morning. Bring the papers. We’ll get you started. How many hours do you need to log before the end of August?”
“Three hundred and twenty,” I say cringing.
“Not a problem,” she replies. “It’s wedding season. We can knock that out in a couple of weeks if you’re willing to work 18-hour days.”
“I am.”
“Good. Be here at 8:00am.” After giving me final directions on attire and locations, she hangs up.
I hold my phone in my hand looking at it. Nausea washes over me. It feels like I stabbed Cole in the back. It’s necessary I tell myself. Cole will understand.
The key scrapes the lock and Emma pushes through the door. “Oh, my god. Has hell frozen over?” She glances around the room and then back at me with a grin on her face. “Are you actually going to sleep in our apartment tonight?”
Emma should have been the only one who knew where I have been sleeping. Leaning on the counter I ask, “Did anyone ever talk to you about me? Ask where I was sleeping?”
She tosses her purse on the couch and sits down like her knees broke. “No. What’s going on?”
I told her everything and she listened with her mouth hanging open. “No fucking way. What did Cole say?”
“I haven’t spoken to him yet.”
“He’s going to be pissed.”
“I think he already knows,” I say. “His lawyer’s been around a lot lately.” I press my lips together to keep from saying more. “I need to go see him.” I head toward the door.
CHAPTER 6
By the time I get to Cole’s apartment, it’s nearly midnight. I walk through the front door and call his name. When I don’t get a response, I make my way through his house and find him sitting in the blue chair in his bedroom. A glass of amber liquid is in his left hand. His dark eyes look more black than blue. He sits in the shadows with the lights off.
“Cole,” I say, and he looks up at me in the doorway. I linger there for a moment, afraid of what will happen when I tell him, but from the look on his face I suspect he already knows.
“Miss Lamore.”
“Anna,” I correct and walk to the bed and sit on the edge across from him. “I suppose you already know.”
He stares at me blankly. Nerves slither over my skin and make me shiver. Finally he says, “The University told me that you’ll no longer be working for me. Is that your decision?”
“I don’t have a decision, Cole. I need an internship to graduate. If I don’t do one, the last four years mean nothing.” My voice is higher than usual. Panic spreads through me. He doesn’t want me to leave, but I have to.
“You’re the one who decides, Anna. Not them.” He swirls the contents of the glass and stares at me like I stabbed him in the back.
“My decision would have been to be with you. My decision would have been to have you touch me. My decision would have made the accusations true.” The words pour out of my mouth and don’t stop as I rise and step toward him. “But my decision doesn’t seem to matter.” I stand before him with my hands on my hips. Cole stares up at me.
“I apologize for depriving you, Miss Lamore.”
“Anna.”
The way his eyes bore into me steals my breath. “But I make decisions and stick with them. I will not touch you.”
“Fine. Then don’t.” Turning on my heel, I mean to leave, but he grabs my wrist.
My pulse skyrockets as he speaks. “I won’t,” he breathes inches from my lips. The way he says it sounds sexy, like that’s all he thinks about. He steps forward and I back into the bed. “Sit,” he says and I comply.
The intensity of his gaze and the way his body moves, like h
e wants to crawl across the bed and take me, makes me shiver. I don’t speak. I can’t. The entire thing seems surreal.
“Touch me,” I breathe.
Any restraint Cole kept in check snaps. His lips gently brush against mine and I melt. My stomach flips inside of me and I want to tangle my fingers in his hair, but he pulls away. His hands are splayed on my face. He presses his forehead to mine and sucks in a ragged breath, before stepping away from me and back into his chair. I don’t know why he left, what he’s doing. He relaxes a little, and grips the sides of the chair.
My body aches for his touch. I’m wound so tight that it feels like I’m coming undone. “Cole, you can’t leave me like this.”
“I don’t think you’re up to the kind of things I like to do.” Cole tosses back the rest of his drink and leaves the glass on the table next to him. “And I have no intention of pressuring you. You’re too young for me, Miss Lamore. There’s no way this will end well.”
“Anna,” I say breathlessly. My eyes lock with his. “And I don’t care how old we are or aren’t. I know you want me. I can feel it. I can see it in your eyes, in the way you look at me.” His lips part like he’s going to say something, but he doesn’t. He watches me as I crawl back onto his bed and lift my shirt over my head. I wiggle out of my pants and sit half-dressed on his bed. He watches me, his eyes drinking in every inch of my body. I kneel there, letting him look before saying, “Show me what you like.”
Cole remains still, slouching back in the chair like he doesn’t care that there’s a naked woman on his bed, but his eyes say something entirely different. They are dark, and threaten to devour me.
Cole blinks slowly, like he made a decision. His voice is even, unemotional. He breathes normally, like I don’t affect him. “Lean back against the headboard, and part your legs.” His tone is firm, commanding. It makes me feel afraid and excited. My eyes are locked on his face. I can’t look away. Pushing myself up, I lean back against the headboard and part my legs. He can see between my legs from where he’s sitting. My heart slams into my ribs as my stomach swirls with anticipation.
“Slip your bra off,” he commands. I reach around and unhook the bra. Cole watches carefully, taking in the sway of my breasts. When my hands are over my head, I realize how much he likes to watch. I slow my movements before tossing the bra to the floor, letting him look. “Now the panties,” he says.
I lift my bottom, and slide them down my thighs. I lift my legs, pulling them out of the leg holes one at a time. I pick up the bottoms and toss them to him. Cole catches them and presses the scrap of fabric to his face and breathes in. The action shocks me so much that I gasp. Cole glances up at me and smiles that predatory grin he has sometimes. It makes me shiver, but I’m not backing down. I want him and this is what he wants. I part my legs, spreading them wide. Cole’s eyes are locked on the sensitive flesh between my legs. I press myself back against the headboard, arching my body as I do it. His eyes drift to my breasts and then my face. His eyes lock with mine.
“Take one hand and spread your lips. Take the other and run a single finger over your clit, barely touching it.” His voice slides over me. His words make my face turn bright red. Cole watches me, his arms folded, his gaze hot. My left hand parts my lips and my breath hitches. I lower my gaze when my right hand is on my clit, but he says, “Watch me, Anna. Don’t look away.”
I stroke my clit and look into his eyes, “Yes, Cole,” I purr his name and blink slowly. My hand moves between my legs stroking the sensitive skin again and again, never taking my eyes off of him. My body flares to life, the lower parts of me tingle with anticipation, wanting more. My hips lift slightly, meeting my hand.
Cole sits across the room. He leans back in his chair, his hands on the arms. He breathes deeply, and leans forward watching me, not breaking eye contact. When my hips start to buck, he says, “Only move your hand, Anna.” Cole’s voice is hard, commanding.
I watch him as he says it and notice his gaze darken. He watches me move my hand across my body, stroking myself slowly. I try not to move and find it difficult. If he suggested doing this, I would have been mortified, but in the moment, it feels sexy and I don’t want to stop. My fingers move against my slick flesh with Cole watching, his gaze taking in every slow blink, every hitched breath as I fight to keep my senses and not come.
Cole’s gaze shifts between my eyes and the place between my legs. He watches as my muscles tense, and I try to remain still. I have trouble keeping my eyes open. I want to close them and lose myself in the steady heat that’s building between my legs, but Cole changes things. The onslaught of sensations flooding through my body overwhelms me. I want to do anything he says, I want to hear his voice telling me what to do. It’s hard to stay still, but Cole’s eyes pin me, so that only my hand moves.
“Faster,” he says. “Harder.”
My hand develops a quick rhythm moving between my legs. Wet heat throbs inside of me, begging for release. Every inch of my body is corded tight. My stomach twists into knots as Cole watches me. The way he sits there makes me think he doesn’t care, but his eyes say something else.
The damp heat spreads as my fingers stroke the skin between my legs. My mouth parts and I’m breathing hard. I fight my body as it wants to move, and buck my hips into my hand. I’ve never wanted to be touched so much in my life, but Cole doesn’t move.
Instead he says, “Stop.” My hand stills and I’m shaking. “Pinch your clit. Hard.”
My fingers grip the nub and press together. Air rushes out of my throat in a high pitched moan. I can’t think. I can’t talk. I want Cole to fuck me until I can’t walk. I want to feel him inside of me, pushing against me. The pressure on my clit is tormenting me and I realize that I’ve closed my eyes. When I reopen them, Cole is standing over me.
I’m trying so hard to stay still, but I can’t. My muscles are twitching on their own, making my hips move the tiniest amount. Cole grabs me by my ankles. He yanks me until my feet hang off the end of the bed. Crossing my ankles, he forces me to flip over. I lay face-down on my stomach gasping, with Cole between my legs, standing at the foot of the bed. Before I can say anything, I feel a hand across my ass. He strikes me and it stings, sending jolts of electricity through my pussy. I yelp and look back at him.
Cole says, “A little mistake gets a little spanking. Two more, Lamore.”
I relax and put my face down on the cool sheets. I purr and his hand lands on my bare skin again. I gasp and my knees threaten to give out. I want him. I can’t stand him teasing me like this. By the time the final strike comes, my body is ready for it. My hips buck as his hand connects making him strike me harder.
Cole pulls me until my hips are hanging off the bed. “Spread your legs.” I part my ankles and feel the cool air rush between my lower lips. Before I have a chance to breathe, I feel Cole’s hand on my back, pushing me into the bed. His hand slides lower, down to the small of my back. I remain like that, with my ass in the air, hoping he’ll fuck me.
Cole brushes his jeans against my ass, allowing me to feel his excitement. I want his hard length inside me. I bite my lip to keep from calling out. I can’t see what he’s doing, but I felt his hands on me, between my legs. He strokes me gently a few times, feeling me, learning every inch of me. He grips my clit hard and I start to lift off the bed, but his hand is still on my back and holding me down. “Don’t move, Lamore.”
As he speaks, I feel warm breath across my soft, damp skin. I shiver. He’s going to kiss me between my legs. The heat of his tongue makes me gasp, but I stay still. He licks me from my ass to my clit, his broad tongue sweeping over every inch of me, caressing every soft fold. My hands clutch the bed to keep from screaming. I want more. I can’t stay still. Then his tongue is inside me, thrusting deeper, tasting me. He shifts his hands until he holds my hips and pulls me down harder on his face. Rocking me slowly, he builds a rhythm that I can’t ignore. His tongue licks and sucks me, tasting every inch of me, driving me wild until my body
is coiled so tight I can’t last another second.
“Cole!” I cry as I shatter, coming in his mouth. His lips don’t pull away. His tongue licks my tender skin, tasting me until he is finished.
When he lifts his head, Cole steps back. My arms are weak, shaking—but I manage to roll myself over. My heart feels like it exploded. I try to speak, but only huffs of air come out. When I look at Cole, his gaze isn’t readable. He lifts me onto the bed, gently laying me on the pillows next to him. I am completely naked, sucking in ragged gasps, trying to stop and gain some semblance of control. But Cole just watches me. He lays on his side, bare-chested, above his jeans. His gaze lights a trail over my abdomen as he trails his finger from my navel to my neck.
“Cole,” I moan his name, not wanting him to stop.
“Anna,” he whispers in my ear, making me shiver. When I finally come back to myself, I gaze up at him.
“That was the sexiest thing anyone has ever done to me.”
He doesn’t say anything. Cole just slips his gaze over my body taking in the slight sheen of sweat and sliding his finger over my curves. Finally, he says, “I shouldn’t have done it.”
Taking his hand, I push myself up on my elbow and look him in the eye, “Don’t say that.”
“Anna, it was a mistake. I have trouble refusing you. Please forgive me.” He sits up and pulls his hand out of mine. Crossing the room, he places his hands on his dresser and doesn’t look back at me.
My heart is pounding hard again, reacting not to excitement but the regret that floods his voice. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
“But there is. There is so much.” He turns and when he looks at me fear crawls up my throat like an icy hand. “I think it’s best for both of us if you complete your internship and seek employment elsewhere.”
“What?” It feels like I a sucker-punch. I sit there, pulling up the sheet to cover me.
“It’s for the best.”
Anger flashes in my eyes, but Cole doesn’t look away. Grabbing my clothes, I pull them back on hastily. “Fine.” My voice is flat. “I’m done with this. I’m done with you.”