by E. K. Blair
She shook her head, looking at me like I was crazy, and laughed. Yes, I sounded insane, and that was okay because this was fucking unbelievable. What were the odds? I mean, considering our connection with Layna, it wasn’t that farfetched, but for this woman I was in love with to be the same girl who’d changed my outlook all those years ago...I was stunned.
“You don’t remember me at all, do you?” I chuckled.
“No, sorry. You obviously left a lasting impression on me,” she joked.
I walked over to her and took her hand, kneeling down in front of her. She parted her legs, allowing me between them. I hugged her body, my lips nuzzling the nape of her neck.
“You did exactly that with me,” I said softly. “Not in a creepy way. You just spelled it out to me, so innocently, that I was wasting my life waiting to get sick.”
Wrenn looked puzzled. “How did I know you were going to get sick?”
“We came out here to get away from our parents. They were talking about me, and Dad’s illness. You looked up at me and said, ‘So what? We’re all going to get sick.’” I smiled, squeezing her hand. “You said something nobody had ever bothered to say. You made me realize that just because I might get sick one day, it didn’t make me special. Or different.”
“Wow,” she mumbled, furrowing her brows together. “That’s pretty incredible, huh?”
“No,” I replied, kissing her lips. “You’re pretty incredible.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Dalton
I collapsed into bed late Sunday night, too tired to bother showering, or even undressing. I was exhausted.
I’d barely gotten any sleep the night before. I’d spent most of it lying in bed with Wrenn curled up in my arms, watching her sleep. I loved the way her lip twitched, and how every few minutes she’d sigh. It was like I couldn’t let myself fall asleep because I wanted to remember every second with her.
Now we were back on campus, back to reality. It was ironic that being back in the real world meant going back to pretending to be I was something I wasn’t. We only had to get through one more week, and then things would be easier. I still didn’t know how we were going to break the news to Layna—or even if there was any news to break. Wrenn had a lot of thinking to do, and I didn’t want to assume she would decide to be with me just because of last night.
***
The following afternoon, I was sitting in the teacher’s lounge when Layna came in. “Dalton, can I see you for a moment. In my office?”
I nodded, eyeing her expression. She wouldn’t meet my eyes.
God, she knows. Fuck.
I followed her into her office, all the classic signs of a panic attack beginning to manifest inside me: the shaking hands, the rapid heartbeat, and the pit in my stomach. I took a seat at her desk, trying to hide my shaking hands by positioning them under my thighs.
What was my best move here? Wait for the accusations to begin, or get everything on the table now, first?
“Dalton, there’s no easy way to say this . . . ” She sighed as she sat down, her hands clenched together on her desk. “There has been an accusation made against you.”
“An accusation?” I repeated, shocked. My mind wandered to Wrenn. There was no way in hell . . . would she? I mean, she was confused about us right now, but she would never do that.
“A student has made a claim against you . . . ” She stopped and took a breath. “Gosh, I don’t even know how to phrase this. Have you had any inappropriate dealings with Paige Warner?”
“Paige?” I almost shouted. Part of me felt relief. The rest of me wondered what the fuck Paige had told her. “Never. I’ve never even been alone with her, other than a minute or two before or after class. What is she saying I did?”
“Ms. Warner is saying that you asked her to your room last night. She claims that you forced yourself on her.”
“She told you that I raped her?” I said, incredulous.
What the fuck? Last night I had been with Wrenn, fifty miles from this place. I’d worked myself up so much expecting this to be about Wrenn that my body was in panic mode. It was Paige’s word against mine, and the only way to clear my name would be to admit my relationship with Wrenn.
Fuck. Once these things got out, it didn’t matter if I was innocent or not, my career would be in the shitter.
“She said that you intimidated her into having sex with you. She is not saying you raped her, but she is saying she felt she couldn’t say no, given your position.”
“And that’s not rape?” I asked sarcastically. “What happens now?”
“I need to notify the school board and let them know. Then I will have to inform the police.”
Holy shit.
This was crazy. I had no idea what the fuck was going through that girl’s head. Why the hell would she make up such lies? Was this all because I shot down her advances?
“Dalton, if this isn’t true, we will get to the bottom of it.” Layna looked at me sympathetically.
“Right, because an indecent assault investigation will have no influence on my future employment prospects at all,” I growled. I felt bad for snapping at Layna. She was just doing her job. “I’m sorry. I understand that you’re in a difficult position.”
She smiled at me and nodded. “We will sort this out, Dalton. Try not to worry. In the meantime, I’m going to have to suspend you. It might be an idea for you to stay off campus for a few days while the police complete their investigation.”
I nodded curtly, and stood up. “If that’s all, I will go and collect some of my things.”
***
“She what?” Wrenn squeaked. Her reaction was the same as mine: horrified and angry. “What the . . . I mean, you were with me . . . oh, that bitch.”
“What?” I said, balancing the phone on my shoulder as I packed my bag.
“That little slut! I know exactly what her game is, Dalton. She doesn’t want to rat on us, so the next best thing is to make us expose ourselves.”
Holy shit, Wrenn was right.
Paige knew the only way for me to truly clear my name was to admit my affair with Wrenn. She knew I was with Wrenn the night before. How, I don’t know, but it all made sense: she was so threatened by Wrenn that she would do anything to destroy her—and me, it seemed.
“I can’t believe it,” I muttered.
“So what now? You just leave?”
“I can’t just leave, I’m under police investigation. The school is putting me up in a hotel for a few nights,” I replied glumly.
“Which hotel?” she asked.
“Wrenn, that is such a bad idea . . . ”
“I know. But not seeing you will be torture,” she muttered.
“Does that mean you forgive me?” I asked, holding my breath.
“I forgive you. I mean, I understand why you didn’t tell me, and it doesn’t change how I feel about you...” her voice trailed off.
“But?” I prodded gently.
“I need to think. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see you. Even though we can’t, anyway.”
“We can see each other, just not there. Maybe speak to Kass and see if she has any ideas on where we could meet?”
“Good idea. I’ll talk to her today,” Wrenn replied. “I better go. Layna just got home. Text me later?”
“Okay. Bye.” I hung up, still reeling over what had happened. Though I knew I’d done nothing wrong where Paige was concerned, I couldn’t see this ending well.
***
The motel on the edge of town was dark and seedy, and apparently all the school thought I was worth. The stained sheets made the bed look uninviting, and the scratching sound of cockroaches digging around on the floor made my stomach turn. I texted Wrenn to let her know I was okay. There was no point letting her know how bad this place was; I was already worried she was going to come clean to Layna. I didn’t need to give her more reason to.
I couldn’t stay there. Grabbing my bag, I exited the motel room, slammin
g the door shut behind me. I’d rather sleep in my car than in that shithole. I threw my bag in the back and slid into the drivers seat. I searched on my phone for a hotel in Hollisbrook. I’d stay one night there and then go to Mom’s. If the police wanted to speak to me, they could do so there.
After booking a room and going inside, I threw my bag down on the floor and collapsed onto the bed. How the hell did things get this fucked up? I dreaded what the police were going to ask me. Had I been inappropriate with a student at the school? Well technically, yes, but it’s not what you think! Yeah right, that was going to go down well.
***
What the hell was that?
It was pitch black. It took me a moment to remember where I was and why I was there. I fumbled blindly for a bedside lamp. My fingers grasped the cord. Light filled the room.
Bang, bang, bang.
I jumped up and headed for the door. Wrenn stood there, frowning at me. She ducked inside and shut the door.
“You look like shit,” she observed.
“Thanks.” I rubbed my aching head. “How did you know I was here?” I croaked.
She gave me a strange look. “You messaged me.” She leaned over, and for a second I thought she was going to kiss me. “Have you been drinking?”
Had I? I glanced over at the minibar, and the several empty bottles that lay scattered over the counter. Well, that explained a few things.
She walked over to them and disposed of the empty bottles in the garbage. Next, she took the coffee pot and half-filled it with water, then coffee, before plugging it in. In the back of my mind stuck the words ‘memory loss.’ Like every other time any possible symptom surfaced, the question raced through my mind: was this the beginning? Did I have it?
Even a few weeks ago, the phone slipping out of my grasp at Wrenn’s. I’d gotten out of there so fast after that.
“I’m going to tell Layna everything,” Wrenn announced.
“Wrenn, don’t—”
“Do you have a better idea?” she asked, spinning around, her eyebrows raised.
I shut my mouth. No, I didn’t. I sank onto the bed and sighed. Wrenn sat next to me and reached for my hand. She was so warm. How did she do that?
“Look, she’ll be angry, but whatever she does it has to be better than the alternative, right? As soon as the police start questioning you, our secret is going to come out.” The coffee maker boiled. She stood up and filled two cups with coffee and cream.
“Thanks,” I muttered, taking the coffee from her outstretched hand. “I’m going to stay at Mom’s for a few days. I can’t stay here, staring at there walls. It’s driving me crazy.
“So I won’t see you?”
“I’ll give it a few days and see where this goes. Hopefully I’ll be back before you even start missing me,” I said. I set the coffee down and reached for her hand, pulling her onto my lap.
She sat, straddling me, my arms around her waist. Even a few days away from her was too long, but I couldn’t stay where I was.
“I already miss you,” she mumbled, frowning.
I kissed the tip of her nose and rested my forehead against hers.
“I can barely get through a few hours without you, Dalton.” Her voice cracked as she closed her eyes, refusing to look at me.
Gently I lifted her chin, my lips pressing against hers. As we kissed, arousal began to build inside me. I slipped my hand under her sweater, running my fingers along the curve of her spine. She sighed as my lips found her neck.
Her fingers closing around the hem of her sweater, she lifted it over her head. God, she was so fucking sexy. I kissed hers breasts around the cup of her lacy black bra, pulling it down to expose her soft skin. My mouth fondled her nipple until it sat erect.
“I want you so fucking bad, Wrenn.”
She kissed me and then stood up, wiggling out of her jeans. Pushing me back on the bed, she reached for my belt, unbuckling both it and my pants. I lifted my hips, letting her pull them down, along with my boxers, until they pooled in a pile on the floor. My cock ached for her as she kneeled down. Taking the tip in her mouth, she began to suck.
Oh lord. Fuck yes. Her tongue ran along the length of me as her soft lips worked my cock. My hands found her head, my fingers raking through her long, silky hair. There was something incredibly erotic about watching her as she sucked, her eyes firmly on me, like she knew the power she had over me.
“Come here,” I panted, reaching for my wallet. I pulled out a condom and rolled it over my erection. Taking her hand, I helped her onto the bed, lowering her onto my length. She groaned as I slid inside her, grinding against me as I rocked her back and forth.
My fingers roamed up her bare waist, running over her breasts, squeezing them in my hands, then back down, clutching onto her hips, thrusting myself deeper inside of her.
“Oh God, yes,” she gasped. She bent over me, her breasts spilling in my face as she rode my length. I curled my tongue around her nipple and sucked hard, making her scream out. “I’m going to come. Oh God, yes!” she cried as I rocked her faster.
Oh God, what this woman did to me.
I gasped as I released, her nails digging into the skin on my chest, the pain nonexistent in the midst of the orgasm I was experiencing. She drove me crazy and pressed every single button, sending everything about me into overdrive.
She collapsed beside me on the bed, panting heavily. I rolled over and spooned her, exhausted and content. I knew she couldn’t stay, but even a few minutes with her in my arms was worth everything.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Wrenn
Even before I left Dalton, I’d made up my mind to tell Layna everything. I couldn’t see the point in keeping us a secret any longer. There was no other way out of this mess for Dalton, and in a week none of it would matter. The only problem was Dalton’s career—but Paige had pretty much made sure that was a bust.
Dan was out when I got home. I was glad. This was going to be hard enough with just Layna. She would tell Dan, and I was fine with that, but telling both of them together was way too overwhelming. I found Layna in her office, eyebrows creased and deep in thought, poring over papers. I rapped on the door. She looked up and smiled.
“Can I talk to you about something?” I asked her, walking over and sitting down opposite her, my hands clasped tightly together in my lap.
“You can always talk to me. What’s up?” she asked, taking her glasses off.
I held my hands together to try and combat the uncontrollable shaking in them. I was honestly terrified of what she was going to say. “I need to tell you something. I know you’re going to be angry, but I hope you can at least listen to what I’m telling you and be open-minded.”
Layna frowned at me. “You’re scaring me, Wrenn. Are you pregnant?” she gasped.
I snorted and shook my head. God, no—though maybe her thinking that was a good thing? Maybe that lessened the impact of what I had to tell her? I wish.
“I’ve been seeing someone.” I swallowed hard, the huge lump in my throat not moving. “He is the most amazing guy I’ve ever met. Around him I feel special. Like I’m one in a million. He makes me want more for myself. He makes me want to live, not just exist. I honestly can’t explain how deep my feelings for him are, Layna. There just aren’t words to do it justice.”
“Well, that’s good,” Layna said nervously, smoothing her blonde hair with her hands. “When are you getting to the part I’ll hate?”
“It’s coming,” I assured her with a grin. “You’re not going to be happy when you hear who this guy is.” I paused for a moment, rubbing my lips together. “Dalton.”
“Dalton?” gasped Layna, her mouth dropping open. “As in...”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Wrenn. Why? How? Did you instigate this or did he?” Layna’s eyes welled up with tears, her hand flying to her mouth.
“It wasn’t like that, Layna. It just happened. Please don’t be angry at him. If anything, I pushed for us to be toge
ther.” I was trying so hard to explain, but no matter what I said, he was always going to be my teacher who took advantage of me.
“Come on, Wrenn. He’s your teacher, of course he’s at fault. He abused his position of power. Regardless of how it might feel, he took advantage of you.” She was past being upset and had moved straight into anger. Anger that was directed at him.
“But I’m eighteen,” I argued. “I’m an adult. There is no law stopping us from being together—”
“Again, that doesn’t matter! This school prides itself on its reputation. How do you think this will look to our investors? And I can tell you right now this does nothing to help his case against Paige.” She stood up, pacing the small space in her office, every now and then stopping to shake her head.
“That’s why I’m telling you this. I know he wasn’t with Paige that night, because he and I were at the vacation house in Cinter Beach. Paige is lying.” I sighed and shook my head.
This was such a mess. I felt like all I had done was make things worse. Fuck Paige. This was all her fault. If she had kept her filthy lying mouth shut, none of this would be happening. Of course, that didn’t change the fact that Layna would’ve found out eventually. She wasn’t stupid; she would’ve put it together and realized what we’d been doing.
“She made a pass at him, he shot her down, she wanted revenge. She knew about him and me, and she knew that I would do anything to protect him, even if it meant ruining my relationship with you,” I explained softly.
Layna was quiet for a moment. “You could never ruin our relationship,” she said, wrapping her arms around me. “I’m shocked, Wrenn, and disappointed. This is a lot to take in. But no matter what, Dan and I will always love you and be here for you.” She sat down next to me, taking my hand in hers. “This is why you were so upset after hearing me on the phone with his mother.” Her eyes welled up again. “God, I’m so sorry you had to find out that way.”
“So you’ve known all along that Dalton might have this...disease?” I finished.
Layna nodded, her eyes full of sadness. “I take it he’s told you what it is?”