I didn’t wait long. A mixed crowd of students and professors poured out of the nearest building about ten minutes later. I peered through the group and soon found Reese among them. His head dipped close to his chest, and a frown crossed his face. My heart went out to him. He looked as if he were the one to fail an exam instead of grading it.
I sat up as his eyes met mine. His frown disappeared, and he stood straighter, his head cocked to the side. A slow grin crossed his lips, and my insides soared. No other woman, just me. I didn’t know why I doubted him at all.
Chapter 11
The end of finals couldn’t come soon enough. In the middle of the week, I’d somehow managed to get my shit together and grade all the exams turned in so far, enough to catch up. Accomplishing that goal meant I didn’t sleep much, but I did make sure to wake up on time.
I wouldn’t be able to live down that fiasco for a while, at least in my own mind. Chance knew enough not to fuck with me, but I hated how I’d reacted to the students in my first class. I’d done my job with them. I barely curved the exam, and everyone passed.
When Thursday morning came around, I had one class in the morning, and then I would scramble to grade those exams before leaving for the day. If I had my grades in by Friday, all would be right with the world. On Monday, I wouldn’t have thought it was possible for me to complete everything on time.
Paige giving me a break on the building plans was enough to keep my head on straight, and I was incredibly grateful. I wondered if she would want to celebrate the end of finals with me or if she was too busy with the warehouse. I hoped she’d left her tiny office behind already. I’d increased the security hours on the building, so it was easy enough for me to check in and see if she was there. But it felt a little stalkerish to me.
She never strayed far from my thoughts, and it appeared she felt the same way.
I had to blink a few times to make sure it was her sitting on the hood of my car. Visions of the sexual things I could do to her flew around my mind, but there were too many people around to carry out any of my X-rated fantasies.
When I saw her waiting for me, looking gorgeous as usual, something shifted inside of me. It wasn’t a big shift, but it was enough to take my breath away. The smile didn’t leave my face, not even when I scooped her into my arms and kissed her. The final wisp of stress from the week floated away from me.
“Hi,” she said as we broke apart.
“Hi.”
“Surprise.” Her mouth split into a wide grin. As much as I wanted to see her brilliant smile, I wanted to kiss her more.
So, I did.
“Good surprise then?” she asked when I gave her a chance to breathe.
I nodded. “Good surprise.”
Her hands slipped into mine, and she glanced around at the others walking through the parking lot. “I wasn’t sure if this was a good idea.”
“Why not?”
She cleared her throat. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure if this was your car or not.”
I barked a laugh and pulled her against me. I inhaled her sweet scent, a part of her I doubted I’d ever forget. “What did I do to deserve your presence today?”
Her hands smoothed against mine. “I thought if you weren’t busy, I could take you out for your last day of finals. Unless you need to do more work?”
“I’m finished with everything, so I would love that,” I said. Speaking about love caused another shift within me. My insides lightened, and my mouth went dry. Neither of us was ready to say the words, but I couldn’t help feeling it. As much as it complicated things, I didn’t push the feelings away. “What did you have in mind?”
Paige took me to a pub in downtown Manhattan. “Whenever Allison and I had some major accomplishment, we always toasted with a beer and fish and chips,” she explained. “I’m not telling you what to order, but this place is as authentic as you’re going to get.”
“I trust you,” I said, opening the stained-glass door for her. With each date, I tried to take her to the fanciest places I could. In a way, my past constantly crept into my life, and it was almost like I wanted her to know how much money I had, without flaunting it. But she trusted me, and I couldn’t have asked for a better person to spend my time with.
My phone chirped, and I lifted it from my pocket as Paige walked over to the bar and took a seat.
I felt relief when I saw Chance’s name, not one of Jonah’s goons. Jonah had the right to summon me whenever he wanted but not today.
Drinks after work? Chance asked.
I chewed on my lip. I didn’t want him to know me and Paige were out. There was a slim chance we’d run into him, but I didn’t need to hear it the next time I saw him. I went with a vague reply. Already have plans. Let’s meet up tomorrow after grades are in.
Us going out would only delay him getting his work done. So, I was doing him a favor.
You got it.
I met Paige at the bar. “You sure you don’t want a table?”
“You can’t hang out at a bar with me?” she asked.
I smirked and slipped onto the seat next to her. “Oh, I can hang.”
“Beer tastes better on a high stool.”
I grinned. “Does it now?”
She lifted one shoulder and winked at me. “Of course.”
It was warm outside, but I couldn’t help ordering a stout. I hadn’t been in a pub for a while, and I wanted to live out the entire experience.
Paige surprised me by ordering the same thing.
The bartender, Teddy, knew Paige. My male instincts forced me to move closer to her and sling my arm over her chair to show my dominance and that Paige was taken. Seeing her in a comfortable place was like seeing a caged-up animal in the wild. As much as she relaxed during sex with me, I hadn’t experienced her in her element yet. Why hadn’t I thought of it before? I supposed I was too interested in impressing her both professionally and personally.
I made a mental note to go places she already knew and enjoyed. Part of being a New Yorker was protecting the places you knew and loved. Sometimes, it was hard to break from the circle.
“Sláinte,” Paige said, lifting her glass to me.
I tilted my head to the side in question. “Really?”
“What?” she asked, taking a sip from her drink. “This is an Irish place.”
“Sláinte,” I replied.
She licked away the foam from her top lip and leaned against the bar. “So, what are you going to do until next semester?”
“Well, I have this building to get finished for this overbearing client of mine.”
She kicked me in the shin and laughed. “I mean about school stuff. Do you take an extra teaching job over the summer?”
“I have in the past, but I’m not too sure about this summer.” I steered closer to the truth than I wanted. I’d tried hard to avoid what my future held, but every day, it got closer, and I dreaded the passing time more and more.
“Because you want a break?” she asked. “Or is the building too much?”
“The building is fine,” I said, spotting my opening. “I want to focus on it.”
“Seems fair,” she said. “What classes are you going to teach next semester? Do you get a choice?”
I took a long swig from my glass, wishing she’d get off the topic of school. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could lie about it. The truth would come out eventually, but I wasn’t sure this was the right time.
“I might not be going back to Cornell in the fall.”
“Oh, are you taking a break? I know this last week almost killed you.” She laughed and mussed my hair. “But I’m sure the main phases of my building will be underway this summer, right? I don’t want to get in the way of your career with this project.”
“It has nothing to do with your building,” I said. “I think it’s time for me to move on. But I’m not sure yet.” Maybe with my swaying back and forth, she’d leave it for now. But in typical Paige fashion, she didn’t.
She put her glass on the bar and shook her head. “That’s a terrible idea.”
I chuckled. “Is it?”
“Of course it is. You’ve told me how much teaching these kids means to you. Now you’re giving up because it’s too hard? I don’t know. You seem much stronger than that.”
I smoothed my hand over her thigh, and she smirked.
“Don’t distract me now,” she said.
I leaned closer and kissed her. “I don’t know what I’m doing yet. This has been on my mind for a while. I might get back into the architecture field. Thanks to you.”
Her thin eyebrows lifted, and she licked her lips. “Really?”
I gave a noncommittal shrug. “I wanted to see how this played out. Looks like the cat’s out of the bag.”
“Well, I don’t know what to say.”
“There isn’t anything left to say,” I told her. “Not until I make a decision. But I don’t want to do that right now. I want to unwind and be here with you. Is that okay?”
“It’s perfectly fine,” she said. “Sorry I got a little crazy. I didn’t want this past week and the stress of my project to be the reason you stop doing something you love.”
“You’re passionate, not crazy.” I moved a strand of hair behind her ear, tracing my finger over her soft skin. She visibly shuddered, striking something within me.
“I appreciate that,” she said. “I don’t like giving up, in general. It’s tough not to when the odds are stacked against you, but pushing through is always the best way.”
On any other occasion, I would have agreed with her, but I wasn’t in control anymore. Never in a million years would I blame her for the choice I made, but I did make it for her. To protect the passionate woman I couldn’t get out of my head. It was a decision I would make again without regrets. Though, it left our future in a strange place.
“Do you want to order another round?” Paige asked, finishing her glass.
“Sure,” I said. “How about some food? I’m starving.” There was nothing like a draining week of finals to pique my appetite.
Any other year, I might have gotten drunk and passed out for the entire weekend. But with Paige, I wanted more. Even though we pretty much ate everything on the appetizer menu, I was hungry for more than food. Nothing else would satiate me but her. It seemed that the longer I spent away from Paige, the more I wanted to be with her.
When we went back to her apartment, I grabbed a spot for long-term street parking, just in case. She didn’t say anything to the contrary.
As we walked into the elevator, the air between us charged with electricity. A spark crackled in her eyes as the doors closed. It took all my energy not to take the two steps over to her and crush her against me.
Once the doors opened at her floor, she walked down the hallway in front of me. She glanced at me over her shoulder. If I had any doubts about what was going to happen, I didn’t anymore. The moment the door opened, she turned around and grabbed the fabric of my shirt, pulling me inside. She popped all the buttons open and shoved the shirt off my shoulders before kicking the door closed.
I wanted to tell her to slow down, that I wanted to enjoy this, but her feverish movements were contagious. She unzipped my pants and shimmied them down my legs before I secured the door. I was going to take my prize for working so hard this week, and I wanted no interruptions.
Chapter 12
When we arrived at my place, I couldn’t keep my hands off Reese. I was a little tipsy after two strong beers, but my mind was clear. I wanted him more than I ever wanted anyone. It was the strangest sensation. We were on the same page with everything, even though I knew so little about him. Explaining that to anyone might get me a few nasty looks, but with Reese, all the wrong in the world turned right. In these moments, I didn’t give a damn about his life. I only wanted to be with him.
I’d never undressed someone so quickly before. My hands were faster than my head, and before I knew it, I had the most incredibly gorgeous man in his boxer briefs in front of me. I stopped and stared, appreciating him. During our other sexual encounters, I barely had enough time to appreciate the beauty that Reese Baker personified.
His tattoos stretched across most of his body. Once again, other parts of me directed my movements, and I walked closer to him. My hands touched his shoulders. The colors of his tattoos were faded but still brilliant. Whatever artist he’d hired was a genius.
Reese stood there, allowing me to run my fingers over his body art. I avoided the scars, not wanting him to shy away from me and leave before I had a chance to be with him.
Be with him.
Outside the sex, I hadn’t realized that was what I wanted. He’d continued to work on the building and given me my own temporary space, even after we’d gone on dates and made love. There had to be something more between us. But could there be?
“I think you should get one,” Reese said, his voice breaking through my thoughts.
“What?” I asked.
“A tattoo,” he said, smirking. He covered my hand with his and turned to face me. “You could get one here.” He kissed the inside of my wrist. His warm mouth forced a shiver of pleasure to move through me. “Or here.” His lips touched my neck.
Before I knew it, we were kissing. His kisses were slow and passionate. My entire body ached for him.
He lifted me off the floor, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he walked us into the bedroom. I couldn’t stop kissing him, even when he put me down.
He was the one to break it off. “You had the opportunity to strip me down. Now, it’s my turn.” His eyes darkened as his gaze moved across my body.
I shivered again.
“I couldn’t help it,” I said, trapping my lip under my teeth.
He stepped closer. “I’m trying my hardest to contain myself.” His hand brushed my shoulder, and he tugged at the thin fabric. Of course, I still wore my work clothes. There were a lot of buttons and zippers involved. Somehow, I knew he wasn’t going to get it over with quickly. Dampness pooled between my thighs as he popped my top button.
I reached behind me to get to the zipper of my skirt, but he gripped my wrist, stopping me.
“Remember, you did this to yourself. You rushed, and now you’re going to pay for it.”
I tilted my head to the side, eyeing him. “I always pay my debts.”
Something in his eyes flashed, but it disappeared in seconds.
He dragged his fingers down the front of my shirt, brushing against my bra underneath. He popped each button open and gently opened the shirt, exposing my breasts.
I sucked in a breath, and his lips curved into a smile. I rolled my shoulders, trying to hurry the process, but he clicked his tongue.
“No cheating,” he said.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Professor.”
He smirked again and removed the shirt from my body. His finger curled under my bra strap and pulled, snapping it into place. It could have hurt, but my entire body erupted in tingles. He pulled the straps again, this time pulling them down my arms. He stepped closer until his chest was inches in front of me. I kissed him as he unhooked my bra.
My breasts had barely sprung free before he cupped them in both his hands. I let out a sigh as his thumbs caressed my nipples.
I glanced up at him, and he focused on my body. I pressed against the pads of my feet to lift and kiss him. His hands moved over my body, and I gripped his shoulders, deepening the kiss. He moaned in my mouth, and then it all moved much quicker. He unzipped my skirt, and it fell to the floor at our feet.
“Can’t wait, can you?” I asked.
He grumbled against my neck, nipping at the skin.
I tilted my head back and laughed, and he continued to kiss me. I reached down and gently took hold of his hardness, and his breath caught in his throat.
I played with the elastic at the top of his boxer briefs and dipped my hand inside. I stroked him, and his kisses slowed. I tested my power over him by reaching his tip an
d pressing myself against him.
“You want it here?” I asked, moving him over the front of my panties.
“Paige, you’re killing me.”
I locked eyes with him and continued to stroke. His hands fell to his sides.
A ripple of pleasure moved through me. I loved having some power over him since he demanded it in every other part of his life. But here, in my bedroom, I had him under my spell, even though I was completely captivated by him as well.
He licked his lips and tilted his head to the side as his eyes fluttered closed.
I used my free hand to pull him out of his boxer briefs, so I had the full range of motion. His hand touched my panties, and he groaned.
“You’re so wet for me.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
I sucked in a breath as he shoved the fabric aside and thrust his fingers inside of me. I stumbled forward, bumping into him.
“You asked,” he said, smiling.
His strokes were quick, and I could barely keep up. As much as I wanted to one-up him, my mind went numb, and all I could think about was the building pressure inside of me. His thumb rubbed my clit, and I moaned, holding on to him so I wouldn’t collapse on the floor.
It took all my energy to move away from him. His fingers slipped out of me, and I left him behind as I walked over to my dresser and opened the box of condoms I’d bought the other day.
He appeared behind me, his hardness brushing against my ass.
I turned and handed him the condom.
“Now who can’t wait?” he asked.
“Shut up,” I said, kissing him again.
While he took care of the condom, I went to the bed and sat on the edge.
When he turned around, I licked my lips and curled my finger to him, slowly backing up. I spread my legs, teasing him.
He didn’t hesitate. He crawled up the bed and pulled my panties off in one motion, exposing me. He kissed me again and slipped himself inside. I grabbed onto his back, not caring anymore if I touched his scars. It appeared as if he didn’t care much either.
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