by Payton Reed
As soon as she was inside, Kip pulled the vertical blinds that covered his patio door before moving into his living room to ensure the curtains were closed there as well. Then he stood in the middle of his living room staring at her for a moment. With a sigh, he gestured her forward.
Willow hated that he was upset with her, and she bent her head as she reached him. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be here. I can leave now if you want.”
He let out a heavy sigh. “No, what’s the point now? Since you’re here, we might as well have some time alone.”
She lifted her head, struggling to hide her excitement. “Thank you for letting me stay.”
Kip shook his head. “Don’t thank me. I want time with you as well. I just know how dangerous this is for both of us.”
She nodded solemnly, but when he held out his arms to her, she stepped forward without hesitation, hugging him. It was the first time she’d been in his arms, and she reveled in the closeness. He smelled like pine and citrus, and she nuzzled his neck.
He moaned softly when her lips crept up the column of his throat. “We shouldn’t do that. It’s too much temptation.”
Reluctantly, Willow pulled away. “Can we have a real kiss though?”
He seemed to struggle for a moment, and then he closed his eyes before sighing heavily. “Just one.”
She lifted her head as his bent, and their lips touched a fraction of a second later. The kiss started warm and sweet, with him barely moving his lips against hers. It was a nice kiss, but only a portion of what they were capable of, and she couldn’t resist pressing closer as she threaded her fingers through his hair, holding his head close to hers so she could sweep her tongue into his mouth.
With a groan of surrender, Kip’s arms came around her again, holding her body to his. The kiss deepened as they moved as one, without coordination or forethought, to the couch. He sat down first, and she laid across him, almost straddling him. His hands held her hips while his mouth devoured hers.
Willow stroked his hair, wanting to get even closer to him. She rubbed herself against him, moaning at the flash of heat between her thighs. Kip stiffened for a moment, and then he carefully eased her away. “We can’t do anymore, or I’ll lose control.”
She frowned. “Would that be so bad?”
Kip sighed. “It would feel amazing, but it’s too soon. We hardly know each other, and we’ve barely had any time alone. I don’t want to rush you into something you’ll regret later.”
Willow was reasonably certain she wouldn’t regret it, but she was smart enough not to tell him that. She knew his control was hanging by a thread, and he’d already indicated he didn’t want to have sex tonight, so she needed to respect that.
With a groan of disappointment, she pulled away from him and scooted back onto the other cushion. He sat with his back against the one he’d been leaning on, and their feet were touching on the middle cushion.
“Damn, it’s harder to do the right thing than I thought.” As he said that, Kip stroked his bare foot against her ankle.
She turned long enough to kick off her shoes before returning her bare feet to the cushion. They pressed their soles together and just stayed like that for a few minutes without speaking.
“How did you find out where I live?” asked Kip after a short time.
“I was taking a walk earlier and saw Suzanne leaving her cottage. I know you live near her, so I just had to find which one was yours. Your last name is on the mailbox.”
“Aren’t you just a little Nancy Drew?” The words could have been sarcastic, but the tone indicated he wasn’t angry at her detective work. He sounded more like he admired her than anything, so maybe he wasn’t too angry that she’d found her way to his place. “You know you can’t do this again, right?”
She nodded slowly. “I know, but it’s not fair. We don’t have any time together.”
His lips curved upward. “That’s by design, honey. Schools tend to frown on allowing teachers and students to spend one-on-one time together alone. Bad things happen.”
She wiggled her eyebrows. “How bad are we talking here?” Her gaze drifted to the hallway visible at the edge of the room. “Is your bedroom back there?”
“Along with a small bathroom, but you’re not venturing that far. Of course, you may use the lavatory if needed, but you’re not going to my room.” He lifted a finger and pointed at her in a scolding fashion as he said that with a wink.
She knew he was taking a lighthearted approach, but she could see his sincerity underneath. At least for tonight, there was no way she was going to finesse him into taking this farther or getting him to let her see the inside of his bedroom.
“What’s wrong?” His foot was still stroking against hers.
She stared where his toe rubbed lightly along the top of her toes, not quite meeting his gaze. “Nothing.”
Kip laughed. “I never believe a woman when she tells me nothing’s wrong.”
Willow rolled her eyes. “Okay, so I’ve got some stuff on my mind. I don’t want to waste our time together talking about it though.”
Kip frowned. “I want to hear about your problems. I want to know everything about you… the good and the bad.”
With a sigh, she took one of the pillows lined up along the back of the couch and held it to her chest, mainly to keep the temptation of climbing across him at bay. If her hands were busy with the pillow, they couldn’t be exploring him. “Lex broke up with me when he found out about you… and Dalton.”
Kip’s foot stilled. “Dalton?” he asked neutrally, but there was a crease in his forehead that betrayed his displeasure.
Hanging her head, she quickly confessed the situation with Dalton. Then she looked up through the veil of her lashes, expecting anger. He just looked unhappy, which seemed worse. “Why are you sad?” Was it because he was about to withdraw his admission that he wanted to be with her as Lex had done?
“Because I’m afraid he’s not going to treat you right. I’m also sad because you’re sad.”
She bit her lip. “Are you angry that I didn’t tell you?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “It sounds like there wasn’t much to tell until Halloween night.”
“But I never mentioned him at all, and I was talking about Lex and Jonas after the dance. I should’ve said something then. I shouldn’t have tried to hide it. If I weren’t so embarrassed by how he makes me feel, I would’ve been able to talk about it easier, I guess, but that’s no excuse.”
Kip arched a brow. “Why are you embarrassed?”
“Because he’s such an ass to me, and I hate him. I shouldn’t want someone that I hate.”
Kip smiled gently. “I don’t think we get to control our attractions. If we did, there’s no way I’d be sitting here with my seventeen-year-old student.”
Willow flinched.
His voice softened. “I didn’t mean it like that, honey. I’m just saying that I would never choose to be attracted to a student. It’s all kinds of wrong, but I can’t help it with you. I suspect it’s the same for you and Dalton.”
She felt better at his clarification, but it still hurt to know he would choose to avoid this attraction if he could. She sniffed softly before asking, “What should I do?”
Kip shrugged. “That’s up to you. I can’t tell you what to do about Lex or Dalton. You have to listen to your own intuition and follow your heart. Just know that if you become involved with Dalton, I’m still here for you, and I still want to be with you. Maybe Lex will get over his anger in time, and you can fix things with him as well.”
Willow nodded miserably, not believing him. Oh, she believed Kip was still interested in her in spite of Dalton, but she didn’t believe Lex was going to change his mind. He seemed so adamantly angry about the situation that she couldn’t imagine he would find his way to forgive her. He couldn’t even stand to look at or talk to her, so how could he do that?
“Against my better judgment, I want to cuddle with you.”
He nodded. “Just on the couch, and all of our clothes stay on. Agreed?”
With an eager nod, she stood up and set aside the pillow, moving to the other end of the couch so she could sit between his legs when he parted them for her. She snuggled against him, surprisingly content with just having his arms around her.
His lips ghosted against her neck, and he occasionally kissed her, but mostly they just talked quietly as they laid there together. Part of her wanted to rush through this portion of the courtship and insist she was ready for more physically intimate activities, but another part of her was enjoying taking their time and spending a few hours talking and holding one another without any further expectations.
Chapter Thirty-One
Willow
“Oh, crap,” said Kip forcefully near her ear.
That woke Willow, and she sat upright. The first thing she noticed was the light coming in through the windows, even with the curtains still drawn. It wasn’t strong yet, but it was definitely later in the morning. She glanced at the clock on his wall and winced when she saw it was five a.m.
They must’ve fallen asleep talking, and neither one of them had bothered to set an alarm. She rushed off his lap, standing awkwardly as she looked for her shoes. She slid them on as Kip got to his feet. He was looking distressed, and she couldn’t blame him.
“You have to leave now. I’m sorry, Willow. I don’t want to rush you out, but…”
She nodded, moving forward just long enough to press a brief kiss to his mouth. “I totally understand. I’ll see you in class later.” Without looking back, she went to his back door and let herself out.
She stood there for a moment, evaluating the cottages nearby. Daylight was just starting to appear, so it was still weak and hazy. With luck, she would be little more than a shadow to most people if they happened to be outside and near her.
There didn’t appear to be anyone looking, so she turned and ran back the way she’d come, toward the school. She didn’t dare glance behind her to see if anyone was looking at her. If she did, that could give them a full view of her face, and she couldn’t risk being recognized fleeing from this part of the grounds.
She ran through the canopy of trees until she broke out on the other side and then kept running a bit farther until she reached the lake. There was a stitch in her side, and she paused to sit down on the bench. It seemed safe enough to pause for a rest now.
After sitting there for a few minutes, she was about to get up when she heard footsteps behind her. They didn’t sound heavy enough to be Kip’s, and she barely hid a grimace of disgust when she saw Suzanne walking toward her. She didn’t smile at the professor or greet her in any way, but Suzanne’s intense gaze made it clear she was focused on Willow.
“What are you doing out here this time of morning?” Suzanne seemed poised to pounce on her.
Without looking at the teacher directly, she glanced at the lake. “I had trouble sleeping, so I went for a walk. I was taking a little break before returning to my dorm.”
Suzanne snorted softly. “Why are you wearing the clothes you wore last night in the dining hall?”
Willow hadn’t even seen her in the dining hall, and she flinched slightly, but she still didn’t look at Suzanne. “The clothes were still clean, so I put them on this morning when I woke up.”
“You know you’re not supposed to be out walking this far from school, and so close to the staff cottages.”
Willow looked at her, hoping her expression of surprise was convincing. “I didn’t realize there was a restriction on how far we could walk on the grounds, and what cottages?”
Suzanne put her hands on her hips. “Through the trees. That’s where all the staff cottages are.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that.” Willow allowed a cryptic grin to slide across her face. “How interesting.”
Suzanne’s mouth dropped open, and it was clear she was second-guessing mentioning the cottages to Willow. That was all the better. If she thought she had revealed their existence just now, she wouldn’t suspect Willow had already visited them. “You’re not allowed back there. You shouldn’t be out here either.”
“I’m sorry, Professor Barnes. Could you tell me where in the handbook it says I’m not allowed to take a walk in the morning or sit by the lake? I’m happy to comply. I simply don’t remember reading that in the handbook.” She was struggling to sound polite and eager to please.
“Well, I… I mean, that is…” She grunted; annoyance evident. “It’s not actually in the handbook, but it’s an unspoken rule.”
“Oh, I see. I’ll be sure to check with the headmaster to find out if I need a pass or something the next time, I have insomnia. Thank you for letting me know, professor.” With a sweet smile to match her sickly sweet tone, she got to her feet and started walking again.
She half-expected Suzanne to charge after her and keep badgering her, but the other woman remained standing by the lake. Willow could feel her gaze burning a hole in the back of her head as she walked, and she didn’t consider the encounter a victory over the other woman. It felt like a narrow escape instead. She couldn’t risk slipping out to visit Kip again. She’d have to be stronger than her need to do so.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Willow
She signed out for a pass that weekend, making a point of avoiding Octavia for the last couple of days of the week, pretending to be busy with her schoolwork. She didn’t want to hurt her friend’s feelings, but she definitely didn’t need a wing-woman for the weekend. Octavia would’ve been a fifth wheel, and she would’ve felt like it too, no doubt. She had every intention of telling Octavia about the weekend, but only after it had passed.
She called for an Uber early Saturday morning, getting up with the dawn and hoping to avoid most of the students who would be leaving a couple of hours later. Her Uber driver was the same guy as last time, and his eyes widened when he recognized her. “Where’s your friend?”
“I don’t think she’s coming this weekend.”
“You want me to drop you around the same place as last time?”
She gave him Jonas’s address instead.
The driver frowned. “You sure? That’s the Underell farm.”
She frowned slightly. “Yes, I’m sure I know where I want to go.”
He nodded, looking faintly judgmental.
“Will you take me there?” She didn’t bother to try to hide a hint of impatience in her tone.
“Of course,” he said with a bright smile, and the car moved forward.
Willow wasn’t in the mood for conversation, so she opened her phone and directed her attention to one of the games on it. She wasn’t really paying much attention to it, but she didn’t feel like talking to the driver who clearly disapproved of her destination.
Apparently, he wasn’t good at getting the hint. “So, do you know the Underell’s?”
She shrugged a shoulder.
After a minute, he asked, “Do you know Jonas? He works up at the school.”
Again, she shrugged before looking up. “Do you know Jonas?”
The driver smiled. “I sure do. Jonas and I went to high school together. He’s a good guy. He had big plans, you know? He wanted to go away to school and study botany. His plan was to get his PhD, and he even talked about knocking around the rain forest for a few years looking for undiscovered plants. Of course, that all went to hell when his dad had the heart attack.”
Willow nodded. This guy’s viewpoint was a unique interpretation that Jonas himself hadn’t offered. He’d implied that taking over the business had just been an acceleration of his plans. He’d skipped over the whole part where he had much bigger plans to pursue first. She felt a stirring of sadness for him, but mostly just admiration that he would step away from his dreams to help his parents maintain their livelihood.
“He’s a really good guy. He didn’t deserve what Stasia did to him.” The driver sai
d that with a warning in his tone.
She met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Who are you?”
“My name is Gabe Hennessy. Jonas is a friend of mine, even though he’s a couple years older than me. I don’t want to see him hurt again.”
Willow swallowed thickly. “I won’t hurt anyone.”
He stared at her for a moment, and then he nodded once more. After that, he allowed her to play on her phone undisturbed by attempts at conversation as they ate up the miles to Farley. The destination required passing through the town, which didn’t take long.
Another five miles or so, and he was pulling off the road onto a gravel driveway. Willow trembled for a moment as nerves got the better of her, but she breathed through it. As the car brought her closer to the large farmhouse, her stomach balled into knots, and she briefly considered telling him to go back.
That wasn’t because she didn’t want alone time with Jonas. She was just nervous about meeting his family, and she knew the repercussions for Jonas if the wrong people found out they were dating. Maybe he could date any other girl and the school wouldn’t fire him, but she was certain with Hastings’s unreasonable dislike of her, he’d be glad to fire Jonas just to hurt her.
Gabe stopped the car a moment later, and that was it. She had no choice but to get out, because Jonas stood on the porch. When she was actually there, she had no hesitation. She grabbed her bag as she passed Gabe the credit card Ashton had insisted, she take before she left for Dunwich. He scanned it and handed it back, and he and Jonas exchanged waves as she got out of the car. After that, Gabe drove away, and Jonas came closer.
She crossed the last few feet in a bit of a jog, almost throwing herself into his arms. They wrapped around her securely, and he pecked her before lifting his head. “My mom is watching through the kitchen window,” he said with a small grin. “I’m not ashamed to be kissing you. I just don’t want an audience.”
Willow was more than okay with his restraint. She didn’t want his mother to see them passionately kissing before she even met the woman.