My heart pounded in my chest as Connor pressed between my legs, rubbing himself against me. I started to sweat. I wasn’t ready for this. I pressed a hand to his chest to stop him. He stopped kissing me right away, gentle setting me back on my feet. I was still pressed against the wall, Connor’s hand beside my face. He closed his eyes in pain, lips sucked in and pressed into a hard line.
“I’m sorry, V. I had to … I had to know if you were truly ready for what you asked of me. I didn’t mean to scare you. I got carried away.”
The tears trickled rapidly. “I’m not ready …”
“Baby, I know.” He captured me in his arms, hands in my hair, comforting me.
“Wait for me,” I whispered into his chest. “Don’t leave me again.”
“I won’t. I won’t ever leave you,” he promised. Connor held me until his limbs turned numb. He lets me go and chuckled. “I’ve never held someone so long that my arms gave out.”
I stretched my arms and wrapped them back around him. “I’ll hold on for the both of us.”
He chuckled again.
“What’s going on at home?” I asked in a soft voice.
"Everything is fine now. I got your text. I'm sorry I wasn't able to text you back."
"We were worried sick about you."
"I know … I called Amber back and she told me I’d find you here."
"Everything is really fine now? You promise?”
"Everything is fine."
“Okay." I squeeze him.
He crushed my head back to his chest and held me for several more minutes before asking, "What are we studying?"
“History," I muffled into his chest, sticking out my bottom lip.
He chuckled and rubbed his hand down my body. "I can feel your pout. I take it history isn't your favorite subject?"
"It's boring."
"I'll make it fun."
"I dare you too."
He laughed again. "After tonight, you’ll never look at history the same way."
I kissed his chest. "Because from now on when I think of history, I'll think of you."
“Yes … and also from my mad tutoring skills." He released me and sat on the carpet, leaving his legs splayed. He pulled me down and I sat between his legs, my back pressed against his chest. He took my history book out of my bag and placed it on my lap. "We'll read together and I'll explain anything you don’t understand."
I lifted my knees and leaned back as I opened the book to the chapter I needed to study. I tucked my hair behind my ear and started to read. Connor kissed the back of my neck, causing me to pause as he discovered another sensitive spot on my body.
“Mmmm…” I rubbed my palms down his thighs.
“You’re so beautiful and you’re mine,” Connor whispered.
Yes, I am yours. Always.
Chapter 7
Five days.
Five long days since our time at the library.
That was how long it had been since I’d last seen Connor, and that was how long it had been since he’d called or texted.
He’d asked me not to worry, to give him time to take care of some personal matter. The days would fly by, he’d told me. I didn’t believe him, but I’d reluctantly agreed.
Today was Monday, so he should be back teaching our class. I danced my way into the kitchen to grab breakfast. My dad was at the stove frying eggs. There was pancake mix all over the counter and dirty bowls filled the sinks.
“Welcome home, Dad,” I muttered.
Eight days. That was how long my dad had been gone this time.
“Good morning, my sweetheart.” He finished up the eggs and scooped them onto a plate.
"Do you have time to have breakfast with me?"
"I don't," I said honestly, grabbing the doorknob to leave. I have a teacher to make out with.
“Just ten minutes, please. I haven't seen you and I'm leaving tonight for another week."
My hand dropped. Again? "If I asked you again to quit your profession and go back to the corporate world, would you? We don't have a lot of time left together. In less than a year, I'm leaving for college."
"You're going to college, not leaving forever. I'll see you during your breaks,” he reminded me.
"I'm asking for you to be here for me more. When I lost mom, I lost you too." My voice cracked as a single tear dropped.
My dad placed the plate in his hand on the white granite with a clank and rushed to me, pulling me in for a hug. In his embrace, I could pretend that all was right in my world. There were no secrets or pain. I was safe…
"I'll cancel my trip."
"How much is your client paying you for the week?" I asked in a shaky voice.