Neither of them spoke, simply looking at each other.
Chris would take over every part of her life. He would stop her working, keep her close to him.
“How can you take care of me? You’re only putting in part time hours at the hospital.” The words blurted out of her before she could stop them. She went back to nibbling on her sandwich.
“Did your date not feed you?” he asked, stepping closer.
“He ordered my food, but he ordered everything I hated.”
Chris nodded, and she was brought back to the fact he knew what to order her. She’d told him everything about herself. He took her other sandwich, took a bite and wrinkled his nose. Before she could stop him, he took the sandwich out of her hand and threw it in the trash.
“Hey, I was eating that,” she said.
“No, that was not fit for animal consumption let alone human.” He nudged her out of the way, and started to make her a fresh sandwich. His presence made it hard for her to focus on anything else.
His hands, which had been all over her, were expertly making her a sandwich. She snorted and made to move. He reached out, placing an arm over her stomach. She looked down at the hand then up at him. His dark gaze was focused on her. Chris stepped in front of her.
“This is not funny,” he said.
She couldn’t speak even as he unknotted her blanket. Slowly, the blanket fell to the floor, leaving her naked.
He tore some of the fresh sandwich and pressed it to her lips. “Open.”
Rachel took the sandwich he offered and chewed. His fingers lingered on her lips, stroking.
“Claire accepted part of me. She quit work and decided to raise our baby. It took me time to make her do it. I’m not going to change who I am. I’m set in my ways.”
“You’re only forty-two.”
“And you’re twenty-six. I know what I want. I won’t budge.”
“What if I want to work?”
“There’s nothing to stop you from going back to college, and I finally figured out why you quit college,” he said.
She remained silent, not believing him. He’d never once questioned her decision to quit.
“I did some digging. One of your professors was a predator. He would bribe students with high grades so long as they spent time in his bed,” Chris said.
Rachel felt tears spring to her eyes. She recalled being summoned to his office. The shock at hearing his proposal had disgusted her. He would give her the right grades so long as she did everything he said. The professor had felt her up. Instead of fighting him, she’d run and never returned to the college.
“How did you find out?” she asked.
His grip tightened on her hip. “I found out because I did some digging. One of the girls wasn’t so happy about being blackmailed for sex. She took him on, the college and won.”
“What do you mean?”
Chris smirked. “The guy tried to make out the girl was a predator. He thought the other professors would have his back. He was surprised when the other staff were disgusted with him. I believe he did jail time and can no longer work in a position of such responsibility.”
“Why are you telling me this, if you knew?” She kept her gaze on his even though it took every ounce of willpower not to look away.
“I want to know why you didn’t tell me. I know the answer ‘cause I know you, but I need to hear it from your lips.”
She tucked some hair that had fallen behind her ear.
“He said it would be my word against his.”
“And?” Chris asked.
“I didn’t think anyone would believe me.”
“And why was that?”
Rachel hated herself at that moment. “I didn’t think anyone would believe me because who’d try to blackmail the fat girl into bed.” The words felt bitter rolling off her tongue.
“The professor wanted you, Rachel. You’ve got to see what other men see.”
She shook her head. He wrapped an arm around her waist, stopping her from moving away.
“You’re a sexy, desirable woman. The professor sees what so many men see. You’re beautiful inside and out. You’ve had so much loss, and yet you’re always happy.”
“Stop,” she said, pressing a hand to his chest. She needed him to stop talking. His words were making it hard for her to push him away.
“No, it’s time you saw what everyone else does.” He lifted her onto the counter, opening her legs to step inside.
She stared into his eyes. Even on the counter, he was taller than she was. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her face against his skin. “Please, I don’t know what to do.”
He stroked her back, going up to sink into her hair.
“Say yes, Rachel. I’ll care for you. I’ll be everything you need.”