Taking a deep breath, I pull off the band-aid. “I’m Lexi Stokes, a boring Accounting student.” The second the words leave my mouth, I see his eyes widen as his wide shoulders droop.
Dane takes a deep breath and runs his finger over his bottom lip. “Wow.” He looks into my eyes. “I should walk away, but I can’t.” My heart slams against my rib cage when he reaches for my hand. “You’re all I think about. Please give me a chance. We’ll take it slow and get to know each other.”
“This is crazy.” I swallow my fears. “But I want to try.” The little voice in the back of my mind is screaming for me to remember my plans. I ignore the reasonable bitch and jump in with both feet.
As I’m inviting him to my apartment for dinner, I realize my self-preservation instincts have gone into hiding every time he’s around. Having a relationship with a professor should terrify me, but my heart keeps assuring me this is the right thing to do. “It will have to be Friday.” I have an insane week coming up and need the time to prepare. He reluctantly agrees to wait six days, and I give him my address.
Before he leaves the diner, he asks for my phone and programs his number in it. Dane shocks me when he leans over and whispers in my ear, “It’s going to kill me to wait.” He places a soft kiss on my lips, and I nearly reconsider and tell him to come over tonight. My reasonable side shifts into gear and overrides my rash thoughts.
“Me too.” I smile and stare at his perfect rear end as he walks out the door.
I spend Sunday attempting to study, but my distracted mind refuses to cooperate. Failing my classes isn’t an option. After taking a hot shower, I watch the new episode of my favorite television show to relax. The show helps me push Dane to the back of my mind, and I study my ass off.
The next few days are more of the same. Go to class, study, work at Gail’s Diner, and look up Professor Dane McKinney on the school’s website. The thirty-three-year-old math whiz started teaching at Red Falls University right out of college. I end up memorizing his biography while ignoring my studies. By the time Friday arrives, I’ve turned myself into a nervous wreck. I wake to find my phone flashing a notice. There’s an email from my professor stating she’s ill and is canceling class today. Our quiz will be Wednesday.
I do a little happy dance while dressing. With my afternoon class canceled, I only have my morning class to attend. The day still crawls by. Anticipation eats me alive as I wait for six o’clock to arrive. On my way back to my apartment, I stop by the grocery store to grab a couple of last-minute items. As the checker scans my groceries, I bounce from foot to foot nervously. “Twenty-one, thirty.” She raises an eyebrow and stares at me, waiting for my brain to wake the hell up.
“Sorry.” I swipe my card and grab the bag.
Staring at the clock, I stir my grandma’s spaghetti sauce. When I was six years old, she taught me to make this recipe. My cooking repertoire is extremely limited. Matter of fact, I usually eat frozen meals and salads. Once dinner is under control, I rush through a shower before changing my mind several times about what I’m going to wear. I finally pull on my comfortable gray crop pants and a cute black t-shirt my mother sent me recently.
Dane’s loud knock interrupts my frantic pacing. Taking a deep breath, I open the door and paste a smile on my face. “Hi, Love.” He hands me a huge bouquet of red roses before stepping close and placing a small kiss on my cheek. “Something smells delicious.”
“Thank you. It’s my grandmother’s recipe.” Holding the door open, I wait for him to follow me into my tiny apartment before heading to the kitchen for a vase. After arranging the sweet-smelling flowers, I place them on the table and notice Dane is glancing around. “Dinner should be ready in a few minutes. Can I get you something to drink?”
Throughout our meal, we discuss my classes and his job. Luckily, I’ve finished all my math courses, so he doesn’t have to worry about having me as a student. I’m not sure how us seeing each other will work out, but I want to try. Even though I barely know him, my feelings for him are growing by the second, and I don’t want to walk away without taking a chance.
Cleaning the kitchen together after dinner, I glance over at him and see the hunger flashing in his green eyes. God. How am I having a normal, boring conversation with him while my body flares to life? I lead him into the living room and turn to see him stalking toward me. Standing frozen in place, I watch as he reaches for me. His large hand slides around the side of my face, and he leans down to smile at me. “It almost killed me to wait all week to see you.” Oh my God. His words send a burst of happiness flowing through me. “You’re all I thought about every second of every day.”
“Oh,” is all I manage to croak past my dry throat before his lips cover mine. My eyes roll back in my head as his tongue seeks entry into my mouth. My brain completely shuts down as I melt against his strong body.
5
Dane
The sweet taste of her mouth blasts into my soul, and every thought in my head disappears. I spent the last week reminding myself to take things slow. Scaring her is the last thing I want to do. My dumbass body ignores all the warnings flashing through my blown mind.
Backing her up to the sofa, I try to regain control, but the hunger roaring throughout my body is making it hard to listen. Her knees hit the cushion, and she falls back, taking me with her. My cock turns to stone after getting trapped between my hard body and her luscious curves. I run my hand under the edge of her t-shirt and find soft, warm skin. Thank God, she doesn’t protest and I continue my exploration. My thumb brushes her hard nipple and we both groan. Pulling away, I gaze into her half-lidded eyes and see hunger shining from them. I raise an eyebrow and reach down to lift her shirt. She leans back to allow me to pull it up and over her head. A tremor runs through me as I stare at her stunning body. “You’re fucking beautiful,” I groan and watch an adorable blush move over her face.
“I want to see you,” she bites her swollen bottom lip and whispers. Standing, I pull my t-shirt off and toss it to the side. As her golden eyes move over my skin, my knees begin to tremble. My girl shocks the hell out of me when she leans forward to run her soft finger around my waistband. Sucking in a breath, I step closer for her to continue her exploration. She lightly brushes my hard cock through the stiff jean material, causing me to throw my head back and groan.
“I love having your hands on me.” My growl turns into a whimper when she leans forward and places her soft lips against my trembling stomach. The light touch echoes through every molecule in my body and my knees buckle. Lexi falls back against the cushions as I drop to my knees between her feet. Pulling her to the edge of the sofa, I drag her pants and silky underwear down her soft legs and stare at her creamy body. “You’re fucking perfect,” I groan and lean over to run my tongue up the inside of her thigh and watch goosebumps break out on her delicate skin. “Fuck me,” I mumble as her sweet scent engulfs me.
She squeaks adorably when I stand and pull her into my arms. “I refuse to make love to you the first time on your sofa.” As Lexi nibbles on her bottom lip while staring into my eyes, I worry she’s about to change her mind. “Tell me now if you don’t want to finish what we’ve started.”