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The almost kiss.
"You're not burdening me if I want to help," I said softly. "I want to help you."
Her eyes flicked between mine. "Why? I'm not some charity case."
"I know you're not." My hand slid further across the desk, silently begging her to reach for it, to let me feel her soft touch. "You matter, Winnie. Your words, your thoughts, your pain—it all matters."
Her chest rose and fell quickly, and her face looked a bit pale. Maybe I was moving too fast, preaching practiced words I'd said a million times to someone who wasn't ready to hear them.
But then she surprised me by reaching out her hand, her fingers trembling as they brushed against mine. I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me at the contact, and I held onto her hand gently, not wanting to scare her away. She looked up at me with those big blue eyes filled with a mixture of vulnerability and longing.
She was mine.
We stayed like that for only a few moments before she pulled away, smoothing her hand over her hair. “Thank you, Profes?—”
“Emmett,” I said softly. “When it’s just us, you can call me Emmett.”
Her throat bobbed, her eyes darting between mine. “Emmett.”
It felt like the clouds parted and the Heavens opened up as she said my name. God, had anything ever sounded so sweet?
She stood, and panic shot through me. I got to my feet with her, the movement so abrupt she paused. “Shopping?” I breathed, and she blinked at me, clearly confused. “For the classroom.”
“Oh. Right.” She huffed out a small laugh, and I wanted to kiss her; she was so fucking perfect.
“Tomorrow?” I tried not to sound too eager, but I couldn’t quite keep it from my voice. Her smile was genuine as she nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear like she always did. “I’ll pick you up?—”
“I’ll meet you in the parking lot,” she interrupted. “By the library.” I wanted to pick her up at home, mostly because I wanted to see where she lived. But I would learn that in time—I’d learn everything about her in time.
“Let’s meet at nine?” She nodded, and I smiled. “It’s a date, then.” I echoed her words from the other day, and a blush settled across her cheeks. She tried to hide her smile, but she couldn’t.
"See you tomorrow." She lifted her hand in farewell, and I watched as she walked away, her steps light and carefree, the complete opposite of how they were when she'd come in earlier.
I sank back into my chair, a stupid grin on my face you couldn't pry off with a crowbar, and let out a choked laugh. It was almost too easy, the way she just handed herself over like a sacrificial lamb. She practically threw herself at me, but I couldn't blame her.
This thing between us was magnetic, pulling us together. She felt it as much as I did—that much I knew. Her touching me had solidified that.
All I had to do was push her just a little more, and she would be mine forever.
Chapter Nine
I leaned against the front of my car, one leg crossed over the other, as I glanced at my watch again. It was ten after nine. She was late. Why was she always running late? Late to class, late to our date, late to everything. We’d have to have a serious talk about that. Perhaps while she was face-down over my lap and I had my belt in my hand.
“Emmett!” I glanced over my shoulder, finding Winnie running for me, looking like a chaotic whirlwind. The tightness in my chest loosened as I took her in, seeing that she was alright.
“Winnie,” I said, pushing off the car. “You’re late.”
She stopped in front of me, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. “I know. I’m sorry. I couldn’t get a ride, so I had to take the bus. I’m so sorry. Have you been waiting long?” She smoothed her hand over her hair, the other righting her clothes. She looked perfect. There was no need for primping.
“You ran here from the bus stop?” That was on the other side of the campus. “Let me give you my number. If you ever need a ride, call me, and I’ll come get you. No matter the time or where you are, I’ll come.”
Her lips parted as she stared up at me, still breathless, but I thought it might be for a reason other than running across campus. “You’re…you’re kind.”
“You sound surprised,” I teased, pulling my phone out of my jeans’ pocket.
“No,” she rushed out. “No, I’m not surprised. It’s just…I’m not used to people being this kind to me.” My chest squeezed at her words. I wanted to wrap her in my arms, hold her close, and promise to always be kind to her. Unless she was in my bed, then that would be a different story.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I told her honestly. The sadness and vulnerability in her gaze nearly gutted me. Unable to help myself, I reached for her, cupping her jaw in my hand and running my thumb along her smooth skin. Her breath hitched, and the sound went straight to my caged cock. “I’ll always be kind to you.”
