Page 233

“Come on.”

He puts a hand lightly against my back as we walk through the lobby, and even that nearly undoes me.

It’s ridiculous.

Outside, the sun is beginning to drop behind the mountains. The air is warmer than it was when we arrived. We reach Sheila and Cal opens my door.

“Thank you.”

“Anything for my favorite former tutor.”

“Former being the important word now. I am no longer allowed to be your boss.”

His mouth twitches.

“Very important.”

I climb in.

He shuts the door.

I stare straight ahead while he walks around the hood. We are adults. Adults can sit beside one another in cars without thinking about sex.

Cal gets in, his scent overwhelming me.

Apparently, not this adult.

He starts the engine. “Your house?”

“No.”

His hand stills on the gearshift.

“No?”

“Take me to yours.” I glance at him.

“Alright.” He grins at me, knowing.

“You’re very quiet,” I say after a few minutes of silence.

“Trying to behave.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Why?”

He laughs. “Because you’ve just asked me to take you back to my apartment after I’ve spent the last few weeks trying very fucking hard to give you space. And I’m trying to stop my mind from imagining exactly what I’m going to do to you once I get you in there.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

I look out of the window so he can’t see me smile.

The silence lasts another block.

“You can stop trying now.”

His head turns toward me so quickly, I laugh.