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Gray chuckled. “Me, too.”
The sun was setting as we traversed down the mountainside. With my hand in Daddy’s, this was a very different trip than the last time I’d been here. Had it only been a week ago? In some ways it felt like a lifetime ago, yet the experience was still fresh enough to upset my tummy when I thought about it.
The punishment and the subsequent duties were in place to help me get over my guilt. But I had a lifetime of guilt and didn’t feel any freer of it than when I’d arrived on the Ranch. I hadn’t shared that with anyone yet. Just my rock—it knew all of my secrets.
My other hand fingered the stone in my shorts pocket, pouring my negative thoughts into my connection with the small smooth piece of obsidian. But even I knew the rock couldn’t save me from myself should it come to another implosion. But I did ask for help from whoever was listening to not let me screw up irrevocably with Gray.
It was time for dinner when we arrived at Gray’s apartment.
“How do you feel about going to the Italian restaurant and having ravioli?”
“Yay! Yes, please.”
Gray chuckled at my response and led me to the bathroom, where he proceeded to tug down my underwear and shorts.
“I thought we were going for dinner, but this is okay, too.” I threw my arms around his neck and leaned in for a kiss. His lips claimed mine in a possessive kiss. Ravioli forgotten, Gray lifted me off the counter and carried me to the bedroom.
Chapter 15
Gray
“Come in.” The voice of Derek Hawkins came through the thick wood of the door to his office.
“Am I interrupting anything?” I asked through the partial opening.
He waved me in, and I stepped through the gap, closing the door behind me.
“Have a seat, Gray.”
I sat down, leaning back in the turquoise and brown leather ranch chairs that sat opposite his desk. It wasn’t the first time I’d admired the decor in his office or his home.
“You look stressed out. What’s wrong?”
He was always right to the point.
“I’ve sent three students to Grant Chambers this week.”
Derek’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “And?”
“And… isn’t that a problem? I haven’t punished anyone since the incident with Harmony. I've been unwilling to test the waters as yet.”
“I fail to see the problem, Gray. What exactly are you asking?”
I knew I wasn’t being clear, but in my defense, I was still separating my feelings and logical thinking regarding the situation.
“I’m worried that I look weak to the class, and that it appears as if I’m choosing Harmony over my students. Does that make sense?”
“Completely. But ask yourself, what is your role in class?”
“To teach, inspire, and control the environment to ensure it’s safe for everyone.”
Derek held my gaze. “I think you’ve just answered your own question, Gray.”
I laughed out loud, and Derek chuckled in response.
“Why is it so easy when I’m in this room, and so hard for me to decipher when I’m on my own?”
I meant it rhetorically, but he answered anyway.
