Breaking Gravity (Fall Back Series #2)

by Autumn Grey

  “Jesus, Nathaniel. Someone could hear you.” My cheeks are on fire now.

  “Okay. Being inside you?” he prompts, smirking.

  “Yeah. That.”

  “Get down here,” he orders in a soft voice.

  The clock on the wall in front of the room indicates we have about twenty-five minutes until class starts. Given how many times I’ve arrived to class early in order to catch up on my reading and conquer my ever-increasing pile of books to read, I know for a fact that the first student will probably stroll in at least seven minutes before class starts.

  I step around my desk with my eyes fixed on his intense gaze but drop my stare when I get to the steps on shaking legs. Seconds later, I’m standing in front of Nate, making sure to keep a healthy distance between us in case someone walks in. I lift my head to look at him.

  “I have wondered so many things from the first time I saw you,” he starts to say in a husky voice, sending a shiver through me, and I wonder if he can see my heart frantically beating through my blouse because I feel like it’s about to rip through my chest.

  “And?” The word leaves my lips in a breathless whisper.

  His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, and he lets out a shaky breath. “After kissing you and burying myself inside you, it’s everything I had imagined and more. It’s very distracting, addictive even. I can’t look at you without wanting to take you back to my place and spend hours worshipping you like you deserve and making you come. I’d live in your mouth if this wasn’t what it is. You have a beautiful, talented mouth Little Wolf.”

  He stops talking, and I take a long, shuddering breath, the tick, tick, tick of his watch causing my stomach to tighten with need even more.

  “We can’t do this—”

  “You want this as much as I do,” I cut him off as the rejection slams into my gut. “But you realized whatever this is between us is bigger than we both imagined and now you are scared. . .”

  I’m rambling. I’m desperately clawing at whatever I can get to latch on.

  How did I become this person? Wasn’t I the same person who wanted this to be a one-time thing?

  “You are scared,” I tell him, shooting him a challenging look and waiting for him to deny my claim.

  He holds my gaze, leaning closer. “Aren’t you?”

  “Of course I am. I’m really terrified!” I exclaim, adrenaline pumping through me like I’ve been sprinting. “I’ve never done this before.”

  Oh my God. This is not me.

  I’m a calm person. Quiet. I rarely let my emotions run away with me. I’m level-headed. Yet, here I am, trying to lure my reluctant professor into my proverbial web.

  Shit.

  I need space to think. I need to collect my thoughts and strategize. If he’s thinking I’m going to just let this go, he hasn’t met me yet.

  “Excuse me.” I climb down the last step and march to the door. Strong fingers grasp my wrist, spinning me around. The heat of his body slamming into me.

  “Where the hell are you going?” he questions, seeming perturbed by my sudden exit.

  “I need a few minutes to think.”

  His eyes narrow with suspicion. “About what?”

  I sigh. “Look. I get it. You can’t do this—”

  He grunts in frustration, dropping my hand and starting to pace. “You didn’t let me finish what I was going to say.”

  I shake my head. “I’ll be right back. I just—”

  “Miss Blake,” he warns in a soft, yet lethal voice that has my knees trembling.

  “Oh, don’t ‘Miss Blake’ me.” I turn and head for the door, wondering how I became this person. This desperate creature. My body is literally firing up with emotions I’ve never experienced before.

  My feelings for this man are all over the place. I need a few minutes away from his intoxicating presence to compartmentalize everything so I can deal with each emotion individually before I explode.

  “Elon.”

  Goosebumps spread across my arms. Did he just growl my name?

  “Bite me,” I mutter under my breath, equally frustrated by this situation, by my inability to sort through these feelings. I reach for the doorknob, ready to pull it.

  He curses under his breath, the thumping of his feet on the wooden floor getting closer behind me. Before I can open the door, his hand flies over my head, slamming it shut.

  “Abso-fucking-lutely,” he growls. His arm leaves the door and slides around my waist, flips me around and yanks me flush to his hard body, knocking air from my lungs.

  “What are you doing?” I shriek, trying to push away from him with my hands on his chest.

  “Obeying your command.”

  “Command? What th—” I cut myself off as panic replaces the anger. “Are you crazy?”

  “I’m fucking hungry, and I need my high.” His head lowers to the crook of my neck and his nose skims along my skin, inhaling deeply, humming at the back of his throat. At the same time, his left hand leaves my waist and slides down to the hem of my dress and tugs it up.

  “Oh my God. Stop it. Anyone could walk in—” my eyes fly to the clock. Twenty minutes until class starts. “—any second.”

  He lifts his head from my neck and smirks. “Then we’ll have to be fast, won’t we? You think I’d let you walk out that door then have you go change your mind about this—whatever this is?”

  “But you said we couldn’t do this,” I squirm as his fingers skim my inner thigh, causing my eyes to roll back in my head.

  “You didn’t even let me finish what I wanted to say.”

  “Then what did you want to say?”

  “We can’t do this here. That’s what I wanted to say.”

  My chest is pressed against his and we are both panting, the air around us crackling with tension.

  “Come,” he commands, taking my wrist abruptly and dragging me with him.

  Before I can ask where he’s taking me, he pulls me inside one of the built-in cupboards in front of the class and lets go of my hand. He drops to his knees in front of me, sending me a heated, hungry gaze in the process. Then he hooks his left hand around my panties and pulls them down, with me helping him on the other side.

  “What’s with you and cupboards?”

  He chuckles and mumbles something under his breath.

  My head falls back, a moan rushing from my lips.

  He’s officially gone bonkers. Insane.

  I might be riding the same crazy train, too, considering I’m so close to wrapping my legs around his neck and holding on for the wild ride.

  He pinches my ass and says, “Look at me. Look at what I’m about to do to you.”

  With a deep moan, I return my focus to his dark head as he lowers it between my legs. His tongue thrusts inside me without warning, and I gasp. I slap a hand over my mouth to block the sounds.

  Voices drift in from the hall, and my body ignites as danger looms closer.

  I’m terrified of being caught with my professor’s mouth on me.

  I’m excited because this is so scandalous.

  Holy shit, I must be a closet exhibitionist. How can I be enjoying this so much, knowing that things could go sideways fast?

  “Oh, Miss Blake. You love a little danger, don’t you?” He nips my inner thigh, and I try to stifle my ragged breathing, my little cries of pleasure. He swats my ass cheek, the sharp pain spreading all over my body.

  I choke on a groan, and he rumbles his approval.

  “Good girl,” he murmurs. “I bet I can make you come in under one minute.”

  And I don’t doubt him.

  I can feel my orgasm building, higher, hotter, stronger. With one last swipe of his tongue, I fly, soaring through a dark sky behind my closed eyelids lit up by a million fireworks. I’m breathing hard, trying to catch my breath when I hear Amber’s voice in the hallway.

  Nate straightens to his feet while pulling my panties back up. I rearrange my skirt and blouse, then look up at Nate, who’s lo
oking at me like I’m the one who made him see heaven instead of the other way around. His thumb strokes across my bottom lip.

  “Look at you. I love this look on you. Sit tight. I’ll go out first, you can come out after a few minutes.”

  “Don’t you think people will—”

  “You are my assistant.” His eyes scan the room, and he points at something on the shelf. “Bring out the projector and a bunch of those textbooks and place them on the table.” He turns to leave but stops and twists around to look at me. “And Elon? Let your hair down for me.”

  “Okay, Professor,” I whisper in a shaky voice, and his eyes darken even more than before. He strolls out of the tiny room and lowers his long, fairly built frame on the chair behind his desk, then subtly rearranges the bulge in his pants with his left hand.

  I hear the sound of feet shuffling on the floor a few seconds later, followed by mumbled greetings.

  After lifting the projector and some textbooks from the shelves, I stride out, hoping no one notices the flush on my cheeks or the way my body is vibrating like I’m a junkie in need of another fix.

  Because that’s what I’m feeling right now. Like I need more of my professor.

  I don’t spare Nate a glance as I place the stuff on his desk, then head to my seat. Amber is already sitting at her desk, texting on her phone, while Alex is busy chatting with one of his friends.

  “Hey,” I greet her.

  “Hey.” I can feel her eyes on me, studying me, probably trying to figure out what’s going on with me. Then, her gaze falls away, the awkwardness digging a rift between us.

  I turn my attention to the front of the class and find Nate’s eyes boring into me. His gaze subtly flicks on top of my head, and I remember the order he gave me before he left the cupboard. His gaze, unreadable as ever, moves back to mine, and he tilts his head slightly.

  And I obey him, pulling out the hair band and letting my hair fall around my shoulders. He sucks a sharp inhale that ricochets around the room, before he quickly covers it with a little cough and turns around, showing us his back.

  I duck my head to hide my grin.

  Gotcha, Professor.

  The lesson starts, but my thoughts keep wandering back to Amber. This strain in our friendship is killing me to the point of wanting to just come clean. The problem with being a loner like me is that you want to hold on to the people you’ve allowed to see the real you. And when something threatens to sever that love, that bond, all bets are off.

  I clear my throat and eye Amber sideways. “I think I’m being followed,” I whisper.

  She lifts her head, angling her body toward me. “Oh God. Do you think maybe it’s Rick. . .” she trails off, speaking my thoughts out loud.

  Hearing his name sends my stomach plummeting, and bile burns my throat.

  I nod, then shake my head. “I don’t know. Maybe?” I rub my face in frustration. “I got this weird vibe. It’s the same feeling I used to get when I was around him.”

  “Shit. You have to go to the police, E.” The tension going on between us vanishes as concern for me fills her face, making me feel even more guilty for not telling her what’s going on.

  “We can’t. Not unless we have proof or he threatens me.”

  We fall quiet, lost in our own thoughts.

  Moments later, I clear my throat again, taking in a big inhale. “Can we talk later?”

  She casts a surprised look at me, the corners of her lips lifting in a smile. “I would love that.”

  My body slumps back in relief, and I watch, distractedly, as Nate continues to teach the class, looking unaffected as always. At one point his gaze lingers a little too long in our direction. At me. I feel heat crawl up my neck and spread across my cheeks, just remembering what he did to me only moments ago.

  “You’ve got to be shitting me!” Amber whispers under her breath, but it’s loud enough to make a couple of heads snap in our direction. Even Professor Rowe pauses long enough to raise a dark brow at her.

  She apologizes, but the second the lesson resumes, she grabs her notebook and scribbles something, then slides it in front of me.

  You’re totally flirting with him!

  Oh shit. I glance up and meet her shocked look, shake my head to deny it but stop when she narrows her eyes. She grabs the notebook again, writes quickly, then pushes it in my direction.

  Is that why you’re wearing your hair down today?

  I clench my hand into a fist to stop it from shaking and whisper, “Talk later?”

  Amber is looking at me with wide, excited eyes. She reaches her arm to the notebook and writes, Yes. Today you and I have a lunch date, you little slut.

  Sex? Please tell me he’s just as intense between the sheets.

  I grin at her and wink, before quickly scribbling, beyond intense.

  She squeals, causing several heads to turn in our direction, including Nate’s. His narrowed eyes move from me to Amber.

  “Miss Jordan.” Amber’s head jerks up as she sinks deeper into her chair. “Do you have anything to share with the class?”

  My fingers inch toward the notebook, slide it toward me and tuck it under my arm just as Nate’s gaze flits to the desk, then back to my face. His lips tighten in obvious annoyance.

  Oh shit. I’m so in trouble!

  “Nope. Nothing to share here!” she announces in a high pitched voice.

  “All right, everyone. Let’s get back to work,” Nate’s voice booms across the hall as he switches on the projector.

  The class resumes and I exhale in relief, feeling as if a huge weight has been lifted off my chest.

  Right after the bell rings to signal the end of the lesson, Nate looks in my direction and nods.

  “Miss Blake.”

  Ah, Lord have mercy.

  That voice of his destroys me.

  I pause mid-step and give him my attention.

  “May I have a word?”

  Beside me, Amber mutters under her breath, “I can’t believe I didn’t see the clues. I’ll be outside if you need backup. Or maybe not.” She chortles while scooting away from me.

  As soon as the last student leaves, that look on his face falls away, replaced by the hooded eyes and sexy smirk.

  “What’s up,” I whisper, not ready to tell him Amber knows about us.

  He pulls out something from his pants pocket and hands it to me.

  “I won’t be home until seven this evening. You can let yourself in and wait for me.”

  I raise an eyebrow, my eyes on the key. “Isn’t it too early to exchange keys and shit?”

  He scowls at me. “I’m not asking you to move in with me. Take it.”

  I wet my lips and take a step back. “This is too much, Nate. I can’t—”

  “Elon,” he says, sounding annoyed and impatient.

  I sigh and take the key from his hand.

  “I want you naked and waiting for me,” he orders, then adds, “Things seem to be working out between you and Miss Jordan.”

  I nod, smiling.

  “I’m glad,” he says, his eyes going soft. “See you tonight, then.” He gives me his back without another word, effectively dismissing me. Before I walk out the door, I hear him warn, “No more mischief in class, Miss Blake.”

  “Yes, Professor.” I say the latter in a low sultry voice as I walk out the door. Behind me, Nate lets out a noise that sounds like a low growl, sending heat between my legs. I grab the doorframe to support my trembling body.

  “I can’t wait to hear you say that while I’m buried inside you.” His voice rumbles across the space between us, leaving me breathless.

  Shiiiit.

  Breathe.

  God, this man is lethal.

  Taking in a deep breath, I look over my shoulder, and say, “I can’t wait.” Then I stride out the door armed with a secret grin and the key he gave me gripped in my hand.

  I turn and watch Elon leave the room, swiping my tongue across my lips for the hundredth time this hour. I
swear I can still taste her.

  Goddamn it.

  I had no intention of dragging her into the cupboard. But then she said that she needed to think and I panicked.

  I fucking panicked.

  Christ.

  The only thought playing on a loop in my head in that moment was that she was going to change her mind about us. I was going to lose her, which activated a primal part of me to conquer, claim and convince, eliminating any rational thoughts.

  Then after that, I found myself opening my mouth and my home to her. I gave Elon a spare key to my apartment. No wonder she stared at me like I’d lost my damn mind.

  I rub my neck, still trying to wrap my head around my actions and end up with one conclusion.

  This woman is driving me to the edge of insanity. The worst thing is I’m loving it. She brings out the wild side in me.

  If Bennett got wind of my current state of mind, he’d have a field day roasting me to death.

  After packing my books in my bag, I head for my next class, already fantasizing about getting home and finding Elon naked, waiting for me.

  I spend the next forty-five minutes in practice room three, working on perfecting the piece we will be playing for the fundraising ball concert. When I can no longer focus, Nate having completely wreaked havoc on all of my rational thoughts for the day, I give up and head to the café on campus. I order a hot chocolate, curl up on the seat by the window and pull out the novel I’m currently reading.

  I pull out my earbuds from my bag and plug them in, then scroll down my playlist. Before I can tap the play button, my phone starts to ring in my hand, Elise’s name flashing on the screen.

  Taking out the earbuds, I answer the call.

  “Cole came home.” Those are the first words that leave her mouth.

  “What? When?”

  “He arrived last night. He’s on his way to the hospital right now. Josh was asking for him,” she sniffs, then adds in a shaky voice, “I think Josh might be leaving us soon.”

  “On my way.” I end the call, jump from the seat and leave the warmth of the café with my bag slung over my arm. My entire body is shaking, and I wonder how I’ll make it to Willow Hill without crumbling into pieces.