Love in Education: De La Fuente Book Seven

by Buchanan, Lexi

  I’m not sure how I thought my decision would be easier or the right thing to do, because it’s just going to hurt us both. I know my weakness and that is Andie, so my logical mind at the time, thought it would be easier to have her hate me. She’d stay away from me then and I wouldn’t struggle with my need to go to her. I just didn’t think I’d feel like hell for breaking her heart.

  As I glare at my haggard face through the bathroom mirror, I wonder why she hasn’t been around to the house. She knows where I live and after her messages, I was sure that she’d come to find me. I’d prepared myself to tell her lie after lie to get to her leave. I hadn’t been prepared for her not showing up.

  My temper rises as I really let it sink into my brain that she’s let me slip away from her so easily.

  She’s probably moved on with Jeremy! God knows the man could never take his eyes off what was mine.

  Glancing through into my bedroom the blurred red display on the alarm clock says: 00:04. It isn’t too late for a visit? No, I didn’t think so!

  Splashing cold water on my face, I shake before grabbing the towel from around my hips and roughly dry myself. The shower didn’t do anything to make me feel better, but getting answers from Andie will. I hope. Once I know why she hasn’t even bothered to see me in the four days, I might admit to her about where I was coming from. But my reasons were to try and save everything she’s worked for. What were her reasons?

  Shoving my legs into a clean pair of jeans, and my shoes, I grab my shirt as I’m on the way out the door.

  Enough is enough and my heart needs to see her and to know why she hasn’t been in touch. Perhaps she read my silence as she was supposed to. But all the wondering has me looking like a wreck and no matter what Johansson said, he won’t be watching at this time of night, or rather morning.

  Coming up on Andie’s apartment building, I do something I shouldn’t, and use the passcode to enter. Once I’m outside her place, the anger drains away leaving my stomach aching. I guess I haven’t thought this visit through very well because I wanted my anger at being so easily dismissed after I’d ignored her to carry me through. Now though, as I knock on her door, is to have her in my arms again.

  It takes a few knocks for the door to slowly open. When I get a look at her, her eyes are rimmed red and her complexion is pale. She glances away, hesitates, and then steps away from the doorway, which I take as permission to enter.

  She looks smaller somehow as she sits in the sole chair in the room. I move slowly and sit across from her on the sofa with my elbows resting on my knees as I lean forward.

  “Why are you here?” Andie asks, her voice filled with sadness.

  I hold her angry gaze before I cut the sight of her distress out by closing my eyes. “I wanted to know what you’ve been up to.”

  Lame, Sawyer!

  Her eyes widen in surprise and she visibly swallows.

  “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? I told you that I needed you, but you completely ignored me. Not one word from you or a visit, until now.” She glares her anger rising.

  “That day went to shit the minute I walked on campus, and what about you? You’ve never come to my house to find me...to find out what the hell was going on.” I’m too agitated to sit any longer. “It feels like you didn’t care enough to find out why I wasn’t responding to your messages.” I yank at my hair and with my hands on my hips, admit, “I know I’m being an asshole and have no right to question you when I’m the one who ignored you, but dammit, Andie. When I said I love you, I meant every damn word. I still do.”

  Her eyes stay fixated on me while I force myself to calm down, and then I see them swimming with unshed tears.

  “I needed you, Sawyer. That text was the last one I sent before I got a flight home.” She swallows and looks away, my heart sinks as I get the feeling something, more than us, sent her running home. “Kasey called about my mom. She was in a bad way and I came close to loosing her, Sawyer. I really did need you, and I thought I could count on you, but I discovered that I can’t.”

  I drop back onto the sofa cursing myself out in my head for everything I thought, and more importantly for not being there when she needed me. “I’m an asshole,” I mumble. “I thought I was doing the right thing by letting you go to concentrate on everything you’ve worked so hard for. I thought if you hated me then it would stop me from seeking you out...I’m so sorry, Andie.”

  She shakes her head. “You’re not making any sense. The morning started out great, you invited me to your office at lunch. I don’t understand what happened between that.”

  Heavily sighing, I admit, “Johansson had me in his office to look at some pictures.” I meet her gaze. “They were of us both in compromising positions by the side of the pool...they were taken the night we discovered the pool lights on.”

  “How compromising?” she whispers the question.

  “You’re on top of me with the robe on but it’s unfastened. I have my hands on your breasts and it’s obvious to anyone that I was inside of you...I’ve royally screwed this up, haven’t I?” I drop my head into my hands wondering what the fuck I do now.

  Silence drags on until I feel her hands on mine, pulling them away from my face. “We both should have tried to communicate better. I was vague as to what I needed you for, and you should have told me about Dean Johansson.” She tips her head to the side. “What exactly did the Dean say to set you off this way?”

  Grasping her hands and holding them tight, I spend the next ten minutes repeating the conversation that I’d had in the Deans office. By the time I’m done her lips are pinched in anger.

  “That asshole is blackmailing us!” She fumes. “And you,” she adds, moving my hands out of the way and straddling my lap, “should have come to me. It really hurts that you thought it was better to push me away instead of explaining.”

  “I’m a selfish asshole. I thought it would be easier for me if I did that. Can you forgive me?” She runs her hands through my hair. “Please?” I whine.

  Becoming serious her forehead drops to mine. “I love you and really needed you this weekend, but considering Kasey told me that all guys are jerks, then I forgive you as long as you promise to talk to me in the future.”

  “That’s more than I deserve but I’m not going to argue because you’re everything to me...but we do have to stay apart until you graduate. I don’t think there is a way of getting around that.”

  “You’re here now.”

  “It’s the middle of the night, Andie,” I state the obvious while I grab her ass and pick her up into my arms. “I think it’s time for make up sex.”

  “Hmm, I like that idea.” She looks adorable and so fucking sexy when she pouts.

  Climbing onto the bed with her still in my arms, I drop us down and hold her close. “Are we okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “Before the make up sex, tell me how your mom is doing now? And the baby?”

  “Have you got any idea how weird it is talking about my mom while you’re hard as rock between my legs?”

  I chuckle. “I still want to know.”

  “My mom is still in the hospital and is on the mend, and my baby brother is in an incubator, but hopefully not for long. He’s called Emile Luca after Diego’s mom and dad.” She shrugs. “I was a bit surprised with the Luca considering Lucia wasn’t all that nice to my mom to begin with.” She kisses me, all my blood rushes south. “Love me, Sawyer. Take away the last four days.”

  Her legs wrap around my hips, her arms around my neck. “Love me,” she whispers, rubbing against my arousal.

  “Always.”

  I make quick work of getting us naked and then I’m kneeling, looking down at my beautiful woman who for some reason loves me. My eyes caress over her firm breasts with the cherry red nipples taut, just begging for my mouth.

  “I can’t decide where to put my hands first. I want them everywhere.”

  “Put your cock inside of me because I’m so ready to feel you,
and put your hands here.” She cups her breasts and rubs her nipples with her thumbs.

  My cock pulses, leaps, and swells so hard that my balls tighten and threaten to explode before I’m even inside of her.

  “Now, Sawyer...I’m really wet for you.”

  Growling, I wrap my hand around my aching flesh and drag the head from her clit through her arousal and slowly push the tip inside.

  My breaths are heavy as I lower my head and tug a nipple into my mouth between my teeth. Her body shudders and arches, allowing me to slip that bit further inside. Moving to the other breast, I thrust inside and have to fight the urge to come when her fingers dig into my waist.

  “God,” Andie moans, “You’re so thick, and I feel you pulsing...it’s making me wetter.”

  Fuck! Fuck!

  Chanting isn’t helping but I need her with me, so I wrap her up in my arms and shiver when she hooks her legs over my hips and slips her feet between my thighs.

  “It’s going to be quick,” I growl, my hips already pulling my long thick shaft free before I plunge deeply, over and over again.

  I rest my forehead against hers and holding her gaze, I continue the loving, letting her see my feelings in my gaze, and the way I love her.

  The wetness at our groins turns me on even more and then I feel her orgasm start to claim her, triggering mine, and after one long thrust, I fill her. My semen spills out in streams against her pulsating walls. The feel of her so snug and tight is like coming home.

  Andie stretches under me, giving me a blissful smile, my groin tightens. Her eyes pop wide. “So soon?”

  “Not that soon.” I chuckle and slowly slip my flesh free, rolling onto my back.

  Reaching out, I wrap her in my arms and sigh when she settles with her head on my chest, her fingers playing with the small smattering of hair.

  After a few minutes of silence, I say, “I really am sorry that I wasn’t there for you when you needed me the most. I hate myself for letting you down.”

  She kisses my chest and then rests her chin where her lips had been. “We’re both at fault. I could have expanded on why I needed you.” Another kiss to my chest. “It’s over with now and I’d like you to come home with me at the weekend.”

  I run my finger along her kiss-swollen lips. “We need to be a lot more careful than we have been, but yes, I’ll come home with you at the weekend.” I smile and brush her shoulder with the tips of my fingers, causing them to tingle at the feel of her skin under them. “I enjoyed being there before because we could be a real couple. It didn’t matter who saw us.”

  “I liked that too.”

  23

  Andie

  With a sense of déjà vu, Diego greets us in the hospital waiting room and glares at Sawyer. I slip my fingers into Sawyer’s and quickly squeeze before I let go and wrap my arms around Diego’s neck. “Leave him alone please,” I whisper.

  Diego grunts in response.

  Pulling back, I ask, “How are they doing?”

  “Go see.” Diego grins, nodding in the direction of my mom’s room.

  “Is anyone in with her?”

  He shakes his head. “She booted me out to go and get her a Starbucks.”

  Chuckling, I glance at Sawyer. “We’re all coffee drinkers here.” Turning back to Diego I grin and he starts laughing.

  “What do you guys want?”

  We give him our order and then I’m holding Sawyers hand as I lead him to my mom’s room. She isn’t the only one that I’m excited to see. I can’t wait to hold my little brother. I hadn’t had the chance when I was here a few days ago because he only came out of the incubator for quick cuddles with his mom and dad. I was impatient, but they’re the ones who need to bond with him before anyone else.

  Walking into the room, I stop and gasp. My mom is sitting in the rocking chair that’s been brought in and she has a sleeping Emile in her arms. She lifts her head, offering us a beaming smile as her eyes alight with happiness.

  “He’s just been moved up to a crib.”

  “Oh Mom! That’s great news.” I rush over and sit on the seat beside her. “I’m so glad.” I turn and meet Sawyer’s gaze, saying to him, “Come and meet my brother.”

  He takes my outstretched hand and keeps mine wrapped up with his. “I’d forgotten how small a baby can be.”

  “So had I,” Mom says and chuckles. “I’m not as young as I was when I had you, and boy do I know it.”

  “You have Diego Mom, you’ll be lucky if you get a chance to do anything yourself.”

  She smiles fondly. “I’m glad he wore me down because he’s a damn good man. I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

  “Luckiest day of my life,” Diego drawls on entering the room, “when you agreed to be my wife.” He moves closer and kisses my mom on the top of her head from behind. “Let your daughter meet her brother, honey.”

  “Oh yes! I feel like Santa finally delivered the present that I always asked for.” I smile at Mom as she gently puts Emile into my waiting arms. “Do you remember?” I ask her.

  “I do.” She pats Diego’s hands that are resting on her shoulders. “As a little girl she used to sit on Santa’s knee and ask for a sister.” She giggles. “I think it was the third year that she told Santa she’d stopped being picky and a brother would do just fine.”

  I laugh and turn so that Sawyer can see Emile. He crouches down beside my chair and strokes the fine dark hair on the baby’s head. Emile sleeps on completely oblivious to the love in the room.

  His tiny hands are clenched into fists and he twitches when I stroke the back of his hand. I slip my little finger into his palm and smile when he grips me tightly.

  “He’s a gorgeous baby.” Sawyer clears his throat, which drags my attention to his, and when I meet his gaze, I find his eyes swimming with emotion.

  “Congratulations,” he says to my mom and Diego. “I should have been here with Andie,” he adds. “I’ve apologized to her, and now I want to apologize to you both.” He glances to me before moving his attention away. “I’m sorry I let her down when she needed me the most...I love Andie, and I’m an asshole for letting her down.”

  “I agree,” Diego mutters, but shuts up when my Mom shoots him a death glare.

  She’s good at those.

  “Every relationship has its ups and downs, Sawyer. Andie admitted that she hadn’t been specific when she messaged you, and she’s already told us what was going on with you. So you don’t owe us anything. We’re just happy that you’re here with her now.”

  “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” His gaze dips and then he glances toward me. “The college rules say we can’t be together because is unethical.” He turns to the others. “Someone who didn’t like me turning her down has told the Dean of the department about us, and showed him some pictures that show us together.”

  “Fucking hell!” Diego curses. “Some bitch has taken pictures of you two?” He waves his hand between the two of us.

  “Yes. Exactly what you’re thinking.” I continue telling them what’s going on and why Sawyer and I have to be more careful than before. “The thing is that we’ll probably have to go out of town if we want to spend any time together. I hate it. But it’s for six weeks now. Then after graduation who cares whether or not we’re seen together.”

  “I don’t like this.” Diego paces. “I want to know who has been spying on you both.”

  “We’ll handle it,” I reassure him, while passing Emile to Sawyer who looks startled.

  I give him my chair and move to Diego. “We do know who it is and she’s another Professor at the college. It’s a difficult situation, but like I said before it’s only six weeks until graduation when it won’t matter if Sawyer is with me anymore.”

  “I think Eric should look into this.” Diego stubbornly stands beside my mom, his arms crossed in front of him.

  “Diego, you’re too far away.”

  He smiles down at his wife and gently lifts her into his arms before tak
ing her seat. Mom snuggles into him and Sawyer passes Emile back to them.

  “I appreciate you wanting to do something, but I will deal with it. I’m not sure what I’ll do yet, as I have to be careful because of Andie’s graduate program. But she isn’t going to get away with what she’s done. Part of me wants to go to the chancellor, but then I’ll be fired and Andie might be asked to leave. I can’t risk that.”

  Diego nods. “I can’t promise that nothing won’t be said if I should come across her at the graduation, but I’ll leave the payback to you.”

  I offer him a wry smile. “Thank you.” I move over to him and kiss his cheek. “It’s a really good feeling knowing that you want to protect me...Weird as well considering our ages, but good all the same.”

  He chuckles. “You’re welcome.” He kisses my mom on her cheek and says to me, “You do know that you’re a De La Fuente now too? Maybe not in name, but certainly in love...don’t forget that, okay?”

  Sawyer slips his arm around my waist and settling against him, I reply to Diego, “I won’t.” Smiling at Sawyer, I add, “Let’s go.” I roll my eyes as I look back at Mom and Diego snuggling with Emile. “We'll be back later.”

  “Okay, honey,” Mom says, a lovely blush coating her cheeks. “Not too late though as we settle down here early.”

  “We’ll call in before dinner.” Taking hold of Sawyer’s hand, I lead him out of the room.

  24

  Sawyer

  Having Andie sitting at the front of the auditorium and Dean Johansson at the back, took close to an hour for me to get fully involved into the class. Andie, unless she wants to tease, doesn’t bother me anymore, but the Dean made me nervous.

  Was he there to check up on Andie and me? Because I can’t remember the last time that he sat in on one of my classes.

  Tap. Tap.

  My attention goes to the tapping on the frosted glass of my office door...and then in she walks. Her smile as she meets my gaze lights my heart.