“I had a feeling that you would be amazing at this,” he said with a delighted smile as he cleaned up all the photographs and documents. “You’ve got a keen eye, Rachel. This position is going to help you grow in the direction you’re hoping for. Together, we’ll make sure that you land one of those internships.”
His confidence in me was like a cozy blanket, caring for me and keeping me warm. It was something I’d only ever experienced from Rosa and her parents, but it wasn’t the same. The little girl inside me was always hoping for the miracle. The one where her mom and dad suddenly realized that she was the most important person in their life and they wanted her to feel loved, to know they were proud of her. Over the last couple of years, a little counseling and a lot of growing up had helped me move beyond that daydream. Now, Liam was sparking a different dream, one where I was loved and believed in, but by someone even more special. Someone who was the other half of my soul.
Still, I wasn’t sure what he was getting out of the situation. What did I have to offer him that Hillary didn’t? “More than you know, ” he answered as he dropped down next to me on the sofa in his outdoor living room. “One of the reasons I haven’t hired anyone is because the biggest part of their job will be to be the first pass on grading artwork. Not just essays and tests, but their physical projects. So, I need someone with the right eye.” He waved a hand in the general direction of the door to his office. “And now I know, without a doubt, that I was right.” He smiled arrogantly and spread an arm out behind me while propping his crossed feet up on a stone coffee table.
My lips curved up as I thought about how amazing the last couple of weeks had been. We’d talked and laughed, made love like bunnies, and we worked well together. As incredible as it had been though, Hillary wasn’t the only dark cloud hanging over me. The TA position didn’t pay much, and I was saving every penny I could, but if I didn’t find a way to supplement somehow, I would just barely have enough money to cover tuition and books, which meant being homeless and hungry. Perhaps I should’ve become an artist after all since it was looking like I might have the starving part covered.
To make matters worse, I’d had my feelers out all the time, and it didn’t look like any of the possible internship openings were going to be anywhere near home. The closest one that I could find was in Chicago, and even that one was a long shot because they didn’t offer an internship every year and they never announced it until right before they started searching for a candidate. I’d promised Liam no more talk of leaving. But, if I couldn’t get a job here, I wasn’t sure I’d have much of a choice.
“No thanks, Ms. Cramer.” Liam’s deep voice came from right behind me, and as the sound washed over me, I tipped my head back to smile up at him. “Ms. Hill and I seem to have found our rhythm.” I stifled a snort knowing he was using the double entendre just to tease me. After we’d torn up the bed the night before, I’d mentioned that I loved whenever I could make him so wild that he lost all “rhythm.” My hair was in a twist on top of my head, and his fingers drifted across my bare neck. My pulse started pounding, and an insistent throbbing began between my legs. Holy cannoli. Yeah, we’d discovered pretty quickly that the back of my neck was a hot spot for me. And ever since then, Liam wouldn’t leave it alone, and he particularly enjoyed turning me on at the most inopportune times.
“I could review the still lifes that were turned in today. I don’t mind.” I bent my head over and rolled my eyes, then sighed when Liam started to rub my shoulders. She’s finally caught on to the fact that Liam let me help grade more than papers and she definitely wasn’t happy about it.
“Really, Ms. Cramer,” Liam’s tone was pleasant but the subtle increase in pressure from his fingers as they kneaded my muscles hinted at budding irritation. “We’re good to go. Dr. Rosenthal is excited to have you return, and I gave you a glowing recommendation when I thanked her for allowing me to borrow you.”
“Okay, well…” She trailed off and lingered awkwardly. I wanted to sigh and shake my head at her while telling her to get a darn clue. She was done here. No longer needed. And no longer welcome. Liam had much more patience for annoying people than me, but even he was getting noticeably irritated with her in the last few days.
“Are you done, baby?” he asked as he bent to kiss my temple, completely ignoring Hillary’s dawdling. I nodded and hit save just as he pulled back the chair I was sitting in and spun me around to face him. “I’m hungry.” He grinned wickedly, his innuendo blatantly obvious, and I flicked a glance at the door, relieved to see that Hillary had finally skedaddled. We didn’t hide our relationship, but we kept the overtly sexual repartee limited to when we were alone.
I hopped up from my seat and threw my arms around Liam’s neck and kissed him fervently. Our tongues danced, our moans mingled, and by the time I slowly peeled my lips from his, we were both breathing heavily. “Will that appetizer last you until we get to your place?”
Liam blinked a few times—still, a little dazed, and I did a little jig inside. I loved that I could make him forget about everything but me. It was only fair since he was frequently turning me into a quivering pile of mush from mind-blowing orgasms. He liked it when I was loud and even demanded it when we were at his house, but I was learning how to be quiet too since he liked to drag me into empty classrooms, or closets, or any other isolated spot and rock my world. After a few seconds, he surprised me by frowning, rather than grinning and whisking me away. “Is something wrong?” I asked hesitantly as I tucked my hair behind my right ear, then my left.
“No, baby.” His expression lightened, but it still seemed off. I didn’t get the chance to ask him again because he placed his hand at the small of my back and led me out of his office. “I intend to make a meal out of you when we get home,” he whispered. “Then I’ll have you for dessert.” The throbbing in my sex intensified, and my hardened nipples rubbed against the lace of my bra sparking little tingles in my breasts and belly.
“Can I order from this menu?” I asked cheekily. He chuckled warmly and kissed just below my hairline on my neck.
“Anything you want.”
12
Liam
“I can’t get enough of your taste,” I groaned as I took another long lick up Rachel’s pussy. She was slick and wet from the orgasm I’d just given her, and now, I was trying to decide whether to make her come with my mouth again or give my cock a turn. Eating her pussy was one of my favorite things to do, but when I glanced down and saw the angry purple color of my dick’s swollen head, I decided he should get a turn. Leisurely dragging my lips all along the way, I climbed up Rachel’s body until we were flush and my cock was nestled between her folds. “Are you ready for me, baby?” I purred, as I slid up and down, coating myself in her juices and teasing her clit.
“Yes. Please, Liam. I need you,” Rachel mewled and her hands clenched and twisted the sheets beside her.
Sealing my mouth over hers, I kissed her passionately as I entered her slowly. Eventually, I was balls deep, and we both groaned. Rachel always made me feel complete like she was the other half of my soul, but I never felt more whole than when I was inside her. It was like coming home, living in my very own paradise. Sometimes, after we were spent and just a tangled mess of limbs with no energy to move, I would wrap my arms around her, summon enough strength to roll us to the side and fall asleep still buried in her warmth.
We began to move together, our pace unhurried and savoring every moment. The tension built, but it wasn’t frenzied, thick and strong. We were making love, and it was almost overwhelming in its intensity. My hands were everywhere, exploring her curves and smooth skin anywhere I could reach. When it all became too much, we erupted together like a volcano of molten lava. I couldn’t catch my breath, and my heart was pounding so hard I could hear each thump in my ears.
“Better every time,” I groaned as I rolled to my side, bringing her with me. We cuddled in the quiet for a while, and I contemplated how to bring up something that had be
en on my mind. I decided to just go for it, thinking that her current mood would likely work in my favor. Her head was resting on my arm with her face buried in my chest and I tipped my chin down so I could kiss her temple. I pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear and felt the soft brush of her lips against my skin when her lips tipped up in a smile.
“I heard you talking to Rosa on the phone earlier,” I murmured. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were struggling with only your pay as a TA?” I’d known things were tight and I’d even hinted at being more than happy to help, but Rachel insisted that she needed to do things on her own. I respected and admired that, but it didn’t stop me from worrying. Then when I heard her on the phone, I realized it was worse than I thought.
Rachel shrugged but didn’t otherwise move when she mumbled, “It’s my problem. I’ll figure it out.”
Sighing, I cupped the back of her head in my palm and turned her head so I could see her face. We’d been together for almost two months, and I was getting impatient waiting for her to commit to me completely. I’d casually brought up the idea of living together a few times, but she always brushed it off, saying it was too soon. “Baby, when are you going to get it through your pretty little head that if it involves you, then it’s my problem too.” She looked up at me, and her expression softened, giving me a sweet smile before she snuggled a little deeper into my embrace.
“That’s sweet, Liam.” It was a subtle dismissal, but this time, I wasn’t going to let her have her way.
I gave her a small squeeze and nuzzled my beard against her cheek, eliciting a giggle. “You could save a lot more if you lived here next semester.” Rachel stiffened for a heartbeat, then let the tension go on a sigh. “And don’t tell me it’s too soon,” I groused. “My best friend had his wife moved in with him the night after they met.” Rachel looked up at me, her blue eyes wide and I nodded. “Asher had November living with him the night of their first date,” I piled on, knowing Rachel was familiar with their story. She inclined her head in acknowledgment, and I kept talking. “I’m going as slow as I can with you, baby, but you’re it for me, and it’s hard as hell to hold back.”
She ducked her head for a moment before meeting my steady gaze once more. “There is just a lot of unknowns in my future right now, and I don’t want to move too fast and make it even more difficult if things don’t work out.”
My eyes narrowed, and I clenched my jaw in frustration. “There isn’t an if when it comes to you and me, baby.”
“Not in the way you’re thinking,” she agreed. “I meant if I can’t find an internship here and I have to leave.” She quickly placed her finger over my pursed lips, pressing in so I couldn’t interject. “I know I promised not to talk about leaving, but I have to face reality. No matter how much I don’t want to be apart from you, I have to follow my own path and achieve my goals. If I gave that up for you, I would eventually resent you for it.” I wanted to argue, but I knew it was pointless. Though it might take more time than I would like, I would get my way in the end.
She didn’t know it yet, but I already had the job situation handled. However, I couldn’t be the one to tell her or she’d turn down the internship before she knew anything about it. The art gallery where I’d had my very first show, the one that launched my career, rarely took on interns. The man who owned it, Geoffrey, didn’t have the patience for the bullshit involved in finding someone you thought might work out and hoping for the best. He only took the time to mentor when approached by someone he trusted. I wasn’t so blinded by love that I would put my backing behind Rachel without doing my due diligence, so I hadn’t called Geoffrey until I was sure my instincts had been correct. Over the short time, Rachel had worked for me; she’d proven herself again and again. So, last week I made the call. It had been several years since I’d met a student worthy of my recommendation and Geoffrey hadn’t taken on a new intern since he finished with the last prodigy I sent him. I told him all about Rachel, and he agreed that she sounded like a good fit for him and his gallery. He was excited to have a “new project” as he liked to call his mentees.
In the end, we decided that the best was to approach the situation was for the contact to come straight from Geoffrey and he would inform Rachel that the name of the person who recommended her would remain confidential. I would tell her eventually, and I wouldn’t lie if she asked, but I hoped she would give the position a chance before it came out. I had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to walk away from the job once she’d spent time in the position. It was precisely what she was looking for. Geoffrey would be hard on her; he expected a lot, but there was also no one better to show her the way to reaching her dreams. And, when their time together was done, there were doors he could open for her that no one else had the keys to, but only if she earned it. I got her foot in the door, but it was all up to her from there.
“I don’t want to fight about this,” Rachel said in a small voice. “I know it’s tiring for you to have to drive me back and forth from your house—”
“Nothing I do for you is ever tiring,” I insisted before touching our lips in a gentle, loving kiss. “I would do anything to have you in my arms, Rachel.” Her clear blue eyes sparkled and her mouth curved up, then opened slightly, as though she wanted to say something, but then she closed it and just smiled. I kissed her again, then laughed when she broke it with a huge yawn. “Get some sleep, baby.”
Her eyes drooped as she rested her soft cheek back down on my arm. “M’kay.” I nuzzled my nose in her silky hair and inhaled deeply. She always smelled like mint and chocolate, and it had inspired a new appreciation for Andes Mints. Rachel had discovered a stash in my desk the other day and asked me about them. My answer had been to eat some off her body, let one melt in her pussy before licking it clean, then kiss her so that she could taste how delicious it was. Now, I kept them stocked just about everywhere.
I licked my lips at the memory, but when I felt Rachel’s deep, even breathing, I silently cursed because I was painfully hard and didn’t want to wake her. My eyes drifted to her face, so peaceful and open when she was sleeping. She was so fucking gorgeous, and I often felt as though my heart might explode at the depth of my feelings for her. The words were always there, right under the surface, but I held back, waiting until I thought she was ready. To help me keep them from spilling out at the wrong time, I whispered them to her every night after she fell asleep.
“I love you.”
* * *
“Dr. Bennet?” I glanced up from the work I was grading to see Hillary peeking into my office.
I pasted a fake smile on my face, despite how fucking annoyed I was and asked, “What can I do for you, Ms. Cramer?”
Apparently, she took my polite response as an invitation because she hurried into the room and approached my desk. A large, black portfolio was clasped in her right hand, and I mentally banged my head against my desk. Throughout the semester, Hillary had become quite the thorn in my side. She was always popping up to ask my opinion on her work or offer her help with everything under the sun. What bothered me the most though, was her passive-aggressive attitude toward Rachel. It was evident that Hillary felt she was more deserving of the position as my TA and I’d shut it down every time, but her reaction made me think that she didn’t see it as a rebuke. She took any attention I gave her and spun it into something positive. I was coming to the realization that I needed to have a discussion with Dr. Rosenthal and ask her to talk with Hillary about what was appropriate.
“I was hoping you’d have time to look over my latest project before I turn it in.” She swung up the heavy portfolio, and it landed on the desk with a thwack! Maybe you could give me some suggestions? I’d love to learn your process for critique.” Her smile turned a little sad as she sat in the chair beside my desk, the one I always insisted Rachel sit in when she was working in my office. “I’d been hoping to spend more time under your mentoring as your teaching assistant,” she said morosely. “Maybe next semester.” She perked
up at the thought, and I cringed just thinking about that scenario.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Cramer.” I tried to maintain my civil tone and expression, but the tapping of my fingers on the desk betrayed my impatience. Unsurprisingly, it escaped her notice. “Dr. Leonard has already asked Ms. Hill to fill the position next semester.”
Hillary’s face pinched, and she blew out a harsh breath then quickly tried to mask her anger with a tight smile. “Okay, well, about my project—“
“Ms. Cramer,” I sighed, too tired to remain courteous. “I really am sorry, but I have to give my time to my current students, and I’m swamped as it is. However, if you’d like to make an appointment to meet with me during office hours, I’d be happy to discuss your work.” My brain cringed at the idea of spending more time coaching Hillary. There had been too many instances of people being told they were hopeless by someone and then going on to prove them wrong with a vengeance, so I made it a point never to discourage anyone. However, that didn’t make it any less of a tedious process to work with someone who never changed after you give them feedback. Hillary didn’t get any better or worse; her art just stayed the same. It was one of only a handful of times in my career when I’ve wanted to tell someone that they were in the wrong degree and to find a different course of study. I honestly didn’t understand why Hillary was so determined to pursue art. Even if her art hadn’t lacked all passion and substance, she didn’t seem to like anyone else’s art, with the exception of mine. But even then, it seemed mechanical, like she thought she should like my work, so she did.
Until the Lightning Strikes: Happily Ever Alpha World Page 8
