Page 70 of Emily: Hello Kitten
“Sit down, please,” he says calmly.
thirty-two
When I come back out, Sarah spears me with her gaze even as Adrian pops the cap on some bottles. He brings me a Coke, then blocks me from my sister to stare down at me. He reaches forward with a finger and traces the necklace he’s given me with a gentle smile.
“I didn’t say hello, Kitten,” he murmurs.
Oh, I’m definitely in hot water when my sister leaves. I swallow as his finger continues gliding along my neck. “We were distracted. I forgive you… this time.”
“This time.” He almost chuckles, but nods. “Get some sugar in you.”
He sits in his recliner, and I’m left to choose between his lap and sitting beside my sister. I know I want to be on him just in case she tries to drag me away, but I have a feeling that will cause a fight and she’s already calling Adrian my boyfriend. We haven’t talked about titles, just that we’re dating.
I finally sit beside my sister and nurse my Coke. Sarah takes a deep breath while ignoring her beer to rub her forehead. “Explain how this started.”
“We met before school,” I say immediately. “One thing went to another and—well, you know I’ve always liked older men. We ended up here… together.”
“A one-night-stand is what she had in mind,” Adrian says.
“And you didn’t?” Sarah asks.
“No. I don’t do one-night-stands,” he answers, surprising me. “I agreed to take her home with me because I wanted her, liked her sense of humor, her liveliness, everything I still like about her. I had no idea she was going to be my student. Ithoughtshe was at least twenty-one because she was being servedat a bar.”
I shoot him a look, but he shoots one right back to me until I sink back into my Coke.
My sister keeps asking questions, getting us up to the wedding. She looks at me. “I noticed you disappeared after your speech. What happened?”
“I told him we were done when we got back to campus because I didn’t and still don’t want him fired. I told him that we had to be done, over completely,” I whisper.
“It lasted for eight days.” He snorts. “Eight fucking days, and that was all we could manage.”
My sister looks between us and sighs. “You’re willing to risk your job for her?”
“Yes.” There’s no hesitation in Adrian’s answer. “I’m not willing to risk her being expelled, which is why we work hard to keep this a secret… for now.”
My sister falls quiet. I’ve already finished my Coke. I clear my throat. “Should I make dinner tonight, Adrian?”
He lifts his chin. “I was planning to take you out, but if I have something you want, that’s fine, baby.”
I stand up and he catches my wrist. “It’s been multiple days.”
I smile. “And? You want me to kiss you in front of my sister?”
“It’s not a proper hello until you do,” he counters.
“Hi, Adrian,” I say in a breathy voice before kissing him softly. “I’ll get started on dinner.”
“No wine tonight,” he says calmly.
I huff but head to the kitchen. I feel eyes on me, and when the silence in the room drags on a little long, Adrian stands. “More beer?”
“No, thank you. Can I speak with my sister alone, please?” Sarah asks without looking away from me.
I open the fridge, scan what he has, and pull out two salmon filets. I can work with this. He has shrimp too—he loves it—caviar, salad mix, plenty of veggies and sauces. I smile victoriously at my idea and shut the fridge, only to find my sister here.
“You’ve been knowingly screwing and dating your professor for months?” she asks. “You know this is wrong, Emily. He’s taking advantage. Just look at how he talks to you. He stopped you from walking in here until you kissed him. I don’t want to think about the other things he might beforcingyou to do.”
“He doesn’tforceme to do anything,” I say clearly. “We have a dynamic that works well, and I like him. A lot. I wanted it to just be sex. I wanted it to stop before your wedding, to stop at a one-night stand, but it didn’t. And now…”
