“I’m not sure that’s a good idea at the moment, Ms. Kane,” he clears his throat.
“I think you can call me Aria now,” I grin.
“This isn’t amusing, little girl. If you have some plan to do something to me…to blackmail me or something, it isn’t going to work.”
“What? Blackmail? Is that what you think of me? Wow, that’s a total bunch of bullshit.” My heart shatters into a thousand pieces in my chest and I feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
He scans my face for a moment then takes me by my arm.
“Let’s go,” he whispers and pulls me into his office.
His secretary lowers her glasses and stares me up and down.
“Professor? What’s the problem?” she asks as he drags me past her.
“It’s fine, Rosa. Go home,” he answers without even looking in her direction.
We enter his office and he slams the door. He doesn’t lock it this time, which may be a bad sign. He spins on his heels and says, “What are you up to? Just what is it that you’re trying to accomplish?”
“What do you mean? I’m not trying to accomplish anything. I just want to get to know you better.”
“You’re eighteen years old. I’m thirty-five. What do we have in common? Why do you want to get to know me?”
“What does our age have to do with anything? We’re both technically adults so there’s no law against us getting to know each other.”
“I’m in a position of authority over you. It’s inappropriate. I could lose my job and my professional reputation. And what about you? Do you want to have to deal with the public scrutiny that would arise from that sort of scandal? I have a duty to protect you even if it’s from your own poor judgment.”
The concept of him wanting to protect me is pretty attractive, but I’m not going to let his good judgment prevent us from being together.
“The only way this could become a problem is if we tell people about it. I’m not going to tell anyone, are you?”
“Aria, that’s not the point.”
The sound of my name on his lips makes me want to kiss it right off. God, he’s so ruggedly handsome and sexy. Everything about him is.
“What’s the point?”
“This was a mistake,” he says but he won’t look at me.
“You didn’t think it was a mistake when it was happening. Look at me.”
“No, I knew it was a mistake then, too, but I didn’t care. Now I’ve had some time to think, and I’ve decided something like that can’t happen again.”
I pause for a moment and try to swallow the disappointment that’s quickly consuming me.
“I can’t believe you feel that way. I won’t believe it. I know you want me,” I argue.
He shakes his head and sighs, “Of course, I want you, little girl, but there’s just too much at stake.”
“Then, kiss me goodbye.”
I step close to him and lean forward, pausing just before our lips touch. He breathes deeply and grabs my face with both of his hands, kissing me with an urgency and passion that causes fireworks to flash and crack in my mind. It’s a violent kiss that lays me defenseless like a slave to his will.
He releases me and hovers close with his eyes closed then says, “Goodbye.”
This is the very moment I feel my heart break.
3
