Page 27 of Blackwood

“What? No. He’s the one who saved me in the woods and stitched me up.” I pointed to my leg.

He knelt and ran his hands over the healing wounds. “You poor thing.” When his lips met my skin, I had to fight the impulse to knee him in the face.

His clean-shaven jaw brushed against my skin as he dropped kisses up to my knee and then higher. I took a step back. “I’m okay. I promise.”

He rose to his feet. “I think you should come back with me.”

“No.” I responded more vehemently than I intended.

His look of concern turned to a glower, and he took a step toward me. “I think this has been too much for you. You can always get back to the survey during summer term.”

“But I’m so close.” I forced myself to move closer to him. “My leg is nearly healed, and I’ve already found a promising dig site.” Running my hands down the front of his wool coat, I stared up into his eyes and tried to look beguiling.

He grabbed my waist and pressed me to him, his cock hardening against my stomach. “Maybe come back for just a week, so the two of us can get caught up.”

I let him kiss me, his mouth clumsy and demanding. Closing my eyes, I imagined it was Garrett’s skillful tongue pressing inside me, his hands roving my ass. Instead of Dr. Stallings’ smooth skin, it was Garrett’s rough beard against me.

Someone cleared their throat. Dr. Stallings released me and backed away. I wiped his saliva off my lips with the back of my hand.

“Who the hell are you, and what are you doing in my house?” Garrett’s glacial tone sent prickles along my skin.

“I’m Elise’s professor.” He puffed out his chest. “I’ve come to check up on her.”

“I saw how you were checking up.” Garrett walked up beside me, his jaw set in a furious line. “Teaching methods have certainly changed since I was a student.”

“I, ah, that’s none of your business.” He tried to stare down his nose at Garrett, but Dr. Stallings was a good three inches shorter, so it didn’t quite work.

“In my house, everything’s my business.” Garrett put his hand at the small of my back, his touch sending warmth licking along my skin.

Professor Stallings eyed Garrett’s arm as it snaked behind me. “Elise, you’re coming back with me.”

“I’m not finished. I only got one site scouted before the accident. I need more time.”

He shook his head, mock sadness drawing his mouth down in a frown. “I’m afraid it’s just too dangerous for you to be out here alone. I can’t promise funding for such a perilous expedition.”

My heart sank.

“You threaten her funding to keep her in line?” Garrett laughed. “That’s your power play?”

“I’ve done no such thing.” Dr. Stallings narrowed his eyes. “She was almost killed trying to survey this area. I think it only makes sense for her to wait until the summer when she can survey in safety.”

“And, let me guess, you intend to accompany her in the summer?”

“I’ll be free to help then, yes.”

“Help, huh?” Garrett tsked. “I hope you don’t intend to kiss her the same as you did a minute ago. Watching that shit was painful. So I can’t even imagine what a bumbling fool you’d be when trying to find her clit.”

Dr. Stallings’ face turned an angry shade of red as I wished for the floorboards to open up and swallow me.

I needed to defuse the situation. “Everyone just calm down, okay? We’re all adults here. No need for ugliness.”

Garrett scowled at Professor Stallings, and I could almost feel the vicious take down building in his lungs.

I edged closer to him. “Garrett, please.”

His fingers dug into my waist as he pulled me into his side. “Don’t say that.” His voice hissed through his teeth.

“Elise, come with me.” Dr. Stallings held his hand out toward me. “We can have that dinner and discuss your future like we should have done before you left. The land will still be here in the summer. I’ll come with you and help you get it all done. As your faculty advisor, I need you to trust me.”

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