Page 3 of Blackwood

He squeezed my shoulders hard, too hard. “Come on. You’ll feel better.”

I bit my lip and rose as he released me. He sank onto his couch, one arm slung along the back. He was handsome, his sandy hair and clean-cut features screaming “All-American guy.” I’d never seen him with so much as a shadow along his jaw. Never a hair out of place, his clothes always perfectly pressed. He wore a uniform, a costume designed to lull me into a false sense of security. It failed to hide the fact that he was forty, married, and a known student-fucker.

This wasn’t the first time he’d tried to get close to me. But I’d heard plenty of stories about his conquests, and I wouldn’t be the next. All the same, I had to do this. For Dad. One last gauntlet before I could investigate his disappearance.

I eased down next to him, but not close enough to touch. “It’s going to take time. I still think about her a lot.”

“I know.” He grabbed my upper arm and pulled me into his side. “Shh.” He kissed my hair. “I know it hurts.”

I stared at the door, willing someone to knock. “I think getting out and doing the surveying will help me. Maybe once I get back…” I shrugged and let the carrot dangle in the air.

He ran his hand through my hair, then down to my waist. “You think you’d be ready to talk about it then?” His thumb stroked the bare patch of skin between my pants and my shirt.

I swallowed hard. “I think so, yes. Doing the legwork will help me clear my head.”

“But that will be months.” He sighed and slid his fingers under my shirt.

I froze. “I know.”

“I just thought I’d have the chance to help you through your mother’s passing while it’s still fresh. It’s only been a few months. Is being alone really the best thing for you right now?” He inched his fingers along my skin, sliding up my stomach.

I pulled out my last card. Bursting into tears, I buried my face in his chest. “I just can’t stop thinking about her. Time alone would help me let her go, you know?”

“Shhh.” He rubbed my back, and I could almost feel him smiling. “I’ve got you.”

Not even close. I fake cried with hiccupping sobs as he wrapped his other arm around me.

“I understand.” He kissed my hair. “I can wait. How long will your surveys take? A month?”

“I’ll need at least three.” I could do it in one, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Three?” The frown in his voice iced my insides.

“I want to be thorough, especially since my Ph.D. is riding on this. I hope that’s all right?” I kept my voice meek.

“Well, I suppose thatcouldwork. Three months is a long time, but if that’s what you need to get your head clear so that I can help you, then I can live with it.”

I nodded and blinked hard so a tear would wet my cheek, then looked into his eyes. “Thank you.”

His gaze flicked to my lips. “Once the surveying is done—”

“I’ll be back.”

He leaned forward, and I let him brush his lips across mine. Then I buried my face against his shirt again. I hoped my nose would run and leave snot all along the designer check pattern.

“Good.” He held me close. “I want to help you as soon as I can. I care about you so much.”

I sniffled. “I know. You’re so good to me, Frank.”

“That’s my job.” His chest puffed up. “Caring about students and their personal wellbeing is part of it.”

“Thank you.” I lay my head on his shoulder. “I owe you so much.”

“My pleasure.” His erection poked against his khaki pants, fanning out the pleats. He seemed to have no qualms about it. “I’ll get the funds all set up this afternoon. The sooner you get the surveying done, the better. Once it’s all laid out, you can come back. We can…talk through it all until you’re feeling better. Then we’ll both go out and oversee the undergrads on the digs.”

The mental image of him grunting and grinding all over me in a pup tent was a particularly disturbing visual.

I forced a wan smile. “That sounds perfect. I can’t wait.”

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