Page 225 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 10
I moved my hand to the back of her neck and pulled her into me. Everything seemed so simple when we kissed. It was just right. It was perfect.
She moved her head back, breaking the kiss. If I wanted, I was pretty sure I could have her again right now. I could postpone whatever she was about to say. But what was the point? I always knew this day would come. It was like my whole body was slowly turning numb, preparing for the pain. I was used to the pain.
She placed one last swift kiss against my lips. “You have to promise," she said again.
"Okay. I promise that I won't get mad."
"My birthday is on October 15th."
"That's good to know. I'll make sure to clear my schedule." It was already on my calendar.
"No, that's not what's bothering me." She grabbed my hands from her back, moved them to my lap, and held them firmly. "I lied to you."
I could feel my eyebrows draw together. My first thought was Tyler. It was the only thing she’d lied to me about. Had it been more? I let that thought settle for a moment. If she left me for him, it would kill me. But maybe...maybe she deserved someone her own age that could treat her well. I wasn’t a good man. I stared into her eyes. I was a monster.Breathe.
"I've been lying to you ever since you walked me home from that party. I didn't mean to. At first I just didn't want to get in trouble. But now it's so much more. I don't want to hurt you. I don't want this to be over."
"Penny, I told you that I'm not going anywhere. Just tell me." I squeezed her hands.Stay. Please just stay. I’ll be better. I’ll be better for you.
She took a deep breath. "I'm not a senior."
What?Of course she was. What was she talking about?
"I'm a sophomore. But my birthday is October 15th. I'll be 20 in just a couple weeks."
It felt like she slapped me. "You're only 19?" I didn’t realize I’d said it out loud. She was a teenager?I’m fucking a teenager? Jesus Christ!I pulled my hands out of hers.
"I'm practically 20."
I ran both my hands through my hair. "Oh God, I've been serving you alcohol. I could have been arrested."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"You're only 19?" I felt like I was choking. I wanted to reach out to her, but I couldn’t. Instead I ran my hands down the scruff on my face. "Penny." My voice sounded broken.
"I know that I should have told you."
"You made me feel awful for not telling you about Isabella. And the whole time you were lying to me?" I’d finally trusted someone and she was fucking 19? I was a monster. I was a pervert. I was fucking disgusting.
"I know, I'm so sorry."
"I told you how hard it is for me to trust people. This is why. Because no one is trustworthy. I thought you were different."I thought you were older.I’d loved how innocent she was. But she was innocent because she was a child.I’m a sick fuck.
"Professor Hunter, please. That's my only secret. You know everything about me now. You can trust me. It's still me. It's just two years difference. Two years is nothing."
"It's not the age. It's that you lied to me." I didn’t know if that was true. It was both. I could barely look at her.I’m disgusting.
"If I had told you that first night, you could have reported me to the dean. I would have been kicked out of school."
"I never would have done that."
"But it's your job."
"I don't care about my job! I care about you. I had a crush on you. It took every ounce of control I had to not lift up that short, sparkly skirt you were wearing and have my way with you right there in the middle of campus."
"I didn't know that. All I knew was that I was drinking underage and I had a crush on my professor. I was so out of my comfort zone. I didn't know what to do."
"Well you should have told me."
