Page 13 of His to Teach
I want to ask what that means, but he’s turning me away from the window, running his hands up my arms to my shoulders, bracing me. “You okay?”
I let out a shaky breath. “I think so.”
He grins, his expression undeniably proud. “You did wonderfully.”
I blush, looking down. “I should be saying that to you.”
He lets out a laugh, the sound loud in the suddenly silent room. I realize then that the speakers have been turned off. I wonder if the other rooms are empty now that the show is over.
“Believe me, that was far more enjoyable for me than it was for you.”
I can’t imagine how that could possibly be true but before I can argue he’s taking my hand, leading me towards the door. As we leave, I glance back over my shoulder. The man is lifting the woman from the bench, cradling her in his arms. It’s the last thing I see before we’re passing through the door into the hallway.
My thoughts feel chaotic but muted as we walk back to the lounge. As if the riot of questions and memories is happening far away, in a place where I can observe them without being consumed by them. I feel tired and a little fuzzy, almost like I’m tipsy, so I focus on the feel of Nate’s hand over mine, the steadiness of him as he leads me forward.
“Harper,” he says, stopping. I look up and realize that we’re near the front mahogany door. “It’s time to go.”
“I…what?”
“It’s late. You should get home.”
I blink up at him, confused. “You…you want me to leave? Now?”
Something in his smile makes me shiver. “If you stay, things will go too far."
“Too far?”
He leans down towards me. “I won't be able to keep my hands off of you, Harper,” he says, his voice low and dangerous. I swallow, my stomach flipping once again. I like the sound of that, to be honest. Yet he thinks it’s a reason for me to leave.
As if he can sense the disappointment coursing through me, he continues. “And I don’t think you’re quite ready yet for what I have in mind.”
I swallow. His eyes are so dark, so intense. I should feel safer here than I did back in that viewing room, now that we’re surrounded by people. But there’s something hidden beneath his words that has a thrill of fear rushing through me.
Then his eyes seem to lighten a little, his face relaxing. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”
“You really don’t have to?—”
He silences me with a swift glance in my direction. I’m realizing that Nate is not a man I’d be eager to argue with. Holding my hand, he walks me through the door to the lobby. The same blond woman is there, holding our coats and my purse. Before I can ask him how on earth she was so prepared for us, he’s slipping my coat on, handing me my purse and pulling me out into the night.
We’re quiet as we cross the sidewalk to the parking lot. The muted feeling in my brain is starting to fade in the cool darkness of night, the swirling questions getting louder.
Did I really just do that? Let a man I barely know show me those things? Touch me like that? Would I see him again? What, exactly, did he mean when he alluded to what he had in mind?
“This is me,” I murmur when we reach my car. I fumble in my purse with fingers that feel suddenly bulky and it takes me a moment to find my keys. He’s silent while I search and when I finally look up, his gaze is on me.
“When will I see you again?” he asks, eyes searching my face. “Will you be here next week?”
I shake my head. “I only had a pass for tonight.”
He waves his hands dismissively. “I’ll take care of that.”
“You'll take care of it? I thought only members were allowed to be here when it isn’t a Public Night.”
His lips tug up even more, smirking now. “Rules like that don’t apply to men like me,” he says cryptically, opening my door. “I can bring guests as I see fit.” He nods at the open door. “Get inside now. Get warm.”
“You want me to be your guest?” I ask, staring up at him.
He leans in so close his lips touch the edge of my ear. “Oh, Harper. You being my guest is only the beginning of what I want.”
