Chapter One

My thoughts were spinning out of control and I gripped William’s hands tightly in mine until the skin of my knuckles turned white.

“Marry me,” William repeated, his eyes burning into mine. My words caught in my throat and I suddenly had the urge to flee.

“What if…what if someone found out? What if you lose your job?” My voice was panicked and I was practically yelling. He placed his hand on my cheek and stroked it soothingly. I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down.

“I don’t care about any of that anymore, but even if I did, you’re not my student anymore. When I almost lost you, I realized what was important to me. I don’t ever want you to leave my side again.” He pressed his lips against mine, begging me to say yes. I got lost in his touch for a moment but quickly regained composure.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” I said, placing my hand on his chest. His heart was beating wildly. His muscles flexed under his jaw.

“You didn’t ask,” he replied, his words sharp and I could tell he was on the verge of losing his patience.

“I’m not saying no.” My voice was barely a whisper. I wanted so badly to jump in his arms and scream yes from the top of my lungs but I couldn’t be the reason he lost everything in his life. I knew his father hated me and make his life miserable.

He would eventually regret it and in turn, he would regret me. His body pulled back from mine. I put my hands on either side of his face and stared him directly in the eye. “I want to marry you. I just need some time. Take things slow,” I said, forcing a small smile. William’s hands met mine and he squeezed them gently.

“That’s all I want,” he said, wrapping his arms around me and spinning me around. I couldn’t help but let myself get lost in his happiness. I squeezed his neck tightly and buried my face in his chest, breathing in his musky scent. When I thought about all we had been through; the ex-wife, the jealous girlfriend, the even more jealous husband of said girlfriend and the horrible way William’s father had treated us, I couldn’t even begin to imagine how others would take the news of us being married. I wanted to run away with him. I wanted to forget about Florida and all of the trouble that had come along so far and just get lost with him, but I knew that was impossible. Even with all of the money in the world, and William did possess quite a bit, we could never hide from everyone forever. His family would find out—and probably cut him off. William kissed me softly, lingering just above my mouth, leaving me craving more. The mood around us shifted from panic and excitement to pure lust. I slipped my fingers up his neck into his hair. His hand twisted into a knot in my hair, tugging gently.

“Never leave me, Emma,” he whispered.

“Never,” I replied. His mouth found mine, hard. His tongue pushed gently against my lips and I let them fall open for him. His other hand slid down my spine and over my bottom, squeezing gently. I let out a quiet moan into his mouth. His hand moved further down my thigh and rested below my knee. He pulled my leg up to his side as his breathing became heavier. I wanted more than anything to feel his flesh against mine, to rid my thoughts of all that we had endured. I tugged feverishly at his belt as my body ached for him. I cried out as he pushed the length of himself into my thigh.

“I want you.” I breathed heavily as dampness pooled between my legs. He shoved me back onto the couch and quickly undid his shirt. I was completely caught up in the moment, sliding my hand down my thigh towards my most sensitive areas. His eyes burned with wanting as he threw his shirt to the ground and quickly undid his belt and slipped his jeans down his legs.

“Take your clothes off.” His voice was low and his eyes traveled down my body as he spoke. I bit my lip and slipped my t-shirt over my head, revealing my bare swollen br**sts. His jaw clenched and I continued, pulling off my shorts and panties as I lay back on the couch. I rested my hand just below my belly, running my fingertips over my skin. “Show me how badly you want me.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine and my fingers automatically responded to the seductive sound of his voice. I slipped my hand lower, my fingers gliding effortlessly across my wetness. I let out a breath as I felt my insides tighten. William’s hand mirrored mine as he slowly stroked himself.

“You are so beautiful.”

With his words, I became bolder, dipping a finger inside myself, my back arching in response.

“Oh, god,” I panted as he lowered himself onto the couch.

“Don’t stop,” he instructed as he traced the entrance of me with his hardness. I began to rub harder as he slipped the tip of himself inside, causing all of my muscles to tighten in response. I wanted him inside of me, deep inside of me, and I was willing to do anything he asked. His fingers found mine and he slowed my movements, making my hand move in smaller, more deliberate circles. He rocked his hips slightly, just enough to tease my body. I let my free hand slide over my breast, my nipple hardening under my fingers the way he had made it do before. I pinched it gently, as his eyes wandered over my body. My hips rocked against my hand and I was struggling to control my breathing.

“Does that feel good?” he asked, and I could barely find my voice to answer. I nodded, my lips parted.

He slipped himself in a little further and my body reacted, grabbing him and trying desperately to pull him deeper inside of me. I raised my hips, silently begging him to slide in deeper but he held firm. “That is enough of that.” He grabbed my wrists and pushed them over my head. I lifted my hips again, desperate to find my release. He responded by pulling out of me completely. He repositioned himself so that he held both of my hands in one of his and slipped the other down between my legs. He slowly dragged the tip of his finger up and down, barely touching my skin.

“William, please,” I cried out, tugging against his hand. He dipped a finger inside of me suddenly, nearly sending me over the edge. His mouth just inches from mine as I panted. “Please” I moaned and he slipped a second finger inside, angling just right to touch places inside of me that I didn’t even know existed. I rocked against his hand, unable to stop myself. I widened my legs, making sure he could have a clear view of what he was missing. He took his thumb and slowly circled over my most sweet spot as his fingers continued to slide in and out of me. “Oh, god!” I turned my head, pressing it against the cushion.

“Look at me.” His breath tickled my ear. I turned to look him in the eye, breathing in his sweet minty breath. “You wanted to take things slow.”

I bucked against him with my hips out of frustration. I hadn’t said no to his proposal; I just needed more time to process everything we had been through.

“You’re punishing me?” I couldn’t hide the anger in my voice. I wanted to slap him, and might have if he didn’t have my hands pinned down. A smile crept across his face.

“I’m just doing as you asked. You have more control than you realize, Emma.” His fingers slowly began to move again. I wanted to be mad at him but my body betrayed me. My hips rocked against his hand. His smile grew wider as he licked his lips and leaned closer. His breath was warm against my ear and sent a shiver throughout my body. “I only want to please you, Emma.” His lips brushed along my neck.

“Then f**k me,” I panted as my core tightened around him. He withdrew his fingers and shoved himself inside of me forcefully. I moaned into his ear as his grip on my hands tightened with each thrust. I wrapped my legs around him, giving him deeper access.

“I want every part of you, Emma,” he panted.

“I’m yours, William.”

We exploded together, our bodies becoming one for a brief moment in time. He collapsed heavily on top of my and he released my wrists. He put his hands on either side of me to push himself off the couch. I wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled him back into me.

“Please don’t go.” His body tensed for a moment but he did not pull against me. I knew I was asking a lot from him. All of these feelings were just as new to him as they were to me. He relaxed back onto me and pushed my hair out of my face with his fingers.

“I don’t think I could leave you if I tried.” He put his forehead against mine and let out a heavy breath. I let my fingers slip into his hair.

It was frightening how quickly I had fallen for William. He consumed me. It didn’t matter if he was good for me anymore. It only mattered that I was with him.

We spent the rest of the night entangled in each other. As the sun rose, I tried to unwrap our bodies so I could make a fresh pot of coffee. William’s arms tightened around me like a snake, holding me firmly in place.

“Don’t leave me,” he mumbled into my chest.

“I’m not leaving you. I just want to make some coffee,” I whispered as I pushed against him.

“You will.” From the tone of his voice, it was obvious he was lost in a nightmare. I stopped struggling and kissed the top of his head. I rubbed his back and waited for him to awaken. When he did, he seemed oblivious to the earlier conversation. It was hard to imagine someone like William feeling like he had no control.

Chapter Two

William rubbed the sleep from his eyes and smiled as he glanced down at me. He had awakened in a great mood judging by the length of him pressed firmly against my inner thigh.

“It’s hard to imagine I am not dreaming.” He gave me a quick peck on the lips. It was an innocent gesture, but he lingered and the air around us grew thick with desire.

“If we don’t get off this couch soon, we may die of starvation,” I joked.

He laughed, his whole body gyrating against me in response. “You’re right. I haven’t eaten in a while.” His eyes narrowed as he slid himself down the length of my body, leaving a trail of kisses along the way. My hands ran through his hair as my back arched towards him.

“William,” I giggled. “We need to get ready for the day.”

“Why?” he asked as he nuzzled my inner thigh. It tickled and I squirmed against him.

“I want you to meet my family.”

His head shot up and his eyes locked onto mine.

“I thought you didn’t want anyone to know about us?”

“I don’t think my aunt would tell anyone. Besides, she doesn’t have to know who your father is.” If William wanted to take a big step like marriage, it was only right that he meet my family first. I only wish he could have met my parents, although they may not have approved of our relationship.

William slid back up the length of my body and rubbed my cheek with the pad of his thumb.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly. His hands tangled in my hair as we lay in each other’s arms. I could see us doing this every day for the rest of our lives. He had become my obsession. My every thought. I needed him to feel whole. Everything in my life before him was filled with loneliness.

Part of me wanted to introduce him to Judy to show her I was worthy of happiness. Worthy of someone’s love. She should have been the person I ran to when I was feeling lonely, but she pushed me away. She was uncaring and cold. Unable to show love to me.

William was different. His world revolved around mine. I still couldn’t understand his affection for me. No one had ever looked at me the way he does. Never touched me the way he does. He was intense and overwhelming, but he was mine and I was his. I loved that feeling of belonging to someone.

I felt safe with him even in the midst of all the chaos that swarmed our relationship. No matter how dominating and controlling he appeared from the outside, I knew better. He was scared to feel, scared to love, and scared to lose.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified to introduce him to my aunt. She was judgmental and distant. Regardless of how she responded, she would know that I was worthy of someone’s love. I need him and I needed her to know that I didn’t need her.

I expected William to be more resistant to the idea of meeting her. I had hoped for it. Going through with this would not only put her in her place, but it would make all of this that I had with William real. I’m not sure which part of that scared me more.

“Take a nice hot shower. I’ll cook us some breakfast.” William kissed me gently on the forehead and smiled before pushing up onto his elbows and sliding off the couch. I stretched like a cat before taking his hand and allowing him to lift me to my feet.

I suddenly became aware at how naked I was, and wrapped my arms over my chest. William’s eyes raked over the length of my body before grabbing my arm and pulling it away from my br**sts.

“Don’t hide yourself from me.”

I reluctantly let my hands fall to my sides. I chewed on my lip as my eyes danced over his naked form. He placed his fingers under my chin and tilted my face up to meet his gaze.

“You are perfect.”

My face heated with a blush as I tried to fight back a smile. What had I done to deserve him? He leaned closer, running his lips along my neck up to my ear. I let out a sigh and closed my eyes, letting my head roll to the side to give him better access.

“Go take your shower before I take you into the bedroom and we don’t get anything done today,” he whispered in my ear. I nodded and he smacked me lightly across the bottom as I turned towards the bathroom. I looked over my shoulder and smiled at him before making my way to the other side of the room.

The water was hot and felt incredible against my skin. I washed myself twice, lingering in the warmth as long as I could. All of the stress of taking William to meet my aunt washed away. I thought again about my parents, and what they would have said if I’d brought home someone like William.