“In the moment, no,” I agreed, walking over to my chest of drawers and getting her a white V-neck. “And after feeling you without one, I doubt I’ll want to start now.” I walked back over to her and handed her the shirt.

“You are on the pill?” I asked again. “Right?”

Her eyebrow quirked, and the mischievous grin she offered delighted me.

“Easton.” I gave her the warning tone I usually reserved for my son and my employees.

Her smile spread wide, actually revealing teeth. “Of course,” she soothed. “I would’ve stopped you if I wasn’t.”

I shook my head, taking her shirt and lifting it up over her head. Whether or not getting involved with my son’s teacher was a huge mistake, getting her pregnant would definitely be a disaster.

“You see?” I told her. “Problems can always be bigger.”

I undid her zipper and let her skirt fall to the ground. She was completely nude underneath, and I felt my heart pick up its pace when I remembered her lacy underwear were probably still lying somewhere in the French Quarter.

I slipped the T-shirt over her head and then reached down and grabbed her ass, bringing her closer.

“You distracted me on purpose,” she accused, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Yes, yes, I had. Her head had been starting to work again, just like last night, and I didn’t want her worrying about half a million things that wouldn’t happen today.

Or to start counting things, for crying out loud.

“Yes.” I trailed my lips across her cheek and down to her neck. “Because you can’t go home,” I whispered as her arms circled my neck and held me close.

“Why?”

I squeezed her ass, pressing her to my hardening cock. “Because your pussy is like gold, and in a matter of hours, I’ll want more of it.”

“Ugh,” she growled, pushing me away but smiling. “I see men in their thirties are no tamer than men in their twenties.”

I pinched her chin between my thumb and index finger. “Lucky you,” I replied.

She shook her head at me, probably deciding to pack away her escape plan for now. She was stuck.

“I’m going to go make some phone calls,” I told her, backing away. “Feel free to use the shower, and there’s food in the kitchen if you’re hungry.”

THIRTEEN

EASTON

Arguing with Tyler Marek was a waste of time, especially when you didn’t really disagree.

I should’ve gone home.

I had work to get ahead on, an oven that I could’ve been cleaning, and lots of updates to be made to my website for the students and parents. Not to mention, I had leftover homemade bread in the freezer that needed to be eaten before the end of the month. I had a responsibility to Christian, and if I were his mother, I’d…

I let out a deep breath as I walked up to the vanity in his huge bathroom, having put back on his T-shirt after my shower, I rubbed the back of my head with a gray towel and shook my head.

I should go home.

But he kept wanting me.

He kept tapping at my shell like I was an egg he needed to crack. And while I constantly felt like goo that would spill everywhere if not protected by my hard outer armor, he made me feel like I didn’t need it.

Like he was going to take care of everything.

Here, in his cave of a house, with its shutters drawn and big, empty rooms, the serene glow of the soft lamps and the pitter-patter of rain on the roof, I’d finally relaxed.

He made me feel safe, and while I didn’t need a man to protect me, I kind of enjoyed letting some of the worry go. For the first time in a long time, I’d closed my eyes and fallen asleep last night without a struggle, peaceful in the feeling that someone was next to me.

And when I woke up, I hadn’t had the split-second moment of panic I always had before I registered that I was safe.

Instead, I’d woken up this morning, and rather than quickly scanning the room and taking inventory, my eyes had immediately fallen on Tyler’s back as he walked to the bathroom and winked at me over his shoulder before disappearing into the shower.

I found his hairbrush on the expansive sink counter, along with a hair dryer. After combing out my hair, I blew it out, threw the used towel in the hamper, and made up his bed. I also folded my clothes neatly, placing them on the chair in the corner, and scanned the room to make sure everything was in its place.

Or in its place as well as I could tell.

Stepping out of the room and into the hallway – if you could call it that – I slowly turned my head, taking in the surroundings that I had failed to notice last night as Tyler practically hauled me upstairs.

The landing was circular with a railing, so you could lean over and peer downstairs. Bedroom doors – or I assumed that’s what they were – lined the edges, and there was another staircase, leading to a third floor. The dark teak floors glimmered in the gentle lighting from the chandelier hanging above, and all of the wooden furniture surfaces shined. The lemon scent of wood polish, leather, and cologne filled my lungs, and it brought a smile to my face.

Men lived here, and those scents brought back memories of growing up with Jack and my father.

Trailing down the stairs, I stepped hesitantly, poking out my head with a watchful eye. I was still afraid Christian or someone else might appear and I wouldn’t have the slightest idea how to explain myself.

Peering to the right, I spied the foyer, so I turned left, heading toward the back of the house, figuring I’d find the kitchen. At the sound of Tyler’s voice, I stopped at the entrance to another hallway and caught a glimpse of a light coming through another door.