Page 49 of Give In

“Funny, I thought that was your job.”

“Ha ha, very mature, Professor. Honestly, why?”

“To protect you, Eden. Hate me all you want, it’s what I’ll keep doing.”

“I don’t hate you,” I said through a yawn, leaning my head against the window.

“You don’t?”

Had I had the energy, I’d have looked at him so I could analyze whether his expression held the same surprise his tone had.

I didn’t have that energy, though. Nor did I have the energy to filter my words. Eyes closed, I shook my head a little. “No. I find you fascinating. Attractive. Passionate and intelligent. And dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“Very. No one else seems to see it. They think you’re deep and sensitive. But I know better. Ifeelit.”

“I always knew you were brilliant,” I thought I heard as sleep pulled me under.

*******

What felt like minutes later, heat and comfort surrounded me as cold air whipped across my face.

When a familiar scent filled my nose, my eyes shot open, and I saw my face was pressed against Professor Caine’s broad chest.

He held me tenderly, carrying me toward a house.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“Four.”

It’d taken forty minutes to get from my apartment to his place. From the little I saw before I’d conked out, we’d been heading in the opposite direction of Sinners.

“You drive a long way to come see me,” I mumbled as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“You’re right, I do.”

“Why?”

“I like to,” he answered, as if it were that simple.

Maybe it was.

“Put me down, I can walk,” I insisted, though I made no moves to remove my own hold on him.

“No.” He tightened his grip as he unlocked the front door and kicked it closed behind us, not bothering to turn on any lights as he moved through a small room and started up some steps.

“I’ve never been carried like this before,” I murmured, more to myself than him.

“Never?”

“Maybe. I mean, before I could walk I assume someone had to carry me. But nothing I can remember. When I was a little girl, if I fell asleep somewhere, I was woken up to put myself to bed. I much prefer being carried.”

“In that case, I’ll carry you everywhere from now on.” Reaching the top of the stairs, he walked us into another room and placed me gently on a bed.

“No, then it wouldn’t be special. Just this once was perfect.” I yawned and curled onto my side. “This is your room, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”