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"I'm sorry for how you found out about Lucy and me. I'm sorry for disrespecting your home. But I will never give Lucy up."

Michael's nose flared, and his hands clenched. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

"I would encourage her to see your point of view. I would advise her that you love her and want what's best for her. Ultimately the decision is hers, but the last thing I want is to cause friction between you two. But I would not give her up."

I met Lucy's wet gaze. Her eyes softened with love and devotion. I just knew my expression mirrored hers.

I heard Michael expel his breath and mutter, "for fucks sake." He stood up roughly, his chair screeching and interrupting our shared entrance.

"This is what's going to happen. Lucy, you are transferring out of Mr. Drake's class. I have the paperwork squared away with admin. I informed them that Mr. Drake and I had become good friends," he spat out that last part with bitter scorn. "And that he comes over most nights for dinner, so it would be unethical for him to be Lucy's teacher."

Lucy's eyes widened in surprise as she hung on to her father's words. The more he spoke, the more the light in her eyes returned. Hope took flight in my chest as I listened to what Michael had to say.

"Roman," he turned to address me. "When you're at school, you do not know Lucy. You do not talk to her, about her, or even look at her. Since you should know better," that last part was said with mocking disdain, "I'm going against my better judgment and entrusting you to follow my rules."

I nodded stiffly, knowing I would find a loophole to contact her. One that wouldn't get her in trouble.

"Since I have to keep the pretense up that we're friends and since I have zero trust that you two will stay away from each other..." his words filtered out as he looked between the two of us, daring us to lie to his face that we would keep apart. I stayed quiet. So did Lucy.

He sighed, shaking his head. "Roman, you may have dinner with us once a week. I will give you time to be alone for one hour, but it must be either in the kitchen or living room."

"Deal," I quickly said, not quite believing he was giving this much concession. As hypocritical as it was, I'm not sure I would be so generous if the roles were reversed.

Michael lifted a brow at my overeagerness. Lucy leaned forward in her seat, her excitement palpable. "After graduation, obviously, I can't stop you two from doing...whatever. But while she's living under my roof and in my care, you two will follow my rules, or I'll report you so fast your head will spin."

Lucy's breath hitched in distress. Undeterred, her father turned to her. "And we'll move back to Koby Plains."

I internally scoffed, knowing that I would follow Lucy to the ends of the Earth. But she was settled in her studies, making friends and excelling in her classes. I didn't want to uproot her again. And her father would do so in a heartbeat if he thought he was protecting her.

"Do I make myself clear, Lucy?"

Lucy nodded quickly, her eyes moving to mine briefly before floating back to her father. "Yes, Dad. I promise we'll follow your rules. Thank you, thank you so much!" Her voice broke as she tried not to let her emotions get away from her.

Michael sighed before rising and placing a gentle kiss on her head. "You have ten minutes." He sent me a look full of warning. "Keep it PG."

His feet were barely out of the room before our chairs were scraped back, and we were around the table, desperate to touch each other.

She lunged into my arms at the same time mine closed around her waist, lifting her off her feet. Our mouths met frantically. Our tongues twisted together, and our teeth clashed as our kiss reached fever pitch. She moaned quietly into my mouth, and Itightened my grip, wishing I could sink into her and make us one. I stumbled and turned to place her on the dining table, my mouth refusing to leave hers for a second. I cupped her cheeks in reverence as we ate at each other's mouths. I fucking hoped her Dad had gone upstairs or outside because, from the whimpering sounds coming from his daughter, there was no mistaking what we were doing.

With great reluctance - because we had to fucking breathe - I tore my mouth away, breathing roughly as I planted kisses on her eyelids, her cheeks, her forehead, her jaw...anywhere I could reach.

"I missed you so much," she breathed as she closed her eyes against my caresses.

"Me, too, baby. Me, too."

We sipped from each other's mouths for a moment before leaning our foreheads together, occasionally rubbing our noses affectionately.

I heard footsteps approach the open door. I stiffened but was physically unable to detach myself from Lucy.

"Just letting you know, this is your one-minute warning." The footsteps retreated, and I pulled back.

"We have to do what he says, baby." I pushed back a strand of hair behind her ear, unable to stop touching her.

She reached up and cupped my hand with hers, turning to press a hot kiss in the center of my palm. My dick was aching behind my pants, straining to enter its owner. But I forced it down.

"It's only for a few more months, and then we'll have the rest of our lives together."

She nodded against my palm. "I agree."