Page 13 of Schooling Lucy (Off Limits #1)

R OMAN

One week.

That was how long I'd been without my soulmate.

The pain of not having Lucy with me was unbearable, coupled with the fact that our separation was sudden and forced, wrought in despair. The image of her tear-stained face as she pleaded with her father on my behalf, replayed in my mind nightly.

At times, I felt like I couldn't breathe or function.

Like I didn't know the basic acts to take care of myself.

I was anxious and panicked, worried that she was out there just as miserable as I was.

The thought of her sad and lonely, missing me, had me sweating and clawing at my chest in distress.

The idea that she was anything but happy and content didn't sit right with me.

I knew she was safe and sequestered in her hometown.

Hidden away from the big, bad teacher. If I wanted to, I could drive to Koby Plains and steal her away.

And God, was I tempted to. I knew she'd come willingly, and no one could stop us.

After all, she was eighteen. She could continue with her studies if she wished. She could do anything she liked.

Although the idea of her being barefoot and pregnant, giving her around-the-clock pleasure, was something that I couldn't stop fantasizing about.

I'd have to give up my teaching career, but that was no hardship. I had money and the means to support us.

But I couldn't do that to her. Couldn't do that to her father, either.

I knew how close they were; taking her away from the person she loved and admired would break their already fractured relationship.

As pissed as I was at Michael for scaring my woman and separating her from her man, a part of me understood his anger and pain.

If Lucy and I were lucky enough to have a daughter, you bet your ass I would be an overprotective Papa Bear.

So I couldn't blame him for doing what he needed to protect his daughter against someone he thought was a danger to her.

Truthfully, I was surprised he hadn't done more to punish me.

After Michael found us, I immediately contacted the school to take an emergency leave of absence, citing a family issue.

I hadn't taken any vacation days in years, so they were very accommodating.

I helped sort cover, not wanting to leave my students in the lurch.

Throughout it all, I kept expecting their tone to change from understanding to distaste.

I expected Michael to have contacted the school in his haste to alert them of my inappropriate behavior with a student and a call from the Superintendent to come in for a meeting. But no reprimand came.

As the week stretched on, I started to suspect that my sweet Lucy made a bargain with her Dad. Nothing would've stopped me from protecting my daughter...except perhaps a pair of little blue eyes that matched her mother's. Did my girl plead for my job?

By Saturday, I'd had enough. I knew Michael was still in the city, which angered me. Who was taking care of my girl?

In a moment of madness, I thought, "fuck it," and grabbed my car keys. I sped to Michael's house, my hands shaking with fury. Or was it withdrawal symptoms from being without Lucy for so long? Either way, I had nothing to lose.

As I hopped out of my car, my frantic gaze locked on the front door. But as I strode to bang on it and demand he speak to me, it suddenly sprang open. I paused in the street as Michael strolled out, carrying an overnight bag.

His head jerked up when he saw me approach, and his features darkened in rage. He yanked open the door to his car and threw his bag inside, slamming the door shut.

He watched me approach with his hands on his hips; his brow furrowed at my audacity.

"You have some fucking nerve," he spat out.

"Where is she?" I rasped, ignoring his words.

He let out a choked sound as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He shook his head before striding around to his driver's door.

"I know she's in Koby Plains. You think I won't go down there and take her?" I threatened.

He whirled to face me, storming forward like a raging bull until he grabbed my shirt. "You stay the fuck away from my daughter!" He yelled in my face.

"She's eighteen. There's nothing stopping us from being together," I goaded.

His face turned red, and he pushed me against his car, my back hitting it with a thump at the force of his shove.

"Then you can kiss your career goodbye," he sneered.

"You think I give a shit about my career?" I laughed in derision, shaking my head. He didn't get it.

His eyes shifted with puzzlement at my words, and his clenched fists loosened. I took advantage of his relaxed stance and pushed him away from me. "I love her," I simply said, my shaking voice betraying my desperation. I was a broken man and had no shame in portraying it.

Michael stepped away from me, breathing deeply. His face still displayed a wave of unrestrained anger, but some of his animosity started to bleed out.

"Not here," he gritted out. "Inside." He turned and strolled back to the house, opening the door and disappearing inside. He left it open.

I took a few deep breaths, ashamed of myself for provoking him. I looked around the neighborhood, realizing where I was and hoping no one saw or heard our outburst.

I was hit with a bittersweet deja vu as I entered their home.

Memories surged from the last time I was here.

Making love to Lucy, lying in bed with her, and feeling her soft hair spread out on my chest. Making dinner with her, which had to be re-heated due to our inability to keep our hands off each other.

Now that I think back on it, what we did was so reckless.

Yes, her Dad was away for the weekend - five hours away - but we were so lost in our bubble of love, our sex marathon, that I should've taken better care in protecting her.

I didn't regret popping her sweet cherry, but I should've taken her away for the weekend.

Booked us into a five-star hotel where we could've spent all weekend in bed, ordering room service and worshipping her body.

As I walked through to the living room area, I found Michael standing by the mantel, staring at a picture of Lucy.

She was grinning at the camera with pigtails and two missing front teeth.

I knew from my weekend here that she was seven when that was taken.

I couldn't help but picture if our daughter would look like her. God, I hoped so.

"You said you love her." Michael's low voice pierced the strained silence. He gently placed the frame back on the shelf and turned to me. His arms were folded, his face was pale, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"You don't know what love is until your child is placed on your chest for the first time. You're scared, amazed, and overcome with a deep kind of love that you've never experienced."

He paused, his mouth tense with the effort it took to hold back his emotions. After taking a shuddering breath, he continued. "When Lucy was placed in my arms, I promised her that I would always protect her. From anything." He fixed me with a pronounced stare. "And anyone ," he emphasized.

I stepped forward with my hand out, needing him to hear me. I understood what he was saying. I agreed one hundred percent with it. I would be the same with our daughter. But as hypocritical as it sounded, I needed Michael to know that I was the last person he needed to protect his daughter from.

"I know you think I'm some sick pervert. That I took advantage of Lucy -"

"You did take advantage of Lucy! You're a person of authority over her. You should know better! You came into my home with the intention of groo-"

"Don't you fucking say it," I warned. "You have every right to be pissed, but I've never manipulated or coerced her to do anything. I know this sounds like bullshit, but she's my soulmate-"

He interrupted me with a sound of disbelief.

"She's my other half," I continued, ignoring his outburst. "I knew it the moment she stepped -" I stopped, unsure if I should continue because, hearing it out loud, it sounded bad.

Michael fixed me with a murderous glare. "Go on. Stepped into what? Your classroom?" He spat out, rolling his eyes. He muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "fucking groomer."

"I've never once looked at another student, hell, another woman like I have your daughter. I love her. I'm in love with her. I don't expect you to understand-"

"I understand more than you think." He turned around and placed his hands on the mantel, breathing deeply. "Believe me," he muttered.

I took a cautious step forward, not wanting to rock the boat further. "Your late wife?" I gently asked.

Michael gave a harsh, bitter laugh before turning to face me. "You have no idea. If you knew, you'd probably -" he stopped himself abruptly. His eyes stared at me with heavy confliction, and an indiscernible look shadowed his face.

When it was clear that he wouldn't continue his speech, I took a cautious step forward.

"Look, I'm sorry you found out the way you did." That was the only thing I had remorse over. I still wouldn't have changed a thing.

"We didn't think you would be home that early."

He blew out his breath and tossed his hands in the air. "Oh, well, my bad. Didn't mean to interrupt your little tryst with my daughter!"

He shook his head at me in contempt. The tic in his jaw was back, indicating he was close to hitting me again. I didn't give a fuck if he did. The pain would be a welcome reprieve from this aching chasm of yearning.

"Even though Lucy is eighteen, there was no way I would've left her unprotected," Michael explained, his eyes flashing at me mockingly.

"I have cameras in the garage and a ring cam on the front door.

My phone is alerted anytime someone comes to the door or enters the garage.

My phone died on the drive down, and I was.

..busy," he stumbled over the word. "I couldn't charge it til I got there, and it was late at night when I plugged it in.

As soon as I spied the notification, I drove home. "

Ah. Well, that explained it. We never really had a chance. Even if I had disappeared before Michael arrived home, we would still have been rumbled.

"Look...I promise you. I will respect your house and your rules. Just please, don't cut us off from each other," I begged. "We plan on being together after she graduates anyway."

"You seem so sure of that." He folded his arms, arching a scornful brow at me. "She's eighteen. You're not worried she'll change her mind? Fall for some young dude while she's at college?"

Red searing jealousy pierced me at his words.

I wanted to rage at him for daring to speak those words out loud.

I wanted to punch him for ever thinking that our love was so fickle that Lucy would turn her head at any pretty boy that looked her way.

I knew she would be surrounded by fuck boys who would try and get in her pants.

That was why I planned on proposing to her as soon as she graduated high school. But Michael didn't need to know that.

I looked Michael dead in the eye. I wanted him to know that I had zero doubts about our love. I trusted Lucy implicitly and vice versa. We were it for each other. There was no way I would put my reputation and Lucy's on the line if I weren't one hundred and fifty percent certain.

"No. I'm not worried," I flatly stated. "Lucy is different. She's not like other eighteen-year-olds."

For some bizarre reason, Michael seemed to take offense at that. His face darkened, and he took a menacing step forward. "Not all eighteen-year-olds are like that," he gritted out.

I frowned, perplexed at his odd outburst. "O...kay."

He whirled around again and raked a hand through his hair. I heard him mutter something under his breath before he seemed to gather himself together. He turned around, his eyes wild.

"You know, not once did you ask me about your job."

I shrugged, sticking my hands in my pockets. "Because I don't care about it. Report me, don't report me; it doesn't matter. As long as I have Lucy, I'll be happy. And before you ask, I have the means to support her. I won't stand in the way of her dreams; I'll only champion them."

Michael regarded me for a long period. His expression was mixed with suspicion, searching my features for any sign of deception. Whatever he saw in me caused him to offer me a lifeline. "I'm heading to Koby Plains now to get Lucy."

I started breathing quickly at the possibility of seeing her again.

"I speak to her first," he firmly stated. "I'm not making any promises, but I have things to think about first. If you two...if you want to be together, then obviously, I can't stop you once she graduates." His face clouded over with pain. "And I don't want to lose my daughter over this."

I nodded solemnly, even though my heart was racing at what his statement meant. "I understand."

"Do not try and see her until I reach out," he warned me.

I inclined my head, ready to agree to anything as long as he brought her back. The sooner he left for Koby Plains, the sooner Lucy would be home.

With me.