Page 15 of Schooling Lucy (Off Limits #1)

R OMAN

I raised my hand and knocked on Michael Thomas' door. My heart was thumping, and my body hummed with restless anticipation. Only a piece of wood separated me from my girl, and it was taking everything in me not to kick the door down.

But that wouldn't bode well with Michael. And I needed to play nice with him. He held the key to my happiness, and I'd do anything to obtain that prize.

The door swung open, and a formidable-looking Michael Thomas stood there. His face was difficult to read, but I would bet my bottom dollar that the last thing he wanted to do was welcome me back into his home.

"Michael," I greeted with a calm I was far from feeling.

Michael took a deep breath, his face betraying his true feelings slightly - disgust and contempt. I couldn't care less what he thought of me as long as he didn't keep me standing out here too long. I was starved for Lucy Thomas. I needed to see her.

He stepped back, reluctantly inviting me in. I stepped through nonchalantly, trying not to rush my movements so I didn't appear desperate.

As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I sensed a change in atmosphere, and my humming body immediately calmed.

I could sense that the other half of my soul was near.

I could smell her...an intoxicating mix of Lillies and her watermelon-scented body wash.

I knew it well, considering I bought the exact brand she used to stroke myself in the shower while I was missing her.

I could feel my steps quicken as I rushed to glimpse at her, no longer caring what her father thought. I walked into the kitchen, and my breath shuddered. My steps faltered, and I clutched the space above my heart. She almost brought me to my knees.

There she was. Sitting demurely at the kitchen table. She was wringing her hands together in anxiety and nervousness. Or anticipation? Did she miss me as I missed her? I couldn't imagine being the only one lost in this abyss of obsession. It was a shared madness.

Her head lifted when she heard me approach.

Her cornflower blue eyes teared when she spotted me, and without thinking, I rushed to her side, unable to stand seeing her upset.

I kneeled beside her, turning her chair toward me as her hands met mine in a flurry.

Tears spilled over as the tension and worry on her face lifted.

"Lucy, Lucy, Lucy," I murmured as I placed fervent kisses on her knuckles.

"Roman," she choked out. She pried her small hand from mine to run it through my hair. I closed my eyes in bliss.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Michael stomped into the room, his voice loud in anger at the scene he was witnessing.

"Take your hands off my daughter before I throw you out."

I lifted my head, my eyes searing with rage that he dared to interrupt our reunion, considering he was responsible for our separation.

But I felt Lucy's calming hand on my shoulder before I could open my mouth. "Go," she softly urged. I looked up at her, her gaze full of love but also pleading with me to do her father's bidding. For her, I would.

Reluctantly, I stood. My hands ached with emptiness at removing my touch from hers, but I obeyed Michael. I walked to the opposite side of the table and sat in the chair Michael had scraped out for me.

I took a few calming breaths as I stared at Lucy, memorizing the gentle curve of her neck, the high cheekbones, the brightness of her gaze, and the contrast of her dark hair against her porcelain skin.

I didn't know the next time I would see her again.

I wanted to burn her profile into my retinas so that I could conjure up her image when I closed my eyes.

I felt Michael sit at the head of the table and take a deep breath. He was quiet for a few moments, which suited me fine. I was content to stare at Lucy.

"This is what's going to happen," Michael started.

I tore my gaze from Lucy's to glance at Michael. His stare was hard and glaring. A muscle jumped on his cheek as he looked from his daughter to me and back again.

"Lucy, you're eighteen. You have a few months left of high school before you graduate. I'm not an idiot. I know that I can't stop you from doing what you want to do, no matter how much I want to protect you."

Lucy rolled her lips in and bowed her head, attempting to keep her emotions in check.

Michael turned to me. The soft eyes he had given his daughter had dropped, and an accusatory glower was sent my way. "Roman. The only reason I'm not turning you in is because there's a high chance I'll lose my daughter in the process."

Lucy gave a choked sob before covering her face, shuddering into her hands quietly. I half rose from my chair, frantic to get to her, to comfort her. Michael shot me a warning look before reaching over to clasp his daughter's hand. She quickly turned her palm over and squeezed her Dad's hand.

"Th-thank y-you, D-Dad," she hiccupped.

It suddenly occurred to me that I should be thanking her Dad, too. But truthfully, the threat of losing my career over Lucy never entered my head.

I was worried about losing Lucy.

I was worried she would sacrifice our love for my career. I was worried her Dad would shuffle her to the darkest corner of the Earth, away from someone he deemed a threat. But not once did I feel apprehension over my job.

I cleared my throat. "Thank you," I acknowledged. "I want you to know even if you turned me in; it wouldn't stop me from being with your daughter."

Outrage simmered in his stormy eyes at my words, but I hurriedly continued before he could return in kind.

"But there's no way I would encourage Lucy to cut contact with you.

I understand your anger and how you want to protect Lucy.

As much as I love your daughter, I would hate to see her cut contact over me. "

"Great, so stop seeing my daughter," he growled.

I regarded him quietly, attempting to ignore Lucy's soft sniffles that were tugging on my heartstrings. Michael met my stare, his eyes challenging me to defy him. He still couldn't comprehend how deeply I loved his daughter.

"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 I tightened 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."

I stared into her luminous blue depths, attempting to get my arousal under control.

"I'm coming in," Michael warned.

With one last kiss on her pouting mouth, I separated myself from the love of my life.