Page 34 of Snowed in with the Professor

I heard her coming into the kitchen and turned around as Grace walked in. She was newly showered, her hair moist and flowing over her shoulders, the ends starting to curl gently as the strands dried.

She was dressed in a pair of black formfitting trousers, the white ballerina flats matching a small white T-shirt she wore. There were little red flowers painted on the material, her breasts straining against the fabric, the V-neck low enough I caught just a hint of cleavage.

I made a tiny sound in the back of my throat at that sight, and she glanced at me. She grinned and came up to me, placing her arms around my waist and rising on her toes to kiss me.

“You get so jealous over everything,” she murmured on a small sigh.

“Does that upset you?”

“Turns me on that you want me all to yourself.”

I growled and laid the spatula down, placing my arms around her waist and pulling her back toward the counter. I had her raised up and sitting on the edge of it a second later, using my body to push her legs apart, and stepped between them.

I dipped down and kissed the side of her neck, smelling the soap she’d used earlier, felt the warmth from her flesh, the chill from her damp hair against my cheek.

“I can’t help it. I just want to keep you all to myself.”

She sighed and rested against me, and I just held her.

After a year together, my affections for Grace had expanded tenfold.

Every day they got stronger, engulfed me even more.

I moved my hand down her arm, over her wrist, and put my fingers on hers. I drew back and gazed down at her hand, bringing it up and laying a digit on her ring finger.

“I’m going to need my ring on here soon, Grace.”

“I know,” she said pleasurably. “I want that.”

The only reason I hadn’t married her yet was because I wanted her to finish school. I wanted her to find her freedom and acquire her degree. I wanted her to do all she desired. Rushing things may have her pulling away, and that wasn’t what I wanted. Ever.

“Having my ring on your finger will let everybody know that you’re mine.” I ran the tip of my nose along the length of her neck. Although truth be told, her wearing a fucking ring wouldn’t stop me from breaking down anyone who believed they could take Grace from me.

I had my hands on the counter beside her now, knowing that I could’ve fucked her again, my cock already hard as it scraped against the zipper of my jeans.

“Don’t forget my mother is coming over tonight with her boyfriend.”

I pushed back, the notion of her family like cold water on my arousal. “I didn’t forget.” I could see the fear on her face. “Are you nervous to meet her new boyfriend?”

She shook her head promptly. “Well, kind of. I simply want to make sure he’s good to her and she’s happy. That’s all that counts to me.”

I nodded and helped her off the table when I heard her belly growl.

“Sit down so I can feed my woman.”

She walked past me, and I turned and whacked her ass, a roar leaving me.

Grace looked over her shoulder and winked, then made her way toward the table to settle down.

I finished breakfast and joined her. As we started eating, I remembered back to the first time I’d had her here, how I’d felt a surge of power knowing she was eating the meal that I’d prepared for her. I’d known that day was the first in a string of others where I’d make her mine.

“Did you talk to your father?” I brought a piece of egg to my mouth and ate as I watched her, gauging her reaction.

She nodded. “Yeah. I called him back.”

Over the previous year, she’d been gently healing her ties with her father and getting to know her siblings.

And although I knew she was attempting to work things out with him and move past the treachery and sorrow he’d caused, I could still see the apprehension on her face, could hear it in her voice when she spoke to him.

“He’s really trying to mend things,” she remarked and sat back in the chair, her fingers around the glass of water.

“I can hear it every time I talk to him.” She pulled some hair away from her face and breathed.

“We’re getting there, I suppose. But I do enjoy spending time with Lizzie and Ally,” she said.

A tiny smile went across her face as she spoke about her siblings.

Although I’d met her father once, and I could feel his disdain over the fact we were together instantaneously, he had no room to condemn.

Besides, I didn’t give a thing about his approbation.

I adored Grace and wasn’t going to give her up no matter what.

Although, I did want Grace to have a relationship with her father, he did leave a foul taste in my mouth since he’d injured the woman I loved. And that wasn’t anything I’d ever stand.

But if he was willing to make it up to her, and she wanted to make it work with him, I was willing to allow him into my life and not want to beat his ass for hurting Grace.

“Change of subject,” she replied, and I noticed the joy on her face. “I got a callback for that interview at the ad agency.”

Pride suffused me. “Of course, you did. I had no doubts. They would’ve been foolish not to bring you in.”

She shrugged, and I saw the pinkness in her cheeks. She’d graduate this year and had her heart set on an ad agency in the city. I told her I could’ve easily gotten her in with my contacts, but she’d declined, wanting to do things the legit way, or so she said.

“I have a good feeling about this, baby.”

She gave me a dubious look, and I held up my hands. “I swear I didn’t pull any strings. Them calling you back was all you.”

“I have a good feeling too. Let’s hope I don’t screw it up.”

She stood to take her plate to the sink, but I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down on my lap. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

“Only every time you see me, but I’m not complaining.” She leaned down and kissed me, and I felt like everything was right in the world.

I felt just happiness, thanks, and a great sense of serenity that I was one lucky guy, had won the fucking lotto where my lady was concerned.

“Maybe one day you’ll get sick of me saying it. Maybe one day you’ll see how crazy I am about you.” I muttered the words against her lips.

“Maybe I like that you’re so obsessed with me. Maybe I want more.”

I groaned. “Watch it or I’ll have you right back in that bed.”

“Don’t make threats you won’t keep.”

I grinned, but it wasn’t one of amusement. I was out of my chair, bent, and had my arms around her knees, scooping her up and threw her over my shoulder. Excessive, sure, but necessary… absolutely. She squealed in surprise, and I spanked her ass as I took us back to the bedroom.

“I guess you’re a man of your word.”

I sure as hell was.