Page 40 of Student Seduction

It was obvious she’d been crying and it made me wish I’d been harder on Kelsey and her henchmen. Henchwomen?

Henchbitches was more like it.

“I’m sorry those girls behaved that way,” I said softly, approaching her like I would a cornered animal. “Jealousy is a powerful thing.”

“It’s okay,” she said, wiping the last trace of moisture from under her eyes.

“They’ve been dealt with.”

She frowned. “Who’s watching your class?”

“Milner.”

“I promise I’m fine. I just needed a minute.”

I rocked back on my heels. “You just upset about the asinine rumor they’re spreading or something else?”

“Just everything lately. Drew’s situation, my internship being such a bust, my mom struggling with me being gone so much, trying to keep up with Ethan and everything he needs. He missed a baseball game because I was late getting back from my internship and I just found out he’s failing algebra.” Her eyes drift and she’s faraway in her head. “Those girls, the rumor about Saturday night, it was just the straw that broke me, you know? I just keep wondering, when does it get easier? Because the way things are…I can’t…I don’t know how long I can…”

I stepped forward. Fuck, I just wanted to hold her for one damn minute. But I couldn’t. Well I could, but definitely I shouldn’t.

“You’re not broken, Emersyn. I know it all seems like a lot right now, but you’re stronger than you realize. You’ll get through this. One day it will all be a distant memory and you’ll be stronger for it.”

She tried to smile but her face wouldn’t fully cooperate. “You sure about that?”

One more small step, just so I could breathe her in. “I’m sure.” I touched her chin lightly so she’d look up at me. “You are amazing and you are so many things to so many people. A caretaker to your mom, a mother to Ethan, a best friend and confidant to Drew. You’re bound to feel overwhelmed. Hell, I’m overwhelmed just thinking about everything you do.”

She laughed softly and her eyes finally dried. “Sometimes I feel like I just need one good thing, you know? Something indulgent that feels good, that’s selfish, and just for me.”

“Like?” My cock twitches, offering up its services.

She grins sheepishly. “Like a big, fat piece of chocolate cake. With chocolate frosting. Something I know is bad for me, but feels so good I don’t care.”

I could relate. She was my piece of chocolate cake.

“I understand.”

She reached for her bag, just as I reached for her. She stopped, turning, so close she was practically in my arms.

“Aiden?”

My cock throbbed at the sound of my name on her lips.

“I was just going to say, I’m here. If you need anything, to talk, vent, cake, whatever. You know where to find me.”

She glanced around. “In the pit?”

“If that’s where you want.”

She bit her lip. “Saturday night…I wanted to stay. I should’ve stayed.”

Her words made me weak. My resolve not to take her in my arms was evaporating into thin air.

“You could’ve. I would’ve tried to behave.”

Her lips came close to brushing against mine. “I didn’t want you to behave. I wanted…” She sighed again and I felt her breath. “I need.”

Her eyes met mine and there was a vulnerable, helpless need burning in them.