I lean over her as I slowly push inside, feeling the tightness of her pussy enveloping me. Her hips arch up as her head buries deeper into the mattress.
She releases a deep, loud moan without warning, and I quickly cover my mouth over hers, taking in all of her sweet sounds.
After rolling her on top of me, bending her over the bed, and fucking her recklessly, I curl around her body, tangling my legs with hers and hold her close. Aspen quickly falls into a deep, sated sleep. I lay there for a few more moments as I run my fingers over her skin and contemplate how we’ll make this work. I’m determined to find a way without either of us having to sacrifice our positions at the college.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ASPEN
It’s officially spring break and the first time in years that I’ve happily spent an entire morning in bed. It’s only been a week since Morgan and I first got together, but it feels like much longer. We’ve been building a relationship for seven weeks before now, so I feel like I know so much about him already, yet there’s so much I have yet to find out.
Waking up in Morgan’s arms every morning has been complete bliss—almost unreal. He looks at me as if I’m the only woman in the entire world, reminds me how beautiful I am, and how much he loves my paintings. Guilt soars through me as I think about the secret I have yet to confess. He’s told me about his ex-girlfriend and the reason he left five years ago. The betrayal ran deep, and I worry about how he will react when he finds out about the Ariel Rose Collection paintings. He’s talked a little more about his brother and how close they were growing up. He’s given so much of himself, but I still struggle with opening up.
My mother’s called me at least a dozen times in the last couple weeks. I’ve ignored them all, knowing exactly what she wants. I don’t owe my parents anything, and I’m not going home just to amuse her. Being around them is toxic, and it’s the last thing I need in my life right now.
Morgan dropped Natalia off at school early this morning and crawled back into bed with me. It felt so easy, so natural to just snuggle right back into his arms. The warmth of his skin and tenderness of his grip lulls me right back to sleep.
“Time to wake up, sleepyhead.” I feel his hand shaking my shoulder, but I groan and roll over. “Aspen,” he says with an amused laugh. “I made breakfast.”
“Just stick a feeding tube in me and nourish me that way,” I mumble. “Your bed is too comfortable.”
He rolls me back toward him until I’m on top of him. “You need to eat.”
“Stop being so bossy,” I complain. “You can’t be all professorly in bed.” I crack a teasing smile.
“Professorly? Lord.” He laughs and leans up, pulling me up with him. He wraps his arms under my body and lifts me up. “I’ll force feed you if I have to.”
“I’d like to see you try.” He flashes me a sly smirk, and I know I’m in trouble.
He carries me into the kitchen and sets me down on the counter. “Here, drink this.”
He hands me a glass with something that looks like the Hulk threw up and nods his head at me to drink it.
“What is it?” I frown.
“It’s a protein smoothie. Try it.”
“It looks disgusting.” I smell it and wrinkle my nose. “Smells disgusting, too.”
He glares at me. “It has peanut butter and blueberries in it.”
“And?” I prompt, knowing there’s something worse.
“Spinach.”
I extend my arm and hand it back to him. “Yup, no thanks. I’ll stick with normal food.”
He grabs it and laughs. “You aren’t even going to try it?”
“Just because you like to eat fruity spinach goo doesn’t mean I can’t eat eggs and a pound of greasy bacon.”
He raises his brows. “You aren’t going to be young forever,” he chides with a wink. “Having healthy eating habits will help you maintain a healthy diet as you grow older.”
“Professor by day, Nutritionist by night!” I pump my fist in the air and laugh.
He shakes his head at me. “You’re on your own then, pretty lady. I haven’t bought bacon in years.”
“But pizza you’re okay with?”
“Only on cheat days.”
I jump off the counter and stand in front of him. “So like…every day?”
He wraps an arm around me and playfully slaps my ass. I yelp in surprise and try to wiggle out of his grip. “Don’t tempt me to put you over my knee, woman.”
I roll my eyes and try to keep from laughing at his antics. “Now if you added bacon to that smoothie, we’d have a deal.”
“Not a chance.”
“You’re no fun.” I glare and he frees me from his arm. I walk to his fridge and start digging around. “You seriously have no food in here.” I push around the pizza boxes and leftover containers. “What do you guys eat?”
“Natalia says I’m a bad cook.”
“Guess we’re stopping at the grocery store sometime today.” I shut the door and start digging through his mostly empty cupboards. “I’ll hop in the shower and we can go.” I turn around to him leaning against the counter, holding a cup of coffee, and smirking like something’s funny. “What? Did that sound really girlfriend-ish? It did. Crap. Can we pretend that never happened? I didn’t—”
“Aspen,” he interrupts in a low, amused voice. “I want you to sound girlfriend-ish.”
“You do?”
He sets his cup down and steps toward me. “Yes. I’ve been thinking about you for weeks. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t want you around literally all the time. I was worried you’d think I was being too clingy or something.”
I crack a smile as warmth fills my heart at how sincere he’s being. “We’re really bad at this, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, too bad this kind of stuff doesn’t come with a manual, huh?”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure there are, but none that apply to ‘How to Secretly Date your Professor’ genre.”
“Well, I don’t see why we can’t start one.” He rubs the scruff over his jawline, deep in thought. “Step one: Fall for a student who is beyond brilliant, sexy, and sassy. Step two: Be around her as much as possible without people getting suspicious. Step three: Don’t get caught.”
I burst out in laughter at his lame list and shake my head. “Bestseller right there, baby!”
“Oh, for sure.” His lips tilt up in a confident grin. “Then I could quit my job, and we wouldn’t have to keep it secret any longer.”
I suck in my lower lip and arch a brow. “But then what fun would that be?” I tease. “If everyone’s just going to know about it that defeats the whole purpose.”
He slaps a hand on his chest. “Wait, so you’re only with me for the thrill?” He pretends to sound offended.
“Well, obviously. You thought it was your good looks and charm or something?”
He grabs my hips and starts tickling me. I bend over, laughing, trying to get out of his grip, but he’s too strong. “Stop it!” I laugh.
“Take it back!”
“Never!”
He grabs my legs and throws me over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” I squeal, patting his ass with both hands.
“Grocery shopping will have to wait,” he says matter-of-factly. “Looks like you need to be taught a lesson first.” He slaps my ass with the palm of his hand, and I know exactly what kind of lesson he’s talking about.
I’ve only been to my apartment this week to change clothes and wait for Natalia to go to bed before sneaking back over. As much as it feels weird to have slept over here every night, it also feels natural.
Morgan’s still sleeping, so I try to sneak out before his niece wakes up. I want to bring some of my art supplies over as well. I get antsy if I don’t paint after a day or two.
I tiptoe to the kitchen and pull open the fridge. I grab a bottle of water and yogurt to eat before I leave, but as soon as I shut the door, his niece is standing directly next to it.
“Uh…hi,” I stumble. I look like a hot mess of sex hair with last night’s makeup still on. Great first impression. “You must be Natalia.” I extend a hand, but her eyes stay focused on mine. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”