Inevitable Detour (Inevitability Book 1)(76)

She confides in me that there are other things weighing on her mind, like deciding where she wants to finish her degree—in Pennsylvania or here in New York. When Farren gets word that she may return to Oakwood College, he abruptly takes off one afternoon, on what he terms “personal business.”

The next day, a friend of mine and Haven’s calls to let us know Professor Walsh has resigned for no apparent reason. Good riddance, I think.

That night, in bed, I ask Farren, “Was that your doing?”

Farren never lies to me, not after all we’ve been through, and now is no exception. He turns on his side to face me and says, “That * f*cking broke my sister’s heart. If she decides to go back to that school, I don’t want him anywhere near her.”

Not that I am concerned for Asshole Walsh, but I do have to ask, “You didn’t, um, hurt him, did you?”

Farren laughs and rolls to his back. Staring up at the ceiling, still chuckling, he says, “No, Essa. I didn’t have to hurt him. He was easy to persuade.”

“Well, for the record,” I begin softly, “I’m glad he’s out of Oakwood. For Haven’s sake, if she does decide to return. But also for the other girls he took advantage of.”

“Hmm…” Farren murmurs.

I don’t ask him for specifics of how he “persuaded” the prick to quit. It doesn’t matter. Some things are best left unknown.

Farren peers over at me, and, after a minute, I say, “What?”

“Just wondering what your decision is going to be.” Brushing a swatch of my blond locks over my shoulder, he continues. “Are you going back to Oakwood in the fall, or are you staying here?”

Farren already informed me that with a few phone calls—from him and, not surprisingly, his influential father—I can attend Columbia this fall if I want. Farren doesn’t know that I made my decision on this subject a while ago. Without further ado, I tell him my decision. “I’m staying, Farren.”

Farren scoops me up and settles me on top of his hard body. He winds his hand through my hair and brings my face close to his. “Kiss me, Essa,” he demands huskily.

I kiss him with fervor, and he kisses me back with even more intensity. He kisses me with heart, soul, and finesse, making me gasp when we stop. I take a breath, and then say, “Wow. Guess you like that decision.”

“You think?” he teases in a sultry tone.

His hands travel down my back till he’s cupping my ass. I wiggle into place, straddling him. As always, he’s up and ready.

When I mention this to him, he laughs. “I am a soldier, Essa. I’m always prepared for action on a moment’s notice.”

“Hey…” I smack his shoulder. “You’re supposed to say you’re always like this”—I press my core to his sex—“because of me.”

More serious now, he says, “It is because of you, Essa.”

“I love you,” I tell him.

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

I start to rub back and forth on him, but he stills me with a hand on my hip. “Wait,” he says.

I feel him throbbing—as am I—so I ask, “What’s wrong?”

He chuckles, and I know from the timbre that he just wants control. Sure enough, he slides into me unrepentantly, eliciting a throaty moan from me.

“Nothing is wrong, Essa. Everything”—he thrusts up into me and I moan—“is just perfect.”

Yeah, everything is perfect. Our love is solid.

The following day, I meet with a career-services counselor at Columbia. She hammers out a schedule guaranteeing that I graduate in three semesters. It puts me a little behind schedule, but I’ll end up with a major in journalism and a minor in business.

When I return to the apartment, anxious to share the news with Farren, I find him whipping up dinner in the kitchen. He’s hot and adorable in dark dress pants, a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and an apron with a rooster on the front. The printed message below the rooster reads, “Kiss the Cock.”

“I don’t think Haven will appreciate your humor,” I say, nodding to the apron.

“What?” He looks down, all innocent. “It means the chicken.”

“Yeah,” I reply, laughing, “sure it does.”

He looks over at the clock on the wall. “Damn,” he mutters.

“What?”

“Haven will be home soon. I was thinking if we had more time, you could show me what you think the message on the apron means.”

He looks so delicious that I definitely would not mind showing him. But it’s true that Haven will be back soon. I sigh and raise a brow. “Later?”

“Most definitely later,” he replies with a smile that melts me. He adjusts himself discreetly and then returns to chopping up some green peppers. “So,” he begins, “how’d it go today at Columbia?”

“Surprisingly well.” I give him the details, and then say, “I think the business minor will keep my parents happy.”

Chuckling, he asks, “Yeah, but what do you think they’ll say about your living arrangements?”

I plan on staying at the apartment. “I’m twenty-two,” I state, “an adult. I can live wherever the hell I want.”