Temptation (The Hunted, #1)(81)

I felt myself blush. "It's all so nice. But how did you even know my size?"

"I think I know your body pretty well." He put his hand on the small of my back. "And you left your clothes here that one morning."

I cringed remembering when I had run out on him. I had never meant to hurt him. And I was about to again. I needed to tell him the truth.

Professor Hunter opened up one of his drawers. There were at least a dozen pairs of lacy panties with matching bras.

"So these are the kinds of things you like me to wear?" I thought of the cotton thong I was wearing. I suddenly felt self-conscious.

He pulled me into his arms. "I prefer you in nothing at all."

I was losing my resolve again. Whenever he touched me it was like a spark of electricity through my whole body.

"Professor Hunter, this is all too much. I appreciate the gesture, but I don't need any of this."

Professor Hunter wrapped his arms tighter around me. His intoxicating smell was making my head spin.

"I feel like a Disney princess. Which makes you the handsome prince that rescued me. But I didn't even realize that I needed rescuing."

Professor Hunter laughed. "If I'm the prince I certainly hope that you'll be my princess."

I smiled up at him. "It's like I moved in without having to actually move any of my things. I guess that is rather convenient."

"It is."

"So you really want me to keep all this stuff?"

"I'm going to want to spoil you. That's something that you're going to have to accept. I want to give you everything. But I bought these things for you mainly because I want you to consider spending more time here. I thought that having these things here would make that easier."

Is he asking me to move in? Kind of? My heartbeat quickened. I barely even knew him. That was insane.

"Besides, your bed is so uncomfortable," he added.

Oh God, he is asking me to move in. I had waited too long to tell him my secret. It had gotten so serious so fast. "I don't mind my bed. Actually I'm really used to it. It's quite comfortable now."

Professor Hunter's face fell. "I'm not trying to pressure you, Penny. I know I have some things I need to deal with. And I promise that I am dealing with them. I'm just hoping that you'll consider spending more time here. I'm happiest when you're next to me." He traced his thumb along my lower lip.

"You mean like a few nights a week?"

"If that's what you want."

"What do you want?"

"If it was up to me, I'd have you here all the time." He leaned down to kiss me, but I pulled away.

"I need to talk to you."

"We are talking. And I can't think of a better conversation to have."

"No, I mean I need to tell you something." I grabbed his arms and unwound myself from him. I walked out of his closet and sat down on his bed. It was so soft. I hadn't realized how tired I was. Part of me just wanted to lay down and have him hold me all night. I wanted to be with him all the time too. But he didn't know me. And I had a feeling that I didn't know him either.

He sat down beside me. "I'll return everything. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It's not that. I love the idea of spending more time with you. I just need to tell you something."

"Okay."

I felt like I was in a dream. After being so mad at him last week, it seemed surreal that my secret was what could potentially ruin us. But maybe he was still holding something back too.

"What's wrong, Penny?" He squeezed my hand.

"I don't want there to be any more secrets between us," I said.

He gazed into my eyes. I thought he might offer one of his, but he stayed silent. He looked unsettled. I didn't want to do this; I didn't want for this to end. I moved so that I was sitting on his lap, facing him. I put my hands on the sides of his face and he moved his so that they were on the small of my back.

"You're so handsome. I still don't know what you see in me."

"I see everything that I've always wanted." He kissed my cheek where a tear had fallen.

"I need to tell you something. And you have to promise that you won't get mad."

"Just tell me." He kissed my other cheek where I had shed another tear.

I leaned in and kissed him. I wanted to remember what it felt like for him to want me, for him to trust me. He moved his hand to the back of my neck and pulled me into him. Everything seemed so simple when we kissed. It was just right. It was perfect. I moved my head back. He was looking at me with the familiar lust in his eyes. If I wanted, I could have him again right now. And I really wanted to. I placed one last swift kiss on his eager lips.

"You have to promise," I said again.

"Okay. I promise that I won't get mad."

"My birthday is on October 15th."

"That's good to know. I'll make sure to clear my schedule."

"No, that's not what's bothering me." I grabbed his hands from my back, moved them to his lap, and held them firmly. I was never going to let go of his hands. If I let go, he might slip away from me. "I lied to you."

Professor Hunter's brow creased, but he didn't say a word.