Page 69 of Time To Learn

14

Kristian

I rubmy eyes before I follow Laura, my feet dragging. I need some time alone to think.

I know she saw me with Hannah—that she saw me fucking her, hard, rough. The way she looked at me, cautious and completely closed off, only confirmsit.

There’s nothing I can do about it, except to gain some self control. Something tells me, though, that it might not be difficult to do as long as I get to see Laura every day. Now, I know I will, and that fills me withhope.

Even if I can’t touch her, taste her, or play with her, at least I can work on getting to knowher.

The realLaura.

It’s funny. My heart got trampled on by a woman a lot younger than Laura, but they have the same shadows in their eyes. I must be a glutton for punishment, only finding damaged women interesting enough to make an effortfor.

I grimace at the thought as I step out into the sunshine, blinking against the afternoonsun.

Damagedis the wrongword.

Complicatedis better.

And, so far, Laura has definitely proven that she’s exactly what she says sheis.

Complicated.

Still, I can feel that she’s opening up to me in some ways. That’s something, at least.

I can’t help but grin as I watch Ailith and Laura walking hand in hand towards the other stable. Ailith looks so carefree as she’s chattering a mile a minute. Even though it sends a twinge through my heart, pushing memories to the forefront of my mind, it also brings me a semblance of peace. I have to catch my breath as Laura’s carefree laughter fills the air, riding in waves towards me and cloaking me in itsjoy.

Damn, that woman intriguesme.

As the sun beats down on her brown hair flying in the wind, sending off rays of golds and reds, I vow that I won’t allow her to keep me chained in the friendzone.

I won’t lether.

I will have her. I know she feels the chemistry between us, even if she’s determined to keep me at arm’s length, but I see it in the way she looks at me. I can feel the sexual tension humming in the air whenever we touch, and, fuck, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.

I don’t even think that Emma made my blood run as hot as Lauradoes.

The realisation that my heart doesn’t start to bleed as I think about her now hits me straight in my gut. I don’t know what to make of it so I do what I usuallydo.

I bury it deep in my soul where I’ll keep it hidden away, only to be pulled out and examined later.

* * *

From Laura’sjournal

Kristian ended up staying for dinner.

Seeing him at our table chatting with Ailith and Mum was both strange andnice.

Strange because it has been so long since a man has been around for dinner.

Nice because his presence made us laugh more than we have done in years.

I don’t know what to make of him. On one hand, he’s a complete and utter womaniser, but on the other, he’s just easy to be around. Fun. Relaxing.

That is, when he doesn’t look at me in that quiet, intense way of his. Whenever his fingers brushed against mine, or when he looked at me, I wanted to give in to the yearning he elicits insideme.