Page 99 of Time To Learn

The alarm in her eyes makes my smile widen. It’s kind of fun to teaseher.

“It’s all just too much. My bloody hormones can’t take it—if you keep it up, I think my ovaries will explode.”

I bark out a laugh and trail my fingers down her arm until I reach her fingers, linking our hands together. She tries to pull free, but I won’t lether.

“So. Fucking. Cute,” I whisper before I lift our linked hands and place a light kiss on her knuckles while I keep my eyes locked on hers. The longer we stare at each other, the more her pupils start to darken, stirring the need I have for her. I know she feels the same way. I can feel it—if only she weren’t so bloody stubborn.

Though, I have to admit, her stubbornness is part of her charm.

Vaguely, I hear hurried steps coming from the hall, and this time when Laura tugs her hand, I releaseit.

“Text me later?” I murmur and take a stepback.

No sooner have the words left my lips than our small bubble of privacy is burst. Trying to keep my thoughts hidden, I school my lips into a friendly smile at Wenn when she re-enters the kitchen. Ailith jumps up from her place next to Sally and runs to her grandmother to take herhand.

“Right, let’s get going, shall we?” Wenn says and raises her eyebrows expectantly atme.

I take a step to the side, gesturing with my arm that she should go first, before I nod once at Laura. I try to mask my disappointment that she hasn’t answered me yet, but it’s noteasy.

“Iwill.”

Her whisper is so low, for a second I thought I imagined hearing it, but when her eyes warm, I can’t stop the happy smile from forming on mylips.

I wish I was free to kiss her goodbye, but I know that it’ll be a long time before she’s comfortable with that kind of PDA. It doesn’t make my desire for her disappear, though.

In fact, I’m sure I’ll be walking around all day sporting a semi, thinking about the pleasure that is tocome.

Shit.