Page 19 of Professor Next Door

12. Tara

The vows passed by in a blur. All I knew was Galen’s hand was in mine, that something had changed, and then his lips were on mine, the mantilla veil not covering my face. All I could feel was his lips on mine, all I could hear was his breath and mine as we cupped each other’s faces. His tongue played along my bottom lip and I opened my mouth, letting him in. His tongue was hot and wet, and it played along mine. I felt clenching heat turn into a flame inside of me. He kissed me just like I knew he would, teasing, in control, inviting me to fall down the rabbit hole with him.

I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream in joy, but most of all, I wanted everybody to disappear so I could kiss him more, longer, deeper. He broke away and reality intruded as we tried to catch our breath. He’d felt that, I knew he had!

Amanda pulled me away to hug me before I could look at him and the men pulled him in for back slapping and bear hugs of their own. Then we all traded and everybody had a go at hugging. Rikki wanted her own hugs and we all passed her around like a football and the little girl was covered in kisses by the time she made it to me. She stared up at me with awe in her little eyes, and her hand reached out tentatively to touch the lace on my head.

“Tar-wah boo-tee-full.” Her little girl voice and her words made my heart swell again, and I pulled her close, loving her even more in that moment.

We’d decided to keep up the charade, even at the plantation, so after an evening meal, a small amount of dancing, and a few toasts over a small cake, Galen and I went to bed. Amanda was taking care of Rikki and the men were still partying.

“Thank you, Tara. That was beautiful. Magical even.” I’d gone to the door between our rooms, planning on taking off my finery and slipping into the huge claw-footed bathtub in my room alone. His words stopped me.

“Thank you, Galen. It was magical, even if it was all sham. I’ll see you in the morning.” I made to turn the door knob but he stopped me again.

“Tara, why don’t you stay for a while?” I turned to look at him, seeing how he’d already pulled off his tie and undone the buttons on his shirt. He looked hopeful and after that kiss, I knew there was only one place tonight was going to lead. I wasn’t ready for it. Not yet. I was too vulnerable, too new to all of this to take that chance.

I couldn’t spend two years with him if we had sex right now. What if it all went south, what if we ended up hating each other and I’d given myself to him? I knew I was one of those girls that had to be in love to have sex. I’m fairly certain I was in love with him, but Galen wasn’t in love. I needed his love before I’d give in to any kind of desires, mine or his.

“I’m tired, Galen. It’s best if we keep it real for the moment, anyway. This isn’t real right?” I gave a rueful smile and turned away, hoping he wouldn’t see the pain my words caused me.

“No, of course not. You’re right. You’re a smart girl, after all, Tara. Good night, princess. Sweet dreams.” I didn’t look back; I just pushed through the door and to the other side. I had to—I’d almost given in when he’d called me princess.

That word reminded me of his kiss, of how I’d felt him hard and long against my stomach as the kiss deepened, how I’d wanted to pull him to me until there was only one of us. I couldn’t allow it to happen, not until I was certain he wanted me for the long haul, and not just a moment in time. For me, that’s what the marriage was about—a hope that this really could be forever. When I’d seen how he looked at me as I came to stand by his side, I’d known there was a possibility. I was going to take a chance and hope it paid off.

* * *

Two weeks passed and it’s almost like I’d never lived anywhere else. Amanda jumped at the chance to move out her dorm and be rent-free. I’d paid the entire lease before I moved in, thinking it would save me some hassle and the owner gave me a discount for doing so. It didn’t bother me to give Amanda a hand. She was settling in fine, the same as I was.

Galen’s house had three bedrooms and while my clothes and other things were in his room, I slept in the guest room. I didn’t know what would have happened if he ever had guests other than the few friends we had. We were too busy getting used to living with each other and preparing for his court date to think of practicalities like where guests would sleep.

During the morning I went to class and John watched Rikki. When I came home I took over. During the evenings I did my work and Galen would take over caring for Rikki. It wasn’t until she was asleep and we’d both finished writing or grading papers that we actually really saw each other. Things were going fine, until the day the central air died.

I don’t know if you’ve ever been in Georgia in October, but the day the air went out was the day a record-breaking ninety degrees hit town. The repairman couldn’t come out until the next day and it was hot. Stripping off and standing in the cold shower kind of hot. I sent Rikki over to stay the night with “aunt” Amanda, worried that even with the fans running it was too hot for her.

I wasn’t her momma, but I was taking care of her like I was. I loved her dearly, and when she came to me, sweaty and hot, I couldn’t stand it. Galen asked if we should go to a hotel for the night when he called me at lunch, but I told him we’d manage once the sun went down, and as long as the repairman showed up the next day.

I’d stretched out on the bed in my room, naked and trying to convince myself to do my homework. I had a box-fan blowing at me, the window open, though the curtains were closed, and I’m pretty sure I was on the verge of sweating to death. We needed a pool, I thought, as I stared into the darkening room. A big one, full of nice cold water. Or maybe a run out to the lake.

I was planning on another shower and then getting down to my homework, but I didn’t have the energy to move. I lay pooling into a blob of nothing, and fell asleep. In my dream I was in a nice cold iceberg, happily freezing my ass off until some evil wizard came, a wizard that looked remarkably like Galen’s friend Steve, and started a fire. He didn’t just start a fire though, it was an inferno that cracked and popped, sending out shards of burning embers to chase me from the quickly melting mass of ice.

I screamed as I jumped, plunging down until I landed on a soft forest floor. I didn’t question it, I was dreaming after all. I gave a sleepy smile as Galen came up to me in the dream, dressed in shining armor with a huge black horse behind him. He tied the horse to the tree, removed the armor, and came to kneel at my side, staring down into my eyes.

“You’re just so damned beautiful, Tara.” He breathed the words against my cheek as he nuzzled me with his lips, sweetly sweeping around to my ear. “I could fuck you until the world disappeared.”

I breathed a shivering breath of air, anticipating what would happen, knowing that he would soon kiss me with his beautiful mouth. That he’d soon touch me with those long, curious fingers of his. I squirmed beneath him, giving him a sweet grin.

“Touch me, Galen. Love me.” I pulled his face to mine, parting his lips with my tongue to take control, to take him.

We kissed hungrily but then Galen moved down my body as my slip dress magically disappeared. He skimmed soft fingers over my breasts, down my abdomen, until his face was centered between my thighs, breathing hot air on damp skin. I watched him, fascinated, desperate for the relief I knew only he could give me.

“Tara...” His whisper sent a shiver through me, and I moaned.

“Tara?” He said it louder this time and I stirred, something wasn’t right. “Tara, wake up, let me take you to a hotel!”

I blinked, my eyes opening blearily.

“It’s too hot to move, Galen.”