Chapter 12

Kendal

"You know we're going to have to get up soon, right?" I leaned down and kissed the top of Dana's shoulder as she lay in the bed on her side, her back pressed against me. I'd come three times during our afternoon love making session. I should have been exhausted, but I was alive again, completely on fire for the woman beside me. She'd offered herself up for my pleasure in a beautiful way that felt natural and right.

"No..." She glanced over her shoulder and up at me. "Are you really falling in love with me?"

"Yes." I wrapped my hand around her throat lightly and leaned down to make love to her sweet mouth again. "But don't feel like you have to return anything, okay? Just ease into this with me."

"I'm already there." She pulled from me and turned on her other side to face me before cuddling back up. "I just didn't want to admit it to myself."

"Why is that?" I brushed her hair back and ran my hand down over her arm slowly. "Does love scare you?"

"No. I just can't imagine waiting eight months to be together like this." She tilted her head back and locked eyes with me. "Maybe I should honestly look at transferring to another school. There are lots of them in Dallas."

"Maybe I should go work for Damon. It's not like I'm ever going to get my reputation to the place I want it to be at UT. I'm fighting an uphill battle all the time." That she was willing to transfer during her senior year spoke volumes.

"You love it there, and you've worked really hard to get into the position you're in. You're not giving that up for me. It will be easier when I'm out of school."

"Will it?" I kissed her again before rolling onto my back and tucking one of my hands behind my head. "I'm dealing with Heather and her bullshit as well as several students that think flirting with their professors is not only normal, but accepted." I rolled my eyes. "Maybe I'm just living a pipe dream."

"Or maybe they are." She moved closer and leaned against my side. "You know every young girl dreams of having a sexcapade with their teacher. It's part of growing up from girl to woman."

I snorted and laughed. "Is that so?"

"Absolutely. The main problem is that most guy teachers aren't exactly attractive."

"No?" I lifted my eyebrow and worked to memorize the cute look on her face.

"Nope." She sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. "I would assume that's probably why you're getting so much attention."

I rolled on my side and watched her get dressed, grateful that she seemed to leave her modesty behind. She didn't need to be anything but herself around me.

"So it's not because I'm good looking. It's because everyone else around me is shit?" I chuckled as she glanced over her shoulder and gave me a look.

"That's not what I said, and you know it." She worked on her bra and picked up her panties, but paused. "Maybe I should go commando tonight."

"And give me a heart attack? No. Don't do that to me, please." I got out of the bed and walked toward the window to let my eyes run across the busyness of the city.

"I thought you might like the idea of me being risqué while we were out to dinner." She pressed herself to my back, fitting against me beautifully.

"I'd have a raging hard-on the whole time, so it's up to you." I turned in her arms and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. "Would you honestly consider transferring schools for me? For us?"

She didn't blink before responding. "Absolutely. If that's what we need to do... I'm all for it."

"It's not, but I love that you're willing."

"Would you think about moving from Dallas in a year or so if I wanted to attend medical school somewhere else?"

She assumed we were a long-term thing. I loved it.

"Like where?" I smiled as she swatted playfully at me and moved back. "What? I'm just asking where you're thinking about dragging me off to. I'm a Texas boy through and through."

"I'm thinking here." She shrugged and picked up her dress, shaking it out.

"I'd go anywhere you wanted to go, Dana. I just want to make this thing between us work. I can see you beside me in the future and it feels good. I wasn't sure I'd find anyone after all the shit that happened between me and Ana. It was like having someone rip my heart out and stomp all over it in front of me. She went from loving me like I'd never been loved before to denying me like I was a monster after her innocence. It was sickening."

"I'm sorry." She brushed her hands down the front of her dress and moved to stand in front of me. "That's not going to happen with me. I'm here for the long haul if you'll have me."

"I don't want anyone else." I cupped her face and leaned in for a soft kiss. "You'll have to get used to Damon though. He's part of the deal."

"He's back with Bethany now though, right?"

"Yes, and thank God for it. He's much more like his old self."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Her cheeky grin caused me to chuckle.

"A bit of both?"