“I’M HOME! I’M home!” Penelope cried when she slammed through the door of the lab, nearly giving Bishop a heart attack.

“Fuck, Pen!” He clapped a hand over his chest. “How are you here?”

Seeing her there, actually standing in front of him, made Bishop knees threaten to collapse with relief and sheer joy. It was as if the dark clouds had suddenly blown away, revealing a gorgeous warm sun, lighting his world once more. Suddenly, everything was right in his life again.

Penelope’s hair was loose and wavy, like she’d just come from the beach. She had on a short, white sundress that complemented her tanned skin and happy smile. She was more gorgeous than he’d ever seen her.

She ran to him and leapt into his arms, wrapping her small frame around him. Laughter, pure and true, bubbled out of him, and instantly, naturally, they were kissing. He turned and set her on a lab table, kissing her everywhere.

Penelope kept her legs and arms folded around him, and grinned as he explored her with his lips, his thudding heart urging the oral examination of every bit of her exposed skin. Bishop had missed every inch of her. He couldn’t stop touching her breasts, squeezing her ass. He was already grinding a throbbing erection against the hot treasure between her legs.

He slipped the straps of the sundress off her arms and pulled the bodice down, exposing her pert, braless tits, thinking, Goddamn, I am the luckiest man alive.

With her clothes nearly off, he shoved her dress up with one hand and yanked the crotch of her panties aside, not even bothering to take them off. She was gasping with arousal, already begging him for it. His hand was fumbling to get his hard cock out of his pants when he caught himself.

Jesus, what was he doing? This, this was all over now. Pen was free of him. That had been the plan all along.

He wrenched himself away from her, knowing his eyes must looked crazed with indecision and denial of his lust. She still sat on the table, her swollen breasts heaving and her legs spread for him. She blinked, looking at him quizzically, her lips already pinked from his fervent kisses.

“How are you home?” he repeated. “Your plane’s not supposed to get in for another couple hours.”

“Our flight got bumped up, so Bryce gave me a ride home. You’d know that if I could reach you,” she scolded. “I was so freaked out because you didn’t respond to my last text or answer my calls. I was a nervous wreck the whole way home.” Her excitement was morphing to hurt and concern, and his chest squeezed, knowing it was about to get much worse.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I broke my phone.”

She frowned, and then tilted her head. “How?”

He didn’t look at her. “I dropped it.”

“When?” Now her tone was suspicious. “A broken screen won’t stop the phone from working.”

He didn’t answer.

“Did you smash it?” Her voice pitched high in disbelief. “Bishop,” she demanded, when he still didn’t respond. “Did you break your phone when you got my text?”.

Then he met her eyes, silently brooding.

She pulled up her dress and fixed the straps slowly, as if she needed a moment to think. Then she scooted off the table and came to him, reaching for him. “It’s okay, Bishop.” Her tone was soothing, and her face was awash with optimism. “Everything’s going to be okay now, because I did the things you asked, and I still choose you.” She stared up into his eyes as she spoke, loading the words with emotion, as if somehow the statement solved everything for the two of them.

Bishop squinted at her, not comprehending her hope.

She wrapped her small hands around his upper arms, her eyes alight. “I did what you told me to,” she repeated. “I dated another guy. I opened my heart. I gave him every chance you asked me to give him, and I still choose you.” She said the last words like they made all the difference.

Bishop began to understand and his stomach dropped in a sickening freefall. His mouth fell open and his heart beat painfully in his throat. “No, Pen,” he croaked. “No honey. That’s not how it works.”

She stilled, her face a mask of confusion and growing panic. “But I did everything you said,” she repeated. “I’ve gotten out. I’ve had experiences. Now my decision is mature, informed.” She parroted his concerns back to him.

“Even then,” he explained, “we can’t be together. We simply can’t be together, Pen. Haven’t I been clear about that?”

“Yes, but your reasons.” Her eyes were growing more and more alarmed. “I took care of most of them, didn’t I? And we’re in love. The rest of your issues won’t matter after a while, if you let us try. You’ll see. We’ll handle them together, Bishop.” She grabbed his hands, begging him to relent.

“No,” he shook his head, panic of his own rising up inside him.

He couldn’t let his girl dedicate herself to him. He couldn’t be that selfish. Bishop didn’t deserve to lock Penelope into his morose life, and he couldn’t do that to her father, either, not after what Professor Sullivan had done for him. Bishop’s mentor wouldn’t want that for his beautiful daughter.

And after what Bishop had done in his past, he couldn’t reward himself with the once-in-a-lifetime happiness that Pen gave him. And that happiness proved it for him—without Pen, he had only misery, but with her, everything exploded in light, as if his poor eyes had finally been opened to the world.

That’s how he knew it was her and not them together who was responsible for that wonder.

She alone brought it, and he didn’t deserve to cleave to her, weighing her down. Pen belonged with a partner as equally priceless as she was.

“I can’t. I thought you understood, honey. Your father believed I would do what’s right for you. And then there’s my past. I’m not a good partner for anyone.”

“No.” Her face crumbled, and so did his heart.

He hated himself more than ever in that moment. How could he have allowed it to get this far? He’d already wronged her so many times, and now he was causing her this pain that could have been avoided all along.

He steeled himself to be strong for her. A father-figure. Her guardian. “Penelope, I want you to go.” He pointed toward the stairs, not meaning he wanted her to leave right that minute, but meaning she needed to abandon him and cultivate a life bigger than Bishop and that house.

She let go of his hands and stepped away. “You’re serious?” she asked, her face horrified.

“Yes,” he insisted, as much as it was tearing him apart. “One vacation with one guy doesn’t mean you’re ready to throw your life away with me.”

Her face began to blank, causing dread to bloom in his chest. She didn’t look okay. She started backing for the door, shaking her head.

“Fuck you,” she whispered.

“Pen, please. I’m worried about you.”

“No.” Her hand shot up as if protecting herself from a blow. “Screw you, Bishop, for throwing me away. Screw you for not believing in our love.”

“Don’t go like this,” he begged.

“Oh, I’m going.” She laughed, and the sound had an edge of hysteria. “I’ve got a big, exciting life ahead of me that doesn’t involve you, apparently. I’d better get to it.”

His stomach clenched. He was beginning to have a really bad feeling about this.

“Where are you going?”

“Professor Warner keeps asking me to drop by,” she said, her words choking in her throat. “I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t.”

“Pen, you can’t.” His voice held all the warning of the fear inside him. “He is not a nice man.”

She laughed again. “What do I need with a nice man. All I’ve got are nice men!” She threw her hands in the air. “Bryce is a nice man, but when I’m with him, I can only think of you. You are a nice man. Too nice to claim me for your own. So, I might as well go try my luck with a man who’s not so nice.”

Bishop started to say something and she cut him off, her tone eerily calm.

“I’m in trouble, Bishop. I am going to fall completely the fuck apart if I don’t do something. Maybe whatever nasty things Professor Warner has to introduce me to will take my mind off my demolished heart, which you broke.”

“He’s dangerous,” Bishop shouted at her, but she turned to flee. “No!” He lunged for her, but she was already halfway up the stairs. “Penelope,” he screamed after her. “My driver’s not here! I can’t come after you! Penelope, don’t!”

He was stumbling up the stairs in a blind panic, but by the time he’d made it to the top, he heard her car peel out of the driveway, and his heart nearly exploded with fear.

 

*****