The sun pressed against her exposed shoulders as she walked to class. The world somehow righted because of Damon's hands having been all over her. How the man made her feel so good in so many ways was still mind-blowing. She’d left holding her skirt as he walked closely beside her. The rip wasn't horrible but enough to where she was more than mortified by the idea of walking out with it. They were both laughing by the time they reached her car.

He had leaned over as she rolled the window down, the look in his eyes leaving her breathless. He was going to tell her. He had almost said it. It was on the tip of his tongue surely. She shouldn't have saved him from the heaviness of the moment, but the truth was she loved him. He would express himself when he was ready. She was more than sure of his feelings for her.

Bethany reached up to ensure her sleeveless white top was positioned properly. The last thing she would want is for Kendal to think she was trying to dress seductively. Her black slacks worked well with the shirt, giving her a business casual appeal while still allowing her to be comfortable. She walked into the business building and removed her sunglasses, blinking a few times to let her eyes adjust. A warmth pressed between her legs, the soreness of Damon taking his pleasure at such a deep angle resonating with her.

So fucking hot.

She walked into the large auditorium as Kendal looked up from the podium at the front. He pulled his glasses off and looked around as if confused. "Is it Thursday? I've thought it was Wednesday all day. Weren't you just here yesterday?"

Bethany laughed and dropped her purse and notepad in one of the chairs in the front row before sitting down in another one. "I need to work today and tomorrow if you're okay with that. I'll be out of town until mid-next week because of my parents getting married."

"Your parents are getting married?" He lifted his eyebrow, the smirk on the side of his mouth endearing.

"My mom is marrying Damon's dad."

"Wow. That's a plot twist." Kendal laughed and moved around the podium before hopping off the stage. His corduroy pants fit him well, and he was one of the only men she had ever seen pull them off well.

"Right? That's part of the struggle I guess."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really. I'm not sure what to say other than the fact that it depresses the hell out of me." She shrugged and looked up at him as he stopped a comfortable distance from her, leaning back against the stage.

"I understand that, but it's not like you're blood-related, Bethany." He shrugged as if it wasn't that big of a deal.

"It's no different than you falling for one of your students, but you're hell bent on not letting that happen." She tilted her head, letting her lip lift as he shook his head in denial.

"Not even close. I'm bound by my agreement with the university, and I'm in my thirties. I'm not interested in a college-aged tart." He blushed as he held up his hands. "Not that you're a college-aged ..."

She cut him off with a loud laugh that felt good. "I get it, but most of the students here are far old enough for a relationship, Dr. Tarrington."

"It's different, and this is your counseling session, not mine."

"It is, you're right. Mine is way worse. It will look like incest." She stood up and stretched. "Enough of this ... Besides, you don't even come close to having the degree to counsel anyone."

"True ... Sort of. You got tax problems?" He smiled, and she couldn't help but chuckle. If Damon hadn't swept her into a world where only he existed, she would be in line with the other thousand girls to try and snag Kendal. He seemed too good to be true, but Damon did too.

"No, but I'll know where to come if I do." She pointed toward the large white board, his scribbles everywhere. "You want me to work up some lecture notes for your classes starting next week?"

"Yep. Just like yesterday. Let's look at the syllabus as well."

"Will do."

She walked around the stage and jogged up the stairs as he hoisted himself back up with ease.

"Impressive. Ever been in a rock band?" She teased.

"Yep. I'm a guitar player through and through." He wagged his eyebrows playfully.

"Wow. As if you weren't attractive enough. Yeah, don't go around bragging about that."

"No shit, right?" He shrugged and pulled out a few papers from the lectern, handing them to Bethany. "Hey, any news on your friend?"

"Jake?"

"Yes. I haven't heard anything since talking to his parents last week."

"He's still not woken up, but I'm going to visit today. I'll let you know if anything changes."

"Man, I thought my college days were hard with all the crazy girls that just acted bizarre."

"What's the worst thing that happened?"

"Um, no. When you're not my TA, we'll talk."

"How about me, you and Damon over beers? Story time?"

"Corona?"

"You bet."

"Sign me up." He laughed and pointed to something on the page, extending it toward her. "I'll be starting here, but it jumps around a bit. Just do what you can."

"No problem." She took it and walked back down to one of the small desks.

"Did they convict the girl who stabbed Jake?"

"Not yet, but there's too much evidence to believe it might have been anyone else." Bethany let out a long sigh, her heart heavy. "Krista was my roommate for the last four years. Her mother said that she has bipolar disorder, but it's never been this bad. I know it's silly, but I can't help but think that falling in love with Jake and being rejected is what pushed her over."

"Could be a possibility. Most people with the illness take medication."

"I'm sure she does too, but love has a way of rooting itself in deeply and jacking you up." Bethany shook her head, still in a bit of shock over having the situation happen. "Just scary."

"I think it's a predisposition too, though, Beth. Can I call you Beth?"

"Bethany please." She tapped her pencil on the desk in front of her. Only Damon called her Beth, and she wanted to keep it that way. Made it somehow more special. "So because she had been hurt before, you think it opened her up to being violent about it?"

"I think that someone who's wanted love for a long time, and finally gets it, feels a sense of ownership over it. Sometimes to the point of it being unhealthy. It becomes more like an obsession."

"And when that love is denied or taken away, they snap?" Bethany sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, her thoughts sliding from Krista to Damon. How long had he been opposed to loving someone?

"Sometimes, but I think it depends on the person." Kendal moved to the edge of the stage again, squatting. "Take Damon for instance. He's had plenty of shallow relationships, but he's never, in all our years together, introduced me to anyone he called his girlfriend."

"But what if something happened and he lost me? Would you think he would be violent?"

"Are you worried?" Kendal tilted his head to the side a little, his gaze inquisitive.

"No. I love him too much to think about a future without him. I don't think it's the situation with us, but I can't help but wonder."

"That's natural. He loves you too. I can tell. Has he told you yet?"

"That's none of your business."

"I fell in love with a sophomore student of mine about six years ago, and nothing happened, but my life fell apart because of it. Her parents sued the school and me for inappropriate behavior. That's why I give my speech. I'm not interested in fucking up my life again. Love can kiss my ass for what it's worth."

Bethany sat in silence as if she'd been slapped. Never in a million years had she expected Kendal to share his story. She, of course, wanted to know more, but there was no way she was pushing him. They were destined to have a friendship whether she felt like it was a good idea or not. From what she could tell, he was loyal to Damon, and she knew she was, so maybe it wasn't such a bad idea.

"Damn." She glanced down at the papers in front of her as the image of Damon's expression when she mentioned loving him rolled across her vision. "I told him that I loved him, and he looked like he had seen a ghost."

"He's got a lot of demons in his past. Give him time, Bethany. He's a really good man, but he'll force you to push past a load of bullshit before you get to see that guy."

"I know. Defense mechanism, right?"

"Yep. We all have them, and for a good reason."

"He's letting me in slowly; I just have to stick to the course."

"You'll be glad you did."

She headed to the hospital after wrapping up her job assignments with Kendal. Damon texted that he would meet her there, but she told him to hold off. She needed time alone with Jake. Hopefully, Damon would understand that, but maybe not. The fact that Jake had been texting her, begging for help the night of the accident, left her raw and scarred.

She should have been there for him, and yet she was getting laid on a couch, only concerned with her drive toward lusting Damon into loving her.

"Let it go. Fuck," Bethany grumbled under her breath as she walked down the stark-white hospital corridor. Jake's room was on the left at the end of the hall, his name on the door making things easier. The loud beeping of machines could be heard as she approached, and she paused outside the door with her hand on it, letting out a long breath before walking in.

Jake was sitting up in the bed, his skin pasty and pale, but he was alive.

"Oh my God." She rushed toward the bed as a nurse held up her hand.

"No touching him. He's not healed up just yet, and I'm not putting him through another thing. Boy’s been through enough!"

Bethany stilled near the edge of the bed and reached out, taking his hand as tears filled her eyes. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me ..."

His voice was weak, his smile barely lifting his mouth. "It's not your fault, Bethany. I'm just glad I was able to fight her off some."

"I'm still in shock that any of this happened."

"Me too." Jake squeezed her hand before laying back and closing his eyes. "This new guy... Is he good for you? He's a solid dude?"

"Yes. He's a good man. He's got some hang-ups, but nothing any worse than one of us."

Jake opened his eyes and tilted his head, the worry in his gaze so familiar it pushed her to move closer as her tears spilled onto her cheeks.

"Be careful. I know we can't base everything on this situation with Krista, and I don't want us to, but be careful. It's hard to know someone if they don't want you to, or at least parts of them."

She reached out and brushed his blond hair from his eyes. "Don't worry about me. Just rest. Damon has been here with me to visit you every day for the last week. I will be careful, but I'm learning more and more about him every day."

"And you love him?"

"Very much so."

"Does he love you?" Jake winced as the nurse poked at him under the covers from the opposite side of the bed.

"I think so. He's scared to say it though."

"But he shows it? Words mean nothing without the backing of action and affirmation."

"He does."

"Good. Tell him if he hurts you that I'll kick his ass."

Bethany laughed, not having the heart to tell Jake that there was no way he would take Damon in a fight. Her best friend was too beat up, too broken and scarred to do anything but lift him up.

"I will tell him, and I wouldn't put it past you." She leaned over and kissed his forehead as he slipped into sleep, his breathing deep and peaceful.