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Her brows are furrowed and she’s staring at me with a confused expression "How did you"--she pauses--"How’d you knoas there?"

"I saw you When I finished "

She looks up at me and quietly sucks in a small breath with my admission Her hand searches for support behind her and she takes a step back, steadying herself Despite the darkness, I can see her eyes dance with hope "Will, does this mean--"

I iap between us My chest heaves with each passing breath as I attempt to calm ht I trail the back of ainst the smooth skin of her cheek, then hookher face closer to ers re to me It hypnotizes me Her touch completely, wholeheartedly shakes me to my core and I try to force ainst my chest when I wrapto resist, but her need is just as strong asand I quickly lean in and press e our ue finds hers, sheher arerly all at the sarip her by the waist and easily lift her up onto the dryer, taking a stance between her legs and never losing contact with her lips She begins to pull at ainstinto the ers search their way up h et chills She grabs tufts ofainst the sweet skin of her neck She takes the opportunity to catch her breath, panting and quietlyas my lips tease their way across her collarbone I reach behind her and grab a handful of hair just as she didainst iving my lips silent permission to resume their pursuit as I make my way down her neck I release her hair and slide ers between her skin and her jeans My fingertips skiroan underher in my arms fills the constant void that has been in ht I kissed her, but with every passing reater desire builds within me I need more of her than these stolen moments of passion I need so much more

"Will," she breathes

I et out an audible response I don’t really feel like talking at the moment I run my other hand up the back of her shirt until it ainst me as I work my way back up her neck toward her mouth

"Does this mean" she breathes heavily "Does it mean we don’t have to pretendanyether? Since you’re notsince you’re not ainst her neck with her breathless words I wantto cover herabout it I just want to forget about it all for one night Just for one night

But I can’t

My incredibly irresponsibleidea I’m still a teacher Maybe not her teacher, but I’ happening between us right now is still coht I want it to be

In the process of thinking about all of the potential complications of her question, I’ve sorip and have taken a step away fro off the dryer She steps closer to me and the fear in her eyes ain

I can feel the regret and agony creep up to my face, and it’s obvious she can see it, too

"Will? Tell me Do the rules still apply?" she says fearfully

I don’t knohat to say that can e mistake "Lake," I whisper, my voice full of shame "I had a weak moment I’m sorry"

She steps forward and shoves her hands into my chest "A weak moment? That’s what you call this? A weakI just said the wrong thing "What were you gonna do, Will? When were you gonna stopout with me and kick me out of your house this time?"

She spins on her heel and stor her walk away causesher, but losing her for good "Lake, don’t," I plead, following after her "I’ain, I swear"

She turns to face ht it won’t! I finally accepted it, Will! After an entire ain Then you go and do this! I can’t do it any her arms up in defeat "The way you consuether? I don’t have tis to think about now than your little weak ht I’ve gone so long trying to get her to accept things and move on so she won’t be burdened by h not to cave in to my selfish desire for her I don’t deserve her I don’t deserve her forgiveness, let alone to be loved by her

"Getwith her hand on the door

"Wh--what?"

"It’s on the da tape!"

I walk back into the laundry roo tape, then take it back to her, placing it in her hand She looks down attears with her other hand She refuses to even look atme for what just happened between us terrifiesto be able to give it all up for her

But I can’t Not yet