71

Wednesday
As his heartbeat slowed, I knew it was time. There was nothing preventing me from telling him my secret now.
“You called me baby.”
“I’m sorry, did you not like that?”
“No I did. You’ve just always called me Penny. Or Miss Taylor. Everything you say sounds sexy though. You could call me anything.”
Professor Hunter smiled. “And you’ve always called me Professor Hunter.”
“I think you like that I keep calling you that.”
“You do, huh?”
“It makes everything sexier. Mysterious and forbidden. Wrong but so right.”
“Nothing is wrong about you and me.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Melissa said something after I left, didn’t she? I can tell that something is bothering you.”
“No, it’s not that.” Only partially.
“Hold that thought.” He slowly rose from the couch.
I stared at him longingly.
“What, have you not had enough?”
“I’ll never have enough of you.”
He smiled and zipped up his jeans. “I’ll be right back. I have something for you.”
I slowly sat up. I grabbed my panties off the floor. I went to pick up my pants but suddenly had a better idea. I pulled Professor Hunter’s shirt on instead and sat back down on the couch.
“God you’re sexy.” He reemerged from a room that I hadn’t been in yet.
I could feel my face flushing.
“This is when you look the most beautiful. When your hair is mussed up, your cheeks are pink, and you’re wearing one of my shirts.”
He pulled a wrapped box out from behind his back.
“But my birthday isn’t for another few weeks.”
“It’s not for your birthday.” He sat down beside me and placed the box in my hands. It was wrapped perfectly with white paper and a silky pink bow.
“What is it?”
“Open it, baby.”
I smiled at him. I pulled the bow loose and tore into the paper. I lifted up the lid and slid the tissue paper to the side. It was a new bikini. It was a deep blue, the same color as the ocean. There were more strings than I was used to seeing on a bathing suit, but it looked beautiful. I ran my fingers across the fabric.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“I wanted to. Besides, it’s my fault that we lost your last one.”
I laughed. “We didn’t lose it. You somehow convinced me to get naked in public and it got stolen.”
“I hate to break it to you, but it didn’t take that much convincing.” He leaned in and kissed me gently.
“But this is probably the most expensive thing I own now. It’s too much.” I put the lid back on the box and pushed it back into his hands.
“Penny, it’s a gift.”
“I know. I’m sorry, I do love it. But I’m not used to getting extravagant gifts like this.”
“Well you better get used to it. I want to be able to buy you things. I want to get you everything you’ve ever wanted.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want anything. I just want you.”
“That’s refreshing to know.” He cupped my chin in his hand. “I’ve never met anyone like you.” He leaned in and kissed me again.
Professor Hunter pulled back and ran his hand through his hair. “Well, don’t get mad at me. I didn’t realize that you weren’t going to like getting presents. I also picked up a few other things for you for whenever you want to spend the night.”
“What?”
He stood up and held his hand out for me. I grabbed it and he pulled me to my feet. He led me past the kitchen and into his bedroom. He flipped the light on in his closet. A row of his shirts was missing, and in their place were tons of clothes. For me.
I ran my hand along the jeans, t-shirts, short dresses, skirts, and blouses. I looked down. And shoes? There were a new pair of sneakers, some flats, and a few high heels with varying lengths of stilettos.
Everything still had the tags. “I can’t accept all of this. I mean, I can’t accept any of this. Please tell me that you can return everything?”
“I can, but I’m not going to.”
“Why?”
“Penny, your face lit up when you saw everything. I understand that you aren’t used to being showered with gifts. But I want you to have these things, or else I wouldn’t have bought them for you. I want you to be comfortable staying here whenever you want.”
I felt myself blush. “It’s all so nice. But how did you even know my size?”
“I think I know your body pretty well.” He put his hand on the small of my back. “And you left your clothes here that one morning.”
I cringed remembering when I had run out on him. I had never meant to hurt him. And I was about to again. I needed to tell him the truth.
Professor Hunter opened up one of his drawers. There were at least a dozen pairs of lacy panties with matching bras.
“So these are the kinds of things you like me to wear?” I thought of the cotton thong I was wearing. I suddenly felt self-conscious.
He pulled me into his arms. “I prefer you in nothing at all.”
I was losing my resolve again. Whenever he touched me it was like a spark of electricity through my whole body.
“Professor Hunter, this is all too much. I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t need any of this.”
Professor Hunter wrapped his arms tighter around me. His intoxicating smell was making my head spin.
“I feel like a Disney princess. Which makes you the handsome prince that rescued me. But I didn’t even realize that I needed rescuing.”
Professor Hunter laughed. “If I’m the prince I certainly hope that you’ll be my princess.”
I smiled up at him. “It’s like I moved in without having to actually move any of my things. I guess that is rather convenient.”
“It is.”
“So you really want me to keep all this stuff?”
“I’m going to want to spoil you. That’s something that you’re going to have to accept. I want to give you everything. But I bought these things for you mainly because I want you to consider spending more time here. I thought that having these things here would make that easier.”
Is he asking me to move in? Kind of? My heartbeat quickened. I barely even knew him. That was insane.
“Besides, your bed is so uncomfortable,” he added.
Oh God, he is asking me to move in. I had waited too long to tell him my secret. It had gotten so serious so fast. “I don’t mind my bed. Actually I’m really used to it. It’s quite comfortable now.”
Professor Hunter’s face fell. “I’m not trying to pressure you, Penny. I know I have some things I need to deal with. And I promise that I am dealing with them. I’m just hoping that you’ll consider spending more time here. I’m happiest when you’re next to me.” He traced his thumb along my lower lip.
“You mean like a few nights a week?”