She's Too Young (5 page)

Even before she blew me a kiss on the way out the door this morning, I had faced the fact that my infatuation with her has turned somewhat unmanageable. Not having total control over everything in my life has punched holes in my gut, made me anxious, caused me to lose concentration when it comes to business decisions.

I know damn well she’s aware of my obsessed state. She loved slinking out of bed this morning and letting me devour the sight of her tight, swaying ass on the way back to her room. She’s torturing me on purpose and it’s only a matter of time before the reason is out in the open and we’re forced to deal with it.

For once, I’m not looking forward to the ensuing battle, but I’m hungry for what lays on the other side. I want to come home from work every single day and find her pouting in my sheets, whining at me for being late, until I quiet her down with my tongue between her legs. I want to dress her in clothes worthy of her and rip them to shreds as soon as we’re behind closed doors.

I want to send the staff home and make good use of that school uniform.

Most of all, I want to get inside her mind. There is so much on the other side of those blue eyes—bravery, intelligence—and I want to be
immersed
. I want to become so tangled in her thoughts, she can’t get me out. Like she’s done to me.

When I reach the door located at the end of the wide, ruthlessly clean hallway, Veda surprises me by stepping out from behind a row of lockers. We’re alone in the hall, but I’m more aware than ever of our age difference, mostly because she’s holding a text book and a ‘Vote Shannon for Class Prez’ banner hangs just beyond her shoulder. It does nothing to eliminate the gnawing desire to back her up against one of the lockers and wrap her legs around my waist. Especially because she looks relieved to see me—happy, even—and her welcoming behavior sends blood rushing in my veins.

“You came,” she whispers. “I wasn’t sure.”

“If I make you a promise, Veda, I will always follow through.”

Her eyes take on a glassy quality as she drifts forward, like she’s being transported on a cloud. Heaven’s premier angel. “I thought I would go in with you.” She gives a small shrug and I get a nose full of bubble gum scent. “I want to hear from Professor Talvert what I need to improve on.”

Once again, I encounter the niggling feeling that she’s got an ulterior motive, but how can that be when she looks so innocent? She’s rubbing one foot against the other, chewing on that bottom lip and giving me ideas. Am I too cynical for my own good or is my guilt leading me to see things that aren’t there?

Like you’ve taken me?

Her words during the thunderstorm infiltrate my mind, but I don’t want to hear them right now. Not when she’s looking up at me with blatant hero worship and I’m moments from learning more about her as a person. Even if the information will be coming from a third party—her professor—I’m still desperate to learn what makes her tick. Just until I can get inside her head.

“If you want to be in this conference, angel, then you will be. Simple as that.”

Veda’s gaze widens a fraction, then she steps forward, running her fingers down my red, silk tie. “You get whatever you want, don’t you, Ramsey?”

“Perhaps,” I answer, unable to look away as she wets her lips. “I’m glad for it, too. It enables me to give
you
whatever you want.”

“I don’t want to go back to class afterward,” she says, tightening the knot around my throat. “If you take me to the office with you, I promise not to be distracting.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t possibly keep,” I rasp, ready to call the whole damn thing off and take her home. Maybe that’s exactly what she wants. To drive me so out of my mind, I lose all sense of responsibility. Or hell, my sanity. Standing in the hallway of a high school, I’m halfway to losing it already. “I think you’re enjoying leading me around by the dick, Veda, but you need to know one thing.” I take hold of her wrist and apply the barest amount of pressure. “I’m letting you.”

The answering flash of defiance in her eyes stiffens my cock, makes my palm itch to connect with her sweet bottom. “Shall we go in?” She says, sweetly.

Without looking, I reach out and push open the door, inclining my head so she’ll precede me. I follow behind her into the spacious classroom and it takes me exactly three seconds to ascertain why Veda wanted me at this meeting. Oh yes. I might have won the battle out in the hallway, but she just took a huge step toward winning the war.

Sitting at the head of the class is Veda’s professor—Talvert, if I recall—a man in his early-forties, wearing thick-rimmed glasses and a beard. He’s watching her approach the way a lion greets a gazelle. If he dropped to all fours and started salivating down his chin, it couldn’t be more obvious he’s developed an interest in Veda that goes far beyond the teacher-student relationship. And the whimsical look she throws over her shoulder tells me she’s aware of that fact—probably even delighted with it—if only because she knows I’m halfway to crazy just knowing she’s been in this man’s presence day in and day out. I’d like to murder him with my bare hands and we haven’t even exchanged a single word. Yet.

My saving grace here is I have the ability to keep an impassive expression, no matter the circumstances, so Talvert has no idea he’s just lost his job. Neither does Veda, however, and the scales are already too imbalanced between her and me, so this meeting must go on, whether I like it or not.

Keeping my features schooled, I extend a hand to Talvert and wait for his feeble mind to catch up.
Yes, you weren’t expecting me, were you, fucker? But I’m here now and your fun is over.
“Sorry,” he says, “I was expecting Mr. Rose. Veda’s father.”

“Mr. Rose has been taken abroad indefinitely for his job.” I release his hand and step back, unbuttoning my suit jacket to sit down. “My name is Ramsey Beckett and I’m here in his place. Begin whenever you’re ready.”

While the man begins his inevitable sputtering over my recognizable name, I watch Veda as she flits around the room, spinning around in the sunlight streaming in through the classroom windows. How can I be angry at someone who looks like a fragile fairy? I am, though. Or maybe angry isn’t the right word. Helpless. Anxious. An
unacceptable
state. I’ve been gripped by this possessiveness since she approached me on the ledge and it won’t let me go. I don’t want to be free, anyway. I just want to lose myself in it. In her. Every time she exploits my weakness—
her
—the impulse only glows hotter, like coals on a fire.

Veda…she fascinates people. Men. Always has.

The memory of Jack’s words isn’t welcome. My inner coals are already bright red with jealousy. Now I’m growing impatient with the imbecile professor as he roots through paperwork looking for something that gives me permission to take Mr. Rose’s place at the meeting. We both know it’s not there and I resent valuable minutes being wasted. “Please begin, Mr. Talvert. I only have a small window of time.”

Red splotches appear on his cheeks, but he sits across from me at his desk, casting a look rife with longing at a dancing Veda. “It’s not usual for the student to be present…a-and you’re not even her parent—”

“Veda is living with me in Mr. Rose’s absence.” Satisfaction snakes into my middle when his fidgeting movements still, his lips parting on a winded exhale. “And she stays.
Begin
,” I say, more firmly. “I’d hate to be denied the chance to further a student’s academic mind, especially after making such a sizable donation this morning to the school, in an effort to do just that for thousands of them.”

A cloud passes over the sun outside as tension infiltrates the classroom. In my periphery, I watch Veda cease her spinning, her blonde halo of hair floating down from above. Her scrutiny glides over my skin like a gloved hand, but I don’t break Talvert’s stare to look back, though I ache to get an eyeful. When she takes a seat to my right seconds later, it takes an effort to hide my shock.

“Very well,” Talvert croaks, splitting a harried glance between Veda and me. “Veda is…excelling in all areas of study. Apart from requiring some extra help in Advanced Calculus, she’s done incredibly well. Her SAT score has courted the interest of several universities, to whom I’ve written detailed recommendation letters.”

His smile is that of a lovesick puppy and my hands fist when Veda returns it in that dreamy, indulgent way, blue eyes sparkling. Sickening jealousy and the undeniable desire to put a claim on her has me reaching over to settle a hand on her knee. “I’m not surprised to hear she’s doing so well.” I let my touch slide higher, just an inch. Two inches. “She gets a lot of…extra attention at home.”

Veda’s head whips around and the flash of excitement I catch in her expression isn’t lost on me. If possible, it only stokes my anger, because this loss of composure from me is what she wanted. A worthy adversary, is she? We’ll find out exactly how far she’s willing to tangle with me as soon as this damnable meeting ends.

“Is there anything else, Mr. Talvert?” I ask, my lips barely able to move.

His attention is glued to my hand where it rests dangerously high on Veda’s thigh. God help me, I can’t tell if I want to clean his clock or slide my hand beneath her skirt to touch what is
mine
and will never be
his
.

“N-no,” the professor responds, his face covered in splotches. “That will be all.”

Without hesitation, I take Veda by the hand and propel her from the classroom, a flood of sound making me temporarily deaf.

V
eda and I
are the recipients of several curious looks as we leave the school, her hand held firmly in mine. I see them wondering where I’m taking her in the middle of the school day. They’re doing the math as well, trying to figure out my age and who that number could possibly make me to Veda.

I care about none of them. My sole focus is getting her into my waiting stretch limousine and making contact. That’s as far as I’ve gotten. I need
contact.
Not only with her body, but her eyes. I need to look into them and hear words from her mouth. Words I imagine will not appease my anger in any way, but I’m desperate for them nonetheless. I want to crush the strands of her hair in my fists and press her down. Somewhere. Anywhere.

My driver opens the door for us and Veda ducks inside, throwing herself down on a seat and crossing her arms, leveling so much outrage at me, I laugh. I laugh because nothing—
nothing
—can dim her appeal. I want her angry, whimsical, sad, or excited. There’s nothing she can do to push me away, but she’s trying, isn’t she? Trying like a little, hissing kitten.

As soon as the door shuts behind me, I grip her beneath the knees and yank her off the leather seat, pinning her down hard on the floor.

“Get off me,” Veda screams. “I
hate
you.”

“You must.” When she takes a swing at me, I pin both of her wrists in one hand, high above her head. “I can’t imagine another reason you would bring me down here to watch another man fawn over you.” The sound that comes from my mouth is sheer misery and it echoes deep in the pit of my stomach. “Has he touched you?
Has he?”

My vehemence has startled her a little, but she raises her chin defiantly. “
Yes
. He has.”

“Explain,” I order through clenched teeth.
“Now.”

She’s fabricating a falsehood. It’s there in the feverish fluttering of her lashes, the way she looks off to the side. So I ram my hips up between her legs, forcing her to feel my erection and she cries out, arching her back, nipples puckering beneath the material of her white blouse.

“Don’t lie to me,” I say, my voice hoarse. “I’ll know if you do.”

Her swallow is audible, but her clear gaze tells me she’s planning on giving the truth now. “Once, I…didn’t do well on a calculus test and he offered to tutor me.” Beneath me, her body is tense, just like mine, but I’m aroused as hell—I can’t help it when we’re pressed so tightly together—and that’s contributing, too, now. Not
only
our mutual ire. “When I showed up, he said we could save time and he’d give me a better grade if I just…”

“Say it.”

“If I just let him unbutton my shirt all the way, unhook my bra. And look.” Pink climbs up her neck and manifests in her cheeks, eyes glittering with renewed energy. “What makes you any better than him? Nothing! You’re
worse
. I thought when we met there was something so sweet about you, but it was a lie.
You’re a lie.
I needed to show you that.”

Over the course of her speech, she has wound her legs around my hips, writhing her body enticingly beneath mine, so by the time she’s finished, I’m a devastating mixture of shame and lust and murder. Shame, because I fear she’s right and I’m a corrupt son-of-a-bitch. Lust, because I’m still aching to fuck her, my cock so hard I’m lightheaded. Murder, because I want to go back into the building and strangle that motherfucker for putting his hands and eyes on her
. Mine.

“Tell me why I’m a lie,” I command her. “Why can’t I be the man you thought was sweet? You haven’t let me
try
yet.”