Page 24 of Study You

Gillian turned her head and studied Finn’s profile. She had one hell of a striking jawline. “I think today it became real. Walking into work and knowing I’d see you…as my student…I don’t know. The weekend was quite intense. Friday night was so intense.” Gillian exhaled a long breath, trying to rid that memory from her mind. The plan had been to set ground rules—which they had—and then head home alone. Only as she’d sat in that bar with Finn, aware of how Finn had looked at her when she stepped up beside her, Gillian couldn’t not invite Finn back to her apartment. Gillian wasn’t sure anyone had ever looked at her the way Finn had. As though she was going to devour her there and then. In the exact spot she stood in. “Things feel different since Friday.”

“Feel different how?” Finn focused on the road.

“Again, I don’t know. We’ve spent a few nights together now, but Friday? Oh, Friday was quite something.”

Finn smirked as she shook her head. “You know, it’s not good to make me blush while I’m driving. I’m already struggling to concentrate as it is.”

“Why?”

Finn snorted. “Because I have Gillian Masters in my fucking passenger seat. That is not something I expected back in December when I left you in your office.”

“Well, then, I guess we’re both surprised. Because I never expected to feel so fucking high on life since we came back from the Christmas break.” Gillian relaxed into her seat, watching the city lights pass her by. She didn’t know where they were going, Finn had told her it was a surprise, but she was trusting her. She sighed. “What a mess.”

Finn suddenly lay a hand on Gillian’s thigh, squeezing gently. “You good?”

Gillian would always be good when Finn’s hands were on her. “Yes. I’m good.”

“Then let’s get out of the city so I can give you my undivided attention.”

Oh, Finn. Stop doing that.

Gillian rested her head back and focused outside the window again. When Finn’s softer side threatened to peek out, Gillian had to remind herself of what this was. She didn’t want to push away to a point, but she would have to if Finn kept making her feel a certain kind of way. “Yes. Let’s get out of the city.”

* * *

Finn sat side on in the driver’s seat, watching Gillian as she enjoyed the bag of chips they’d picked up from a local chip shop. Finn didn’t know why she had thought to bring Gillian here, but it was mindless…while being intimate at the same time. Well, intimate in Finn’s mind anyway. There were so many things she wanted to talk to Gillian about, but Finn didn’t want to ruin this. She was having too much fun.

“I couldn’t tell you the last time I ate chips from the wrapper.” Gillian sunk down into her seat, smiling in Finn’s direction. “What made you bring me here?” She looked out of the windscreen at the clear night. It was a far cry from the weather closer to home. The rain thankfully hadn’t followed them. “I mean, it’s beautiful, but still…”

Finn had brought Gillian to Parbold Hill. A place she often visited when she wanted to be in the quiet. The hill sat at around four hundred feet high, with views of West Lancashire below. It was nothing more than a lay-by and a road, but it was beautiful. “I wanted to see you, and I don’t know…thought that maybe seeing somewhere together may have been nice.”

Gillian smiled weakly. “Right.”

“I don’t expect us to do this all the time. Or ever again if you don’t want to. This is just one of my happy places. I thought maybe you’d enjoy being here, too.”

“I am enjoying it.”

Finn was almost certain that was a lie. She could read Gillian’s body language far better than Gillian likely realised. “We can go if you’d rather get back. I just wanted you to see the view.”

“Finn,” Gillian said, placing a hand on her knee. “Relax. It’s okay. I am happy to be here.”

“Okay. If you’re sure?”

Gillian finished her bag of chips, scrunching the paper up and throwing it to the footwell with Finn’s. “I am. Could we get out and look at the view?”

“Absolutely.” Finn shot out of the car, rushing to the passenger side to open the door for Gillian. She looked really good tonight. Comfy, yet entirely different from what she usually wore around Finn. “You look great, by the way.” Finn noted the shy smile Gillian wore. It always confused her when a woman who oozed so much confidence blushed at a simple compliment.

“Thanks. I wasn’t sure where we were going, so I had to wing it.”

“Well.” Finn cleared her throat. “You should wing it more often when you’re not on campus. Although, I’m willing to bet my life on the fact that you’d look good in anything.” She turned her body towards Gillian, leaning in and offering her a gentle kiss. “So long as this is outside and the whole skirt and heels thing is campus attire, I’m one really fucking lucky person.” Finn stroked her thumb against Gillian’s jaw, smiling.

“Such a sweet talker.” Gillian nudged Finn’s shoulder as she laughed. “Now, show me this view that you love so much.”

“Which one? Because the view I have right now is the best I’ve seen yet.”

Gillian fisted her hand in Finn’s jacket, pulling her in close. With her lips just millimetres from Finn’s, she whispered, “Finn, if you want to fuck me, you only have to say. The compliments aren’t necessary.”

Finn lifted a brow at that. Sure, she knew this was just fucking, but couldn’t she even compliment Gillian when she felt it was appropriate? Damn. These rules were brutal. “Right. Sorry.” She exhaled a deep breath and took a step back. With her hands shoved in her pockets, Finn moved towards the edge of the grass verge and looked out at her supposed happy place. “Well, here it is. West Lancashire, and beyond.”

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