Page 39 of Arrogant Professor

“Vincent, I’d only slow you down,” I said. “I barely have enough money saved up to cover three months of rent. I have nothing to offer. I can’t pull my fair share of the weight.”

He hooked his arms around me, pulling me down to straddle his lap on the couch.

“I just want you, Elle.”

God, this man knew how to take my breath away. I placed my hands on his chest as I deliberated. My heart ached to say yes, but that would put a lot of responsibility on Vincent’s shoulders. It wasn’t fair to burden him like that, especially when I was the one who cost him the job in the first place.

Noticing my hesitation, he traced his thumb over my lower lip, cradling my cheek in his palm.

“This isn’t a roommate situation I’m proposing here, baby.”

I frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“Marry me.”

My jaw dropped. This had to be the stress talking, affecting his decision-making abilities.

“What?”

“You don’t have to be Giselle Roche anymore,” Vincent replied. “You can be Elle Stonebridge. My wife.”

I climbed off him, shaking my head as if I could clear my jumbled thoughts. Sure, this was a dream come true, but it still left me rattled. It was just…so soon. So fast.

“Look, maybe we should hit the brakes here. We’re both probably a bit confused after everything that has happened and—”

Vincent propped his elbows on his knees, leaning forward as he watched me. The steadiness of his gaze never wavered. He looked calm and in control. He looked like a man who knew exactly what he wanted.

I put a hand to my mouth.

“Holy shit, you’re serious.”

“I won’t deny that I loved my job as a professor,” Vincent replied. “But that’s gone. I’ll never get it back. I’m not going to lose you, too.”

Part of me wanted to leap at the chance and accept without hesitation. The other part of me wondered if this was just one more slice of happiness that would be stripped away from me somewhere down the road.

The future was hazy and blank. No job. Disowned by my family. Meager savings. And no degree.

But I had this man. This handsome, intelligent, strong man who looked at me like I was the most precious thing in the world. Maybe I had no clue what I was going to do with my life, but Vincent would make sure I didn’t do it alone.

“I don’t know how to be a wife,” I whispered, plucking at the cuff of my sleeve.

Vincent hooked his fingers into the waistband of my pajamas and tugged me closer.

“You’re a quick learner. I’ve seen it first-hand. You’ll figure it out.”

I rolled my eyes but I couldn’t help the smile that started to spread across my face.

“I haven’t exactly been a straight-A student in class,” I pointed out.

“Never mentioned any classes, did I?”

Vincent peeled my pajamas down, sucking a kiss into my hip. Moving my panties aside, he slid two fingers inside me. I sighed with pleasure.

“What kind of wedding do you want?” he asked.

“Something small.” My breath hitched in my throat when he stroked his fingers and twisted upward. “Cozy. With plenty of wine.”

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