Page 1 of Virgin for Next Door Wolf Daddy

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Talia

Talia hesitated when she heard the loud knock on the door. She had mixed feelings about the conversation she was about to have with her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend. With a sense of dread about the fallout and the hope for relief she would feel when it was over, she sucked in a huge breath of air and opened the door.

“Come in,” she said, needlessly since Darius had already walked into the small studio apartment she had lived in for the last six years.

“What’s this about?” he asked. “What’s so damned important that I had to leave the frat house and come over here to talk about? I know you aren’t pregnant since you’re such a fucking prude.”

Thank the heavens for that, I thought.

“Sit down,” she said, pointing to the sofa as she took the chair next to the couch.

“Darius, what we have between us isn’t working for me.”

He stiffened. “What are you talking about? We’re great together.”

“No, not really. We haven’t been for a very long time. I know we want different things from a relationship,” Talia said. “I’m not happy with the fact that you’ve become increasingly controlling. You want to know where I’m at, who I’m talking to, and who my friends are. You always have something to say about what I’m wearing and even get upset when I talk to my parents. I can’t deal with that. It’s time we went our separate ways.”

“No. You are just going through some kind of phase since we are graduating tomorrow. You know that the only reason that I’ve been that way is because I’m trying to protect you. You should have said something before if it bothers you that much. We’ll get through this.”

Darius reached for Talia’s hand to try to pull her onto the couch next to him, but she jerked her hand away. He snarled at her rejection.

“I’ve tried and it might get better for a day or so, but then everything goes back to the way it was. I can’t and won’t live like that,” Talia said. “Whatever feelings I thought that I had for you no longer exist. I don’t love you and I don’t want to be with you.”

“You’re just stressed. Babe, don’t do this. We’re meant to be together. You know that. Give me a chance to prove to you that I can change,” Darius protested.

“No. We’re done,” Talia said, trying to control her emotions. “You need to find yourself a submissive woman who doesn’t mind being told when and how she can breathe. You need a woman who is dependent on you and hangs on your every word. That woman isn’t me.”

“You’re willing to throw away everything we have?” Darius said, his voice rising. “After all I’ve done for you, you are just going to throw us away like that? You’re making a huge mistake.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Talia said, her calm voice belying the exploding emotions inside of her.

“You can’t break up with me,” he growled.

“I just did. We’re done,” I replied, opening the door for him. “Please leave.”

“We’re far from done,” Darius snarled as he stormed out the door. “You’ll regret this. You don’t get to walk away from me.”

Talia shut the door on his last words and sagged against it, her heart racing a million miles an hour. She knew that it wouldn’t be pretty, but she felt as though the weight of the world had lifted off of her shoulders.

She spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing. The last few months have been chaotic. She was finishing her classes, studying for her finals, and working on her thesis about how differentiated instruction could not only help students with learning disabilities but also students with mental health issues. It had been well received. She submitted all the requirements for her New Mexico teaching license and applied to different schools, although her heart had really been set on teaching in her hometown of Angel’s Creek, a little town a few hours away from Albuquerque where she had been attending The University of New Mexico.

Talia had been thrilled when she had been invited to interview for the science teacher’s position by Angel’s Creek High School Principal, Connie Jones. They had hit it off, and Talia had been welcomed to the staff.

Her parents would get into town later that night for the graduation ceremony. They would stay at a hotel since Talia’s studio apartment was so small.

She felt free for the first time in a long time. Talia loved learning, but it felt good not to have to worry about that next paper or test. It felt even better to be done with Darius. She literally felt the shackles unlock around her wrists and ankles and disappear when she closed the door on him the final time.

The next morning came quickly. She and a hundred other graduates and their families sat in the auditorium as they listened to speeches, songs from the choir, a prayer, and finally, the awarding of the degrees. The room was unbearably hot and she was sweating under her dress and robe. Finally, the degrees were awarded, the final thoughts were intoned, and the new graduates were released to the cool fresh air.

“I’m so proud of you, honey,” Heidi gushed as she hugged Talia for the fourth time.

Talia laughed. “Thanks, Mom.”

After getting her picture taken a million times, Talia said, “I’m starving. We need to go for food.”

“We have something important to talk to you about, honey,” Theo said.

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