Page 77 of Shelter for Morgan

It didn’t matter that her own feelings were the same, she didn’t know anything concrete about the man.

She certainly wasn’t in a position to say much of anything about him besides her odd feelings.

That certainly wasn’t something she could write down in a report.

She knew that from life with her brother. He’d lectured her on the faulty reports people tried to make, so she knew what was actionable and her feelings weren’t good enough.

She had to talk to Benji.

RHETT

Rhett was worried about Morgan.

Since the first time they’d made love, they’d been intimate often, but when they weren’t discovering new ways to pleasure each other, or making food and eating together, she was holed away in her room, working on her lessons and other work when he knew what was bothering her.

Benji.

Yes, he was a student, but Rhett found out early on that Morgan cared about other people. She didn’t just teach these kids, she was doing everything she could to get to know them all and find ways to help them outside of the classroom.

She explained that it was just her love of Civics. Learning to help others in her community wasn’t something she did when she was younger. She knew that she’d been privileged at first, but the death of her parents had done a lot to show her the depths of sorrow and loss that others had faced at a much younger time of their lives.

Teaching, she’d told him, had given her an outlet for her need to give back. Teaching gave her the ability to do good for others and lift them up.

She’d come home from work, eager to share the headway she’s making with her students and some on an individual level.

Today, she’d come in from work and avoided his curious looks, ducking into the shower to avoid his usual after work question. “What happened today?”

It wasn’t until she’d come out of the shower, her hair a mass of wet curls, that she met his gaze.

She accepted his hug and leaned into his embrace.

“It’s fine.” She murmured the words into his shoulder. “I’m just… I’m just frustrated.”

“Want to tell me about it?”

She tightened her arms around him and hugged him like she was afraid he’d slip through her fingers.

“Not right now. I just want to be held by you.”

He tucked her closer and rocked her slightly side to side. “I won’t pass up this opportunity.” He smiled as she sighed and melted against him. “I love these moments, but I just wish that you were having a better day.”

She wrapped her arms tighter around his waist and turned her head so her cheek was against his shoulder. “Do you think we could just lock the doors and never, ever leave again?”

“We could,” he explained, “but I know you love teaching and I’m pretty sure that Chief Blaise would send the team after me if I stopped showing up for work.”

“Huh,” she looked up at him and gave him a wobbly smile, “and they know how to break down doors. I’m thinking the management here at the apartment building might have a rather angry reaction to that?”

“Me not leaving or my friend’s breaking down the door?”

She rolled her eyes and smiled at him, her whole expression lightening at his question. “You’re being silly.”

“I’d do anything to make you smile.”

She swooned a little. “You’re like Tim McGraw,” she hummed his song and Rhett softly sang along.

“Just to see you smile…”

She lifted her head and wiped at her eyes. “You are too sweet to me.”

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