Page 103 of Forbidden Professor

Eve pulls back, her eyes searching mine. Her relief is clear, her expression warm and grateful.

A quiet cough pulls us back, and I turn to see Margaret guiding my mother into the room. Her normally composed expression is soft, filled with concern.

"Carter," she says quietly. "I’ve been talking to Margaret. It seems that I... owe you an apology."

Eve’s hand slips into mine, steadying me. Mom steps closer, her face conflicted.

"I was wrong," she says, her voice gaining strength. "I thought I was protecting you, but I see now I was pushing you away."

"Mom. I understand. But you have to trust that I know my heart."

Mom nods, her eyes glistening. "The way you look at Eve... it reminds me of how your father looked at me."

The mention of Dad brings a pang to my heart. I squeeze Eve’s hand, drawing strength from her.

"I love you, Mom," I say, stepping forward to embrace her. "But Eve is part of my life now."

Mom relaxes in my arms. "I love you too," she murmurs. "And I’ll try. For you, I’ll try."

Pulling back, I meet her gaze with a small smile. "That’s all I ask. We’re family, and that means working through the hard stuff together."

Mom nods, a tentative smile in return. That’s good enough for me today.

“Well?” Aunt Margaret looks beyond pleased with herself. “Don’t just stand there. Come into the dining room and find your seats. I’m ready to eat!”

I take Eve’s hand as we filter down the hall, unable to keep a smile from my face.

ChapterForty-Three

Eve

Three Months Later

When I wake up,Carter’s side of the bed is empty. I roll over and stretch in the early morning sun. My legs ache a little from having such amazing sex last night. But it’s a good ache, one that reminds me of Carter even when he’s not around. Our sex life has gotten even better over the last several months. Last night, we languished in bed for hours before finally drifting off to sleep in each other’s arms, exhausted and satiated.

My alarm starts going off and I casually reach over to turn it off. Carter sticks his head out of the bathroom with his toothbrush still hanging in his mouth.

He’s bare-chested and wearing only soft blue boxer briefs. A true wall of a man, he’s hard in all the right places. Only his sweet lips and devilish eyes are ever soft.

I look at him, still amazed that I get to call him mine. He disappears for a second, coming back to dive onto the bed with me. I squeal as he tackles me, holding me down as he kisses my neck.

“You’re so damn hot in the morning. I don’t know how you do it.”

My cheeks flush. “I think you just like that you have got me trained to wear nothing but a pair of panties to bed.”

He hums, bringing his big hands up to cup my breasts. He molds his hands around them and teases my sensitive nipples. “That certainly doesn’t hurt things.”

“Oooh,” I breathe out. “Don’t start something if you can’t finish it.”

“Oh, I can finish it all right…” He buries his face against my neck, his mouth finding that spot on my neck that makes me moan…

…which is exactly when the doorbell rings.

Carter groans, holding me tighter when I try to escape. “It’s probably no one important…”

My moan turns into a giggle. “At nine in the morning on a Saturday?”

“Exactly. Everyone civilized is still in bed, trying to get lucky with their beautiful girlfriends.”

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