Page 103 of Love, Academically
Lila tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow as they headed towards her bench, smiling up at him like he hadn’t just railed her over the back of the chair in her office. Sitting, Lila took her lunch bag and handed him a chicken salad sandwich.
“Can I take you home after work?” he asked.
Rhys was just, well, he was just the sweetest guy (most of the time).Can I take you home after work? He asked her every day. Thing was, she wasn’t going to be able to get home without him, because he was driving her in to work after staying the night. Except on kickboxing nights with Dan, which Lila forced him to go to, he went home and she called her parents, happy to listen to the trials and tribulations of wine tours. They even asked her how she was now and again, and she could actually tell the truth. She was happy.
“Hmm.” She tapped her chin. “What if we go to yours?”
“But my flat is so… so…” Rhys frowned, looking at the lake, “dull. I much prefer your house. I much prefer you.”
“You can drop me home. But you’ve got kickboxing tonight.” She poked his chest.
“Dan’s not going. I’m not going.” There was a distinct whine to his voice.
“That’s not how that works,” Lila said with a reprimanding smile. “You need to do the things that make you, you.”
And she needed to put in some boundaries to stop her from falling, falling, falling. Because it would be easy to fall for Rhysand she was just so wary and nervous of losing herself again. Technicolour Lila had been hard fought for.
“You make me, me.”
Obviously, Rhys had other ideas because that guileless honesty squeezed her heart.
“Rhys.” She shook her head with a smile.
“What?” He took another bite of his sandwich. “It’s true. I’ve never felt freer, more like myself. That’s all because you’ve showed me a better way to live my life. How to actually enjoy it.”
He was so matter-of-fact, like it was so obvious, but it wasn’t. Not for her. Emotion clogged her throat because she finally felt needed. No, that wasn’t the right word. She feltwanted. She had been convenient for Jason. He just needed her financially to support his dream. Rhys didn’t need her, hewantedher. And that made her feel like she was free falling without a parachute; exhilarating and terrifying.
“Kickboxing,” she croaked out. “You’ve got kickboxing tonight.”
“Fine,” he grumbled and linked their fingers together.
It was so calm, so easy and best of all, she wasn’t worried that something she said or did was wrong. He wanted her for her, not for what she could do for him. Tears pricked at her eyes and she looked away, trying to blink them away.
“What’s wrong?” Rhys tugged at her hand. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just…” She rubbed a finger under her eyes. “I’m happy.”
“Oh, okay.” An awkward, crooked smile pulled one side of his lips and he squeezed her hand. “I’m happy too.”
A blush flared across her cheekbones. The way he was looking at her was soft and warm, and no one had ever looked at her like that before. Gosh, her poor battered heart was workingovertime. The subject needed changing before either of them said something that she wasn’t ready to hear or say.
“I’ve handed my application in to Sue. She just has to sign it and submit it.” It felt so good to be getting somewhere. “When are you handing in your Fellowship application?”
“That’s brilliant, Lila.” He kissed the back of her hand. “Tomorrow. Definitely.”
“Good.” Lila handed him a cookie from her lunch bag. “I’ll cook you a celebratory dinner.”
Rhys grinned and leaned closer to whisper in her ear.
“I’d rather have you for dinner.”
A shiver ran through her as his hot breath ran down her neck. Already needing her again washot.
“Rhys,” she hissed, glancing around quickly. “You can’t say things like that! Not here.”
“Don’t pretend you don’t love it.” Rhys sat back with a smirk. “Besides, I’ve just fucked you in your office, when anyone could have come in.”
The thought of the past fifteen minutes made heat coil again low in the base of her stomach. How much she wanted him was worrying, and exactly why it was good to have some separation.
