Page 39 of Bad Teacher

Violet gave his hand a light squeeze. “I understand,” she whispered. Hadn’t she experienced similar quiet agony when she’d been married? Damian being a good-looking plastic surgeon. He always quietly required perfection from her, and she could never adapt to his standards.

“Ever since I met you, you challenged me. You helped me, even when I didn’t even know I needed it,” he said, staring deep into her eyes.

She parted her mouth, but no sound came out. The world stopped around them, and her heartbeat echoed in the room. Their fingers intertwined, and she wasn’t sure if she’d made the first move or he had.

Tears brimmed his eyes, but he didn’t look away from her. If anything, he only intensified his stare, his face dipping down, closer to hers. “I love you, Violet. I love you enough to keep learning to be more patient and give you time to develop those feelings for me.”

“You do?” She touched her chest with her free hand, afraid she’d have to call 911. This type of racing in her heart surely wasn’t normal.

“I will follow whatever rules you set for me. I don’t want to lose you, because that would wreck me.” The muscle in his jaw twitched. “I love you so much, Violet. Give me a chance to show you.”

A warm glow flew through her, and she could no longer resist. “I love you too, Theo.”

“Are you serious?”

“More than I’ve ever been,” she said, her heart pounding in her ears. “Our fathers tried, but they didn’t break us for good… we found each other.”

“And I’m never letting go.”

“Never,” she repeated.

He lowered his lips to hers, claiming her so passionately, he sent the pit of her stomach into a mad swirl. She kissed him back, matching his urgency, and slid on his lap, wrapping her legs around him. Her body was burning, but her heart sang a harmonious, happy melody.

She loved him, and he loved her—and from now on, that was all that mattered…

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