Page 13 of Claiming His Reunion Obsession

Not with the cargo I’m carrying.

I’m taking no chances.

“Alright, darlin’. But please, call me as soon as you can, alright?”

Chelle opens her mouth to answer, but he’s already hung up.

Chelle winces a little, then shrugs. It’s a little awkward between us after all that, but for all the reasons I never thought it would be

“He’ll come around…” Chelle says absently and I reach out to touch her. Anywhere right now, I don’t care. As long as I can touch her.

I let my hand trace down her face and she takes my hand in hers, settling it in her lap with a devilish grin after we get a few more hundred yards down the road.

I feel my hand getting warmer, and my own pulse quicken as Chelle makes some low sounds and shifts in her seat a little.

“I’ve gotta drive, Chelle,” I warn her and she eases off her own throttle, but it’s too late for me. I’m as hard as oak all over again, half minded to pull over and just bend her over the front seat.

Patience… She’s worth the wait and you know it. You need to give it to her like she deserves it.

Like the Queen she really is.

“How far is it?” she asks, her breath shaking a little as she tries to start a ‘normal’ conversation, making me smile again.

“About an hour, it’s on the coast but that’s all I’m telling,” I say.

“Tell me more about your real estate and security business then, when did you stop teaching?” she asks dreamily, looking over at me and making me feel older than I’d like as I remember how long ago everything happened, even though it still feels like yesterday.

“Well, once you left the school my life was over and I just couldn’t go on…” I register her look of horror and have to tell her I’m kidding.

“I’m only joking, Chelle… but it did happen not long after you left the school. I had some health problems and got myself back into shape.”

She looks over my body again. I like feeling her eyes on me. I don’t like to show off my muscles, but knowing Chelle is into them, it makes every ounce of sweat I shed to get them worth it.

“I used some of my saving to buy into a real estate firm, doing some security system sales and guard services as part of a value added service. I worked my tail off for another few years until I could buy out the other partners, and the rest as they say…”

“Is history,” she chimes and claps her hands together and breathes in deeply.

“I remember your class, I would just smell your cologne and couldn’t concentrate on any work. I had to do all my studies when I got home,” she giggles.

I feel a little concerned, and ask her what she means.

“I’ve had a crush on you since I can remember,” she says and I feel a jolt of apprehension, then gently remind myself that nothing happened when I was Chelle’s teacher. We’re all consenting adults now.

I’m glad for that. I remember her as a student, sure. But with dozens in each class, it’s easy to see them all as the same animal after a while.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, noticing my apprehension.

“Just an old teacher’s conscience. We have a pretty hefty duty of care. It’s something I’ve transplanted to the real estate business.

“I’m sure you had boyfriends though, growing up.” I hear myself saying, feeling my hands grip the wheel tighter again, my jaw tightening at the mere thought of anyone going anywhere near her.

“Nope.” She announces proudly. “One benefit of being so big, no guy would ever want to come near me, still don’t,” she muses and I feel my head shaking.

“Will you cut that out?” I ask her firmly, really meaning it. Her face falls a little but I have to say something, I’ve heard enough.

“All this self-hate speech, can you hear it, Chelle? It’s almost like you want to bully yourself, picking up where those other bitches left off.”

She turns away, looking out the window and I know I’ve said too much. I’ve taken it too far, but it kills me to hear her put herself down like this.

I reach out for her again, but she moves her hand over to herself, collecting another Kleenex on the way.

I feel worse now for upsetting her, but I can’t have, I won’t have her putting herself down non-stop.

“I suppose we can’t all be as perfect as you,” she sniffs, real hurt in her voice but I don’t mind. I need her to know she shouldn’t put herself down.

“Chelle… I’m sorry to speak plainly, but what I mean is, you’ve got no reason to be so-”

“Look at me, Quinn!” She shouts, her red eyes snapping around to grab mine in the rear view mirror.

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