Page 48 of The Professor's Possession (Crystal River Billionaire Brothers)

I honestly invited her around here for a private study session, that’s all. No motive to seduce her into my bed today. I’m no creep.

But I do want her.

I want her so bad.

I know all I have to do right now – with how she’s reacting to me both intellectually and physically - is to simply utter a few words and she would be mine, but I have set my mind on relishing every single tense moment until our lips dare first meet. I want that moment when we finally connect to be special. I want it to feelearned, as Olivia deserves.

I want to pursue her like the precious rare diamond she is.

“Do you understand my critique of your work?” I ask her as we reach the last page of her essay. “Do you get it now?”

Olivia turns to me.

And I realize how physically close we’ve been getting to each other.

Her lips are within kissing distance of mine. Her eyes drop down to my lips and back up to match my gaze.

I know she is thinking the same dirty thoughts that are running through my head.

“I get it now, professor.”

Hold yourself back, Spencer. Not yet. Steady yourself.

“Good,” I reply, leaning back and reluctantly breaking the tension existing between us.

And then, it’s the night over. As quickly as it has begun. It feels right for Olivia to leave now. Any longer and the pressure would be far too much for either of us to handle. I know if things had lingered, then things would have spiraled out of our control.

“Goodnight, professor,” Olivia says to me as she stands by the front door of my house.

“Goodnight, Miss Weldon.”

And she disappears into the night. I close the door after her and wait for the briefest of moments, soaking in the tension that’s fading away with the girl.

Spending time with her tonight has only strengthened my desire for her, not weakened it. It seems all hope for me forgetting all about the dream girl has totally and utterly evaporated with her drinking my wine in my house.

It’s fair to conclude that her intellect matches mine.

I have finally, truly, found my match.

There is only one thing I can do now. There is no other way.

I must have her in my life. No matter what.

23

SPENCER

The two burlysecurity men in black suits in front of the bar recognize me as soon as I step out of my luxury car. They should do, seeing as they work for my father and have seen my face numerous times.

I give them a friendly nod. “Hello, boys.”

The last time they saw me was exactly one year ago tonight. Same place, same time, but a whole twelve months apart.

With a nod in return – their grim faces unchanging – they stand aside to let me pass into the bar.

This is your typical small town bar: a cozy, rustic atmosphere with dim lighting giving the place a tender glow. The hardwood floors are worn down by generations of Crystal River bar-goers. The long central bar is the showpiece of the place. Comfy booths line the walls. There is a faint discernable air of a loving nostalgia in here; a bar that has been visited by so many people who call this small townhome.

But tonight, this is no ordinary bar in the middle of Crystal River. Tonight, this place has been hired out by my family as it has done on the same night every year for the past few years. My family pays the owner of the bar more than well enough for his trouble of closing up shop for a night. Enough to match a whole month’s profit, in fact.

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