Page 125 of All Our Secrets

Even as I spoke, my hands shook. I’d never been so dizzy or off-kilter in my life. Maybe I needed to go to the doctor. After I informed the office of what happened, I texted Sarah and asked her to give me a ride home. I didn’t trust myself to drive.

______

My students were gone to lunch when someone tapped on my door.

I scowled at the hulking presence in the doorway to my classroom. “What are you doing?”

Without answering, Silas walked over. There was an angry gleam in his dark stare as it roamed over my face, then landed on my forehead. “What the fuck have you done?”

I smacked his hand away when he tried to touch my face. “You think I wanted to hit my head?”

“What happened?”

“I got dizzy.”

Shoving his hands away only worked for so long. He gripped my chair’s arms suddenly, reeling me closer to him, then grabbed my head. “Did you black out?”

“No.”

“I think you need to go to the hospital.”

“Why are you here?”

“Sarah told me. Are you eating?” His handsome face leaned toward mine. His beard was unkempt, and up this close, the dark circles under his eyes were more pronounced.

“Are you?” I asked.

“My sickness has nothing to do with food,” he whispered. Tension I didn’t know I had slipped from my shoulders.

Same.

We were suffering together.

“I miss you,” he murmured, and the heat of his breath warmed my lips. His thumb moved down my cheek. “I need you.”

Before I got all choked up or my body started reacting to his nearness, I pulled away. “I don’t want you touching me. Why are you here?”

“To give you a ride home. You shouldn’t be driving if you’re dizzy.”

“Okay, then drive me home. But that’s it.” I grabbed my purse and keys off the desk and stood. Thankfully, there was no swaying or dizziness.

“I still think you need to go to the doctor.”

“I plan to,” was all I said.

I tried to not look at or smell him, but he walked too close to me. My chin wobbled as I fought to keep my emotions at bay. Now that he was near, I struggled. This was why I never answered his calls, texts, or the door.I am weak.My clit started pulsating like Silas had some sort of button for it in his pocket. The sudden sexual need grew worse when I climbed inside his truck. His masculine scent was everywhere. I looked out the window the entire time, never looking or speaking to him. When he placed his hand on my knee like it belonged there, I threw it off, but he moved it right back. His touch was possessive. He wouldn’t budge. I sensed my skin reddening underneath my dress pants from his firm grip.

“That hurts,” I lied.

He rubbed my thigh after that, which was worse. I tugged at my blouse, then rolled down the window, even though he had the A/C on. The fall breeze was mild. I had no reason to be as hot as I felt right then.

When he parked, he grabbed my hand before I could exit his truck. With reluctance, I looked at him.

“Go get T.J. and let’s go home,” he begged.

I pulled my hand from his. “This is my home.”

“No, it’s not. I’m sorry I let you marry someone else. I’m sorry I let you come here. That I allowed you to think this was home. Home is with me. Home is when we’re together.”