Chapter 49
GRADY
I ’d barely finished unpacking the first box when Cece sauntered into my office carrying a plant.
When I thought I was definitely getting fired, I had packed up most of my office.
I didn’t want to risk Carver locking me out and keeping my shit.
And that bitch was vindictive enough to do exactly that.
I had no doubt in my mind she would take my various trinkets and trophies and keep them for herself.
“A plant?” I asked.
“Your office is drab,” she said. “It needs life.”
“I specialize in dead. Old. Drab .”
She laughed and went about setting it on the shelf.
I couldn’t resist. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her body against mine.
She was wearing one of those skirts that drove me crazy, the kind that swished when she walked, and a blouse that clung to her in all the right places.
My hands itched to touch her, to pull her close and remind her just how much I liked holding her.
I had never felt this way about anyone before. She consumed me.
“You know, if you wanted to liven up my office, you could’ve showed up naked,” I said and nuzzled her neck. “That’s very lively.”
My lips moved to her earlobe and nibbled, pulling it into my mouth.
“Grady,” she whispered, her voice soft and breathless. “Someone could walk in.”
“Let them,” I said. “I don’t care who sees us.”
She melted into me then, her ass wiggling against what was quickly becoming a very hard situation.
I moved my lips to her neck and sucked. She groaned and dropped her head back to rest on my shoulder.
I wanted to grab her tits but I stopped myself.
There was a risk someone would walk in. A little nuzzling wasn’t scandalous.
And we were in the privacy of my office.
I could reach over and throw the lock. The fantasy that had been plaguing me since I first laid eyes on her sounded like a really good idea.
I could put her on my desk, feast on her delicious pussy, and then fuck her while she was sprawled out naked and wanting.
Before I could make my way to the door, Felix opened it. Cece jumped out of my arms and I had to grab a box to hide my erection.
“You two busy?” Felix had a grin on his face. He knew we were about to be busy before he interrupted.
“Would it matter if we were?” I asked, not bothering to hide my irritation.
He chuckled. “I’ve got big news.”
The chuckle said it wasn’t bad news, but I was leery. “What’s up?”
Felix looked from me to Cece. “Dean Carver has been terminated as of this morning.”
“Fired?” Cece sounded as shocked as I felt.
“Fired,” Felix said. “The board found cause: misuse of funds, power plays, deliberate sabotage of Stone’s projects.” He looked at me and I could see he was dead serious. “They sided with you.”
I closed my mouth, still processing. I knew I was keeping my job, but I just assumed I was going to be stuck dealing with the dean for the rest of my days.
“Holy shit,” Cece gasped.
“I have more news,” Felix said.
“I’m afraid to ask,” I said.
“I have been appointed acting dean of the anthropology department.”
My head spun. “Felix? Wait—you’re dean?”
Felix nodded with a smile so big it covered half his face. I wasn’t jealous. He was capable. He was smart and more than qualified and I sure as hell didn’t want it. “That’s right. Doesn’t have to go to board vote. They’ve already made the shift. As of an hour ago, I’m the dean.”
“Felix,” I said and slapped his shoulder. “Congratulations. Good for you, man.”
He grinned. “Thank you.”
“Congratulations,” Cece said.
“Thank you. There’s something else. About you two.”
Cece and I exchanged a look. Oh fuck. Just when I thought things were on a good trajectory.
“What about us?” I asked. Felix and I had an odd friendship, but we understood each other. And he had to know I wasn’t going to back down from Cece. Never again.
If he tried to pull any of Carver’s bullshit, I was going to toss all my shit right back in the box. I would give up my career to be with her. No way was I going to let him take her away from me. Fuck that. I didn’t care if we were best friends and owned a business together.
Felix cleared his throat. “According to policy, student-faculty relationships are still… well, not ideal. But I’ve reviewed your situation.”
“There’s no fucking rule against it, Felix.”
He held up a hand. “You and I both know there are some technicalities, and if someone wanted to, they could push. But that’s not going to be me. I will not intercede. Not now. Not ever.”
Cece exhaled. “Thank you, Felix.”
Felix smiled. “That said, Cece can no longer be a TA under you. I don’t want the drama.
I know the two of you have a real thing and you are both mature enough not to bring your relationship into the classroom.
It’s the way it looks and it reflects on me.
I want to run a tight, clean ship. No drama.
No gossip. Let’s all commit to doing what we are all here to do.
What the two of you do when you’re not here is up to you.
I trust you both to handle this like the professionals you are. ”
“I’m fine with that,” I said.
“Me too,” Cece said.
But I could see the concern in her eyes. She needed the TA job, and once again, she was getting punished.
“Felix, I appreciate all of that but Cece needs a TA position,” I said. “If you don’t want us working together, fine. I’ll quit. Hire someone else and let her keep the job.”
“Relax,” he said. “I know that. She’ll be my TA.”
“Really?” I asked.
He nodded. “I already did the paperwork.”
Tears of relief welled in her eyes. “Thank you.”
Felix gave her a playful grin. “But don’t fall in love with me, okay? I don’t have many friends and I don’t want this brute trying to kill me out of jealousy.”
We all laughed.
“I will do my best,” Cece said with a grin.
“Felix, you might want to close your eyes, because I’m going to kiss my girlfriend.”
Felix held up a hand. “You do that. Let’s meet at The Library tonight. We have a lot to celebrate.”
“We’ll be there,” I said. “Now, get out. I’m locking the door and I don’t want to hear shit about noises that might come from my office when the door is closed.”
Felix groaned. “I’m not hearing that, I’m not hearing that.”
“What you don’t know can’t hurt you,” I told him and gently pushed him out the door.
“We should probably get you a radio in here. Turn on music.”
I laughed. “So it’s more romantic? Felix, I like the way you think.”
He snorted. “To drown out the noise, moron.”
I winked. “I’ll have one in here tomorrow.”
I locked the door behind Felix and turned to Cece, who was still standing by the shelf with that damn plant. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was biting her lip like she was trying not to laugh. I didn’t care. I wanted her. Now.
“So,” I said, stalking toward her with what I hoped was a sexy grin. “Where were we?”
She raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching. “I believe you were about to make a very inappropriate comment about me livening up your office.”
“Right,” I said, closing the distance between us in two strides. My hands found her waist. I pulled her against me, my lips brushing her ear. “And then I was going to show you exactly how much I appreciate your… decorating skills.”
She giggled, the sound light and teasing, and it only made me want her more. “Grady,” she said. “We can’t.”
“Why not?” I murmured, trailing kisses down her neck. “Door’s locked. Felix is gone. No one’s going to interrupt us this time. Lift up that skirt for me.”
She laughed again, squirming in my arms as my hands slid lower, gripping her ass through that swishy skirt of hers. “Because,” she said, trying to sound serious but failing miserably, “this is your office. And we’re supposed to be professionals.”
“Professionalism is overrated,” I growled, nipping at her collarbone. “And you’re making it very hard to not want you. I don’t give a damn about professionalism right now. All I care about is you. And I’m not waiting another second to show you how much I want you.”
I saw the brief hesitation. Then, without a word, she reached down and hiked up her skirt, revealing the curve of her thighs and the edge of her lace panties. My mouth went dry.
“Good girl,” I murmured, my hands sliding up her legs to grip her hips again.
I spun her around gently, pressing her front against the edge of my desk.
Her hands braced against the surface as I leaned over her, my lips brushing the shell of her ear.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Cece. You have no idea what you do to me. ”
She shivered under my touch, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps as I trailed kisses down the side of her neck.
“Grady,” she whispered, her voice trembling with need. “Do it.”
I unbuttoned my pants and freed myself, not bothering with anything else.
Finding her wet and ready was exactly what I expected.
I knew we couldn’t make it a habit to fuck in my office, but I had to have her.
I promised myself I would practice more restraint in the future.
The moment I slid inside her, I knew that was bullshit. I had no restraint when it came to her.
The Library was buzzing when we walked in, the usual mix of students and locals.
It felt different walking in with her hand in mine.
I’d never been one for public displays of affection, but with her, it felt right.
Like I didn’t care who saw us or what they thought. She was mine, and I wasn’t hiding it.
Felix was already at our usual table near the back, a bottle of whiskey and three glasses waiting for us. He looked up as we approached, a grin spreading across his face. “There they are,” he said, raising his glass in a mock toast. “I thought you were going to make me drink alone.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling as I pulled out a chair for Cece. “Never,” I said, sitting down beside her.
Felix poured us each a drink. He slid a glass toward Cece first, then me. “To new beginnings.”
We clinked glasses. I took a sip, the whiskey smooth and warm as it went down.
I had never really given a lot of thought to the new beginnings toast. People said that shit all the time but what did it really mean?
I got it now. I had just stepped into a new life.
It had shit to do with my career and everything to do with Cece and Sophie.
They were my new beginning.