Chapter 11
Eleven
Rory woke on the couch in the media room with ESPN still playing. He tossed the blanket aside and stood, flicking the flatscreen off as he left the room.
Dawn was fast approaching. He didn’t even know what time her first class was. The darkness in him rose up. If he didn’t take her back to Yale for Friday classes, he could have her all weekend.
Lights flashed through the living room windows. Someone was in the driveway.
He walked to the window, not caring that he was naked. It was their problem if they saw him.
A mini-van. What the hell? No one he knew would be caught dead driving a minivan.
A phone alert sounded, and he spun around. Kate was dressed in the alligator dress and her suede ankle boots.
“What do you think you’re doing, baby?”
“Coming to find you. Good morning,” she said, giving him a quick kiss.
He caught her arm and pinned it behind her back, pressing her against him.
“Who’s in my driveway?”
“An Uber driver. To take me back to campus.”
“No fucking way.”
“I—what do you mean? Rory, I didn’t want to wake you. I—”
“Not another word, Kate,” he said, sweeping her feet out from under her and making her gasp. He dropped her on the couch. “Stay right there.”
He stalked into the kitchen to get his wallet. He had no idea what these guys charged for such a long drive. Would a hundred bucks cover it? He grabbed two hundred just in case.
Rory grabbed a pair of shorts from the closet next to the weight room and yanked them on. He went out the front door, leaving it wide open.
The driver was a middle-aged woman with a spiky haircut.
“Morning. Kate doesn’t need a ride. Sorry to call you out unnecessarily. For your trouble,” he said, handing her the hundreds.
“That’s—thank you!” she chirped.
He raised a hand in acknowledgement, striding back into the house. He flung the door closed behind him. Kate stood in the middle of the living room facing the windows as the car in the drive pulled away.
“Did you pay her for not driving me?” she asked, sounding bewildered.
“For as long as we’re together, you better never get in a car with someone you don’t know. Or with a fucking college kid who can’t drink a couple shots without getting wasted, for that matter.”
She scowled. “I’m not used to drinking. And I didn’t plan to drive anywhere. I’m sorry if I messed up your plans for the night, but you’re being—”
He folded his arms across his chest, narrowing his eyes.
She took a step back and sat on the coffee table.
“I’m being what?” he demanded, his temper downshifting from seventy to twenty. She really was as fucking sweet as she seemed. And he knew he was paranoid. The mean streets were never that far from his mind. He guarded and protected what was his. Long experience had taught him he needed to.
“I didn’t know you considered Uber dangerous, Rory. I’m sorry you woke up to one in your driveway and me dressed and ready to leave without even asking you if it was okay.” She tucked her sleek hair behind her ear. “I have an early class. I thought I was helping.”
He sighed. If she was gonna be reasonable, there was no way to fight. He realized a part of him was looking for her to defy him so he’d have an excuse to exercise control over her. But his teenage girlfriend’s behavior didn’t give him the opening.
She’s not your girlfriend. She’s your pet, asshole. And if she out-maneuvered you, it’s your own fault since you taught her what to do.
“Master Rory?” she asked softly.
“Hey, kitten, where’s your collar?”
“They’re both in my purse. I would’ve put the gold one on with my dress, but I didn’t want the driver to see it and be tempted to take it instead of a fare. I guess I don’t completely trust strangers either.”
He took a deep breath and exhaled. “What time is your class?”
“Eight.”
He glanced at the clock. Still plenty of time to get her back before it started. Unfortunately.
He nodded. “Ten minutes,” he said, walking out of the living room.
A few minutes later, when he had jeans and a shirt on, she appeared in the doorway of the bathroom while he brushed his teeth.
“Do you want me to stay?” she asked.
He spit toothpaste in the sink. “Of course.”
“Then I’ll stay.”
He shook his head. “Half the fun is making you stay. If you volunteer I don’t get to prove I’m the Big Bad Wolf.” He rinsed the toothbrush and dropped it in the holder.
“I didn’t know you’d want me to stay another day. I thought you might have had enough of me after I got out of control and emotional last night.”
He kissed her and then slid her out of his way and went to the dresser to grab a pair of socks.
Sitting on the bed, he pulled them on. “Don’t take that crack about college kids who can’t handle their liquor the wrong way.
I’m glad you can get drunk off two tequila shots.
You’re cute as hell when you’re drunk. I was serious though that I don’t want you in a car with a classmate who’s had a few. ”
“Okay. And if you’re not tired of my being here, I won’t leave. I want to stay.”
He got up and went to her. He took her face in his hands and kissed her again, slow and deep. “I want you here, but I don’t want you to fall behind in school. You’ll go to class. I’ll go to work. Then, I’ll come get you tonight or tomorrow.”
She nodded. “If I would’ve kept fighting with you earlier, would you have taken me back to school this morning?”
“No.”
She wrinkled her nose.
“Gonna keep fighting next time?”
“That or just come downstairs naked and lie down on the couch with you and see what happens. I bet you’ll let me skip class then.”
“Without a doubt.”