XVI
Tori
T he door is already open as I almost slide into Payne’s office.
He looks up at me, surprised, but before he can speak, I quickly step inside and close the door behind me. “You don’t have to leave,” I tell him.
Payne finishes lowering a pile of books into a cardboard box before shaking his head. “What are you doing here?”
“You’re not answering your text messages.”
He nods. “I’m not.”
I ran all the way here, not sure if he was even going to be in his office. My little lie resulted in the topic of my sex tape being brought up, and the combined actions meant I was officially suspended. I still don’t care about that, but they said it was effective immediately, but I had to speak to Payne before I went back to get my things.
“I’m really sorry,” I tell him, gushing over my words as I try to catch my breath. “I told them it was all me, and I’ve gone on record with that. You don’t need to pack everything up.”
“Tori, I’ve already seen the dean this morning and admitted to everything—”
“Why would you do that?” I ask, horrified.
“Because it’s the truth. Don’t look so upset. When I got the email, I knew what was coming, and I realized I wasn’t upset.” He walks over, stopping just in front of me. “Last night, we made out on my desk, and the only reason I stopped was because I saw your bruises. That may have been the right thing to do, but had they not been there, I wouldn’t have stopped. I wouldn’t have even considered it.” Gently, he cups my cheek with his warm hand. “You’re beautiful and intriguing, and the more time I spend with you, the more I’m falling for you.”
He said something like that the last time. And just like the last time, his words have a strange effect on me. Strange, but still welcoming. They warm me, but not just in my core. It’s like, he’s wrapped me in an invisible blanket.
For weeks, I’ve not felt anything like what he’s making me feel now.
Safe.
After last night, I doubt there’s anyone lurking outside again, watching. Even if there is, I don’t care.
“Then don’t stop this time.” I pull Penny’s college blazer off and toss it to the side. My fingers don’t tremble as I deftly unfasten the buttons of the blouse.
Payne steps back. “Tori, what are you doing?”
The blouse joins the blazer, then I push the skirt down over my hips and allow it to pool around my feet on the floor.
When I dressed this morning, I wasn’t thinking about the underwear I put on. My bra and panties don’t match, and there’s nothing about them that’s sexy.
But Payne stares at me like he’s ready to devour me, and I’ve never felt so wanted.
He steps up to me, pushing me with his body back against the almost empty shelves. Then he clutches both sides of my face and kisses me.
The kiss is possessive, and the way his mouth claims mine confirms the desire I saw in his eyes. Each movement has him sucking on my lower lip until he finally pushes his tongue into my mouth.
It’s only when I grind up against him, wanting more, that he lets go of my face. Without pausing the kiss, he grabs my waist and pulls me up, waiting for me to wrap my legs around him and cling to him before he carries me to his desk.
One hand lets go of me and then he sweeps everything off the desk and onto the floor. As everything lands with a clatter, he breaks the kiss and sets me down on the edge.
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” he murmurs.
His hot hands slide up my side, following the bottom of my bra, to the back. It takes no time for him to unfasten it. After tossing the bra to join the mess on the floor, Payne’s hungry eyes take in my near naked body.
The mottled bruises and marks haven’t disappeared overnight. I don’t like looking at them, and I despise seeing the reminders left there, but I don’t shy away, even when Payne starts to frown.
“My body may look like a mess, but you won’t break me.”
Payne’s gaze flicks up to meet mine. “No bruise or scar could make you any less beautiful, Tori,” he tells me. “But no, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“It looks worse than it is, but it won’t hurt if you’re not rough.”
“Rough?” Payne looks aghast. “I want to worship your body, not destroy it.” He shakes his head. “You deserve so much better than this office.”
I reach for his hand. “Forget what I deserve. What about what I want?” There’s a little resistance, but he allows me to pull his hand to me and place it on my breast. “Don’t you want me?”
The magic words are spoken.
Payne closes the gap between us, kissing me hungrily once more. Each movement has my nipples brushing up against his shirt, tormenting me. Just when I feel like I can’t take anymore, he pulls away and starts trailing kisses over my cheek.
He goes lower, following the curve of my neck. As my breath catches in my throat, the kisses turn light as a feather. The pressure and intensity increases as he moves on to my collar bone, and down to my breasts.
With his other hand massaging my other breast, Payne’s mouth latches over my nipple. He sucks hard, his tongue swirling over the tip.
Grasping the edge of the desk, I moan loudly.
When he pulls away, my nipple is still covered in his saliva. The temperature in the room isn’t unpleasant, but the air feels ice cold on my sensitive skin, especially when Payne’s hot mouth claims my other nipple.
A warm ache grows between my legs, but Payne’s body is standing between them. When I try to slide my fingers into my panties, he takes my hand and holds onto it. All while never stopping in lavishing my breasts with his attention.
“Payne, I can’t… I need more,” I plead. “I need you.”
He finally pulls away and looks down at me. “Let me see you,” he murmurs.
His fingers hook around the top of my underwear, and he tugs them down, sinking to his knees as he follows them down. Once they’re on the floor, he pushes against my knees, spreading my legs.
My pussy is on full display.
I shiver.
Not from the cool air that settles over my wet, sensitive areas.
“You make it hard to resist.”
“Then don’t.”
Payne reaches forward and runs a single finger over my clit, smiling at my moan, but he continues following the path to my opening and gently pushes the finger inside. “You’re not ready for me yet.”
Before I can correct him, he adds a second finger and pushes them deep inside me. As my body contracts around him, he leans forward. He runs his tongue from my opening, following the reverse direction his finger just took. When his tongue meets my clit, he closes his mouth around it, sucking hard.
My back arches as I release a cry from the bolts of pleasure that radiate throughout my body.
While his fingers fuck me, his mouth masterfully attacks my clit until I’m writhing on top of his desk. Each time I can feel myself getting close to an orgasm, he changes up what he’s doing, applying different pressure, just enough to stop me from coming.
I can feel a bead of sweat trickle down my back. “Payne, please.”
Payne pushes a third finger inside but tries to pull back.
Not this time.
My hands grab his head, stopping him from moving.
He chuckles against me, then changes the speed of his fingers.
“I can’t take anymore,” I tell him between my frustrated heavy breaths.
Like he’s finally listening, Payne doubles down his efforts on my clit.
At the very last moment, I let go of him to press my hands over my mouth before I cry out through my orgasm.
Payne doesn’t stop sucking and teasing my clit until my body relaxes around his fingers. With one last lap, he sits back. “Now, you might be ready for me.”
Still breathing heavily, I reach for him, pulling him up. There’s a giant bulge in his pants. “That looks uncomfortable.”
Grabbing his waistband, I tug him to me and quickly unfasten his pants. But I’m not moving quick enough because he pushes his pants and boxers down, and then I’m confronted with his cock.
“Holy crap,” I mutter.
The gods certainly showered favor with Payne. His erect cock is huge. I know women’s bodies are designed for pushing out babies, but the length and girth of his cock is almost intimidating. There are also four silver balls evenly spaced around the head.
That’s unexpected.
“Did that hurt?” I blurt, surprised.
Payne glances down at his cock. “More than I expected, but it wasn’t too bad. The healing period is what killed me. My dumb ass decided to get it done my first year of college. Didn’t realize I’d have to be celibate for so long after.”
“Was it worth it?”
“You tell me.” Payne steps forward and starts kissing me while gently easing me backwards. As he does, he takes the head of his cock and starts running it up and down my slit. I can’t really feel the metal until he lines up with my entrance.
When he gently pushes in, I feel each metal ball.
Despite how wet I am, there’s more than a bite of pain.
Payne eases himself in, inch by inch. As his cock fills me, I feel the piercings move deeper with him.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I nod. Because even though it hurts, he also feels so damn good.
He keeps going, much further than I’m sure could have been possible, until finally, I’ve taken his length. Payne leans forward, pushing a little more in as he resumes kissing me. He doesn’t move, allowing my body to get used to his size.
The way he fills me feels so good that I can’t imagine anything feeling better…
But then… he starts to move his hips.
Slowly, he pulls his cock out almost all the way. Then he pushes it back in, a little harder than before. The next time he does, it’s harder still.
“Oh my god.” I gasp.
Payne falls into a rhythm that has me curling my toes.
“How does that Magic Cross feel?” Payne asks, not letting up.
Magic’s the right word.
“More,” I tell him, greedily.
Payne slides his hands under my ass, changing the angle as he holds onto me. Somehow, he seems to be able to drive his cock deeper inside.
I’ve never felt anything so good.
Until he starts to pick up his speed.
My orgasm has my eyes rolling into the back of my head. I don’t even have the awareness to try to quiet myself. My brain is full of nothing but bliss as my pussy clenches around Payne’s cock, like it’s not ready to let him go.
Payne grunts, and then he’s pulling his cock out. Even though my body is still trembling, I feel strangely empty. Half-dazed, I prop myself up onto my elbows. “What about you?”
“No condom.” Payne wraps his hand around his shaft and starts to move it back and forth.
The least I can do is return the orgasm.
“Let me.” I lower myself off the desk and down to my knees. Putting my hand over Payne’s, I guide him to my mouth, tilting my head back to take as much of his cock as I can.
He allows my hands to take over as I glide them back and forth to match my movements.
Payne moans, threading his hands through my hair as he guides my head, urging me to take him deeper.
And then his body jerks, and hot liquid hits the back of my throat.
I take every drop before he finally releases me.
“Fuck, Tori. You didn’t need to do that.” He turns, sitting down in front of his desk beside me.
Tired but sated, I lean back, resting my head against his shoulder as he wraps his arm around me. For a few minutes, nothing exists out of his arms.
I want to stay here and enjoy the feeling. Only, as the last lingering sensations of my orgasms fade away, the cool air in the room brings me back to reality.
Payne seems to sense it too as we both redress ourselves in silence.
“Leave with me,” Payne says, suddenly. “I’m here because of Lucy, and it’s clear I’ll never find out what happened to her. But if you were leaving anyway, I figure we could leave together.”
My lips part as I try to process what he’s saying. “What?”
Payne reaches for my hand, taking it in his. “Come with me. We can start over. Together. Somewhere far away from here, and far from Synclair Keyingham.”
I might not have realized it until last night, but I’m starting to fall for Payne. The problem isn’t that he’s my professor. It’s that I was leaving, and I’ve not thought much about a future, much less one involving him. Not like this, anyway.
The dean made it clear that I’m to leave JKU today, but I still have every intention of attending the fundraiser with Syn to meet Preston. If I leave with Payne, I don’t think he’d want me to do that…
But even if he does, am I prepared to leave with him and then what? Jump into a relationship with him?
“Maybe it’s too fast, but yes, I mean leave and let us be together properly,” he tells me as though he’s reading my mind. “Leave James Keyingham University and not look back. This place isn’t good for either of us.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I gently pull my hand free from his. “I can’t. I was going to tell you last night that we might have a lead—”
“We?” Payne scowls. “You mean Synclair.”
I nod.
“You realize he’s probably behind this? Us being caught?”
I nod again. “I know, and I’m sorry.”
The warmth seems to fade from Payne’s eyes, and it’s like I’m looking back at the Payne I first met—the one who seemed to dislike me as much as Syn. “You’ve been playing his game from the moment you arrived here, and you still are. It’s obvious this is just another thing made up by him. You know that by choosing him you’re just going to end up in a world of pain—he’s not going to stop until he’s destroyed you.”
“I’m not choosing him. I’m choosing Cole,” I tell him, simply. “And if this could get more answers about Lucy, you’d want me to do this, too.”
Payne stares at me before he slowly shakes his head. “That’s where you’re wrong, Tori. I’d choose you. I am choosing you. I love you.”
His words should make me feel warm and fuzzy, but somehow, I just feel numb. “I can’t walk away without knowing I’ve tried everything.”
I know Penny struggles to understand this too. I thought given his desperate need to know what happened to his best friend’s sister—someone he considered practically his own sibling—meant Payne understood this too…
But even if he doesn’t, I know me.
Leaving now would be easier. And safer. Even if it’s not with him. But I know I’ll always be wondering what if. Worse, I’d never be able to look my brother in the eyes again.
With no warning, Payne steps forward, closing the gap between us as his hands gently grab my face. And then he’s kissing me desperately, like he’s using his tongue in another way to try to convince me.
I cling onto him, kissing him back. Part of me wishes that he would succeed, but it’s me who breaks the kiss.
“I’m sorry, Payne,” I whisper before I can change my mind.
He sucks in a deep breath as he lowers his head, pressing his forehead against mine. “I don’t know what else I can do or say right now, Tori. I truly wish you the best, and that you get the answers you need.”
Leaving him to finish packing up his office alone, I walk back to Denali House. Despite everything that’s happened, no one has given me the code to unlock the front door, so I make my way through the snow to the back of the house. This is the first time I’ve used this door since Declan attacked me. Even though the snow is showing signs of starting to melt, back here, even my previous footprints have disappeared.
I wish it was as simple as hiding all the bad memories associated with this place.
The electronic keypad bleeps at me, rejecting the code.
For a moment, I think I’ve typed in the wrong number, but then I remember Gemini changed the code.
Before I can head back to the front of house, the door swings open, and I’m pulled inside.
“Where the hell have you been?” Syn demands. “I told you not to leave Bergmann’s room.”
I grab Syn’s wrist and yank his hand off my arm. The anger I’ve felt towards Syn had eased away after leaving Payne’s office, but the way he’s towering over me with the audacity of being mad at me has it all rushing back.
Without thinking, I crack my hand against his cheek. “How could you? I told you that contract was null and void. You had no right to do that. Payne is a good man.”
“Whoa, Tori, calm down.” Royal is standing behind Syn, his eyes wide. “It’s not what you think.”
“He wanted me to seduce him.” I jab a finger towards Syn. “And conveniently, pictures of me and Payne somehow make their way to the dean? One little glimmer of happiness, and its extinguished. I should’ve known better than to trust anything you say.”
With a frown, Gemini steps forward and tries to drape his arm over my shoulder, but I duck out of the way. “Royal’s right, little Vixen. Much as I enjoy watching you slap Syn, this wasn’t him. It was—”
“It doesn’t matter,” Syn snaps. “What’s done is done.”
His indifference makes me want to slap him again. “Are you kidding me? An innocent man is going to lose his job.”
Syn arches an eyebrow. “I would hardly call him innocent, but if you had come to me instead of interfering, I would have been able to make this go away, regardless of the evidence of him sticking his tongue into a semi-naked student.”
I bring my hand back and swing it through the air again, aiming for Syn’s face. Despite seeing what I’m doing, Syn doesn’t flinch.
But my palm doesn’t hit his cheek because Royal steps forward, grabbing my wrist. “This isn’t our fault.”
“Are you saying it’s mine?” I try pulling my arm free of his grip.
“Let her go, Royal,” Syn says.
“I don’t need you to fight my battles,” I tell him as Royal releases me.
Pressing his lips together into a thin line, Syn crosses his arms. “Then you’d better pack your things. The consequence of your interfering means we need to leave this place today instead of tomorrow.”
“ We don’t need to do anything.”
“As I’ve said before, you’re welcome to leave by yourself. Not only do you leave behind the protection that we can give you, but you’ll also lose your only chance to speak to Preston Du Pont easily.” Syn doesn’t blink as he stares at me. “The decision is all yours.”