Bending the Rules by Ali Parker Read Free Book Online

consenting adults, but I guess it would work."
    "Do you want me?" She turned her attention toward me, searing me with the need in her pretty hazel eyes. "Like really want me."
    "Yes. One hundred percent." I reached out and brushed my thumb over her lip. "I want to get over this shit with the school or figure out another way. I need you in my life, Dana. You're the first bit of warmth I've allowed myself since that shit with Ana. And now that Mandy's gone, I have nothing. It's so fucking weird, but for the first time in my life I really have nothing."
    "You have me." She tilted her head to the side as her eyes filled with tears. "If you want me."
    "Baby." I reached out and pulled at her wrist. "Come here."
    She moved into my lap and I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her down for a long kiss. I took my time exploring the soft wetness of her mouth, worshiping her tongue and running my fingers down every inch of her back before she finally pulled away.
    "I'm going to New York this weekend. Come with me. We can be a couple there together without having to worry about anything, right?" She cupped my throat and leaned in for another long kiss, leaving me to my thoughts.
    Getting out of town for the weekend sounded like a plan. I needed to get outside and breathe the air a little. I'd been cooped up in the house every chance I got since Mandy died. Being with Dana and getting to hold her hand in public, or pull her close when I wanted to sounded blissful.
    "Will you come?" She smiled, already so full of herself.
    I chuckled. "Yeah. I need to get a plane ticket, but I'll come with you."
    "Yes!" She jumped up and did a little jig that caused my libido to spike into overdrive.
    "That's hot."
    "Oh hush." She sat back down in her chair and wiped at her eyes. "I thought we were over before we started."
    "No. I just needed to figure out what the fuck to do seeing that you're a student at UT. I honestly didn't even consider it a possibility when we met."
    "I would have mentioned it had I known of your rules." She picked up her fork and took a quick bite of her salad.
    "The wine. Let me get us something good to drink." I got up and walked back toward the kitchen. "I'm surprised you still want anything to do with me. I've been a complete asshole."
    "No you haven't, Kendal." She turned and looked over her shoulder. "You're going through a lot of stuff."
    "Maybe, but it's still no excuse for my behavior on campus. I just felt like the world was closing in on me because of Mandy's death, and then I saw you were soon to be my student, and that was it." I opened the bottle of wine, grabbed two glasses and walked back toward the table.
    "It's understandable." She reached for the glasses. "What's going on with that other professor on campus? I'm good with us sneaking around to be together when we can, but you being involved with another woman is completely out of the question."
    I snorted and poured the wine. "I'd never do that. I'm a one-woman man. Honestly."
    She nodded and took a sip of the dark liquid in her glass. "Is she leaving you alone?"
    "Not exactly, but one of my mentors is aware of the situation and thinks I should bring it up with the dean." I shrugged and leaned back in my chair to study the beautiful woman I had sitting across from me. "I really don't want to get Mark involved in it. It's just high school bullshit drama."
    "Unless she sets you up or does something to tarnish your reputation."
    "I'm probably going to do that on my own." I reached out and ran my fingers over her forearm. "I'm not sure how good at being secretive I'm going to be. I usually want what I want and that's it."
    "But it's whose held you back in the past. Just make a commitment to keep doing that until May. I'll honor it too." She brushed my fingers from her arm and gave me a look as I chuckled.
    "Good luck." The beeper on the oven went off and I got up. "Do I need to get us a room in New York?"
    "I'm not sure. I'll know better later this week. I want to