Pancakes were his personal favourite and his gran’s secret ingredient never failed to please.
A competent cook, Connor wrangled breakfast in no time and had just finished pouring coffee and assembling it all on a tray when Bridget entered the kitchen.
‘Hey, back to bed,’ he said over his shoulder. ‘There’s a reason it’s called breakfast in b –’
He lost all thought as he turned and took in the sight of her. Quickly, lest he drop the tray, he thrust it back on the counter top.
Like last night, gone was the ugly cotton. Frankly, he hoped she’d burned it all. She wore a small, silk teddy in a purple so deep it could have been black. The neckline plunged, displaying a mouthwatering amount of cleavage. A wide satin ribbon wrapped around her ribs and tied tantalizingly between her breasts. Some sort of gauzy fabric in the same deep purple draped around her midriff and showed off her taut belly. Matching panties finished off the ensemble.
He was thunderstruck. His cock had no such issues, however, and rose to the occasion with no problems.
‘Mornin’, sugar.’ She smiled wickedly. ‘You’re up early.’ She giggled.
He had no idea if she was referring to him or his dick and he didn’t care. She was standing there in invitation looking sexy as hell and all for him.
‘It is now,’ he growled as he stalked her. She made as if to run, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the table where he lifted her onto it.
Despite his raging desire to push her limits, he reached deep for self-control and gently untied the bow. As the silk fell away, he licked and sucked on her nipples until she was moaning and arching into his mouth. The little sighs she made were all the encouragement he needed. He removed her panties and delved between her sensitive thighs, feasting on her.
Breakfast, and his darker fantasies, were forgotten as they lost themselves in the pure pleasure of one another.
Chapter Twenty-one
Skyler didn’t know how much longer she could go on this way. She’d promised the professor she would not do anything rash, but she felt stained. Nothing she did removed the sense of tarnish crawling across her spirit.
It numbed her.
She peered through the grey light of dawn at Dale. He looked so innocent in sleep. The optical illusion was disorienting. To see him now, sprawled across his bed, one arm thrown carelessly over his head, snoring softly, you’d never suspect the evil depravity lurking behind those pale blue eyes. His brown sugar hair was tousled and he had a slight smile. He was stunning.
She’d gladly kill him as he lay there.
It wouldn’t be hard. Snob that he was, all of his expensive kitchen knives were razor-sharp. She could easily grab that large one he was always using to chop vegetables.
It would slide easily between his ribs. She’d read that it only took two-and-a-half inches of blade to kill someone. That would more than do the job.
Or maybe just pick up that heavy iron lamp on the table next to the bed and beat him over the head with it. She bet it would be very satisfying to hear the crunch of that despicable brain crushing under its weight.
She wished she had a gun. She’d enjoy watching him cower as she pointed it at him. She wanted him to understand the nature of being helpless. Powerless. No longer in control of your fate. She wanted to see fear in his eyes and taste it on her tongue before she ended his evil once and for all.
Oh yes, Skyler understood the nature of murder now. It was about control; taking it back in a way that was permanent and undeniable. Killing Dale would ensure he never harmed her or anyone else again.
It would be messy, though. Lots of blood. Too much evidence. Her fingerprints were everywhere. She’d be caught. Her baby would be taken from her.
He wasn’t worth that. She sighed as the cloying feeling of desolation settled in her chest. Knowing she wouldn’t act didn’t stop her from fantasising. It was the only thing getting her through the nights with him.
He continued to use her. Continued to hold her scholarship over her head. She had told him she’d gotten the abortion but that had only bought her two weeks to “heal”. He hadn’t wanted to touch her when she’d said she was bleeding.
Fortunately, she wasn’t showing yet. But she only had about a month before she would be and she didn’t trust what he would do to her when he found out.
The professor had promised they’d expose him before then, but so far Skyler didn’t see a plan coming together and she didn’t know if she could continue to play this role with him.
She cringed at his touch. Something he seemed to enjoy. The bastard. He’d grown rougher too and she feared for the baby if he truly hurt her. Last night had been particularly bad. She was still sore and it was painful to sit.
Oh, to turn the tables on him and give him a taste of his own medicine. She smiled at the thought.
‘What are you doing over there?’ Dale’s voice, rough with sleep, startled her out of her fantasies.
‘Just thinking,’ she said, gripping the arms of the easy chair she sat in as her belly cramped and twisted.
‘About what?’ He sat up and turned on the light, blinding her momentarily.
Squinting into the light, she told him, ‘You.’ She figured honesty was easier than lying.
He grunted and threw back the covers before walking naked into the bathroom. She stayed where she was and contemplated the feasibility of making a run for it as the sounds of the toilet flushing and water running filtered out of the bathroom.
She wanted to run. To throw on her clothes and get the hell out of there, but she knew better.
He stepped back into the room, his dick already semi-hard. A crawling sensation erupted over her skin but she suppressed a shudder.
She bit her lip to fight the tears welling behind her eyes. She couldn’t keep doing this.
‘Come here, Skyler.’ Dale patted the bed before gripping his dick and squeezing. ‘Put that smart little mouth of yours to use.’
Nausea rolled over her, but she fought it. Kneeling between his legs, she took his dick in her mouth, being careful to remember everything he’d taught her.
Only the fantasy of his downfall sustained her though this now familiar violation.
‘Professor, I’m going to lose it if we don’t figure out something soon.’
Bridget heard the desperation in Skyler’s voice and her stomach clenched. She’d been wracking her brain for a solution, but she remained stumped.
The end of the semester was next week and her tenure review would come the following week. They needed a plan. Now.
‘What about tape? Do you think you could get him on tape?’ She was spit-balling here but she needed to keep Skyler engaged.
Skyler snorted.
‘I’m no longer allowed to visit his office. He won’t “risk a scene”.’ Bridget could hear the air quotes as Skyler’s tone changed. She sighed and continued in a strained voice. ‘And, frankly, he has me naked within minutes when I get to his house. He takes my purse. I don’t see how I could manage that.’
Bridget had to forcibly relax her grip on her phone. The rage that flooded her at the cruelty Whittier was committing sickened her.
‘Skyler.’ She plunged forward, not really thinking, just knowing she had to get her away from the man. ‘You’re going to come and stay with me. I’ll get your work and arrange with your other professors to proctor your finals, but you’re not spending one more moment where he can get to you.’
She paused, waiting for a response, but all she heard were sobs.
‘Skyler?’
