This is a continuation of a series. Please read Hot For Teacher chapters one and two first, or this will be very confusing for you. By the way, it doesn't get right into the "hot" stuff, so bear with me. But if you've stuck around this far, I'm sure you won't mind!
*
Abi opened her eyes. She started. Where was she? This wasn't her bed. There was a man there. One of his hands was draped over her, cupping her breast. Her naked breast. She flipped around and looked at him. His eyes were closed, still dreaming. It was her professor. The previous day's events came flooding back. She had slept with her professor. For the second time. And he had told her he loved her. And she had said it back.
Abi thought her head was going to explode. She had opened up to someone. She had told someone... that. She had let herself get so close to someone that she fell in love with them, something she swore she would never do again.
Her mind began to dwell on the events of years past, but then Michael's eyes fluttered open.
He saw her and smiled. Michael, unlike Abi, remembered exactly what had happened the previous night as soon as he awoke. He felt himself hardening, even more from the memory than the fact that it was morning. But Michael felt so much more than lust for Abi. He loved her. And right now, she looked almost sad. He had to fix it, whatever it was.
Michael scooted closer to Abi on the bed and wrapped her in his arms. "Good Morning," he whispered into her neck, kissing her ear.
"....Morning." Abi looked at him, trying to hide her discomfort.
"Last night was amazing, Abi," he said, pressing his lips to her forehead. She twitched and looked away. Michael felt a pained look wash over his own face, matching hers. There must really have been something wrong for her to flinch when he touched her.
"What is it?" he asked, looking at her with those penetrating eyes of his. Abi knew she wasn't going to be able to lie to him. Not only would he be able to tell... but she'd feel horrible.
"Um... it's just... what you said... what we said last night." She looked away uncomfortably and clutched at the locket around her neck. She always did that when she was nervous; Michael knew that from teaching her. He had noticed that she did it whenever someone made her uncomfortable or angry. He felt terrible for doing this to her, but he had to know what was going on.
"That I love you? I do," he said confidently. It was true. He didn't know how. He barely knew her. But he knew he loved her.
"Yeah. It's just... well... you... you don't want to know." Abi was so afraid he would push her away if he knew. He wouldn't... he couldn't love someone who dumped so much baggage on him the morning after.
"Yes. I do. Whatever it is, Abi." Michael looked into her wet blue eyes. "I want to make it better."
Abi had started tearing up. Jesus Christ, how did he do this to her? She threw head into his shoulder and her tears dripped down his back as he crushed her tightly against him.
"What is it, Abi?" He was desperate. He had to make her feel better. He had to.
"The last time I... told someone... I loved them," she said between hiccups, "was when I was sixteen."
Michael was confused. "And...?"
"And he told me he loved me too. But... But..." She broke down again, sobbing into his shoulder.
Michael clutched her tighter. "It's okay... Shh... But what?"
She pulled away and looked him right in the eye, tears streaming down her face. "He abused me. He beat me, Michael. He beat me," she sobbed.
"Oh, God," Michael said. He grabbed her and pressed her shaking chest into his, stroking her hair. "Shh... God, I'm so sorry, Abi." His head was a jumble. He wanted to kill whatever asshole had done that to her. Now he knew why she had been so reluctant to have a relationship, and why he had always felt like she needed protecting.
He stayed there, rocking her for a few minutes, but then she pulled away and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have dumped that on you."
"It's okay, Abi. I care about you. I'm sorry I said that last night... I didn't know it would bring back such bad things for you." He cupped her face in his palm.
"But I want you to know that I would never do that to you. Ever." His face was stern. "If I knew that bastard I would kill him in a second."
Abi looked up at him. Damn, that face was sexy. He looked so... angry and protective. She giggled.
"What?" Michael was so damn confused. Now she was laughing?
Abi couldn't help but laugh. She was certainly upset about what had happened... but she felt safe with Michael, and his angry, protective side was hot.
"That face... it's just suits you very well," Abi giggled. "It's sexy."
"Um... thanks?" Michael said, brow furrowed.
"Thank you for not freaking out," Abi said, getting serious suddenly. "I know you wouldn't do that. It just brought back bad memories. And I still... think I love you. You make me feel safe."
Michael wrapped his arms around her back and pressed her breasts to his chest. He kissed her neck. "I love you, too."
"Michael..." Abi said, slowly pulling away.
"Hmm?"