Love Me: Teach Me Part 11

"Oh," I said, anger rising in my throat. "So, you think that you can just come in here after me telling you to leave and start over? News flash, buddy. You can't. I don't want you in here. I want you to leave."

Matt slammed his pot down on the stove, and leaned over closing his eyes. "I want a lot of things that I don't get, but I don't get them. You see, if you're not with anyone and I'm not with anyone, then I don't see why we can't work it out."

"Because I don't like you!" I screamed, my hands shaking beside me.

Matt yelled and stormed toward me, taking my shoulders in his grip. He pressed his mouth to mine. I tried to scream but he stuck his tongue in my mouth. No, no, no.

"Please," I said, m.u.f.fled by his mouth. He pressed harder, sliding his hand up my s.h.i.+rt, and pulling down my bra. Biting his lip, he pushed harder. I could taste the blood in my mouth. Without warning, he slammed me to the kitchen floor. My head began to spin, there were stars, and I could feel blood coming from my head. He held me down with his body, ripped my clothes off and held my mouth.

Tears streamed down my eyes, mixing into my mouth. Matt pushed my jeans off and slid his finger between my panties and s.e.x. "No," I screamed out, but he pressed his hand down harder on my mouth. Oh, G.o.d. Please, no.

I screwed my eyes shut and then his weight was lifted off of me. I felt a rush of wind, and then my body being picked up. Nothing made sense, I tried to force my mouth opened to speak, but someone hushed me. I feel back into the darkness.

When I woke up everything felt wrong. There was something poking my arm and my bed felt hard as h.e.l.l. "Ouch," I said, prying my eyes opened. There was a blinding light. Oh, no. I'm dying.

"She's awake, doc."

Doc? Did Jesus prefer to be called doc?

"Ah there is those pretty green eyes," someone said. Then the light was gone. "Was that bothering you?"

I nodded. "Where in the h.e.l.l am I?"

"Language, Sarah Jean."

"Mom?" I yelled, blinking back the stars. She was in my face, freckles, blonde hair and a smile. "I'm so glad you're okay, sweetie. Thank, Jesus."

I nodded. "What...where is he?"

"He is in jail." Oh, Matt. I had been talking about my hero.

"No, who saved me?"

"Oh," Mom said, smiling. That was a he's cute smile. "Right outside. I'll go get him. He's name is Liam, sweetie."

Liam. My heart whelmed up with joy, and in the same instant broke. I had left him standing in the paring lot. He was willing to give us a chance. But, I knew it was for the worse. He didn't need me in his life. He needed a job to support himself. And with me, that couldn't happen.

Liam walked into the hospital room, giving the nurses and doctors a few smiles. "Hi, Liam," the doctor said. "We'll be out of your way in two seconds. I know you've been waiting for this."

Been waiting? How long had he been waiting? How long had I been out? What had happened? "Ms. Thomas. You suffered a concussion, and some minor wounds to the head. You'll be up and going in no time. You can actually go home tomorrow." The doctor said, his voice soft and gentle. He had a kind smile and a head full of gray hair. It was so dark, it reminded me of Liam's eyes.

I nodded. "Okay," the nurse said, adjusting with the IV. "We're done for right now. Feel free to talk."

After they left there was an unusual silence in the room. Liam's eyes never left me. He had a dark blue beanie on and he looked hot as h.e.l.l in it too. His white s.h.i.+rt fit tight to his chest, and his jeans low on his hips. He had dark circles underneath his eyes, like Matt had that night. I winced thinking about it. Why had he snapped? He had been fine before.

"He's bipolar," Liam broke the silence. "They diagnosed him yesterday."

I swallowed. "How long have I been in here?"

"Four days."

Four days. d.a.m.n. I shook my head. "I'm sorry. Thank you for saving me. I know we're not supposed to be around--,"

"f.u.c.k not being around each other, Sarah," he snapped. "f.u.c.k it. I'm not concerned about it. I'm only worried about you. I want you to be safe. I don't give a d.a.m.n about the chancellor or my job." He knelt beside my bed. "Just get better, okay?" I nodded. He kissed my forehead and walked out of the room. A dull ache shattered in my heart. He'd risked his job and saved me.

The next day the doctor released me. Cody was waiting in the living room with a bunch of flowers, candy and ice cream. "Yay," he yelled, scaring my mom who frowned.

"Calm down," she said. "She isn't on hundred percent yet."

Cody stuck his tongue out when she turned her head. "Okay, Mom."

She hated when he called her that. I smiled and rolled my eyes. "Okay, Cody. I can't stay here and take care of her. I have to get back to work. So, I'm going to need you take care of her for me. I put some soup in the cabinets, some Sprite in the refrigerator and threw away those Mike Hard Lemonades."

Cody narrowed his eyes. "Those were mine."

She shrugged. "Ya don't need 'em, hon. Okay, baby," she kissed my forehead, "if ya need anything let me know. Don't hesitate to call."

"Okay, Mom. I'll be fine."

"Okay, I love you."

"Love you, too."

She grabbed her purse and walked out of the door. Cody jumped down beside me once she left. "Whew, thought she'd never leave."

I laughed and sat up on the couch. "I really feel better, my mom is just overprotected. My head hurts a little bit though."

Cody smiled. "That's what Moms are for. So, have you talked to him?"

"Who?"

Cody snorted. "Stop acting like you don't know."

I twirled my finger around Zeus' hair. "Not since yesterday. I don't know what to do. I don't even know what I'd say to him if I did see him. I can't get him fired. I won't be the reason he gets fired."

Cody slapped his palm against his forehead. "Sarah. I'd like you to really think about your situation right now. You have a guy that is willing to get fired and risk his life for you. Not to mention he is f.u.c.king gorgeous. You're going to regret not going over there and at least talking to him about it."

I sighed. "Ugh, you don't have to act like my mom."

He gasped. "Take that back," he said.

"Okay, but stop acting like a normal mother please."

He nodded. "Better. Anyway, do what you want babe. But, I think you should light a match underneath that toned a.s.s and go get ya man."

"If you stop talking like that, I'll think about it."

He smiled. "I'm going to take a shower, call me if you need anything, okay?" He winked before he disappeared behind the door.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and rested my head on the futon. This is nuts. I need to talk to him sometime. I need to get this over with. Decided. Done with.

Taking a deep breath, I walked over to Liam's apartment. My hands were shaky as I rapped my fingers against the door.

A few seconds later Liam opened the door and my breath caught. I knew this had been a bad idea. I knew that once I saw him that I'd be gone. And I was. He wasn't wearing a s.h.i.+rt. First problem. My eyes wouldn't leave his abs. The perfect V poking out of his low-rise jeans, made me want to lick him. His face was scruffy. It was the first time I'd seen him so scruffy, it was worse than the night I'd first met him. His gray eyes were intense, his jaw heavy. "Sarah," he said my name so softly, it seemed not to be real.

"Hi, Liam," I said, giving him a pathetic wave.

"Oh," he ran his fingers through his hair. "Come in." I walked in and took a seat at his kitchen barstool. "So," he cleared his throat. "You're feeling better?"

I played with the fringe on my jeans. "Yeah, my head hurts a little but nothing major. I feel a lot better. Thank you, Liam."

He swallowed and nodded. "I was so scared. I heard you scream, and I didn't have a key. I was so scared. I couldn't get to you fast enough."

"You did. I'm fine. If it weren't for you I could be in worse shape, or dead. No telling what he would have done to me."

Liam rubbed his eyes with his hand. "Yeah."

"So, I guess we need to talk, right? I mean...about us. I know I left things badly. I was just concerned that I would get you fired. I couldn't know I was the reason. You were given another chance, and I can't...I can't be responsible for your failure."

Liam watched my face carefully, before a smile crawled up his face. Was that funny? "Um, why are you smiling like that?"

Liam reached over to the other side of the bar and handed me an envelope. I raised an eyebrow but pulled out a letter. At the top was a University of Arkansas at Crossett letterhead. I furrowed my brows and bit my lip as I read. My eyes popped opened. "You're going to work at Crossett?"

Liam smiled and nodded. "I talked to the chancellor and he got me a history cla.s.s to teach at Crossett. It'll be a thirty-minute commute. But, I will no longer be a teacher at UAM."

The letter fell from my hand. "Liam. Are you telling me we can see each other?"

Liam stood from the stool and took me neck in his grasp. A cat like smile reached to his eyes. "I'm telling you that we can have each other."

A tear slipped from my eye. "Good, because I'm not good at breaking the rules."

Liam laughed, his deep s.e.xy laugh. "Oh, Ms. Thomas. I'm sure I can teach you."

I reached over and pulled his s.h.i.+rt over his head. "Mr. Downs, I'm begging you to."

Epilogue.

Seven months later.

Liam.

I stared at Sarah as she come closer to the security check. She was tugging her leopard print carryon and pulling her matching suitcase. She was smiling, walking beside Cody. Her b.o.o.bs looked really good, and I swear I saw a guy stare right down her s.h.i.+rt. I should beat the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, a.s.s. But, I wouldn't. This was a good time. We'd been together ever since I transferred schools. We basically moved in together a few months after. She had even gotten my dad to loosen up about my job. He saw that she really cared for me, teaching job or not. Everything had seemed to fall into place. Just like I'd hoped.

"Will you please let me carry your bags for you?" I asked when she got to me.

Cody put his hands up in surrender. "Don't even try it. I tried to carry them for her, but she said she was a college graduate and a educated woman."

I lifted an eyebrow at her smile. "So, an educated woman can't have her bags carried for he?"

She shook her head, her green eyes smiling. "Nope. Because an educated woman knows that a man only wants a favor in return when doing that."

I laughed. "Well, may I please carry your bags, Ms. Thomas? Because, I'm thinking a nice favor would do in the airplane's bathroom."

She winked. "Keep it up and I'll take you up on that offer."

"Okay, this is TMI, people. Even though you're both gorgeous, we don't need a display of naughtiness in the airport." Cody smiled and reached down to hug Sarah. "Please be careful. Call me when you get there and please come back. I couldn't live if you abandoned me in Hicksville."

Sarah wiped a tear from her eye. "I'm only going to be gone two months."

Cody whimpered. "Don't remind me. I love you, Sarah. Please, be careful." He turned toward me. "Liam, take care of her. I'll kill you if you let anything happen to her."

I shook Cody's hand. "I'd kill myself, buddy. Love ya man." I hugged him. After a few more goodbyes, Cody left. Sarah was quiet during security. When we got on the plane, she curled her feet up to her chin and looked out of the window.

Grabbing her chin, I twisted her toward me. "Are you alright, darlin?"

She smiled and leaned against the seat. "I'm better than okay, Liam. We're going to England."

I nodded. "Yeah, you know the middle dot."

She laughed and pointed to it where it would have been on he belly. "Yeah. The middle dot. I'm happy I'm here with you. I love you."

Squeezing her cheek, I leaned over and kissed her lips. It wasn't the first time we'd said I love you. But, it still felt like the first every time. "I'm happy to be with you. I love you."

She snuggled into the crook of my arm. "You remember how you said you'd teach me how to break the rules?"

I glanced down at her, even though she couldn't see me. "Yeah, what about it?"

She reached over and grabbed me. "Oh," I said, enjoying her movement of her hand up and down my shaft.

She whispered against my ear, "Maybe we could go to the bathroom and you teach me a little something."

Grabbing her hand, I brought her closer to me. "I'll beat you there."

She laughed, and jumped up toward the bathroom. I watched as she twitched her hips toward the back of the plane. She winked before slipping inside.