The Widow (The Professor #3)

By Josie Leigh

Finally being able to publicly declare their relationship has brought Damien and Sabrina closer than they ever thought possible. After a tense New Year’s Day breakfast, Damien secures her father’s permission to explore his connection with his student. He takes immediate advantage by demanding a true full time relationship with his sub, including sharing his bed nightly. As the pair truly begin to navigate the trials and tribulations of a new relationship, Celeste is waiting for her opportunity to strike when they are most vulnerable.

Celeste wanted to have it all. If she could get Damien in her back pocket, her future would be secure. However, the Professor’s relationship with Sabrina ruined everything she’d been working toward since her husband passed away. Facing the possibility of jail time, Celeste forms a new plan. A plan to sacrifice Damien’s future for her freedom, but has she trusted the wrong people to see her plan through?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Josie Leigh
• Release date: Aug 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301523481

Josie Leigh

Josie Leigh is an independent author who focuses on writing Romance because she loves a story with a happy ending. Writing has been an escape for her since a very young age, and she cherishes the time she gets to spend with her characters. After graduating with a Bachelors degree in Nutrition in 2008, she pursued a challenging career in the field of nutrition insecurity and anti-hunger advocacy. She is grateful to be able to feed hungry families on a daily basis and chase her literary dreams in her off time.

Book preview

The Widow

By Josie Leigh

The Widow

Published by Josie Leigh at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Josie Leigh

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover design by Josie Leigh

Cover Art by Cover art from © Wisky | Dreamstime.com

This story is for entertainment purposes only. Names, characters, places, events, most businesses and organizations are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 1

The Professor ran from where he left his rental at the Hayward’s gate toward the house. He wanted to be in position before he called her, but as soon as the driveway opened into the courtyard he halted his progression and moved to follow the line of trees in the shadows.

He watched as her parents’ friends stumbled to their luxury vehicles, usually being propped up against their designated driver. His eyes drifted up to the second floor and found Sabrina, cuddled in a blanket, also watching the scene unfold. A small smile touched her lips from the mostly darkened balcony that he could barely make out, thanks to the burst of light illuminating her face from the room behind her. After the car she’d been watching zoomed down the driveway, the Professor pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed.

Hey there, her voice betraying the smile he knew was on her face.

Hey yourself, he said, huskily, wanting to get the call over so they could spend the beginning of the New Year together. Did you get my package?

I did, I’ve got two more minutes until I can open it, she told him, that smile spreading across her face. I’m dying to see what you got me.

How’s everything today, Sabrina? The party go alright? he asked, changing the subject because it was taking everything to hang back and not reveal his location.

Yeah, I’m upstairs right now, though. I wanted to be alone, she informed him, playing with something in her lap. I didn’t know what the gift was going to be, so I figured it would be better to open it up here.

Go ahead and open it, he whispered, peering up at her, excited to see what she thought of his gift.

I was hoping you’d say that, she laughed. Damien knew she was overcome when he heard her small gasp.

Thank you, she whispered, her voice more unstable than before.

It’s for your ankle, he explained, hoping that she was okay with his plan to mark her in some way. I wanted to show you that I’m ready to get serious. I couldn’t help but notice how naked your neck looked at the donor party, but I’m not quite ready to take that step yet.

That’s okay, Sir, she breathed. I’d be honored to wear this or anything else you wanted to give me.

I’m pleased to hear you say that, but don’t put it on yet. I want to lock it on myself, he told her, slowly moving a little closer to her.

Of course, she said, taking a deep breath. I’m falling in love with you, Sir, she confessed, shocking him.

Closing his eyes, he let her words wash over him. He savored them as he opened his eyes and looked at her, wringing her hands nervously. He knew what he had to do.

You know, when you sit on a dark balcony, where the only light illuminating you comes from the window behind you, you look like an angel, he said, watching as she visibly started and stood from her seat, looking behind her and then down into the courtyard. He could see the tremble of her hands against the wooden railing of the balcony as he stepped from the shadows with a smile.

Damien, she said, breathlessly as she gazed down at him.

Sabrina, he answered, his phone still to his ear.

Go to the front door, I’ll let you in! she instructed, practically bouncing at his arrival.

Okay, he agreed, running toward the door as he ended their phone call.

**

He was here! He was actually here. Sabrina raced down the wide staircase, clutching the anklet and her cell phone, toward the door. The countdown must’ve concluded, because she had to dodge a plethora of old people sucking face as she finally stood in front of the heavy door with leaded glass embellishment. She could see his shadow in the panels and her heart skipped a beat as she ripped it open.

Happy New Year, Sir, she smiled as he didn’t waste any time sweeping her into his arms and kissing her soundly. His lips bruised hers in a hungry kiss in her parents’ foyer as she clung to him trying to give back even a small percentage of what he made her feel.

Indeed, he answered after he broke their kiss and set her back on shaky legs.

Shall I show you my room? she asked, coyly, looking up at him through her lashes.

Lead the way, he gestured, falling into step with her as they ascended the staircase back toward her bedroom. Wow, he chuckled as they crossed the threshold to her childhood room. The canopy bed I expected, but the rest? I never took you for an antique lace kind of girl he said, taking in the sea of white in her bedroom. Her walls were an antique white with cream accents on the wainscoting and crown molding. Gossamer curtains flowed around her king sized canopy bed, only showing a shadow of the feather pillows and duvet. Luckily, she’d long packed away the mountain of stuffed animals that used to take up precious real estate on that bed.

What can I say, Professor? she smiled. Regardless of my preferences, I’m still a Victorian romantic at heart.

So I see, he observed, locking the door to her bedroom. Give me the anklet and kneel, my student, he commanded, softly. After she’d followed his instructions, he stood beside her, stoically, petting her hair. She wanted to look up at him to see what he was contemplating, but she kept her eyes cast to his boot covered feet. Are you ready for this, my student? he asked, quietly. Once I place this on your ankle, I expect a few things to change.

What are your expectations, Sir? she asked, her breathing picking up at his words.

Although it could be argued that we were already in a 24/7 relationship, I expect nothing less from now on. I won’t be sleeping alone, he explained.

Oh, she said, chewing her lip in thought. She was excited at the prospect of sleeping beside her Professor every night, but she was apprehensive about what it would say.

"Oh? he repeated, sharply. I tell you my condition and this is my response?"

May I speak frankly, Professor? she asked, quietly.

Absolutely, he agreed, his hand now fisting in her hair tightly.

If I were to spend every night with you, wouldn’t it raise suspicions about how long we’d been together? Wouldn’t it skew our timeline of events? she asked. Much to her surprise, her reservations were met with dark laughter.

Is this relationship with me something you want, my student? he asked again, his voice more menacing.

If it pleases you, then nothing would delight me more, Professor, she told him, her earlier confession ringing in her