“It doesn’t matter. Whatever happened doesn’t matter now. We are here. We both want to be with each other. Why fight it?” I ran my thumb over the corner of her eye to catch a tear that threatened to fall, and her eyes closed.

“I may not know what I did to hurt you so badly, but I know that we once loved each other. I know you still love me or you wouldn’t be here right now.” I swallowed hard as I struggled to continue. “I know it hurts you to be with me, but you are willing to suffer through the pain to be by my side.” I moved closer until my body pressed tight against hers. “I know I love you too. I can feel it.”

I took her hand in mine and held it against my bare chest so she could feel how frantic my heart was when I was with her. “Give me a chance to make this right. I will do anything to make this right.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she pushed her lips against mine. My free hand snaked in her hair and pulled her against me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered against her mouth. “Start over with me. We can make new memories. I’ll be whoever you need me to be.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck and held me to her as my lips moved possessively against hers, claiming her.

I decided to let Emma determine the pace of the new chapter of our relationship and make good on the promise I made to her this morning. We started by going out on a real date to the movies. She picked a romantic comedy, and I suffered through it as I watched her laugh and smile at the screen. I held her hand as she got lost in the make-believe story. I pictured her in the movie store as she picked up a movie just like this and how I fucked her from behind as I bent her over the couch that evening. I smiled as I thought of how different that date night had been.

After the movie, we went out to dinner at The Garden. It was nearly empty, but Emma was still nervous we would run into someone from our past. I thought of Angela and Allison, not even sure of what they looked like. The guy I had flashes of with Emma crossed my mind, and I struggled to push him from my thoughts. I comforted her and let her know that none of it mattered. The past was just that. It was another life for us, and we were starting a new one. One with no one to stand in the way of us being together.

I glanced over the menu, deciding what I wanted to eat, when Emma’s grip on my hand tightened. I looked up at her, worry marring her perfect face.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” She smiled weakly and looked down at her menu.

I fought back my mild frustration at having to ask her twice.

“Please, just tell me what is bothering you so I can make it right.” I was sick of not knowing anything. The memories were barely a flicker in the back of my mind. It made me feel out of control.

“Hey, Professor Honor.” A cheery voice called from behind me. Emma pulled her hand from mine as I glanced up at the woman. I nodded and smiled at her, and she continued past our table.

“Who was that?” she asked as she leaned in closer.

“I have no idea.” I raised an eyebrow as I watched her relax and let out a laugh.

“She’s probably one of your students.”

“I’m a teacher?” That only made sense with my need for control.

“A professor at Kippling College.”

“You were one of my…” I let my voice trail off as I studied Emma’s face. The memory of having her bent over a desk came to mind, and my dick became hard at the memory. She was so innocent and eager.

We didn’t have any other interruptions at dinner, but Emma didn’t touch me for the rest of the meal, and it bothered me that we had to be so cautious in public. It made me worry that she was ashamed of our relationship. If she was so worried, why the fuck did she drag me out to do this? I swallowed my doubt and refused to let that side of my thinking take over.

As we left I offered to drive us home, but Emma refused. She blamed my memory, but I was sure the accident had something to do with her hesitation.

“You don’t even know how to get home!” she laughed, and I struggled not to let her comment offend me.

“Two lefts and straight through to Riverton Street.”

Her expression turned serious as her eyes searched mine.

“Me?” She sounded so small, so fragile. I shook my head as I looked down at the ground. The few memories that had come back to me were less than pleasant. She sighed as I opened the passenger side door and slid into the car. She joined me, cranking the radio as the car revved to life and we pulled out into traffic.

My phone rang and vibrated against my thigh. I pulled it from my pocket and glanced at the screen before sliding it back in my pocket. Fuck.

“Who was that?” The jealousy was evident in her voice.

“I don’t know.” I stared out the passenger window as she pulled over onto the shoulder of the road and slammed the car into park. .

“You knew enough not to answer it. Who was it?”

“Someone named Allison.” I cringed as I said her name. Emma clutched at her stomach as if I had hit her.

“You… remember her?”

There it was, the pain that I had promised to not cause her. It was my past forcing itself back into our lives. I thought of my threat to Allison about forgetting I existed. I wanted to make her regret her decision not to, and in that moment, the other face from the pictures became clear. Abby didn’t take my threats to stay away from me seriously either. The truth sat on my chest like a ton of bricks. My memory wasn’t gone because of an accident or because it was too painful to face. I had a break; I snapped when I nearly killed Emma.

“No. She called while you were gone. I had no idea who she was…at first.” The lies tumbled from my lips. I reached for her hand, but she recoiled from my touch. “I don’t remember her. I only have what she said to go by.”

She turned back to the steering wheel and laid her head against it. I wanted to scream. We had agreed to move on from what had happened. I felt alone and didn’t think Emma would ever talk to me again. What was I supposed to do? I needed to have some answers. I was losing my fucking mind, and the one person I had, refused to come near me.

“Please,” I said through clenched teeth. She didn’t look at me as she put the car in drive and pulled back onto the road. She was speeding and driving out of control. I fought the urge to say something to her. All I could think about was disciplining her. The urge to teach her a lesson and take control was overwhelming. She was throwing a tantrum, and she was being careless with her own life. I swallowed down my desires. I promised her I was different. I wouldn’t let history repeat itself, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t fantasize about how good it would feel.

When we reached my place, she put the car in park and got out, slamming the door angrily. She took the steps two at a time as I slowly exited the car and ran my hand angrily through my hair. She opened the door and was inside the apartment as I started up the steps.

As I reached the top, I stepped inside, my eyes scanning hers. My phone rang in my pocket, and Emma’s eyes narrowed before the same anger I was forcing myself to suppress showed on her face.

She shoved against my chest hard. My back hit the wall next to the door, and she knocked it closed. Her hands grabbed my belt, and she pulled against it, struggling to undo the buckle. I’d seen that look in her eye many times in my own reflection.

She wanted me to remember or to make herself forget. Either way, I was happy just to be able to touch her.

She pulled down my zipper and slid her hand inside my boxers to pull my cock free. I was rock hard and struggling to not pin her down and prove to her how much I wanted her and only her, but I was enjoying this side of Emma. I wanted to see how far she would go.