He also had the ability to make Victoria forget everything with every unsteady breath she took. When he said he would employ other methods on her, did they involve a piercing green gaze that made her knees shake and skin heat? In an effort to stay on topic, she replied, “Well, I have to say that the work you do with children is admirable, Mr. Donovan. I’m confident that my students are going to learn a lot from you.”

He stepped away from the door and crossed the room in two easy strides. “I don’t want to talk about the children, Dr. Reese.”

His quick movements caught her unprepared with the crushing kiss he issued. As his lips pressed against hers, she gave a surprised moan. John’s tongue ran along the seam of her mouth and eased past her lips, licking as he went. Victoria’s hands instinctively went for his head, shoving her fingers through his loosely tied hair. Sliding his arms around her waist, he pulled her close into his body. She closed her eyes and tilted her head against his insistent tongue, losing herself like a sail boat in his wild seas.

When he broke away, he gazed down at her through hooded eyes, panting from the exertion. “I’m sorry that wasn’t scheduled.”

Victoria reached upward and touched her swollen lips. “No, it wasn’t,” she murmured. She wouldn’t complain though. It was a kiss that knocked the wind out of her and left her dizzy. She was satisfied with her original idea of hammering out the details, but she certainly didn’t mind this either. Before she could ask for more, he broke the spell.

John ran his fingers along her spine and smiled. “I’m afraid I have to get home and relieve my friend of his babysitting duties.”

“Of course.” She stood straight and took a breath. “How is Becca?”

He moved away from her and began gathering papers from his desk. “Oh, she’ll live. The poor girl had a period meltdown the other day.”

Victoria hissed. “Oh no. Stain on the back of the pants?”

He chuckled as he packed his bag. “How did you guess?”

“It’s happened to all of us.”

John led her from his office and turned out the light. “God knows I wouldn’t go back to that age for anything. How did we manage it?”

“You talk like a man who thinks the stress is long over. It gets worse,” she said. “I mean, don’t tell her that.”

John’s faced creased with a wide grin before he laughed. “I won’t. But I need to convince you that there are blessings that come with our age.”

“Mmh.”

“I’ll go over our schedule tonight.”

“You will?” she asked as she followed him to the library entrance.

“I will,” he said. “And by the week’s end, I’ll convince you that you don’t need it.”