Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Anyway, she looks like a million dollars either way. I couldn’t scupper her chances even if I listened to that little devil on my shoulder.
“Down,” I tell her. “You want sexy girl next door, not sexy librarian. Nerds don’t need extra tuition.”
I almost add, believe me, but then remember the direction my own grades have been taking since my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
“Good point.” She drops her hair, shakes her head to let it settle perfectly around her shoulders, then grins. “OK, here goes.”
I step to the side as she knocks on the office door, and hear Max’s voice, smooth as whiskey: “Come in.”
She’s in there barely five minutes.
Even knowing I shouldn’t be listening in, I catch a few words.
Apply yourself…
…grades are going in the right direction…
I’ll be offering extra class tuition on Tuesday afternoons.
I flinch at each one, imagining the look on her face.
I know Cyn well. This whole happy-go-lucky thing, the flirting, using her body, it’s her but it’s not all there is to her. She admitted to me one night, when we were sitting on my bed doing each other’s nails, that she’s also still a virgin, and that she plans to stay that way until she finds the right one for her, no matter how long that takes. She just knows what her body does to men.
She might act like she doesn’t have a care in the world, but she desperately wants to pass. Cyn has big plans for the future, and the first step to getting there is passing college.
The door opens and she steps out, turns to me and rolls her eyes, not even dropping her voice. “Why are the hot ones always gay? I mean, not even a glance.” She waves a hand dismissively at her cleavage. “He wants to see you.”
“Me? I’m…”
“He knows you’re here, Ker. Don’t ask me how he knows, he just does. I’ll meet you at the machine, I need a coffee.”
I turn to watch her go, hands reaching for her shirt to refasten the buttons.
“Keryn, right?” His deep voice behind me makes me jump. “Come in, please. Close the door behind you.”
Even if I wanted to say no, I couldn’t. Not to the authority in those words. I shiver as I sheepishly step out from the cover of the doorway, and meet his eyes. And feel like I can no longer swallow.
The way he’s looking at me right now isn’t appropriate. He takes me in, head, shoulders, chest, hips, legs. The dress is fitted, hugging my curves in a way that should be embarrassing but instead is…exciting. So exciting I nearly keel over. His assessment is unhurried, without a hint of shame. It’s like he doesn’t even care that we’re teacher and student, like there’s nothing but us. When he points to the chair opposite his, all I can do is follow instructions, pushing the door closed behind me so I don’t have to take my eyes off him, then crossing the room to take a seat.
“Mr…”
“Max.”
“Right. Max. I—”
“Keryn Brinson,” he says unhurriedly, enunciating each syllable like my name is a new flavor he’s enjoying for the first time. “Excellent grades. Until this last year. Then something seems to have happened. What was that?” He opens his hands, inviting me to talk as he leans back, dark eyes studying my lips.
I want to bite into something. I want to lick my lips. I want to make little squeaking noises just to release the tension. Straightening my skirt without looking down, I shift uncomfortably in the seat, praying to god I’m not leaving a wet mark where I’m sitting.
He remains silent, waiting for me to speak, but what can I say?
“I don’t…” I clear my throat. “Max, I only came here to support Cyn. I’m not here for me.”
He draws a breath through his nose, fingers drumming on the table. “No,” he says. “You’re here for me.”
Two
Max
Finally, that draws a reaction. A silent stare of discomfort mixed with interest. I like to see her like this. Uncomfortable. I like to see her squirm. Call me a psycho, but I need her on edge and I can tell she needs it too.
Too many distractions in her life, I’m guessing. But now her focus is all on me.
I can’t tell if she’s offended or excited, but I’ll take either. They’re close cousins anyway, and I can work with it if she wants to slap me. Actually, I’d kind of like to see that happen.
Fuck, this girl is something else.
I shouldn’t be doing this. Not with her. Not only is she twenty years younger than I am, she’s now my student. It goes against every rule. I should just walk away, but I can’t. I have to see where this path ends.
“Max, I don’t know what—”
“Yes you do. You know exactly what I mean by that.” Fuck, the way she’s blushing is so adorable. Little dark freckles lit from behind in red light. I have to slip a hand down beneath the desk, pushing my hard-on to the side to let it expand in a little more comfort. And I don’t miss the way her eyes dart down, or the way she gulps, her imagination in overdrive. “Let’s talk about your grades,” I say, switching gears, enjoying the mewl of need it pulls from her.