by Lily White
The words were so slurred I sounded drunk.
He pinched my breast in response, his mouth smiling against my neck.
“Do it again, Amelia, and I’ll deny you orgasms for a damn week.”
Laughter shook my shoulders, my fingers tangling with his.
This was how I wanted my nights to be. This right here. Alone with him.
It broke my heart to think that at the end of the summer, I’d be leaving for Hastings while Lennon would return to his life and his career.
Lennon
It aggravated me to no end that I couldn’t cut Jillian from the running. All week, I’d worked with the remaining five students, Amelia privately, of course, and when it came down to the other four, Jillian proved to be the most talented.
Unfortunately, the young woman scraped against my last nerves with her shameless flirting. It seemed like when her hands weren’t tapping the keys over the music, she was endlessly flipping her hair over her shoulder and back again, tangling the ends between her fingers while staring at me like I was something to be conquered.
Today, I would announce the final two in the running, Amelia and Jillian, which meant next week, my days would be split between the two. The time I spent with Amelia was well worth it, but four hours a day with Jillian would drive me to a point of insanity.
The girl had no shame, her clothes far too revealing, her smiles so sickly sweet that my teeth hurt just looking at them.
What made it worse was the way she treated Amelia whenever they were in the same room, a fucking viper coiled and ready to strike, and I had to be careful not to bring the hammer down on the bitch in defense of my girl.
Nobody could know about us, and we were pushing limits by sleeping in the same house. Thankfully, her car had been an easy fix, so we didn’t drive in together. Nobody would know what was going on as long as they didn’t figure out where I lived.
Knuckles rapped against the door to the classroom. “Knock knock.”
Lifting my eyes from the notes I’d kept on each student, I locked stares with Julia Pickens.
“Do you have a minute?”
Class wasn’t due to start for another half hour, so I waved her in, cocking a brow when she closed the door and walked to sit back against a student desk.
“How are things going with the final decisions?”
“Good,” I said, dropping my notes down on the surface of my desk before folding my hands behind my head.
My feet were kicked up, my chair leaning back as far as it would go. In truth, I was exhausted from practicing for my performance and keeping Amelia up at night devouring her body like a starving man.
“I’ve whittled the choices down to two, although it hasn’t been easy. You’ll be happy to know Amelia made the cut.”
Julia nodded, flashing me a tight smile that wasn’t friendly. Lips pulling into a thin line, she stared at me for several seconds before saying, “Actually, Amelia is why I wanted to talk to you. I know we’re not supposed to discuss our students, but I’m worried about her.”
This couldn’t be good. “Is there a problem?”
Calm and aloof. If I showed any interest beyond that, Julia would latch on to the interest, would see through me to know that Amelia and I were a lot closer than I wanted to admit.
“Her brother came to my house looking for her last night. He says she hasn’t been home in several days and most of her clothes are gone.”
Ben. I was going to fucking kill him one of these days. What thirty year old man kept such a tight leash on his sister? I understood Amelia believed he was merely concerned for her welfare, but given the things he made her do, I wasn’t convinced.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Her eyes searched my face, trying and failing to discover any small hint that I knew more than I was letting on.
“I just wondered if she was behaving oddly during your practice sessions. I’m not sure if you know, but her father isn’t the easiest person to live with-“
Actually, her father was being moved to a care facility this afternoon, but I refrained from telling her that.
“-and I’m concerned she may have left home because she could no longer handle being around him in his condition.”
Shifting in my seat, I met Julia’s eyes without a hint of reservation. “Why are you telling me this?”
Her gaze narrowed just slightly, suspicion lining her brow. “I wanted to know if her focus or behavior has changed in class that you’ve noticed? Or perhaps, she’s told you something about her current whereabouts or situation?”
A slow blink of my eyes and my lips curled at one corner. “Amelia is a dedicated student-“
More dedicated than Julia realized.
“-and a talented musician, which is why she’s made it to the top two in my class. As to her personal life, I’m not sure that’s any of my business.”
“Well, of course, it isn’t,” she snapped.
Arching a brow, I silently called her out on getting snippy with me.
Julia straightened the cuffs of her sleeves and regained control of herself. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply you had personal knowledge of Amelia, it’s just that the family is worried, especially her brother. He’s worked so hard to take care of her after what happened with their parents. I hate to see him upset.”
Glancing at the clock, I said, “The students should be here soon. If you’d like to speak with Amelia, be my guest-“
We’d already worked out a cover story that she was staying with a student who had already been dismissed from the program.
“-otherwise, I’m not sure that I can help you. As far as my observations of her, nothing appears changed from when she first walked into my class.”
I was actually glad that Julia decided to come see me. If anything, she gave the warning that Ben was sniffing around. I didn’t trust the son of a bitch as far as I could throw him, so it was fortunate notice that Amelia had to be careful around the school and while heading back to my house.
Julia stilled in place, her eyes seeking mine in some sort of camaraderie. “You know, when I first met you, I thought Amelia would get along with you quite well. She’s...eccentric...like you in a way, a true musician. I’d hoped she would open up to you, not so much as a friend, but as a teacher. I wouldn’t be upset to learn you took her under your wing.”
I almost laughed. It was a nice change in direction, but it still wouldn’t convince me to spill the beans.
Plus, I’m wasn’t sure Julia would be happy to learn I’d taken Amelia under me in a myriad of different ways. She was a fascinating student, so eager to learn.
“As an instructor, I’m more than willing to guide her talent. If she turns out to be my finalist, I will.”
Nodding, she pushed away from the desk and walked toward the door. “That’s all I can ask, I guess. Have a good day, Mr. Carter.”
As soon as she was out of sight, I scrubbed my hand down my face and groaned. Amelia would be my finalist, a fact I’d already decided. But to keep appearances on the up and up, my semi-finalist had to be a challenge. Jillian filled that role well. In more ways than she knew.
Pulling my feet from the desk, I made my final notations, not bothering to glance up at the sound of students entering the room. Three would go home heartbroken today and this part of my job was the worst.
Thankfully, I had an appointment this afternoon that would make me feel better. I hadn’t yet told Amelia she was coming with me, but I could save that surprise for later.
“Morning, everyone.”
A chorus of hopeful voices called back to me, Jillian’s front and center as usual. I hadn’t bothered to look up yet. It was always a fight not to seek out Amelia’s face first thing.
“I hope all of you are doing well.” Finally lifting my head to count five student faces staring back at me, I almost scowled to see Jillian’s come fuck me smile, and almost laughed to see Amelia’s indifferent expression. She was damn good at playing
the disinterested student.
“Today won’t be a good day for three of you, which I think you already know. Again,” I said, pushing up to my feet and rounding the desk to lean against the front, “you all know what I’m going to say here. These last cuts are the hardest and if I could keep you all, I would.”
All but Jillian. Unfortunately she was staying.
“So, I’ll just jump to it. The two students who will move on to next week are Jillian Bates and Amelia Dillon.”
Three faces shifted from hopeful to rejected, something I hated that any young musician would feel. However, this was the business. There wasn’t an artist out there, no matter their medium, that wasn’t turned away many times over before finding their audience. Having thick skin was necessary if you had any hope of success.
I waited while the three whose names weren’t called gathered their things, said their goodbyes and walked out the door.
It was down to two. One I couldn’t wait to get beneath me, and another I wanted to swat away like an annoying fly.
“Congratulations, ladies. You earned this. But don’t let it go to your heads. My demands only become more difficult from here.”
My gaze flicked to Amelia and I almost grinned to know she’d be up to any challenge I gave her.
“Starting next week, I’ll be working with you for four-hour blocks. Jillian, you’ll have mornings and Amelia, you’ll have afternoons-“
Jillian raised her hand. “Mr. Carter, I was hoping I could have the later time slot.”
Glancing over her shoulder at Amelia like she was something she wanted to scrape off the bottom of her shoe, Jillian argued, “Amelia always gets the last hour of the day and I don’t think it’s fair.”
My eyes slanted her direction. “Why not?”
She hesitated to be put on the spot. Either that or the fuck off glare I was giving her was coming through loud and clear. “Well, just because I thought, maybe-“ Her voice trailed off, the lusty glimmer in her eyes dying a slow death. “Never mind.”
“Excellent, now that that’s settled, you two are free to go for the rest of the day. I hope you have a good weekend.”
“Oh,” Jillian spoke up again, her saccharine sweet voice like nails across a chalkboard. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow night at the performance. I’m so excited to see you on stage.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I smiled politely. “I’m sure I’ll be too preoccupied to see anyone, but I’m happy you’ll attend the performance.”
Now get the fuck out...I didn’t add.
From behind her, Amelia smirked. She could hear the words I wasn’t saying.
Jillian eventually moved along while Amelia was standing at her desk packing her things. Finally alone with her, I stared in wonder at a woman who was slowly consuming my every thought.
“She has it bad for you. I hope you know that.”
I laughed. A person would have to be blind not to know it. “She’s a non-issue. I happen to have someone else on my mind.”
The corner of her lips quirked. “I can understand that. I’ve been thinking a lot about this really bossy man.” Eyes flicking up to me. “You’d hate him. He’s such a pervert.”
Returning her smile, I scratched my jaw. “Sounds like a decent guy to me.”
Amelia laughed and I had to resist the urge to close the distance between us. “I have two things I’d like to talk to you about.”
Her shoulders tensed, and I hated how she was always expecting bad news. Amelia deserved better.
“Your brother is looking for you.”
Head snapping my direction, she asked, “He came here?”
“No. Julia told me this morning. Apparently he went by her house. I just wanted you to know so you’ll be careful in the parking lot and driving away from school.”
Nodding her head, Amelia hitched the strap of her back up her shoulder. “What’s the second thing?”
“I have someplace I need to go this afternoon and I’d like for you to come with me.”
Stepping toward me, she teased, “I don’t know if I have time. The bank is only open until three and if I want to rob it, I need to get there before they close.”
She would pay dearly for that statement.
“Wait while I gather my stuff. We’ll take my car since it’s close.”
Packing my notes and roster into my bag, I second guessed the idea. There was no telling when or where Ben might show up, and I preferred Amelia’s car be out of sight.
“Actually, drive to my house. We’ll drop your car off and ride together from there.”
“You’re worried about Ben, aren’t you? It’s not like he can drag me off kicking and screaming.”
Yeah, but that wouldn’t stop me from beating the crap out of him, and with my performance set for tomorrow night, I couldn’t take the chance of damaging my hands.
“Just do what I say, Amelia.” Tipping my head up to look at her, I grinned. “No complaints and no questions, remember?”
Walking to the door, she shook her head, glanced back at me and flipped her skirt above her waist to show me her ass.
“Don’t tempt me,” I murmured with every intention of putting my mark there again.
Laughter retreated down the hallway. I was still packing when footsteps sounded behind me, the classroom door closing.
I turned to find Jillian leaning against it. “Hey,” she said, as if there was some goddamned reason for her to be blocking my path out of here.
“Did you forget something?”
A miniscule shake of her head preceded her mouth turning up into a smile filled with all the promises I didn’t want from her.
“I’ve been thinking,” she breathed out, her voice husky. “You and I, we get along really well, and we’re both obviously into each other.”
My brows knit together. Her lips parted seductively as she took her invitation a step further by pulling at the buttons of her shirt.
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
One button.
One step toward me.
A full-bodied hip strut that Amelia wouldn’t have done in a million years until I’d stripped her of her modesty.
Yet, here Jillian was, attempting to taste for herself what the forbidden teacher-student relationship would be like.
It was too bad for her I wasn’t interested.
“You should stop while you’re ahead, Jillian.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I flashed a look of boredom. Contempt written into the line of my mouth.
Hands sliding down her chest, she walked toward me, her intent to fuck me right here on my desk painfully clear.
“Please, Mr. Carter. I like you and I get the hint you like me, too.”
I’d give it to her, she was a forward little thing. Not shy in the least, her hands continued working the buttons of her shirt, bra now exposed, only the bottom half still fastened together.
“You’re mistaken and you should leave now before you piss me off.”
Had she been waiting for Amelia to leave? Hopefully she wasn’t in earshot. Hopefully she hadn’t seen Amelia lift her skirt as a tease.
Another step. Another button.
“Jillian, stop what you’re doing and-“
The door opened behind her, Julia’s shrewd eyes widening with surprise, and then narrowing with anger to see Jillian’s half buttoned shirt, her lips transitioning from a friendly smile to a line of rage.
Son of a –
Things were getting worse as Julia darted a glance between the two of us, fury lighting her gaze.
“I was just telling Miss Bates to stop what she was doing and leave.”
This was an added complication I didn’t need, but not one I was willing to make worse by jumping up and acting like I was guilty.
Instead, I remained calm, maintained my position and allowed Jillian to come to the quick understanding that propositioning your teacher in class didn’t always end in a quick fuck on a desk.
Julia’s face was sheened red, her
usually friendly eyes narrowing more. Clearing her throat, she waited for Jillian to button her shirt and scamper from the room.
“I came to speak with Amelia,” Julia said, her tone clipped, eyes narrowed on me like I was Satan himself.
Grabbing my bag, I stepped toward her, refusing to give ground or offer an explanation for what she believed she saw.
“Amelia left fifteen minutes ago when I dismissed class.”
She shifted when I moved to brush past her. Voice low, she warned, “Inappropriate relationships with students is highly-“
“Let me stop you right there, Ms. Pickens. I have never, and never will, have inappropriate anything with that young girl you just saw in my classroom. She was coming on to me, and I wasn’t responding. Rather than physically forcing her from the room, which also would have been inappropriate, I was telling her to stop and leave. Is there anything else, you’d like to say to me before I go?”
“No, Mr. Carter.”
I almost called her a good girl before fully moving past her to walk down the hall and exit the building.
Thankfully, Ben didn’t appear and further complicate my already fucked up afternoon.
Amelia was waiting outside the house when I arrived. She jumped in my SUV as soon as I pulled up, her skirt riding so high on her thighs I was half tempted to march her ass in the house and demand she change. Teenage boys couldn’t be trusted to keep their attention on music with Amelia around.
“Where are we going?”
I battled whether to tell her about what Jillian had done. Hoping it was the last time I’d have to deal with the unwanted advances, I decided Amelia didn’t need to know. It would only upset her.
“To the place we met.”
Her eyes shifted my direction. “Why?
“I thought we could reenact our first encounter, except this time, I’ll lift that skirt of yours in the shadows of the alley and teach you why not to steal a man’s wallet.”
Her mouth quirked, teal eyes glimmering with anticipation. She was always so ready for whatever I wanted.
Shaking my head, I admitted, “Actually, we’re going to my friend, Dizzy’s, store, the same one I was leaving the night you tried to mug me. He has a student who looks up to me, and I promised to meet with the kid and listen to what he could do with a piano.”