The Monarch Room

by Danielle James

“I had an inkling the first day I saw you grabbing breakfast for two in the lounge and I saw Zuri in the Monarch Room. I knew for sure when you tore out of the bar that night. I walked over to the door and listened to you pace back and forth talking to her. You said her name more than once.

  You looked like the entire world would crash if you didn’t get to her. That’s when I knew it was more than you getting your dick wet. You love her?”

  “I do,” I nodded.

  “She love you too?”

  “She does.”

  “Good, Rome. She’ll be eighteen in a few months and then nobody will bat an eye. Right now though? You can’t keep being so fucking reckless.” He patted my shoulder and we headed back toward my room.

  Zuri was inside nibbling on her blue nails nervously. Her eyes went wide when she saw Matt. “Mr. Wilmore, I can explain,” she stammered.

  “No need, Zuri. You see this man right here? I trust him. He’s never given me a bad vibe. You love him?” She looked from me to Matt with huge, uncertain eyes. Like it was all a trap.

  “It’s okay, Zuri. He’s trustworthy.”

  “Yes, I love him so much.” She swallowed and grabbed my hand in hers.

  “Then do me a favor and make sure he locks the goddamn door from now on. Hey, was that you in the lounge?” Matt asked me with a point.

  “Yeah…I grabbed us coffee. We have some talking to do. Later at the bar?”

  “After you finish your tutoring session ? Sure,” he smirked. I flipped him off and he chuckled while walking out of the room.

  “Shit, I thought we were in trouble.”

  “We will be if I don’t keep that door locked.” I sighed and kissed her forehead. “Maybe we’ll do tutoring in the morning but not in the evening. I can’t risk someone finding out about us and losing you or my freedom. Even if I only lose my job, I won’t have the funds to get a new lawyer.”

  “Roman, why don’t you talk to your family?”

  “I haven’t spoken to them in five years. I’m sure they haven’t changed. They like to think they’re above people and money is more important than anything else in their eyes. They’ve done some fucked up stuff as a whole to make more money.” I shook my head thinking about it.

  “Roman, can you tell me who your family is?” Zuri sat on my lap and stroked the top of my head.

  “I’m surprised you don’t know already,” I shrugged. “With your father working in and out of hospitals in the state.” If I told Zuri about River, there was no reason she couldn’t know about my family too. I wanted her to know every part of me, even the ugly parts.

  “Who are they?” She narrowed her eyes, focusing on my face.

  “The Clermont family owns The Legacy Group.” I knew once I said that, she’d know what that meant. I was right. Her lips parted to speak but for a few seconds, nothing came out.

  “The Legacy Group? The same Legacy Group that privately funds every hospital in this state? The same one that signs my father’s checks?” A short, dry laugh escaped her. I gave a nod in response. “Your family owns all the hospitals in this state, Roman? They give the government funds to build medical facilities all over…”

  “So they can control what happens inside of their hospitals and practices. Yes. They don’t really give a shit about people’s health though. They want money. I can’t be a part of a machine like that. How can you know that people are suffering and dying because they can’t afford the expensive hospital bills but yet you keep raising prices?” I shook my head in disgust.

  “Holy fuck,” Zuri muttered. “So essentially, my father works for your family?”

  “Yeah. In a nutshell. Last I checked, The Legacy Group’s name was also signed on the dotted line of the order to build a new state prison as well. I come from such a loveable bunch.”

  “Roman, I know you hate what they stand for but you have to talk to them.” I shook my head vehemently. “Please, hear me out.” She sandwiched my face between her warm palms and I was helpless. I listened to her because how could I not? Her voice pulled at the deepest parts of me.

  “You’ve been so vigilant for the past three years trying to fight Michelle on your own. You’ve shown that your moral code is impeccable. You’re not winning this fight though. Three years is a long time to go without seeing your son.

  That’s three birthdays, Roman. Three Christmases, Thanksgivings, and Easters. Soon, he’s going to start elementary school. Soon his teeth are going to get loose and he’s going to skin his knee trying to ride a bike.

  You can’t waste any more time. It’s up to you as his father to do whatever you have to do in order to get him back in your life. I commend you for being so noble and not wanting to throw the mother of your child under the bus but she didn’t play fair to create River. You can’t play fair to get him back and think it’s going to work.

  Nothing in life is fair. If it were, we’d be able to be together because we’re in love. I’d be able to live with my mother. You’d be able to have your son.

  You can’t play fair in a game that was stacked against you. Fight fire with fire, baby.” She kissed my forehead and stroked the side of my face letting her fiery gaze find mine.

  Her words sank into my soul. I kept hearing them minutes after she stopped talking. Since I never told anyone about River, I never heard anyone else’s opinion on the situation. My lawyer only gave me the standard talk but Zuri ignited a fire in me.

  She was right.

  Every word out of her mouth was right and it made me pull myself out of the pity party I’d been throwing. I looked at her and kissed those soft lips. “Zuri, you’re right.”

  “Yeah, I know,” she tried to fight the arrogant smirk on her face, but it was tough. I slid my thumb along her bottom lip then stood to my feet.

  “Fuck, I haven’t talked to my parents in so long, I’d feel weird calling them out of the blue.”

  “You said they’d be happy to hear from you. Go with that. Call them tonight, Roman. Promise me?” Nerves knotted my stomach but I agreed.

  “I’ll call them if you’ll work on your body proportions.” We’d moved on to capturing the proper proportions for the human body and today we started sketching live subjects.

  “I’ll work on my proportions,” Zuri’s shoulders sagged as she dug through her backpack. “Hey, do you have my blue book?”

  “Of course. I’m holding it hostage until I get you back to my house where you’re supposed to be.” My mind focused on Thanksgiving and the upcoming break, I wanted Zuri with me and not with her piece of shit father.

  “I can’t go anywhere without bringing my grades up.”

  “Well, I guess you better get those grades up. How about this,” I slid my hand under her shirt and let the pads of my fingers run up and down her soft skin. “I’ll make you the live subject for today and you’ll get extra credit for it. You have to show me that you’re taking in the rules of proportions in today’s tutoring session though.” She bunched my sweater in her fists and pulled me toward her.

  “Okay. I’ll get to work.” We brushed our lips against each other but a knock on the door caused us to jump apart. Matt was back.

  “Brittany Sawyer just pulled up. I’m sure she’ll be in here soon.” Zuri rushed to tuck her uniform shirt in and smooth her ponytail. Matt shook his head with a chuckle.

  “I’m going to go to my locker,” Zuri kissed my cheek and I slapped her ass out of habit.

  “Should I be around right now? The way you two look at each other is intense. I feel like I’m intruding. Please tell me you keep that under wraps during class. Anyone with two eyes could see you’re together.”

  “Together?” I asked, watching Zuri pretend to unpack at her locker.

  “Yes. Together , Rome.” Zuri looked over her shoulder at me and smiled. She was so damn pretty. “You might want to get used to that notion. Soon, you two won’t be sneaking around. You’ll be a couple.” The thought made my hands tingle. I needed to sketch her. I wanted to sketch per
fect smile.

  When Zuri walked past me, I wrapped my arm around her waist and kissed her temple. “I love you,” she smiled softly.

  “I love you too, princess.” I touched her soft, fluffy curls and smiled when she took her seat. She could make me smile in the midst of anything.

  I heard the shuffling of papers and I knew Zuri was at her desk, getting ready to sketch. Brittany walked by with a few extra buttons opened on her shirt. I shook my head once she sauntered past me and went into class.

  “She wants to be noticed,” Matt laughed quietly.

  “She wants something . She has an A in my class. She doesn’t need the tutoring or extra credit.”

  “She wants the kind of extra credit princess gets.” I tossed a playful punch at him and it landed on his shoulder.

  “Fuck you, Matt.” He laughed wildly as he walked down the hall and out of sight. Maybe letting people in that I trusted wasn’t all that bad.

  “Good morning monarchs,” I smiled at Zuri and Brittany.

  “Good morning, Mr. Clermont,” they chimed. Zuri made an effort to look totally uninterested but I caught the way she tugged at the hem of her skirt underneath her desk. I had to keep my eyes off her thighs or else my dick would be hard as steel.

  “Today in class I want to start using live models for our sketches.” Zuri’s hand popped up quickly and I smiled.

  “Yes, Miss Okolo?”

  “Can I volunteer to be the first model?”

  “Sure,” I nodded and scribbled her name down on the signup sheet. I just created one from a sheet of printer paper and I was more than happy that her name was the first one.

  “Will I get extra credit?” She asked, lifting her brow in question.

  “Sure thing. Anyone brave enough to be sketched will get extra credit.” Brittany’s hand shot up next. I expected as much.

  “Will you be sketching along with the class?” She asked.

  “Yes, I will.” Like I’d ever pass up the chance to draw Zuri’s amazing body.

  “Can I sign up next?” She quizzed.

  “Sure, Miss Sawyer.” I wrote her name down under Zuri’s.

  “We don’t have to be naked or anything do we?” Brittany smirked.

  “Absolutely not. No.” I frowned at her and shook my head. Her parents needed to watch her. She was too much. I was absolutely a hypocrite since I was screwing Zuri like there was no tomorrow but she wasn’t throwing it at me like Brittany was. That girl had no damn shame.

  “Mr. Clermont, do you have a girlfriend?” Brittany asked sheepishly.

  “Why do you think that’s an appropriate question, Miss Sawyer?” I sat on a stool near the front of the class and took to painting a monarch, using watercolor.

  “I don’t know. I guess I wanted to get to know you better since we’re always in here together. Sorry.” She shrugged.

  “To answer your question…yes. I do have a girlfriend.” Zuri’s head popped up and she glanced at me. I saw the smile itching to fill her face up. She kept it at bay though. She was such a good girl.

  “You do?” Brittany seemed shocked. She blinked a few times then cleared her throat. “Has she ever come to the school?”

  “No. I like to keep home and work separate.”

  “Home? You live with her?” Brittany’s tone turned icier by the minute. I had to stifle my laughter.

  “Not yet. Eventually, I will though. I’m thinking we’ll move in together this summer.” I glanced at Zuri and between chewing on her bottom lip and fidgeting with her skirt, I thought she would pop.

  “When in the summer? When are you two moving in together?” Zuri’s soft voice drew my eyes to her lips.

  “June. Once school lets out. I’ll have more time to spend with her. Just us.” Our gaze was intense and we both decided to break it at the same time. I went back to my monarch and she went back to her sketch.

  “God, she’s lucky. Are you moving in with her or is she moving in with you?” Brittany sounded like she was living vicariously through my words.

  “She’s moving in with me. We might get a new place though. She’s in school. I know she won’t want to be far from campus.”

  “Oh, she’s in college?” Brittany mused. “What school does she go to? How old is she?” She started firing off rapid questions and I held my hand up signaling for her to stop.

  “We’re not about to play twenty-one questions about my lady.”

  “One more question, I swear. Mr. Clermont, are you in love?” I looked at Brittany but Zuri was in my peripheral line of sight.

  “Yes. More in love than I ever remember being in my life. Now, finish your drawings.”

  **

  At the end of the day, I thought I would throw a fucking party when Brittany told me she couldn’t stay after school because she had an obligation. I knew it was because she found out I had a girlfriend and I could guarantee that her early morning sessions would drop off too.

  I welcomed it.

  Zuri had already left for the day but I wanted to see her. It was one of those days where I wished she stayed after even though I knew it was risky. My fingers hovered over her name in my contact list.

  “Clermont, can I have a word with you in my office?” Principal Palmer called me over and I hurried to put my phone to sleep.

  “Yes, sir?” I closed his office door behind me and had a seat. I tried not to stare at pictures of his wife sitting on his desk. I just couldn’t help but wonder how he pulled a gorgeous woman like her.

  Palmer was a man that every woman would pass up…unless he was filthy rich. Judging by his house that must have been the case with Eve. No way he nabbed her based on looks and personality.

  “How are Miss Okolo’s grades? Her father sent me an email this morning wanting to know how long she would need to be tutored. He wanted her exact hours.”

  “No disrespect, Mr. Palmer, but why doesn’t he contact me himself? Why does he keep going through you?” I got the feeling Dr. Okolo thought he was better than speaking to a lowly art teacher like myself.

  “Well, it’s nothing personal, Clermont but men of our stature usually communicate better with people on our level. Like I said, it’s no offense to you.”

  I smoothed a hand over my chin and let out a short laugh. “Right. Men of your stature. Would that be round men or wealthy men?”

  “Yes, wealthy, you could say that. So, what hours will she receive tutoring?”

  “Mr. Palmer, I fail to see how wealthy men communicate any different than average men. Am I missing something? All of us speak English, correct?”

  “Well, yes,” he chuckled, smoothing imaginary wrinkles in his tie. “Although Dr. Okolo is a man of many languages.”

  “So am I. English isn’t even my first language. It’s French.”

  “You sound fluent in English. I would have never known.”

  “Exactly. My point is; Dr. Okolo sounds classist. If he can’t communicate directly with his daughter’s teacher then I can’t volunteer information about her. She’s my student and I’d like to speak directly with her father when it concerns her. No offense but, I don’t want to deal with middlemen.” I stood and showed myself out before I said something that would get me in trouble. I halfway expected Palmer to call me back and fuss at me for my attitude but he never did.

  He stuck around the school for a while longer then he left. I heard the engine from his Jaguar roar to life from my class. I had a ton of projects to grade and papers to file but the only thing I could think of was Zuri. Time would have passed so much faster if she were with me.

  I chanced a call to her phone and sighed with relief when she answered. “Hey, is everything okay?” She asked.

  “Yeah, everything is fine. Any chance you could find your way back to school? I’m sure you left something behind…right?” My voice was hopeful. I loved the way her laughter sounded coming through the phone.

  “I’m sure I left something. Let me text my driver.”

  “I’ll see you in
a few.” I ended the call and shook my head at myself. What the fuck was I becoming? I was starved without Zuri. I could never get enough. It didn’t matter that I’d made love to her just that morning.

  When she knocked on the door, I pulled it open with a grin. “Miss Okolo, did you forget something?”

  “I did, Mr. Clermont. Mind if I grab it?” She smiled politely. We put on a show for the lingering students and faculty in the halls but when she crossed the threshold of the Monarch Room, I pulled her into my arms as the doors closed behind us. The butterflies above seemed to flutter the moment we touched.

  I backed her against the wall closest to the door and spun her around. Before she could utter a single word, her panties were around her knees and I was pushing into her pussy. The squeak she let out made my dick tingle. “Shh, princess. You know how many people are right outside that door? You need to take this dick quietly or we’ll get in trouble. You want everyone to know how hard your art teacher is fucking your tight little pussy?”

  She shook her head and I grabbed her long hair so I could hammer deeper into her. The only sound that could be heard was me crashing against her round ass over and over until she flooded my cock with her cum.

  I pulled my sensitive dick out of her and came all over her behind. I had to keep my own noises down. She always pulled the most intense orgasms from me.

  Once I cleaned her off, she stood up straight and smiled at me before kissing my lips. “You’re going to call your parents today…right?”

  “That’s not usually the type of after-sex talk I like to have but…sure.” I cracked a smile and she hit my arm.

  “Call them, Roman. It’s not for you. It’s for River.” Hearing his name made me sober up quick. She was right. If my parents could help me get my son back then I had to put my personal feelings aside and do what I needed to do.

  “And what was that shit this morning with Brittany. You have a girlfriend that you’re going to move in with?” She bumped me with her slender hips and I laughed a little.

  “That’s only if she wants to live with me. She’ll be turning eighteen in June so I thought maybe we could make it work.” I kissed her neck then slid my lips along her shoulder, taking in her perfume.