Continuing Education

by Gray Gardner

  “Lose the panties.”

  Swallowing, Mary slowly leaned down and pulled off her underwear. She tried to turn again but found herself crowded against the wall, one hand circling her nipple and the other running over the soft skin between her legs.

  “I can be jealous if I want to be. Can’t I?” he stated, breathing on her neck as he kissed and sucked.

  “I-I guess, but—”

  “And you can be sassy in return if you want to be.”

  Well, he was right. She couldn’t concentrate on an answer, though, because his hands were everywhere, on and inside of her. She squeezed her eyes shut as the pleasure washed over her, the heat of his breath and hands making her feel like every nerve was about to ignite. Circling her nipple. Circling her clitoris. Gently pushing inside her.

  “But you have to remember what happens to bad little girls,” he whispered in her ear, now pressed fully against her, the friction of his erection in his suit pants as he rubbed up and down her ass a delicious torture. He pulled back a little and smacked her bare ass, the sound echoing off of the old books and wooden furniture. “They get spanked. And then they get fucked.”

  Mary’s mouth fell open but she said nothing as he spun her around, leaned into her, and devoured her mouth… still in the hat. He pinned her hands above her head, ran his fingers down her arms and waist, gripped her ass, and pulled her legs up and around his waist. Holding her against the wall, naked from the waist down, he wanted to take one second to savor the moment.

  “I love you, my darling little girl. I’ll never let you go.”

  His suit pants hit the floor with a thunk from his belt, and he didn’t even bother with the boxers. He plunged into her, pushing forward so her back pressed against the wall and he could get fully inside of her. He waited for her eyes to open and her breathing to steady before he moved again. So slowly it was torture for both of them.

  “I do. I love you, baby girl.”

  “Mait,” she whimpered, his cock so deep inside of her that she thought she might burst if he didn’t start moving faster, harder. She wrapped her legs and arms tighter around him as she looked deep into his eyes. “Please.”

  He grinned and stared into her blue eyes, now filled with heat and desire, as he held her ass and slowly leaned into her so that he could slide in just a little deeper. She moaned in that cute, quiet way and he pulled out a little.

  “Can you tell me what you want?” he whispered, his torturously slow lovemaking causing her to become a soaking mess.

  “I need you,” she moaned, her head back against the wall, loving the adoring look in his dark eyes.

  “What do you need, baby?”

  “I need you inside me. I need you to come inside me!” she demanded, her eyes rolling back as she gripped his open shirt collar and squeezed around him. He waited until she looked back into his eyes, though, and when she did he found his favorite shade of blue: desire.

  He groaned as he pumped into her harder and faster before her words left him coming in an almost endless orgasm. He’d just gotten mad at her for no reason, found her in the library and coaxed her into sex. And she was smiling at him as she caught her breath. He grinned back.

  Mrs. Maitland Frasier, ladies and gentlemen.

  * * *

  Mary paced in front of the large white columns of the old red brick courthouse on a Friday morning. Finals were nearing. Papers were due. Professors were grumpy. Students were hopped up on caffeine and pills.

  Her nerves came from a different place. After a quick texting session with Nicole she’d discovered where their dad worked. Why did she care? Because he was her way in to mend fences between Mait and his parents. And she couldn’t confront Mr. Frasier at home because his demon wife would probably devour her head first.

  No. Lovely wife. His lovely wife would not permit her to enter their home… most definitely. Mary sighed heavily as she roamed the dark wainscoted hallways in her black wrap dress and black leather booties. She and Mait were getting married. Nicole and Liam would be there. Carlson would be there.

  Mait needed his parents to be there, too.

  Of course the Carlson Frasier who raised Mait was a judge. Not only was his family incredibly connected but Mait walked around like a damned judge and jury all of the time. Authority was ingrained in his soul. He was just meant to lead.

  The frosted glass shook in the old wooden door as she rapped on it. People bustled around behind her, the scene reminding her of Eastland. New England’s educators and government officials must have gotten together to plan out their small hallways with moldy hardwood layout.

  His Honor Judge Carlson Frasier failed to answer the door, as did any of his minions, so Mary turned the worn brass knob and let herself in. The familiarity of the overstuffed wooden bookshelves and large oak desk made her smile. She strolled past the crystal decanter of scotch and pulled a yellow legal pad off the desk.

  The note was to the point but not abrupt in any way. She simply mentioned that she’d stopped by to talk and she’d like it very much of he’d give her a call at his convenience. He really was pretty nice… kinda drunk whenever she saw him, but nice. With her family’s behavior she was in no position to judge anybody. Mait’s dad had a kind heart. She could see it.

  That was why she had to do a triple take when a picture of herself caught her eye on his desk. Sliding off the manila folders stacked on top, she didn’t find just one picture. There were several.

  A picture of her walking to school.

  Of her laughing with Will outside of the library.

  Her leaving the Racquet Club.

  Talking on the phone.

  Entering her front door.

  Walking around in her bedroom from a distance through the window…

  “Mary Madeline…”

  “What the fuck?” she shouted, turning quickly as the elder Carlson Frasier startled her. She held the pictures splayed in her hands like playing cards, but when she hung her arms at her sides they fell to the floor.

  Judge Frasier had a guilty look on his face. “Sweetheart…”

  “What is this?” she demanded in a curt and quiet voice.

  “It’s not what you think,” he said in his deep voice, holding up his hands in his black robe like he was approaching a wounded animal.

  “Oh, believe me, Your Honor, you have no idea what I’m thinking right now.”

  “Sweetheart,” he pleaded, but it fell on deaf ears.

  “Quit calling me that!” she yelled, cheeks flushing as she got more worked up. She just wanted answers. “So… it’s… I’m really never going to be good enough for Mait. Am I?”

  It was a declaration more than a question. They’d had her followed. They’d actually hired someone and paid him to follow her all around the goddamned town.

  “It really isn’t what you think,” he began, holding up a finger to silence her when she tried to yell again. “Honestly. We did it for you.”

  “Oh, well, in that case,” she sarcastically huffed, pacing the oriental area rug with her hands on her hips, the pictures slipping under her shoes. Then she paused. “Wait. Who is we?”

  As if on cue, the door opened and closed quickly, and Liam Atwood, Esquire stood before the two of them in the room. His mouth fell open as he saw the pictures Mary was standing on, and then he cleared his throat as he looked back and forth between them. “What’s going on in here? People heard yelling.”

  “Judge Judy and I were just having a spat about the merits of moral integrity,” she growled, leaning down and picking up a picture of her stuffing groceries into the back of her car, her tennis skirt all of the way up and her bloomers in full view. “Seems we disagree on what’s right and what’s definitely totally wrong.”

  “You need to calm down,” Liam commanded, holding his hand up. “People get nervous around here when they start hearing yelling from a judge’s chambers.”

  “Thanks, Liam,” she answered, throwing him a fake smile.

  “I’m ser
ious. Show some respect.”

  “Funny thing about respect,” she began, leaning down and gathering the pictures. “It’s kind of give and take. This asshole doesn’t respect me or my privacy. Why should I respect him?”

  “Mary—” Liam began in a loud, scolding voice.

  Judge Frasier interrupted him, though. “She’s right,” he sighed, walking around his desk and groaning as he sat back in the large, worn leather chair. He folded his hands in front of him in a very authoritative way. “We needed to prove to Felicity that you are a normal, well-rounded girl.”

  Liam rubbed his hand over his whiskers a few times before sighing and looking at the floor. “You weren’t supposed to see those, sweetheart.”

  “I swear to fucking God, if anyone in this room calls me sweetheart again I’m going to throw a chair through that window,” Mary stated, pointing her fingers at said window. Then she turned on Liam. “So who else knew about this person you had following me, snapping pictures of my life to prove to that bitch that I’m a normal girl?”

  “Mary,” Liam scolded again.

  “We stopped it a couple of weeks ago,” Judge Frasier sighed, still looking guilty. “We showed my wife earlier this week that you presented no threat to this family.”

  “I… I don’t really believe what I’m hearing,” Mary stated, feeling like she was taking crazy pills or something. Were they really trying to rationalize this to her? The violations to her privacy and dishonesty to Mait were bad enough, but thinking it was right?

  “Actually she’d like for you to attend our family dinner this Saturday. If you’d like.” He smiled kindly.

  She sat back in a hard chair with the pictures still in her hands as she looked at the two men who would soon be family. Was she crazy? Was this going to be too hard for her or for Mait? Would it even work at all?

  “I— It’s a big family gathering,” Judge Frasier added, trying to sweeten the deal. “At least 25 or 30 of us. You may not even have to be in the same room as Felicity for more than a few minutes.”

  He and Liam watched as she straightened her back and stood, silently walking to the door, but pausing as she grabbed the handle.

  “I would love to. See you tomorrow night,” she impassively replied, never looking back as she exited the room, photographs in hand.

  * * *

  “You do realize how fucked this whole— this is… right?”

  “Of course,” Mait agreed dropping the pictures on her kitchen counter and pulling her head into his chest, holding her close. “I had no idea this was happening.”

  “I know,” Mary sighed, inhaling his scent as she nuzzled into his hard chest. She smiled up at him and then turned around, stirring the tomato sauce she was making for dinner. “We, um, we’re supposed to go to that family gathering at your parents’ house tomorrow night.”

  “Yeah, we’re not going,” Mait huffed, opening the red wine and pouring them both a glass. His was half gone before hers got to her hand. His mother always seemed to have a knack for ruining good things in his life. And his dad never seemed to do anything about it. “They are unbelievable sometimes.”

  “I think we should go,” Mary offered, turning and sipping her wine.

  “What! Why? They’ve insulted you. They’ve insulted me.”

  “Yes, but your dad seemed embarrassed that he had to do something like that to appease your mother. And besides, I want them to know that if they’re trying to scare me off they’ll have to do a lot better than that.”

  Mait smiled and cupped her round, rosy cheek in his hand. “I love you,” he stated, kissing her softly. “I just wish they would, too.”

  “Maybe after a few years of these family dinners I’ll grow on ’em.” She grinned, clinking his glass with hers. Fake smile with a fake declaration, but she had to put a brave face on for Mait. He would do it for her.

  They arrived the next evening promptly at six for cocktails and conversation on the massive terrace. Mait wore a light gray suit with a white shirt unbuttoned casually at the top. Mary wore a navy shift dress with a soft pink cardigan and her navy wedges.

  “I won’t leave your side all night, babe.” Mait grinned down at her as they walked inside. He kissed her hand and led her out to the back.

  “I’ll be fine,” she replied, forcing a smile as people turned to look at them as they exited through the opened French doors to the large stone terrace. The sun was setting over their tall trees and pond, giving the whole area a golden glow.

  “You made it!” Nicole squealed, coming over and hugging Mary. “S’up, Bro?”

  “Ouch,” he chuckled, rubbing his arm as she punched it. “Truce!”

  “Truce.” She nodded, grabbing a glass of champagne off the silver tray of a passing server. She handed it to Mary. “Drink up. Family’s everywhere.”

  “Mary,” Liam greeted, nodding his head.

  “S’up, Bro,” she replied, nodding her head once at him and then gulping the contents of her glass.

  Mait shifted around and joined Mary as she turned to watch the sun disappear.

  “Wait. What’s going on here?” Nicole asked, eyeing her boyfriend and her brother. Then she looked at Mary. “I mean it! What’s up?”

  “There they are!”

  Mary’s shoulders shrugged up to her ears but she quickly straightened up and turned around with a big smile.

  “Mother,” Mait greeted, leaning down and kissing her cheek.

  “Maitland. And Mary Madeline. Don’t you two look wonderful.” She smiled, reaching out and grabbing Mary’s hand before she could yank it away. “I am just so glad you came, my darling. Really. It makes me so happy to see you both here.”

  Mary noticed the choke in her voice and glossy eyes as she looked at everyone. She wasn’t going to cry, was she? Did wicked witches even have emotions? And if that didn’t surprise Mary enough, the old hag leaned in and went for a hug. Unsure of protocol when it came to bitchy future mothers-in-law, Mary grinned at the people watching and lightly wrapped her arms around Felicity Frasier.

  It was all worth it when she saw Mait’s prideful smile out of the corner of her eye. He wanted this. And if he wanted it, she could definitely do it.

  Mait’s mother cleared her throat and stepped back, but grabbed Mary’s hand again. “I was hoping we could talk for just a short moment?” she asked hopefully, leaning in and giving an obvious stage whisper. “You know, plans.”

  “Have fun, you two.” Mait winked, nodding at Mary as she forced a smile and followed behind the lady pulling on her hand – kind of hard.

  “Lovely. Isn’t it?” Felicity asked, still holding Mary’s hand as they walked down some steps and along a slate path below the terrace. “Five acres in all. You can’t get that kind of land anymore in this area.”

  “It’s just beautiful,” Mary agreed, relieved that she’d worn her wedges as they traversed over the lawn and towards some gravel paths that led into the trees.

  “Oh, and my darling, it will never. Be. Yours.”

  Mary paused and the smile slowly slid from her face. She glanced over her shoulder, but the house wasn’t really in sight anymore.

  “He won’t save you. He can’t,” Felicity said, frown lines appearing so naturally around her mouth. “He loves this family. And he puts this family above all else.”

  “Mrs. Frasier—” Mary began, but she was quickly cut off by a hard squeeze to the hand she still held.

  “You won’t get our property. You won’t get our heirlooms. You will never get our money, you little slut. The schoolgirl fantasy has passed. He will lose interest at the end of the semester and you will be nothing but a faint memory in a long list of lovers. You do get that, don’t you?”

  Chapter 9

  Mary couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She’d thought that all of this had been resolved. She thought the matriarch had been appeased by the Spy Game photographic evidence proving that Mary wasn’t some money grubbing whore. Evidently not. Swallowing hard, she jerk
ed her aching hand back and gave Mait’s mother a nod. “I can respect that. You want to look out for your family. It’s all you’ve ever done. But you have to know… you have to know that if you say these things to Mait it will push him away.”

  “I won’t have to say any of this to my son,” Felicity said with a half-laugh. “When is the semester over? A couple of weeks? I can take you for another fourteen days. Then I won’t ever see you again.”

  “Why are you trying to be so cruel to me?” Mary asked, hating that tears were sort of forming in her eyes. She wanted to look tough. She wanted to be tough. And even though she hated admitting it she wanted Mait to come and rescue her.

  “Darling, I hope you didn’t honestly think that this was something permanent?” the older woman asked, giving a stinging look of pity. “Oh, you did. Deep down, though, you have to know that he will end up with a girl from the right family, with the right connections and enough money that everyone won’t think that she’s a gold digger.”

  “I have my own money,” Mary responded with a frown, clenching her fists.

  “No one has our kind of money,” Felicity dismissed the claim as she grinned with pride. “Just… run along home and marry somebody from the trailer park next door. Those people won’t constantly talk about you behind your back.”

  Mait’s mother turned and walked back towards the party on the terrace before Mary could think of anything good to say in retaliation. Shaking out her hands and trying to compose herself, Mary turned and walked in the other direction, further towards the other side of the pond.

  She knew she wasn’t a gold digger.

  She knew that she didn’t expect a thing from Mait except his love and devotion. She wasn’t interested in his stuff. How much stuff did he actually have? Would he present her with a prenuptial agreement before they got married? Would she sign it or be terribly insulted?

  Insulted! He had no right to think that if things didn’t work out between them that she’d want a single damn thing from him. Why would they even get married if they signed a stupid contract like that? It was like safety net and love wasn’t supposed to have contingency plans.