by Sam Crescent
You’ve got to see him Monday.
Ignoring her locker, she made her way straight toward her car where Marie was already waiting. “It’s about time you got here. It’s really starting to turn cold. I heard on the radio that this was the coldest start to October in years,” Marie said, bouncing from one foot to another.
“Sorry.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her what she’d just done, but she couldn’t.
The kiss had to stay secret.
She wouldn’t tell another soul.
Putting the key in the ignition, she started the car and headed toward Marie’s house.
“Are you okay?” Marie asked.
“Yeah, sure, why?”
“You just seem … a little out of it.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m fine. I promise. Just trying to process everything about the day.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
She forced a smile to her face as she looked at her friend. “It has been a really long day, and now it’s that waiting game with my parents.”
“Damn, I forgot about that.”
“Yeah, no biggie. It’s perfectly fine.”
She parked outside Marie’s house.
“You can stay with me. You can always tell your parents that you forgot. You know, be the first time you did that.”
“That’s not who I am, but thank you, bestie.” She reached out and hugged her friend.
“Call me as soon as they get home.”
“I will.” She waited for her friend to get in her home before driving away.
Parking up in the driveway, she noticed there were no cars waiting, so her parents were not home yet.
“It’s fine, Lucia. Perfectly fine.” She climbed out of the car and let herself inside.
Making herself a coffee, she went around the house and closed some of the curtains as it had started to fall dark.
Sitting at the dining room table, her homework open, she kept an eye on the clock.
One hour passed.
Two hours went.
Three hours.
When it got to the fourth hour, she closed her last piece of homework and just sat at the table feeling overwhelmingly sad.
Just this morning, they’d both felt bad for being absent parents. Now, they were absent again.
Tears filled her eyes, and she grabbed her cell phone.
No notifications.
They were still at work, or knowing the two of them, had gone out with each other.
She scrolled through her contacts and came to a stop.
Jack Parker.
Her teacher.
The guy she had kissed.
Her first-ever kiss.
Licking her lips as the first tear started to fall, she knew she shouldn’t press his name.
Shouldn’t even consider him, and yet, she pressed on his name, and clicked text message.
He didn’t have her number.
Once she did this, he’d be able to talk to her whenever he wanted.
What if he doesn’t want to?
What if this is a complete mistake?
She started to type.
Lucia: This is Lucia, just in case you don’t know who it is. Parents are a no-show. What do you think I should order? Pizza or Chinese?
She clicked on “send,” and that was it. She’d done it.
Sent a text message to her teacher.
Even as her heart raced, her stomach fluttered.
She’d kissed him.
Now, she just had to wait.
****
Jack cursed as he received the text. He’d just opened his first beer and hadn’t even taken a swig from the bottle.
On her damn birthday, her parents hadn’t even bothered to show up. She’d looked nervous when she mentioned it that very afternoon.
Like she knew already that they wouldn’t turn up, and it pissed him off more than anything.
Leaving his home, he climbed into his car and didn’t think, just reacted. This could be a complete mistake, but he couldn’t leave her alone for her birthday. Parking outside her home, he dimmed his lights and then typed a message back.
Jack: You want some company? I’m waiting outside. No one should be alone for their birthday.
He didn’t have to wait long for an answer. Dressed as she had been at school, she came out of the house, locking it up behind her. She rushed toward his car, and within seconds she was in the passenger seat.
This young woman had completely shocked him with her kiss that very afternoon. Before he could even react, she’d bitten her lip and run out of the classroom.
She didn’t mention the kiss, and he wasn’t about to bring it up.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Don’t thank me. Right now, I want to go and find your parents and give them a piece of my mind.”
She chuckled. “They wouldn’t have a clue who you are.”
“No, they wouldn’t.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter, not liking the rage pulsing through his veins.
Lucia was an amazing young woman.
They should be taking better care of her.
Instead, she spent most of her life on her own, and he hated that for her. He’d lived that himself, and knew firsthand what a lonely, miserable feeling that could be. It was one of the reasons he’d turned to sex.
Fucking his way through high school had helped him to deal with two workaholic parents.
“Where are we going?”
“Well, I can’t promise you Chinese or pizza, but what I can do is promise you some pretty good food.”
“We’re going to the diner?”
“Yes, and you can order whatever you want, even cake. I think they even do a birthday special, so you can have that as well.”
“Awesome. Thank you so much for coming over. I didn’t know if you’d ignore my text.”
“I wouldn’t ignore you, Lucia.” He had her number now, which was just another temptation he had to deal with.
She was also eighteen.
And she’d kissed him.
He’d not initiated the kiss.
She had.
Get your fucking head together, Jack. You’re not some randy teenager.
“So, birthday girl, do you feel different?” he asked.
“I think so. It’s really weird, but I do. I can’t even describe it, but it’s like today in the bathroom. Rachel followed me inside as I was just getting my bearings again. She warned me off Connor.”
“He sniffing around you?”
“I don’t think so. It’s probably some kind of cruel joke. He’s saying the same old usual stuff but trying to make me do what he wants. I’m not falling for it. They’re good at mean jokes. She warned me off Connor, and it was like a switch went off inside my brain, and I felt like laughing. I mean, seriously, Connor? That guy has made my life a misery for as long as I can remember, and she thinks I’m interested in him.”
“Is there a guy at school you are interested in?” he asked.
He didn’t want to think about Connor right now.
When he’d announced in his classroom that it was Lucia’s birthday, Jack had wanted to fucking hurt the kid, and that was showing him exactly why he shouldn’t be driving Lucia to their place.
Fuck.
When had his diner become “their place” to eat?
Pushing all those thoughts out of his mind, he waited for Lucia to answer his question.
She didn’t.
“What was it like for you when you were eighteen?” she asked instead.
He wanted to get her back on track, but he also didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, so he left it alone. That was what he was good at, leaving things alone.
“The rebel, remember? That’s what I was all about. Breaking laws, doing naughty things.”
“You broke laws?”
“Only a few vows of marriage, but I didn’t break them personally. I let the women break them.”
&
nbsp; “Wow, that’s surprising. You ever been married yourself?”
“Nope. Never found the right woman. Besides, I’m a teacher. I don’t want anyone to be tempted by someone like me.”
She burst out laughing. “Some women don’t always fall for the rebel, Jack, or the popular guy. Look at Connor. He’s the most popular boy in school, and I can’t stand him.”
“Not even a little bit?”
“Not even that.”
“What if he’d never bullied you?”
“Nope. He holds no interest for me. I guess I’m one of those, like, drones or something. I’m wired a different way than most. No desire to be popular or to have Connor in my life.”
They pulled up to the diner, and it was a little busier than last time. He didn’t recognize any of the patrons inside, but then he never did.
It was one of the reasons he came here often and enjoyed it.
The food was amazing, and he was left alone.
Pulling out of the car, he waited for Lucia to climb out of her side.
There was a chill in the air, and she rubbed her hands together.
Rushing her into the diner, they found a booth toward the back that was private. He liked that.
He didn’t want to share Lucia with anyone. Once again, he slid the menu toward her.
“Order whatever you want, birthday girl.”
“You can stop calling me that.”
“I don’t want to. I think it’s fitting. Besides, you had to go to school for your birthday. That just sucked.”
She laughed. “A lot of people have to go to school and work.”
“Doesn’t matter. Right now, we’re talking about you.”
“I’m not going to argue with that.”
She bowed her head and looked over the menu.
“The special spaghetti sounds awesome, but it could be messy.”
“Then be messy. Order whatever you want.”
He gave her another couple of minutes to decide and when she was ready, he nodded for the waitress to come over. He listened to what Lucia wanted, and ordered the same.
“Have you tried that before?” she asked.
“There’s not anything on that menu that I’ve not tried. You’re going to love it.”
“Awesome.”
Pressing his elbows on the table, he leaned forward. “So, how are you liking your birthday now?” he asked.
“It has just improved a lot.”
“A lot?”
“Yes, a whole lot.” She smiled. “Thank you for coming for me. I mean that.”
“I’ll always come for you.” He couldn’t help but think of the dirty side of coming. “Have you been left alone a lot of birthdays?”
“Yeah, but they’re not special ones, are they? Eighteen is a big one. For most places I’m an adult now.”
“Very true.”
“This morning they just sounded different. Kind of sucks to know that nothing has changed, not really. This’s okay though. Being here with you, this is a million times better than what I could imagine.”
She was sitting back in the booth, both of her hands locked together, resting on the edge of the table.
Don’t.
Do.
This complete indecision was driving him fucking insane. Reaching across the table, he took her hand and rubbed his thumb across her knuckles.
“You can call me any time you want. Day or night. For you, Lucia, I will answer.”
She licked her lips again, and he thought about that kiss she’d dropped on his lips. It wasn’t overly sexual or desperate.
“Was I your first kiss?” he asked.
Her cheeks were on fire and she went to pull her hand away, but he held her a little tighter. He wouldn’t let her pull away.
“Answer me, Lucia. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Yes,” she said. “I didn’t think that you’d bring it up.”
“It was a pretty important kiss. I didn’t really have much choice.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t ever be sorry for your kisses, Lucia. I liked it.”
Her gaze moved up to his face. “You did?”
“Yes, I did.” He continued to stroke her fingers, waiting to see what she’d do.
She nibbled her bottom lip, and he wanted to taste her so badly. There was no time for him to do so as their food came out.
Reluctantly, he pulled his hand away, missing the touch as soon as it was gone.
You’re a grownup.
Every single argument he had didn’t seem to ring true inside his head. He couldn’t find a single reason to not be sitting here with her.
She’s your student.
They were all students at some point in their lives.
This was probably the biggest mistake of his entire life, but he couldn’t walk away, not now.
She needed someone who’d stick around, who wouldn’t back down.
Lucia didn’t have that.
He watched her take the first mouthful of spaghetti, and she closed her eyes, and moaned.
“Oh, wow, that is good.”
He knew it was. Incredibly tasty and cheesy, it was such a good combination of flavors, and he loved it. Watching her enjoyment filled him with pleasure.
Jack liked feeding her.
Seeing her smile.
And just being with her.
Grabbing his fork, he twirled the spaghetti around and took a large bite himself, loving the taste just as much as he did the first time.
“You didn’t answer my question in the car.”
The way her hand hovered over her food, he knew that she was aware of which question.
“I don’t have my eye on anyone at all at school.”
“Lucia?”
“What?”
“I don’t want there to be any secrets between us,” he said.
Again, she nibbled her lip, and he started to believe she did that when she was nervous.
“I like you,” she said. “And only you.”
She didn’t look at him, and he leaned across the table. Cupping her chin, he tilted her head back so that she’d look at him.
“I know it’s wrong,” she said. “You’re my teacher. I shouldn’t have kissed you, and I shouldn’t be here. I won’t tell anyone though. You love teaching, and I won’t do anything to jeopardize that. I also know it’s one-sided.”
“This is not one-sided, Lucia. This shouldn’t be happening. Bringing you here the first time was wrong. This time, it’s even more so. The kiss, I should have reported to Principal Dowed.”
“You didn’t?”
“No. I didn’t. As far as I’m concerned that kiss belongs to you and me. I’m not going to report it.”
“But?”
“No buts. I’m not. I liked it, and to report it means I wouldn’t get the chance of tasting you again.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she quickly closed it, glancing around the dinner.
This was wrong on so many levels.
“You’re right though. I am your teacher. This is wrong. I’m the grownup and should know better. I do know better.”
“But?”
“But I can’t seem to stop myself. I don’t want to stop myself.”
“You don’t?”
“No, and I know that’s wrong.”
“I’m not here out of fear or blackmail. I should have called Marie or even my parents to remind them.”
“You didn’t?”
“No. you’re the first and only person I called.”
He liked that.
She smiled, tilting her head to the side just a little. Her hair was still bound up, and the move exposed her neck. He wanted to kiss that tender flesh, to hear her moan as he drove her crazy with need.
“And you came for me,” she said.
“I’ll always come, Lucia.”
“I know. I do.”
Neither of them spoke for a long time, and he started eating his food.
Jack could label ever
y single reason on why they shouldn’t be here.
Why they shouldn’t be enjoying her birthday meal.
From him being a teacher to the twelve-year age gap between them, but not one of those reasons was valid compared to the fact they both wanted to be here.
He wasn’t using Lucia, nor was he blackmailing her.
They had this attraction that shouldn’t be there, but it was.
Jack couldn’t keep on fighting.
Lucia meant a great deal to him.
They finished their food, and he ordered her a slice of a cake with a candle, singing to her as she blew out the candle.
“I can’t eat all of this,” she said. “Share with me.” She held out a fork filled with cake.
Taking a bite, he closed his eyes, enjoying it.
“Yum.” He licked his lips.
“It’s good.”
“It’s really good.”
Once they were finished, he pulled out his wallet and paid for the meal.
Leaving the diner, she shuddered, and he removed his jacket, placing it over her shoulders.
“It’s fine. We’re only moving to the car,” she said. “I’ll warm up there.”
“I’m not having you cold. Just enjoy the jacket.”
“Okay.”
She pushed her arms through the jacket and wrapped it around herself. Going to the car, he moved toward her side, and he couldn’t resist.
Gripping her shoulder, he spun her around and pressed her up against the car.
He held her hands, locking their fingers together. His gaze went to her lips, so plump and inviting.
“You kissed me earlier. Now it’s my turn to kiss you.”
Pressing his lips down on hers, he started out slow, taking his time, relishing the little gasp of surprise that left her.
Releasing her hands, he cupped her hips, holding her in place as he trailed his tongue across her bottom lip. She opened up, and he plundered inside, deepening the kiss. His cock hardened, and he wanted her so fucking badly.
He’d never wanted any other woman the way he wanted Lucia.
Her hands went to his shoulders, holding him tightly. Her nails dug into his flesh, and he loved it. He wanted her touch.
This was forbidden.
Wrong.
Yet so fucking good.
He couldn’t bring himself to stop.
He didn’t want to stop.
Pressing his cock against her stomach, he slid his hand up her body, sinking into her hair, cupping the back of her head.
She met the stroke of his tongue, tasting him back.