by E. L. Todd
“Why are you being weird today?” Clay was a highly observant kid. He picked up on subtle actions of people, probably because that was the key to his survival. He watched people and predicted their behavior before it happened.
“I’m not being weird.”
“You’re talking a million miles an hour and basically skipping most of the questions. What’s up?”
So much for my plan not to be obvious. “Alright. Here’s the deal.”
He dropped his pencil and crossed his arms over his chest.
“So…Taylor is officially my lady.”
He grinned. “About time.”
“And…I’m eager to be with her.”
“You mean, you’re eager to get laid.”
I looked down at him, the irritation in my eyes. “No.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Maybe I wanted a blowjob or a tit-fuck, but I wasn’t in a hurry. All the good stuff would come—in time. “She’s finally mine, and I’m just eager to be with her. I’m sorry I’m not being professional.”
“It’s cool.” He shut the book. “Why don’t we call it early today?”
“That’s not necessary. Let’s get back to work.”
“Nah. I don’t want to be here either.” He shoved his stuff into his backpack. “Have fun. And always wear protection.”
“Clay.”
“What?” he asked with a laugh. “Safe sex is important.”
“You’re sixteen. Don’t talk like that.”
“I didn’t cuss, right?”
“Don’t talk like that when you have an interview for school.”
He rolled his eyes. “Like I’m going to get an interview.” He turned to the door, his backpack heavy with his things.
“Clay, you will. Show some confidence.”
“Don’t you only do interviews with big schools?” He turned around, his hand on the door.
“Yeah.”
“Well, they aren’t going to interview me, and we both know it.”
“Not true.” He’d made a lot of progress over the past few months. His scores were so different one of his teachers actually called me and asked about my approach with him. He’d already caught up to everyone else, and now he was excelling. He had a lot more potential than he realized. “You’ll see.”
***
Before I reached my apartment, I texted her. Just got home. Where are you?
The three dots lit up.
Why was she taking forever to respond? I needed to know where she was right that second. If she was home, then I was going the complete opposite way. Maybe I should have gone to her apartment first. I was wearing a suit and wanted to change, but I was probably going to take my clothes off anyway so it didn’t matter.
The three dots were still there.
I rounded the corner and headed down the hall to my apartment. My eyes were on the screen. If someone bumped into me, I still wouldn’t know they were there. I dug one hand into my pocket to find my keys while my eyes were still on the screen.
How slow does she type?
“Hey.” Her beautiful voice entered my ear in an angelic way. I thought I just imagined it.
I looked up to see her standing in my doorway. She was holding a plastic bag of Chinese food and a six-pack of my favorite beer. She was still in her schoolteacher clothes, a black dress with gray stockings underneath. A hot pink scarf was around her throat, over the top of a thick, white coat.
I shoved my phone into my pocket then snatched the stuff out of her hands. In one fluid motion, I backed her up against the wall and kissed her softly on the mouth. Her hands glided up my chest until they cupped my face. She kissed me slowly but with the same longing, like she’d been thinking about doing it all day.
I know I had.
I breathed into her mouth and felt my heart race. It was a car on the speedway, its engine running until it was burning hot. She gave me more satisfaction with a kiss than anything I’d received from the women in my past. I was turned on like crazy but subdued at the same time. Kissing her was so comfortable, like I’d been kissing her all my life. Our mouths were made for these quiet embraces.
She was the first one to pull away. “Hi…”
“Hi.” I rubbed my nose against hers, still holding the beer and food in my hands. I wanted to drop them on the floor so I could feel her everywhere. Those full hips were irresistible. I wanted to grab her and never let go.
“I missed you.”
This was much better than dirty talk. “Fuck, I missed you.”
Her hands continued to rub up and down my chest. One strayed away and grabbed my keys from my front pocket. If she moved just the right away, she’d feel my rock-hard cock through the dress slacks.
She pulled the keys out then got them into the lock.
I came behind her, pressing my chest into her back. The smell of vanilla and oranges overcame me, and I felt like I was in the middle of an orange grove in the heart of winter. That’s what she reminded me of—winter in paradise.
After we were inside, I set the takeout and beer on the kitchen table. My jacket was stripped away and so was my tie. I could get away with wearing jeans to work, but meetings popped up all the time. I hated to look anything but my best.
“Leave the shirt.” Taylor closed the gap between us and placed her fingers around the top button. “I want the honors.”
My hands moved to her hips, and I watched her carefully, treasuring the feel of her stripping me. Her brown hair was pulled over one shoulder, and the beautiful skin of her neck was exposed. I wanted to kiss the area, run my tongue all the way down to the hollow of her throat.
She moved all the way down until she pulled my shirt out of my slacks. Then she undid the last button, opening my shirt wide and revealing my bare chest. Her hands moved to my shoulders, pulling the shirt with them.
I watched every move she made, fascinated by the desire in her eyes. She wanted me—just as much as I wanted her. And that was the biggest turn-on in itself. It was exhilarating being able to stare at her all I wanted, to wear my heart on my sleeve so she would know exactly how I felt.
I didn’t have to hide.
She rested her forehead against the middle of my chest, her fingertips pressed to my stomach. She remained there, listening to my beating heart.
My hands tightened around her waist, bunching up the dress in my fingertips. I wanted to see her naked and sprawled across my bed. I wanted her to fall so hard for me that she would never leave.
She pressed a soft kiss to the middle of my sternum, her fingers traveling to the muscles of my ribs at the same time. Her nails dug into me slightly, a tiny pulse of need. Her lips stuck to my skin for just a moment before they came loose.
I should have claimed her the moment I laid eyes on her.
So much time wasted.
Her lips gave me another kiss as her hands moved to my slacks. She undid my belt and pulled down the zipper, filling my apartment with the sounds of undressing. My slacks fell to the floor with a loud thud.
I’d never been so hard in my life. It actually hurt.
Her fingers trailed to the top of my briefs. She felt the elastic and played with it, teasing me. My cock was thick and bulging in the front. The pre-come that formed at the tip stained the fabric in the front, right next to the tiny button.
I could hardly control myself. I wanted to rip off her clothes and devour that gorgeous body with my mouth. I wanted to give her all of me—every inch of me. But this desire was clouding my mind. There was no reason to rush this, not when we had a whole lifetime ahead of us.
She gripped each side of my boxers and slowly pulled them down, my cock about to be revealed.
I was suddenly granted supernatural strength, and I grabbed her wrists and steadied her. “Let’s wait.” I stopped myself because I wanted her so badly. That didn’t make any sense—no sense at all. But I wanted it to be special. I wanted it to be meaningful. I didn’t want to get off then regret it later. She wasn’t like
the others—she was so much more.
“Volt, I’ve waited eight months for you.” Her hands hooked around my neck, and she pressed her face against mine. “I want you so much. I want you right now. I want you all the time.”
My body coiled with tension. It was about to spring apart, giving in to those words that drove me wild. “You have no idea how much I want this. But we have all the time in the world. It doesn’t need to be tonight.”
She looked up at me and did something I’d never forget. She bit her bottom lip—all she could do to control herself.
Woman, you’re killing me.
“This is more than physical—for both of us. I don’t want to screw it up.”
“I don’t either.”
“So…let’s take a step back.” Like that was possible.
“Can we at least do other things?”
I’d love to. But I wouldn’t be able to control myself. If I kissed her thighs, I would kiss her wet core. And then my dick would be kissing it too. “I don’t trust myself.”
“Wow.”
“What?” I looked down at her, unsure what she meant.
“This isn’t the Volt I know…a prude.”
“I’m not a prude.” That was damn sure.
“You denied me once, and now you’re denying me again. I’m starting to wonder…”
“Wonder what?” I pressed.
“If you’re really everything you say you are.” A teasing look was in her eyes.
“Oh, I am. And more. I just want to take my time instead of going straight for the kill. Because I kinda like you.”
“Kinda, huh?” She trailed her fingers down my chest. “I’ll behave if you do.”
“Alright. We have a deal.”
She turned away and grabbed the bag of food. “Dinner and Mario Kart?”
My dick was still hard, irritated he wasn’t getting what he wanted. He wasn’t my biggest fan right now. Actually, he hated me. “I hope you’re in the mood to get your ass kicked.”
“Actually, I’m in the mood to get my ass kissed.” She walked into the living room and grabbed the controllers. “But I’ll take it.”
My dick twitched.
Fuck, when did I become a prude?
Chapter Seven
Taylor
Volt and I walked into the bar hand in hand. It was strange, to walk into a place we’d been to a hundred times but have it feel so different. The entire world was a new place—for us.
He kept peeking down the front of my dress. It had a dangerously low neckline that showed off what little cleavage I had, and he couldn’t deny himself the opportunity to sneak a glance.
Mission accomplished.
“What do you think everyone will say when they see us together?” I asked as he headed toward the rear.
“It’s about time.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
We met the gang in the back, and I wasn’t surprised to see Jared and Natalie snuggled up close together. His arm was around her waist, and he whispered something into her ear.
Derek spotted us first. “Hey, man. The Rangers lost.”
What? That was all he had to say?
“Yeah, I got a notification on my phone.” Volt moved his arm around my waist, pulling me against his side. “It was a close game. Wish I wasn’t at work so I could have watched it.”
“That’s just how it goes.” Derek nodded to the couple smooching in the corner. “I have to deal with this all the time now. Man, it’s disgusting.”
Natalie and Jared were so absorbed in each other they didn’t even notice us. It was strange that Derek didn’t notice anything either.
“Baby, you want a drink?” He hugged me closer as he peered down at me.
“Glass of wine, please.”
“Alright.” He gave me a quick kiss on the lips before he walked away. His powerful shoulders moved as he walked, and his ass looked nice in his jeans. The women turned their heads when they watched him pass.
Sorry, ladies. He’s mine.
Derek continued talking like nothing just happened. “What have you been up to?”
“Just work.” And he seriously wasn’t going to say anything. “What about you?”
“You know, living the life of a stud.” He turned to his sister. “Are you going to say hi to your friend or what?”
Natalie chuckled as she pulled away from Jared. “Hey, girl. How’s it going?”
“Good. And it looks like you’re good too.”
“Pretty fabulous.” She’d never smiled like that since I met her. It was the first time her eyes actually glowed.
“When did you kick John to the side?”
“Last week,” she said. “He took it pretty well.”
Volt came back with my glass of wine. He handed it over before he slipped his arm around my waist. He held a dark ale in his hand, and he took a few sips as he glanced at the TV in the corner.
Nobody noticed that we were together? They acted like everything was perfectly normal. “So…what’s new?”
“I heard good things about you in the staff room,” Natalie said. “It sounds like you’re out of the woods.”
“That’s good to hear.” I was getting back into my groove, and the stress was starting to fade away. I liked my job again, but it was hard to forget the way the principal spoke to me.
There was a giant elephant in the room, but still, no one acknowledged it. “Uh…aren’t you guys going to say anything?”
“About?” Natalie asked.
“Us?” I pointed at Volt.
They all stared at us blankly.
“What do you mean?” Natalie asked. “What’s up?”
“That we’re together?” What was wrong with them? Were they all drunk?
“You’re always together,” Derek said. “What’s the big deal?”
“But we’re together together,” I insisted.
Derek’s eyes widened. “Say what?”
“Wait…” Natalie held up her hand. “You guys are seeing each other?”
Volt took a drink to mask his boredom. “Obviously.”
“How is that obvious?” Derek asked. “Dude, why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because his arm is around my waist, he kissed me and called me baby, and he got me a drink.” How was that not an obvious display of affection?
“But he always does that sort of thing,” Derek said.
“Yeah,” Natalie said in agreement. “Nothing is different.”
“Seriously?” I blurted.
“Uh, yeah,” Natalie said. “You guys are always all over each other and making eyes across the room. We just assumed this was a regular old Thursday.”
I hadn’t realized how pathetic Volt and I were until then.
“Well, we’re an item now,” Volt said. “Finally got our shit together.”
“Halle-fucking-lujah,” Derek said. “Now we can stop talking about Taylor every second of the day.”
“And I can stop convincing her she’s into Volt,” Natalie said. “What are we going to do with all our free time?”
“Shut up,” I said as I rolled my eyes.
“No, seriously,” Derek said. “For the past year, that’s all we’ve been talking about. Man, I need to get a new hobby.”
“Me too,” Natalie said. “Oh, wait, I have one.” She leaned into Jared and gave him a kiss.
Derek cringed and looked away. “Gross.”
Volt pressed his lips against my ear. “So much for the grand entrance.”
I loved the way his lips brushed against my skin. His breaths fell on me seductively, and all I could think about was rolling around in his bed, the sheets sticking to the sweat on our skin. It was smart not to jump into bed together the second we were honest about our feelings, but that was so damn hard. “Pretty sad, actually.”
Derek took another step away from his sister, more grossed out by the second. “Volt, let’s play pool.”
“Alright.” Volt gave my ass a gentle s
queeze before he walked off.
I didn’t want him to go anywhere. When he was gone, I suddenly felt cold, like I’d never be happy again.
Natalie and Jared didn’t notice anything because they were making out against the wall.
I looked like an awkward creeper just staring at them.
Honestly, I didn’t want to be there. I wanted to be home—making out with Volt on my bed. I didn’t want to go out or do anything. Even going to work was a challenge. All I wanted to do was be with him—my boyfriend.
***
“It’s weird seeing those two make out.” Volt walked in behind me and tossed his jacket on the back of the chair. “I’m not even related to Natalie, and it’s weird.”
“I think it’s cute.”
“Well, you think everything is cute.”
I took off my jacket and set it on top of his. Now that we were alone together, all I could think about was getting physical. I’d been denying myself that pleasure for a long time, and now that I could have him whenever I wanted, it was difficult to hold myself back. My desperation didn’t come from how insanely hot he was—even though that was a big part of it. It came from something deeper than that. There was no other reason why I could barely keep my legs closed around him.
Volt faced me with his hands in his pockets, and when his eyes darkened, I knew he was thinking the same thing. It was constantly on our minds. Even when we were out in public, it was there, just tucked away.
I’d never wanted a man so much in my life. If I didn’t get what I wanted, I would explode. My body constantly burned at a white-hot temperature, and I felt the voltage sear through me every second of the day. Even when I was asleep, I was covered in sweat because I was dreaming about it.
I crossed the floor between us and stopped when I was against his chest. His hands were still in his pockets, tucked out of sight so they wouldn’t snatch me up and bend me over the couch. Now that I knew how he felt, I understood what he was thinking. It was as plain as day.
My hands went to his jeans, and I slowly unbuttoned them, taking my time and dragging out the moment for as long as possible. Our breathing quickly deepened, our chests rising and falling with need. I could feel his chest move with aching slowness. I couldn’t keep mine in check because I was so excited to be with him—in every way imaginable.