The Good Student

by Espino, Stacey

  She wrapped her arms around his neck.

  "I want to wake up beside you." She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. He reciprocated until she was so lost in his taste that she didn't hear the door open, just a resounding thud as it closed.

  Hayden pulled back, gripping her shoulders. "You hear that?"

  "Yes." Who could it have been? Were they running to the main office to report them at this very minute?

  He turned away from her, massaging behind his neck with one hand. "Shit, this isn't good."

  "Maybe we didn't close the door tight."

  "I should have locked it. Dammit."

  She kept quiet, not wanting to add fuel to the fire.

  "It must have been a student. Another teacher would have knocked first."

  By the time she left for her third period, her nerves were coiled tight. They'd bounced ideas off each other, finally hoping a student had accidentally knocked the door with their backpack. She hated seeing her usually carefree Hayden so stressed out. It would be her fault if he got fired because she was the one to push a relationship on him. Kaya had no doubt he would have kept professional indefinitely if she hadn't pursued him.

  "You look like you've seen a ghost," said Cynthia as they entered the classroom.

  "It's bad. I can't talk about it now, though."

  They had to plan for the worst just in case. Kaya thought is was stupid to punish Hayden. They were both grown adults. As long as they kept professional in the university, their private lives should be their own business. But that wasn't going to happen. She'd leave the school before Hayden got fired, but they would probably want to make an example out of him anyway. Her mind was a mess.

  "Taylor do something?" Cynthia whispered.

  "Nothing like that."

  She couldn't ever remember what was discussed during class, her mind elsewhere. It all passed by in a haze until she noticed all the students moving around her desk like a rock in a stream.

  Cynthia had already left for her last class, leaving Kaya alone. She moved like a zombie through the halls. One moment she had it all, feeling on top of the world. Now she could lose everything in a heartbeat.

  "Hey, Kaya!" Mike bound up behind her, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

  "Almost lost your bag. You okay?"

  She shrugged, in no mood for his games. Her future was at stake, and Mr. Taylor's job and reputation could be destroyed

  "I was thinking. You've had more time to settle in around here. How about that date now?" He stretched out an arm against a locker to bar her path.

  Kaya couldn't even contemplate a date with Mike. Not when her heart belonged to Hayden.

  "Mike, we're talked about this..."

  He leaned close to her ear. "So, does Mr. Taylor get special treatment? You selling yourself off for good marks?"

  "What are you talking about?" She wouldn't look him in the eye. Did he catch them or were they that obvious? She didn't think she stared at her teacher any more now than she always had.

  "Either you were trying to buy brownie points or Taylor needed mouth to mouth resuscitation standing up."

  She pushed his arm away and stormed off down the hall, Mike in tow. "Look, stop being an ass, okay."

  "So what's going on?"

  "Nothing!"

  He grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop. The other students heading to their classes didn't even give them a second glance.

  "Then you won't have a problem if I report him for sexually harassing a female student?"

  Her chest clenched tight around her lungs, making it difficult to breathe. "You know that's not what happened!"

  "I don't think the school board will see it that way."

  "What the fuck do you want, Mike?"

  He held up his arms in mock surrender. "I knew you had a feisty side. All I want is that date I never got."

  "And you'll keep your mouth shut?"

  "Scouts honor."

  "One date. No strings attached?"

  "Not a one."

  There was nothing she could do to guarantee he'd keep his word, so she had no choice but to go along with his ultimatum. She gave him her number and weaved her way into the crowd to escape him. Kaya didn't want Hayden to get in trouble. Maybe it would be best to stay away from him, pretend he didn't exist. Wishful thinking.

  On the way out of the school after her last class, Kaya saw Mr. Taylor in the hallway outside of philosophy. She yearned to go to him, to find comfort in his arms, to allow him to make everything better. But in this case, he had no power. She had to make things right.

  Kaya ignored his pleading eyes and pushed open the double doors to the parking lot with exaggerated force.

  "Didn't you see Taylor?" asked Cynthia, trying to keep up.

  "Yeah."

  "And...you're not getting all googly-eyed or running to his office."

  She got in the passenger side of the car when they reached it. Once Cynthia was beside her in the quiet interior, she turned to face her.

  "Can we just go home?"

  "No. First you want to talk about something important in private, and now you're fine and don't even give Taylor a second glance. What's going on with you?"

  "Look, I thought about it, okay. I'm going on a date with Mike. He's closer to my age. It's a better match."

  Cynthia laughed. "You're cute, Kaya. Try it with someone who doesn't know you as well as I do."

  It was foolish of her to think she could hide anything from her best friend. Why not tell her the truth? She trusted Cynthia with her secrets, but knew she wouldn't be able to keep quiet about Mike. She'd end up doing or saying something out of anger, and he'd likely run to the office and report Mr. Taylor. But she knew her friend wouldn't stop pestering until Kaya told the truth.

  "This is serious, Cyn."

  "I can be serious." Her friend frowned and rested a hand on Kaya's leg. "Tell me."

  Chapter Twelve

  Hayden wasn't sure why Kaya ignored him earlier in the day. Maybe she didn't notice him. But he was sure they'd locked eyes for a moment. Even at his age he was becoming obsessed.

  She worked at the donut shop tonight, so he planned on calling her in the evening. He couldn't wait for her to stop working at that dive. The long hours were hard on her. He'd love to see her focus on her studies, things she loved. Once she was in teacher's college he'd take care of her. Nothing could keep them apart once she wasn't a student in his university.

  He stayed in his office until the early hours of the evening. Returning to an empty condo with Kaya's scent still lingering on his sheets would be torture. Hayden marked two classes worth of papers until his eyes were sore. Then he packed it up, stretched out his back, and locked up his office for the night. It was the weekend, so he hoped to spend some of it with Kaya. He'd emotionally invested in the sweet, little blonde. Now it was time to truly get to know her, share who he was and where he hoped to be in the future.

  As he drove through the streets, he decided to hit the gym. That's when he saw her. How could he miss those pale, blonde curls and angelic face? She was sitting near the window of a local diner. This other student, Mike, was sitting with her. They were close, talking. Hayden's heart broke, not that it had been whole to start with. But he'd invested himself in Kaya, certain she was the one he'd been waiting for.

  He slowed to a crawl, the car behind him honking, but he ignored it. How could she betray him? His heart was heavy, a deep seated loneliness setting in. What a fool he'd been for thinking a young sweetheart like Kaya would be interested in a forty-two year old divorcee. He was living in a dream world, now shattered by cruel reality.

  ****

  On Monday morning, Kaya both dreaded and anticipated seeing Mr. Taylor. It had been torture not calling him over the weekend, not telling him the truth about Mike. She craved his comfort, his wise words. But keeping him safe was the most important thing to her. If he lost his job because of her, he'd resent her forever. She was in a horrible bind with little o
ptions.

  The fact he hadn't called her made her wonder if he thought it best for them to be apart. Maybe the office scare was enough for him to pull away from her completely.

  As she walked to philosophy class, she contemplated skipping, but had to face her fears. Mike and Mr. Taylor would be there. Although she'd made it clear to Mike that she had no romantic interest in him, he seemed satisfied that she couldn't have her happily ever after with Hayden. At any time he could decide to rat them out, so she'd be on egg shells all semester, terrified to even look in the teacher's direction. Why hadn't they locked the door?

  Mr. Taylor was already sitting at his desk below, looking down at his work. She wished she could be invisible as she walked down the long flight of stairs to her third row seat. When she thought she was home free, he glanced up meeting her eye for eye.

  He cleared his throat and returned to his work. Class was like pulling teeth. The tension was incredibly thick. She wasn't sure how she'd feel upon seeing Hayden again, but all her feelings came back even stronger. How could she stay away, pretend not to be interested?

  By the time class ended she was close to tears, wanting something that was just out of reach. When the clock struck the hour she bolted up the stairs. She needed to be alone, hit the bathroom or a lonely hallway. All her life she'd sought a place where she could belong. Hayden was like a beacon in a stormy sea promising roots, love, a future worth living. But with that love came sacrifice on her part. She cared about him enough to give him up.

  Kaya practically ran down the hall, her throat clogged with emotion.

  "Kaya!"

  When she looked over her shoulder, it was Hayden in pursuit. What was he doing? After her sacrifice he was going to make a public display?

  She snuck around the corner and away from the crowds of students changing classes.

  He grabbed her arm before she could get into the stairwell. He wasn't gentle, his fingers biting into her upper arm as he jerked her back and forced her to the wall.

  "What game are you playing, Kaya?"

  She dared to look into his ocean blue eyes. "I'm not. It's complicated."

  "Then talk to me, sweetheart. You're killing me. Do you want this to be over?"

  A tear slipped from the corner of her eye. He kissed it away, then moved to her lips. She hadn't realized just how much she missed the intimacy between them. They kissed with passion, no regard for the students that could come around the corner any minute.

  "I promised never to make you cry."

  "I love you," she whispered against his lips.

  "Then why, baby? Why are you avoiding me? Is it Mike? Do you love him, too?"

  She frowned, wondering what on earth he was talking about. "Mike?"

  "I saw the two of you together, Kaya. It's okay. I just want to know if what we had was real."

  She laid her head on his chest, needing to hear the calming beat of his heart. "I only want you, Hayden."

  Cynthia's voice broke their private bubble of space. "I heard from Samantha about the scene you two made in the hallway. Seriously! Don't you have another semester to keep discreet?"

  Kaya peered over at her friend. "For what? It's only a matter of time until Mike opens his mouth. If he sees me with Hayden, he'll blow the horn."

  "Mike knows?" asked Hayden.

  "You haven't even told him?" Cynthia dragged her hands through her hair. "I told you to tell him, Kaya. And I also told you I'd deal with that asshole, didn't I?"

  "What's going on, Kaya?" asked Hayden.

  She didn't want to involve him in the whole blackmail dilemma, especially when Mike wanted her and Hayden apart. She was thinking about Mr. Taylor's career, not her happiness.

  "It was Mike who caught us kissing in the office. He said if I went on one date with him and stayed away from you, he'd keep his mouth shut." She took a breath after speaking.

  "That little weasel." She could see his jaw clamping down hard.

  "If you hadn't been avoiding me, I would have told you not to worry," said Cynthia. "I did a little digging of my own and it so happens that Mike has been cheating on some of his tests. He hacking into the English department computer and got some of the answer sheets. And you know me...always thinking ahead."

  "So you blackmailed the blackmailer?" asked Hayden.

  Cynthia laughed. "Just stay on the down low for another few months. I don't think I'll have the same luck trying to appease the university if they find out about the two of you."

  "You're the best." Kaya hugged her friend hard, her entire world clearing of the dark gloom which had settled over it. Now she could see the light, and all the misunderstandings for what they were.

  "I think I'll leave the two of you alone today, but I'll catch you for lunch tomorrow, Kaya." Her friend hooked her bag higher on her shoulder and wandered off around the corner.

  ****

  Everything became clear for Hayden. His little angel wasn't running around on him or avoiding him. She only loved him enough to try and save him. Little did she know he'd give up everything in a heartbeat just to keep her.

  He ushered her into the privacy of his office. This time he was sure to lock the door.

  "I've missed you," she said, tugging at her shirt. Her lips were parted, still swollen from crying. All he could think about in the whirlwind of relief and happiness was fucking her on his desk.

  "You've been on my mind all weekend. Please never do that to me again. If you have a problem, I want you to come to me first. We're a team now. Just you and me."

  She slipped her hand up his shirt, squeezing his muscles as her hand travelled higher. "I know we can't be meeting like this too often. It'll get suspicious. But could we...you know. Just this once?"

  "You want to be fucked by your teacher, right here in his office, don't you?"

  "Yes, Mr. Taylor."

  He chuckled. "The punishment for you lying will have to wait until tonight. What I have planned for you will draw attention—your screams and the sound of me spanking your bare ass. But if you can keep quiet, I'll take care of your sweet little pussy before your next class starts."

  "Whatever you want, sir."

  She kicked off her pant and sat on the edge of his desk, her legs parted. No panties. Hayden smiled, moving into position.

  "There are so many things we haven't tried yet. A treasure trove of possibilities."

  "Well, I've always been a good student. I'm sure you'll teach me everything you know before long."

  He unbuckled his pants and wasted no time in impaling her with his ready cock. She was so slick, he slid home with no resistance. Today was about quenching the pent up lust between them. They were on a time limit, playing out a naughty fantasy. He thrust in and out of her in hard, quick strokes. The desk rocked slightly, his pen holder falling over and small items rolling to the ground. Her legs were wrapped around him, spurring him on. Hayden pulled her shirt up with one hand and leaned over to suckle her perky breast.

  Kaya was his student now, but his woman forever. Hayden realized that love really was blind. Age, race, social status—none of that mattered when love came calling.

  He finished hard and fast. Kaya stifled her cries by biting into the thick muscle at the corner of his shoulder. They'd claimed each other once again.

  "So you like to bite?" he said breathlessly.

  "Maybe just a little."

  "I think we'll get along just fine," he teased. Hayden kissed the tip of her nose. He'd found his heart in the most unlikely of places. Today was just the first day of forever.

  The End

  www.staceyespino.com

  Other Books by Stacey Espino:

  'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas

  Beyond the Wall

  Claiming Their Mate

  Freya's Mates

  The Last Princess

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com