by Nicole Dykes
“I’m not sure, but not long.” It’s still hard to look her in the eyes. I don’t want to fight with her anymore, but there’s so much left unsaid between us.
I prefer it that way. She nods, her eyes dragging over him and then up to my face, but I look out over the ocean. “Did he swim a lot?”
“Yeah.” I’m being a dick. I know it, but I don’t want to be her friend. I stand up, taking Baz with me and holding him over my shoulder. I don’t say anything to her, just walk inside the empty house, lay him down on the couch and start toward my room. But I stop at the hallway when Viv’s hand catches my wrist.
“Asher.” I lift my gaze from her hand to her eyes, seeing how pained they are.
“Don’t.”
She releases me and sighs softly, her eyes fluttering closed briefly. Then she meets my gaze with conviction. “Thank you for watching him.”
“It was no problem. It’s never a problem.”
“I know, but I’m still thankful.”
I close my eyes and tip my head back, a scream bubbling in my throat because it was my idea to move in here. Because I told myself I wanted to be near Baz, and I do. But goddamnit, I can’t seem to stay away from her either.
I lower my hand and move my body against hers, my hands grabbing her wrists and pinning them to the wall above her head. “Don’t thank me.”
“Why not?” She’s not scared of confrontation anymore.
“Because I’m not doing it for you.”
“You’ve made that clear.” She doesn’t pull away. “Over and over, but I can still be grateful to anyone who watches my kid.”
“Who’s next?”
Her eyes swim with confusion. “What do you mean?”
My face hovers in front of hers, my hands still holding her against the wall. “Well, Sawyer said you two aren’t fucking anymore. So he’s out. I’m still watching your kid, but I’m not giving up the D, so who’s next?”
“You are such a prick.”
I roll my eyes. “I’ve heard that. I’m just curious, so I can prepare.”
“Fucking me isn’t a prerequisite to watching Baz or vice versa, and you damn well know I don’t trust him with just anyone.”
I do, but the light I see in her eyes right now—the fucking fire threatening to set me ablaze—it makes me feel more alive than I’ve felt in a long time. I love seeing the fighting side of her after watching her be the quiet little lamb for so long. So I push more. “You sure about that? Sawyer and kids don’t mix.”
“Sawyer and Baz do, and we aren’t sleeping together anymore, but he’s still welcome to hang out with Baz because he cares about him. And the feeling is mutual.” Her arms don’t struggle to get free, but she does lean her face into mine, her voice raspy and I know she’s turned-on by her anger. “And if it were required to fuck me before watching Baz, there would be some pretty awkward family dinners. Although, Lola is pretty hot.”
Her newfound grit surprises me and infuriates me at the same time. I hate how kissable her lips look, parted and begging me to take her up on it.
“Don’t ever thank me for doing what a good uncle does. I’m not like any of the fuckers you dated or will date. I don’t do it to get into your pants and never have.”
Her lips press together angrily. “Is this about Sawyer, because I'm—”
I release her and take a step back. “Don’t. I don’t ever want to talk about that night.”
She looks hurt and defeated as she drops her arms to her sides and looks down at the floor, “I was—”
“Don’t.” I cut her off again, not wanting to hear it.
She takes a step toward me. “Asher, will you please just let me explain?”
I laugh cruelly and advance toward her, her small body pressing back up against the wall as I cage her in with mine. “Explain what? That you and Sawyer wanted to try your best to make me jealous with your little peepshow? Newsflash, Viv, I've already seen your tits.” I lean in so my mouth is just next to her ear, my voice a low, heated growl. “I’ve had them in my hands and my mouth. I’ve had my tongue over every single inch of your flesh.” I pull back and look in her eyes, hellbent on pushing her the fuck away from me. “And I got tired of it. Why the fuck would I care about seeing it again?”
She folds her arms over her chest, although fully clothed, it’s clear she feels vulnerable. “I shouldn’t have allowed that to happen.”
I shake my head. “Don’t do that. Own your shit. You did that because you wanted to. You wanted to push me to the edge.”
“No. That’s not what I wanted to do, Asher.” She sounds desperate.
“Of course, you did. You wanted to try your damnedest to hurt me because I didn’t want you any longer.”
She looks hurt and then furious before she shoves my chest, pushing me out of her way. “Don’t flatter yourself, Asher. It wasn’t about you.”
I should let her walk away, but I can’t resist. “Keep telling yourself that, Viv.”
She walks to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her as she does. But I know it isn’t over.
Why do I keep allowing myself to get to this point with her?
“Mooooommm, let’s go!” Baz is jerking on my arm as I desperately try to finish every last drop of my coffee this morning.
We’re back to the school schedule, and although I often woke early over the summer to work with Penelope and Lola, I wasn’t prepared for this morning.
Baz, however, is ready, and I sigh as I look down at him. The private school he goes to has a uniform. It offers some variety in choices. Today is warm, so he’s wearing khaki shorts with a crisp white shirt and navy vest displaying the school crest.
His hair is styled, and he’s already placed his black sunglasses on his face.
He’s ready. I’m still on edge after my confrontation with Asher yesterday, but I want Baz to have a great first day of school. Asher is working at his school, and Baz has asked to ride with him. Although, I'm not crazy about letting Asher do anything at the moment, I'm not going to punish Sebastian.
I’m taking him this morning, though, since it’s his first day.
Asher walks into the kitchen, and I have to stop myself from drooling like an idiot. The grown-up version of the uniform is way too hot—khaki slacks, white button-down shirt, navy tie, navy sweater pulled over the shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. I have no idea why it’s so sexy, but it is. His hair is gelled and mussed perfectly.
I look away from him as he greets Baz before grabbing some coffee.
“Uncle Asher! I thought we were going to match.” Baz pouts, and I only see Asher’s bright smile as he walks to Baz and leans down.
“We do, buddy.” He points to the crest on Baz’s vest and then to the same one on his sweater that clings tightly to his muscled arms and chest.
Baz lights up. “Oh! We do!”
“Yup.” Asher stands, fondly messing Baz’s hair with his large hand and gives me a curt nod. “I have to head in now.”
I nod my head, and Baz clings to his leg. “I’ll go with you!”
Asher winks down at him. “I’m bringing you home, and you’ll ride with me the rest of this week. Let your mom have this one, buddy.”
I want to be angry at the bastard, but when it comes to Baz, he is the absolute best. Sebastian pouts but agrees, and Asher heads to the school while I finish getting us ready.
When I drive Baz to school, we’re early. I know I shouldn’t but I can’t resist stopping by Asher’s classroom. I try to say it’s for Sebastian, but I know deep down I want to see him in his new career.
The hallways are beginning to buzz with excitement and kids running through the halls, and I stop when I see a sign on the wall with the name “Mr. Sterling” outside of a classroom door.
Asher sits at his desk, but Baz sees him and runs in excitedly. I follow nervously. He was so angry with me yesterday, and I'm still not sure why.
He said it had nothing to do with Sawyer, but I’m not so sure.
“Hey, buddy!”
“You’re really a teacher!” Baz is looking up at him with awe, and honestly, I feel the same sense of pride. He really made this happen and fast.
“Yeah, I sure am.”
“But not mine.” Baz hangs his head and shakes it sadly.
I place my hand on his shoulder, hoping to make him feel better. “He’ll be in the same building with you every day.”
Asher crouches in front of him. “Yup. Can’t get rid of me, kiddo. I’ll be watching you.” He makes a funny gesture with his fingers by his eyes and then points at Baz, who finds that hilarious.
“Well hello, Mr. Sterling.” I hear a sultry feminine voice from behind us, and Asher stands up to address the woman as I turn around.
“Ms. Bowen.” Ms. Bowen is Baz’s new teacher and is not only young, but absolutely beautiful. Blonde and tall with a bright, shiny smile on her face. She’s wearing a navy dress with a plaid sweater. “It’s nice to see you again.”
She looks like she could eat him up and licks her bottom lip, her eyes sliding over Asher. Jesus, I thought I was obvious. “It seems you’ve stolen one of my students.”
Baz looks up at her with a curious glance. He met her last week at orientation, but it’s clear he doesn’t trust her just yet.
Asher laughs, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Yeah, this one happens to be my nephew.”
“Oh . . .” Her eyes move to Baz and then up to Asher again. “I can definitely see the resemblance.”
We went over the whole “his father passed away in a tragic accident” thing at orientation, but I didn’t mention Asher was his uncle. I didn’t even know they knew each other yet.
Baz beams with pride at her statement, and she holds her hand out for him. “Are you ready for a great first day?”
He looks back at Asher and me. I nod. “It’s okay.” I lean down and open my arms for him, and thankfully, he lets me hug him tightly or I think I would cry. “Have a great day, sweetie. Uncle Asher will bring you home after school, okay?”
“Yay!” I laugh, trying to hold back tears. I can’t believe he’s so big already.
I stand up and face Ms. Bowen. “Thank you.”
“No problem. We’re going to have a great day.” She’s so cheery. “And I’ll send pictures throughout the day.”
I nod, happy that the school has a messaging system. “Great. Thank you.”
Ms. Bowen looks at Asher. Her eyes are still hungry, and she’s not at all trying to hide it. “And I’ll bring him by your classroom after school.”
I fight rolling my eyes. Great, my son gave her an in with Asher.
Asher smirks, eating it up. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
She waves coyly over her shoulder as she walks out of his classroom with Baz in tow. I wave at him before I turn around to face Asher.
He doesn’t look too broody this morning, but I have a feeling every mother who drops off their kid today will leave with wet panties regardless.
“I hope you have a great first day.”
He strolls closer to me, his expensive cologne enveloping me. “Thanks.”
I don’t move. Seeing Baz looking so grown-up and my little tiff with Asher yesterday has me feeling angsty and annoyed.
“You okay?”
I fold my arms haughtily. “Of course. Why?”
His thumb sweeps under my eye, brushing away a tear. “You’re crying.”
I instantly get defensive. “I’m not crying. It’s just one tear, and I’m allowed to be emotional. It’s Sebastian’s first day of school. It’s hard.”
“I’ll be here.”
My shoulders lower, the tension lessening when he says that because I know he’ll look after Baz. “I know.” But I can’t keep my annoyance at bay when I add, “and so will Ms. Bowen.”
His eyes flicker with amusement and a grin spreads over his lips as his hands grasp my hips, nearly stealing my breath. He leans in, growling sexily, “Are you jealous, Viv?”
My throat is dry, and I'm afraid for a minute I can’t answer. I wish he didn’t have this pull over me. “Of course not.” He doesn’t move, and I can still feel his warm breath against my ear. “I just think a teacher shouldn’t be drooling over my son’s uncle.”
I swear I can feel him smiling against my ear as my heart thunders in my chest. “Maybe she’s drooling over the hot new teacher, Mr. Sterling.”
Fuck.
I nearly moan from the sound of his voice in my ear, the husky growl saying his name is enough to make me combust. What the hell is wrong with me?
I swallow, trying desperately to wet my parched throat. “Well, she should keep it in her pants at school.”
His hands continue to rest on my hips until he drags one up, using his fingers to brush over the bare skin of my arm, sending a shiver through my body. Only I'm not cold. I’m very, very hot. And I know the asshole knows it when he pulls back so I can see his eyes glimmering with triumph.
It’s so fun for him to fuck with me.
“Candice is harmless.”
Ugh, Candice. Fits her bubblegum princess persona. I don’t want to embarrass myself any more, so I step away from him. “Well, have a good day, Mr. Sterling.”
I feel my own victory when his full lips part slightly and his throat bobs hungrily. He looks like he’ll lunge at me, but he just gives a curt nod.
I take that as my cue to leave.
This magnetic pull toward him hasn’t lessened in the slightest, and some days I feel helpless against it.
Today was definitely one of those days.
Mr. Sterling.
Why the fuck can’t I get that out of my head today? Everyone at school calls me “Mr. Sterling”, but when Viv said it, Jesus fucking Christ, I almost had to meet all my new students and their parents with a hard-on.
That would have been just fucking great.
Thankfully, the old trick of thinking about nasty shit did the trick in time and no charges had to be filed.
I have to stop thinking about her.
The first day of school went well, and I actually had a lot of fun. Who knew work could be fun? After dodging Ms. Bowen’s invite to dinner, using my nephew as an excuse, I brought Baz home.
We hung out till Viv got home from work. Lola brought dinner home, and then everyone parted ways for the night.
But I can’t stop thinking about her.
I go down the hall to the indoor gym at Lola’s and take a round with the punching bag, hoping to get rid of some tension.
When I'm sweaty and spent, it’s then I realize only one thing will get rid of the tension from my body, and it isn’t in here. My eyes narrow at the door that I can’t see through, of course, but it doesn't matter. I know what’s out there and just down the hall. Viv’s room.
“Not an option, motherfucker.”
I punch the bag again. I touched her today. I fucking teased her. Because I wanted nothing more than to throw her on my desk and fuck the shit out of her on the first day of my new job. At a fucking elementary school.
And I didn’t seem to care I would, no doubt, be fired.
I kneel on the floor, panting and out of breath from my workout. And my own stupidity.
I would gladly let her ruin my life all over again.
I hear the door open, and I know who it is before I turn to face her.
Fuck!
“Asher?”
“No,” I groan because it’s clear she refuses to stay the fuck away from me too.
The door closes, and I feel her behind me. “Are you okay?”
I stand up and spin to face her, frustrated and angry that she’s in here under the guise of checking on me. “I’m fine. What are you doing?”
She’s taken aback by my bristling tone, but I don’t care. “I . . . umm . . .”
I shake my head, my body creeping close as she edges backward nervously, her chest rising and falling, but she’s not scared. “I know exactly what you’re doing.”
Her chin
tilts up as she challenges me. “Oh really?”
“Yeah . . .” I fuck up, yet again, and let my hand drag over her bare arm. She’s only wearing a pink tank top and pajama shorts. When my hand comes in contact with her soft skin, I know without a doubt, I'm fucked. I’m too pent-up from today. “You’re here because when you left the school today, your panties were so fucking wet you had to come back here and change before work.”
She gasps, her eyes widening, but I’m right. Her cheeks blush, and she can’t even argue with me. “Who knew I had a teacher fetish.”
I lean in, my lips brushing over her ear like they did this morning. “Is it the profession or the man?”
“Asher . . .” She’s breathless, begging me to touch her more, and I shouldn’t.
I should have just had dinner with Candice. Although I don’t want to be the school playboy. I don’t need drama in the place I work.
“I’m so fucking angry with you.” It’s the most honest thing I can say to her, and her head nods before she speaks.
“I know.”
“I don’t want to want you.”
“You think I want to want you?” She sounds as frustrated with herself as I am.
“But you do?” I pull back enough to look into her eyes, one hand pinned against the wall next to her head. “Want me?”
I watch her eyes as she closes them, seemingly in pain, and then opens them again. “My body does. I can’t deny that.”
I study her, looking for a crack in her armor. “I fell for that once.”
“I'm wiser now.” My free hand slides under her tank top and brushes over her lower stomach that trembles with my touch.
My lips drift over hers. “I don’t believe you.”
I watch her eyelids flutter and can hear her rapid breathing, my own body betrays me as my dick starts to harden being so close to her. “I don’t care if you do.”
“I don’t want a relationship.”
“I know that.”
“I don’t even like you anymore. In fact, I pretty much fucking hate you.”
She leans in even closer, letting her soft lips touch mine as she speaks against them. “The feeling is mutual.” She nips on my bottom lip, pulling a growl from my throat as my hands grip her hips and I try to focus on what I know I should do.