Zook

by Bex Dane

"Alright." He sucked in a long breath and ran his hand through his hair. He slid off me and smiled. "We'll stop. But you know you just challenged me."

  "I didn't." I sat up and pulled my sweater tight around me.

  "Oh you did. The student gets to teach the teacher. And I know a lot of things that will blow your mind."

  "Oh my." That sounded lovely.

  "But if you want to stop now, I respect that."

  I didn't want to stop. I needed to. This could not happen.

  He swung his leg around and tucked my back up to his chest, wrapping his arms around my midsection. A rod as big as a soda can nudged my spine as we cuddled. He might as well have kept kissing me because this felt even more intimate.

  Talk. Talk would be good about now. I needed to say… anything.

  "Why did you never learn to read? I mean I know you worked as a child and didn't go through formal schooling, but there's a certain amount of learning that happens by association and osmosis. Like the word sex. You knew how to spell that and wrote it fairly easily."

  His forehead pressed against the back of my head and tension oozed off him. I knew it would be hard for him to answer, but I needed to know how a man as smart as him could go so long without learning to read.

  "Pure bull-headed stubbornness. Very few people actually knew. I can cover pretty well."

  "You sure do. I never would've guessed."

  "If someone did figure it out and wanted to help, like Tessa, I'd shut them down or distract them with jokes before they got started."

  "But you let me tutor you?"

  "Yes."

  "So what changed? It can't all be me."

  "You were a huge part of it. But… prison changes a man. Made friends with a guy, Gustavo, he was a street fighter. We fought back whenever anyone came after us. He'd take my back. I took his."

  "Did Gus get out too?"

  "Not yet. He had another year. But he taught me more than fighting. He taught me we only got one shot at this life, and it might be short. So I vowed, if I got out, I'd make something of myself."

  "You're doing that."

  "Yeah." He was quiet for a moment then said, "But don't underestimate the power of a tight sweater over your tempting rack. I wanted to fuck your brains out so bad, I was like teach me, baby."

  I laughed and turned to look at him over my shoulder. "Shall we go now?"

  "No. Let's sit a minute. Don't know when I'll have a beautiful girl up on the bluffs again. Want to savor it."

  I gave him my weight and sank deeper into his warm embrace. I closed my eyes and smiled. When I was with Zook, my worries disappeared. His kisses tasted divine. He was funny and sweet and so handsome. I wasn't lying when I told him it was an honor to be his tutor. If only I didn't have to return to Veranistaad after graduation.

  Veranistaad. No. Oh god. What had I done? I couldn't cuddle with a man on a bluff!

  If Maksim found out, he'd make good on his threats to kill me and anyone I cared about.

  No, I had to follow the rules. I would return to my fake marriage, and the role I played as "princess."

  His arms locked around me when I made to get up and run.

  "Hey. What's wrong, princess?"

  "Prin… You…" Oh gosh. Seriously? Of all the endearments, he picked this one for me?

  Whatever. I needed to get out of here. Except I was an hour's motorcycle ride from campus. An hour pressed to his back. An hour to fabricate a lie to get rid of him. I'd have to hurt him. If I didn't, nothing would prevent me from falling deeply in love with Zook Guthrie.

  I tried to stand again and he let me this time. The confusion on his face broke my heart.

  "I forgot. I really do need to get back to campus." The first lie of many I'd have to tell him to keep us both safe.

  ***

  The joy I'd felt riding up the hill turned to suffocating fear on the ride back to Hale. Zook must have sensed it because he kept pressing his hand over mine at his belt buckle, gently wrapping my arm tighter around him. By the time we arrived back at the library parking lot, I'd rationalized waiting till after the next tutoring session. That way I could give him the study materials he needed to carry on without me.

  We got off the bike and I gave him my helmet. He pulled his off and smiled at me. "I'd like to see you again, CeCe."

  I shook my head.

  "You nervous about being with an ex-con?"

  "That's not it." I didn't want him to think that.

  "Whatever's making you hold back, I want you to know you're safe with me." He held my cheeks in his palms. "You don't need to be scared. We can go at whatever speed you like as long as it's not backwards."

  God, why did he have to be so sweet? If I could date Zook, those words would make me feel so comfortable. But no...

  I let him kiss me. I kissed him back like it was our last kiss. Which it was. He responded by deepening the kiss. I forced myself to pull away first.

  "Goodbye, Zook."

  "You okay getting home?"

  "Yeah, I have to review some notes, and then I have a car here." And I need to get my phone from where I'd stashed it in the library.

  "I'll see you next Monday for tutoring."

  I nodded. Yes, one last time.

  Chapter 7

  Zook

  "I've got a joke for you this time."

  Oh, CeCe was going to try her hand at humor.

  "Hit me." I tapped the desk and smiled at her.

  "What does a cyclops’ Valentine’s Day card say?"

  God, she's cute when she's playful like this. "I don't know."

  "Eye love you." She pointed to the center of her forehead and widened her eyes. "Get it? Eye love you."

  "Oh, I get it. And eye," I pointed to my forehead, "love you too."

  We both had huge grins as we stared at the other pointing to our foreheads. Our hands slowly lowered and the smiles faded. We'd said I love you to each other. Even if it was a joke, it felt good to say it to her. I could love her. Easily. And soon. Very soon. And she could love me too. It's in her eyes. She's crazy about me.

  "This will be our last session," she said.

  Or she could slice my heart to shreds with an axe.

  "Why's that?"

  "You've made good progress. You can carry on on your own. I've prepared a self-study guide for you." Lying to me again. I was nowhere near ready to teach myself. She twisted the pendant necklace resting near her throat, a sure sign of deception.

  "Is this about me kissing you?"

  "No."

  "You got issues dating a man who ain't rich? Yet. I say yet, CeCe, because it won't be long. This project is the first of many, and I got plans to go big. Soon."

  "It's not that." Her voice trembled, no conviction in her tone. "We just… It's time to end it." My gut told me this wasn't about money or me being an ex-con. The connection we had scared her shitless. She'd never had anything like this. Shoot, it intimidated me, and I had a lot more experience than her. She just needed some time to get to know me. I'd given up trying to get her in bed. Now I wanted her trust.

  "Shame. I had an excellent date planned for this weekend."

  Her eyes opened wide and a smile sneaked at the corners of her lips. "Really? Where?"

  Oh excellent. She liked surprises. "Someplace really cool. But if we're ending things. Well, I'll just cancel it."

  She crossed her arms over her chest and sulked. "Tell me what you had planned."

  "First, promise me you'll go."

  She pressed her lips together and looked around.

  "Don't make me start singin' your song here in the library again."

  "I- I'll go." She spoke quickly. "One date."

  "Oh, there will be many dates."

  "No. Just this one, okay?"

  "Sure." Whatever she needed to tell herself, I'd go along. But I liked being with her, looking at her, kissing her. There would be many dates.

  "What did you have planned?"

  "Here's a clue. You'll need this." I pu
lled a black beret with a hot pink feather out of my backpack and plopped it on her head. Cute. CeCe made any ridiculous outfit work. "You have to wear it Friday. We're taking my bike, so wear a really short skirt."

  "Wouldn't it ride up?"

  "Yes." I dragged the word out, waiting for her to catch up.

  "Oh." She giggled and there it was, the blush on her neck where her pendant hung. I'd stared at that spot for hours. Needed to get my mouth on this woman again.

  "Program your address in my phone. I'll pick you up Friday night at six." I held out my phone.

  "Oh. Hmm."

  "You have a problem with me seeing your place?"

  She bit her lip. "No. It's fine." She typed in her address and handed it back to me. "Here."

  "Good." I tucked the phone in my pocket. "Now you have more jokes or you wanna teach me some more words that don't sound like they're spelled?

  "I don't have any more jokes."

  "Then let's get down to business."

  ***

  Friday night, I parked the bike in front of a townhouse in an affluent neighborhood near Hale. Her front door was two fucking stories tall. I rapped the huge hanging knocker. A girl who was not Cecelia opened the door. A pretty girl with black hair. Shit. The girl from Siege.

  "Hi." Her gaze swept up and down my body. She smiled like she approved of what she saw. I was wearing a pair of charcoal slacks and a slate gray button-down shirt under my motorcycle jacket. My Stetson was in the carrying compartment of the bike, and I had my hair slicked back.

  "I'm Soraya." Around her neck, she wore the same pendant necklace I'd seen on Cecelia.

  "Pleasure." I tipped my head. "Zook."

  "I know. She told me. She said you're a pretty darn good kisser too."

  "Did she now?" She'd been gabbing about me to her roomie. Good news.

  "Where are you guys going?" she asked, leaning a shoulder against the open door.

  "Do you believe in magic, Soraya?"

  She stood up straight. "I do."

  "Is he here?" CeCe came up behind her and locked eyes with me over Soraya's shoulder. "Hi," she said, breathy and smiling.

  God, she looked gorgeous. Short black skirt as I instructed, but with black leggings to keep her warm on the bike. High heeled boots up to her knees, tight pink sweater with the top two buttons open. And the black beret with the pink feather. My girl was good at following directions.

  "Hey, babe. Grab your jacket."

  Cecelia brushed past Soraya. I took her hand and planted a kiss on her lips.

  Soraya's grin grew bigger. "Have fun, you two."

  I tugged Cecelia down the steps to the curb where my bike was waiting. I waved back at Soraya. Cecelia giggled as she slipped on her helmet. Oh yeah, she was excited.

  My hands guided her into her place behind me. "Hold on, babe. Ride of your life coming up."

  She wrapped her arms tight and sighed. As the wind whipped our faces, I realized. This felt right. Cecelia on the back of my bike, her thighs squeezing my hips. No place else I'd rather be.

  ***

  "For my next illusion, my magic wand will select two suckers… I mean participants from the audience." The magician had CeCe laughing and staring with her mouth open for ten minutes already with his card tricks and mind reading.

  "Here it goes. Watch closely." He tossed his wand into the air. The crowd mumbled ooo and ahh as it floated over to CeCe and me. It hovered above our heads for a moment, then changed course. It looked like it would pick another couple, only to come back to us. The wand lowered and tapped the pink feather in her hat. It tapped my head next.

  "C'mon up, folks. My wand has selected you, and it is never wrong."

  We walked up on stage, and the magician explained how he would transport us like Dorothy through a cyclone to the Land of Oz. "Climb in, my friends. Don't be afraid. I promise not to lose you to the munchkins."

  We stepped into the box.

  "Face each other and hold hands." I liked this guy. I'd gladly hold her hands. The bottom of the box lowered like an elevator to an even smaller cube, forcing us closer together. Yep, I liked this guy.

  "Change clothes," a woman under the stage whispered urgently.

  "What?"

  "Exchange your tops. The joke is you went through a cyclone."

  "I'm not wearing no girl clothes."

  "It's part of the act. Take off your shirt."

  Wait. If I had to take off mine, she had to take off hers. I suppose I could suffer a little humiliation for that. I unbuttoned my shirt and slipped it off.

  "Oh my god!" CeCe covered her gaping mouth with her hands, her eyes wide.

  "What?"

  "I didn't know you were so cut under there. You're gorgeous. All lean muscle. Holy cow!" She squeezed my biceps and ran her fingers down my arms. All the work I'd put in at the gym in the slammer and working hard on the house paid off right now. She licked her lips as she took me in. This could all be yours, baby. Just stop with the resisting act.

  "What's this tattoo?" Her fingers traced the treble clef and blank music staff over my left pec.

  "Long story."

  "Hurry, hurry!" The woman giving instructions couldn't see us through the walls. As the crowd laughed above us, the box started to move sideways, and I steadied her with our joined hands.

  The draw between us exploded in the confined space. The overwhelming need to kiss her consumed me. "We have to switch," I said, my throat tight. "Give me your sweater."

  "Oh, um…" She started on her top button. I'd dreamed of this many times. Although usually I tore the buttons, but watching her delicate fingers do it worked too. She slipped off her sweater, and I was right. A fancy bra made her boobs look like candy. A beautiful round candy I had to eat right now. Screw the show. They could open this box with us fucking on the inside. My mouth hit the swells of her breasts and kissed them. Soft, hard, round. Smelled like oranges. Better than candy. She gasped and grabbed my head, pulling me in. Yes!

  "Are you ready? It's almost time!" the woman outside the box screeched.

  I forced my face from her cleavage and kissed her lips. "Jesus, CeCe. You're driving me loony here. We gotta go out on stage and I'm sporting a woody."

  She giggled, which didn't help my situation. "Put it on." She pressed her pink sweater to my chest. "I don't see how it'll fit you."

  The box stopped moving as I struggled to find the sleeves of her sweater. My shirt covered her completely. Good, 'cuz I'd never let her go on stage wearing that bra. My forearms stuck midway through the sleeves of her sweater. I managed to get one button closed by stretching it to the max. I didn't want to rip it, so my chest and abs were on full display.

  "You look ridiculous." She pressed her lips together, trying to stop her laughter. "And hot."

  "Ready or not, you're going up!" the woman warned. The box lifted us back to the stage level.

  "And here they are, ladies and gentlemen. Our transported couple. Safe and sound."

  The door opened and the lights shined on us. The crowd went nuts. The magician held our hands up, showing more of my body. Women whistled and hooted.

  "Well, it appears the tornado has messed with their clothes. The trick didn't work out exactly as planned, but hey, look at the hot guy wearing a pink sweater."

  The crowd cheered again. Someone called, "Take it off!"

  The magician held up his hands to silence the crowd and turned his attention to me. "Did you get your heart?"

  I nodded.

  "Did you get your brain?"

  CeCe nodded like she knew the script.

  "Great! Apart from the wardrobe malfunction, the illusion was a success! They have been to Oz and found their true desires were within them from the beginning. Thank you for being good sports. And thank you for those abs." He waved his hand with his little finger perched up. Oh man, no wonder this guy was so eager to set the trick up for me. "You may go backstage and change clothes."

  We waved to the applauding crowd and exited the
stage, both laughing like crazy fools. In a corner dressing room, I took off her sweater and handed it back to her. "This was very unfair. You're all covered up."

  "I think the ladies in the audience enjoyed seeing your six-pack. And a few of the men. The magician was totally checking you out."

  "Oh yeah?" I wrapped my arms behind her back and pulled her close. "Give me my shirt back." I waggled my eyebrows because she was wearing my shirt, and I'd get to see her bra again.

  When she stepped back, she hunched her shoulders and looked down.

  "Shy all of a sudden? You had no problem in the box."

  "We had to do what they said in time or we'd ruin the trick."

  "So you won't undress for me unless a magician is forcing you to do it? You can go behind that screen and change. I won't force you to do anything."

  "I know." As she worked the buttons of my shirt, her breasts came into view again. Her tits and her expensive bra looked even more tempting in the bright lights. It was pale-pink lace, to match her sweater. If she was into matching, her panties would be black to match her skirt and tights, or would she go pink to match her top?

  She handed me the shirt and stood before me in her bra.

  "Absolute perfection."

  I took her in my arms again. Her breasts pressed up against my bare chest nearly did me in. "Did you enjoy the show?"

  "Yes! So much! You planned it?"

  "I arranged for him to ask you on stage. He added my part in the act and the nudity, but I'll take the way it turned out." I planted my lips on hers, and she kissed me back.

  My still-hard dick twitched. "Now, I don't wanna create a scene here in the dressing room, so we'd better head out."

  "Okay."

  Chapter 8

  The fall chill helped calm my boner as we strolled the colonial streets of Boston.

  "How's the mansion coming along?" she asked.

  "Fast. The floors and walls are in. Part of the roof. Wanna come see it?"

  "Yes."

  We hopped on my bike and drove out to Province Bluffs.

  "Cold?" I helped her get her helmet off. The leggings under her skirt and short jacket didn't look thick enough. We needed to get her a motorcycle jacket. She'd look hot in leather pants to match.

  "No." She removed the band from her ponytail and shook her hair out. Beautiful. "You kept me warm." Her eyes scanned the house. Drywall was up. Most of the roof was done. Still looked like a shithole. "Wow! It looks amazing."