I've been kind. Haven't taken as much time with this chapter as previous ones. Can't believe this has gotten to chapter nine! Hopefully I'm still living up to expectations. Drop us a line in a review so I know y'all still love it :D
I think I've gone right up to the line between T and M, up close and personal, had a good look etc. But just in case I've gone too far (and most definitely will in future) I've bumped up the rating now. Enjoy, you saucy minxes.
xXx
"You know I'm not one for drama but this really has been one of the worst weeks of my life."
Mary was hiding. There was no other way to describe it. Ever since last Monday, burdened with the arrival of their new fearless leader, Mary had alarmingly increased her library attendance. If she wasn't fumbling through awkward flirting with Matthew, she was avoiding Carlisle like the plague.
Anna's patience was running thin.
"You can't hide forever."
"I think you'll find I can. Or at least make a jolly good go at it."
The petite librarian was trying to get on with her work and dragged a trolley around, placing books back in place on the shelves. She couldn't decide whether Mary's 'help' was actually helpful. Those books were being thumped into place and then she morosely moved onto the next one.
"Mary, as much as I appreciate the extra effort you have put into this library, I really think you have your own work to do. You'll have to face the world eventually."
"Exactly" Mary sighed. "Eventually does not have to be now. It's nearly lunch time anyway, I could do with a relaxing cup of tea with you."
"Oh, sorry," Anna breathed. "I've actually already got plans."
Mary just rolled her eyes.
"For god's sake, haven't you spent enough time this week mooning over Uncle John?"
"I wish you wouldn't call him that" Anna chuckled as they made their way out of the library doors. "And no, I don't think we've spent that much time together."
"Four times in a week isn't 'that much' to you? Please."
"I enjoy his company, is that so hard to believe?"
"Over mine? Yes. Hang on." Mary quickly ducked into her empty classroom. "I just need to grab my bag."
"I told you I can't do lunch" Anna frowned.
"Yes but I am allowed to go get a drink by myself, aren't I? And don't worry, I'll steer clear of your little love bubble."
"Love bubble? Hardly. It's not like we've known each other for that long. And we haven't even slept together yet."
"I should hope not! Besides, I'm fairly sure you're always the one trying to tell me that you don't need sex to be in love." Mary gave a pointed look. "Plus I'm convinced you're going to use up every single battery we have on that little pink toy of yours, he's got you that wound up."
"Mary!" shrieked Anna, nervously looking around to see if anyone overheard. "This isn't exactly the best place to mention that…. And yours is pink, mine is blue."
The girls laughter rang through the school's halls.
xXx
John was running late and he knew it.
He'd promised to meet up with Anna for lunch today and was so looking forward to it. The past few days had been spent in blissful happiness remembering each and every one of their dates and he couldn't wait to see her again. His morning had been planned out so that he was able to leave just after midday to meet her at a small bistro near enough for her to walk from the school.
John was just about to head out to his car when his phone had rung. Not a very pleasant phone call. It was Vera, yet again. Every once and a while he had to suffer her latest rant and plea for more money. Since the divorce was finalised a few months ago, she was relentlessly letting him know that he hadn't seen the last of her.
So it was safe to say that it had set his teeth on edge and was glad of the distraction. He could see Anna now, through the window, sitting at a booth by herself. A mechanical bing-bong went off signalling his arrival as he opened the door and shuffled inside.
"I'm sorry." He said as a greeting. "I was literally out the door ready to leave when… an old acquaintance called, had to be dealt with."
"Well you're here now, sit." Anna reached out to grasp his forearm and pulled him into the booth beside her. John was going to sit across from her but agreed that this was a much better idea. He slid into the seat and immediately put an arm around her waist to tug her in for a small kiss.
"Mm," he hummed contently. "This is nice. What are you drinking?" pointing to her glass.
"Oh iced tea. It was such a warm day out so I didn't fancy a hot drink. And it has been a while since I indulged in having it iced." Anna took a small sip. "Hope you don't mind but I already ordered for myself, just a sandwich. I don't get that long a break."
"That's fine, just let me get something too. I'll be right back." He parted from her with another peck on her lips. It was too addictive.
Anna smiled as he left. She couldn't feel anything but happy in his presence. Realising that they still had a long way to go in getting to know one another, there was no harm in small pleasures.
John returned with her ordered food, his own plate and had gotten a beer for his drink. Just the one, he reminded himself.
"So," he started. "I hear there's been a bit of drama going on at the school. Robert mentioned a new principal?"
"More drama than you know. Mr Carlisle is actually an old professor of Mary's from college. She's… tense… I don't think they parted on friendly terms."
"I take it that doesn't make for a easy working environment."
"Not really. Though Mr Crawley has done his best in the circumstances."
"Mr Crawley? Another Crawley?"
"Yes, didn't you know? Matthew Crawley, who was the principal, may be some distant relation. Or just have the same last name. I'm not quite sure which is the actual reason. Never ask Mary about it though, or she'll probably bite your head off." Anna giggled as she continued with her food.
"Why? Doesn't she like being associated with him?"
"Mary and Matthew have an on-going flirtationship."
"A flirtationship? Dare I ask what on earth that is…?"
"There's an attraction and they flirt. Fancy the pants off one another really. Matthew obviously would like more but Mary, for reasons unknown, decides to ignore any possible feelings on her part. It's infuriating to watch." Anna sighed, nearly finished with her sandwich. "I think my next course of action may have to be locking them in a cupboard together until she lets loose."
John coughed as some beer went down the wrong way. "Next course of action? Are you match making?"
"You would too if you saw them." she replied, patting his back slightly to ease his coughing.
"I'm sure they'd be quite the picture."
"You know you should come round to the school." Anna suggested. "Have a look for yourself."
"Me? I don't think so."
"Well, I don't see why." she was grinning at him now. "Come by before I leave, that's usually around four, when I close up the library."
Finished with his beer, John half turned towards her placing one hand over the back of the bench and cradled his beer bottle with the other. "Doesn't the school day finish at three?"
"Yes, but I like to keep the library open a bit longer because some children wait there until they're picked up or even parents come in and they read together. The other teachers are there 'til that time anyway, so we could easily find Mary and cause mischief." Anna had been plotting payback for Mary's spying anyway.
And so that's where John found himself a few hours later.
She had given him simple directions of where to find the library on the school grounds and he easily followed sign after sign pointing brightly coloured arrows to keep him on the right track. He walked through the entrance and saw her sitting at one of the many tables placed around the room, with a young boy. Tiny little lad who was bent over a book, eagerly looking at everything Anna pointed out, listening avidly to whatever she had to say.
From all their encounters, he had had the time to know Anna as a woman; witty, outgoing and clever. Now he had the chance to know Anna in her work space; caring and attentive to all those around her.
John took his time, just watching, enthralled by her grace and patience with the questions the boy asked her. As if feeling eyes on her, Anna looked up and smiled as she saw him leaning against the circulation desk at the front. He gave her a nervous wave as greeting.
She winked back at him and stood up, saying to the young student that he could come find her if he had any more questions.
"Hello," she beamed as she got closer. "Fancy seeing you here."
"I said I would be, so I am."
"I'm glad." Anna would've liked to kiss him but thought better of it, mindful of the other occupants in the room. "I was just helping young William out, over there."
"He's here a bit late after school, isn't he?" John wondered. "I thought every kid rushed out the gates as soon as possible."
"Oh it's always just William and me at this time. He's the last one to wait for his father to pick him up. They live further away than most but he gets here as soon as he can." Anna moved around to sit behind her desk and shuffle a stack of books on the counter. "William has an interest in horses and I was lending him a hand in finding some good books and also helping him around some words he didn't know. He's nearly eleven, I think, but that doesn't stop him reading anything about his favourite animal."
As she ended her sentence, a man came in the door, red faced and puffing as if he had been running.
"William, lad," he huffed out. "Come on, grab your coat, I'm here now."
"Just a minute, dad."
William picked up his school bag and lugged the big book of horses under his arm and went to his father.
"Thank you, once again, Miss Smith. Have a good night" he placed an arm around his son's shoulders.
"Goodbye, Mr Mason." Anna waved as the pair left the library. "See you later, William."
Silence remained between Anna and John for a few moments.
"Alone at last." John stuttered out.
"Well," Anna sighed. "I better get on. I've things to do before I can finish for the day. Like sort these returns. Care to help me out?"
"Of course." He would always help her, whatever the task. "What do you need me to do?"
They worked quietly together, pushing a trolley full of books around, restocking shelves. John was amused at all the odd titles of children's books or their colourful front covers. He picked up one and held it out.
"'Just Disgusting'? Kids actually read books like this? And all the others like it?" He picked up a few more by the same author. "'Just Shocking', 'Just Stupid'? What are these even about?"
"I'll have you know that those are very funny. They're collections of short stories. And yes the kids love them. Andy Griffiths is a genius really, I've often read some of those out loud when classes come in for a while. The illustrations make it even better."
"Really?" John flipped through one of the books briefly. In the lower corner of the page, he noticed that there was actually a small cartoon that played out when you flicked the corner quickly. "Then again, you could make any book sound interesting. Can't imagine any of the other teachers being any where near as exciting."
"Well, I am the most fun." she teased back.
They were on opposite sides of a bookshelf that came up to about John's shoulders but was nearly as tall as Anna herself. He just watched her profile as she put novel after novel diligently in place. Feeling an urge to close the distance between them, John came around to stand next to her, cheeky grin on his face and continued to put away books from the trolley.
Anna looked at him on her left side. "What?"
He just glanced at the shelf.
"You've got a look on your face, one that I'm sure will only cause trouble."
"I thought that was the plan? For us to cause trouble together."
"Yes, but for Mary, not for me."
"Are you saying I'm making trouble for you, Miss Smith?" John had moved once more, to stand close enough for her back to feel his warmth. He held up a hand and began to trace a finger up and down her spine, slowly, causing a shiver to run through her.
"I think," her breath hitching slightly, "that is definitely what you are doing."
"Is that a bad thing?" His hand was now running back and forth along the small of her back, and then tracing around her hipbone.
"Yes."
"And why's that?" His voice was barely more than a rasp now, making Anna feel hot all over.
"Because, I am very much in danger of showing you exactly how much fun I can be," she said softly. John's hands were now cradling both sides of her waist, making her belly tighten as his fingers flexed. She sighed and chewed her lip, and was sure she was flushing from head to toe.
This was delicate as they walked a knife-edge of pleasure between too much and not enough, and somehow it was all the more erotic for it. John was almost loathing to do any more. It was perfect the way it was, she was perfect. He was practically leaning into her now, as his hands still framed her abdomen, he had to stop himself from moaning aloud when her backside rubbed against him through his pants, making him twitch in response.
He had to do something now. John put one hand on the shelf in front of them as his hips rocked slightly into hers, and his mouth came to suck on her shoulder. Anna gasped and craned her neck sideways, not wanting to hinder his progress. Her hands began to move now, came up behind his head to stroke his neck, fingers delving into the short hair at the nape. Both were breathing rapidly. Anna could feel the heat of his breath, each time he huffed out, tingling along her spine and neck.
Where his hands were, running just shy of her breasts, and down to cup her backside, was fringing on the furthest they had ever been so far together. Oh and there was also that intriguing presence, probing her from behind with every twist of his hips. Anna wasn't sure how far she wanted to go, but know she didn't want to stop just yet.
With that in mind, she twirled around to face him, meeting his lips for a fierce kiss that seemed to last forever. Feeling bold, bracing herself against the stacks behind her, Anna took John's hand from her hip and trailed them down over her thigh almost to her knee where her the edge of her skirt sat. Eyes fixed on his, she then caught her hem with her finger tips and started to move both their hands back up her leg, higher and higher. She watched his eyes darken, and he took her by surprise as he reached back to run his hands down over her arse and thighs, wrapping his fingers around her and scooping her up to stand between her legs. He smiled a wicked smile.
"Too much?" John mumbled.
"God, no."
"More?"
"Please."
He pulled her down for another kiss. His raspy chin scraped over hers when he nipped at her bottom lip, and Anna closed her eyes and pulled him in, closer, the need to feel more of him making her chest tight and her skin tingling. John cradled her, held her like something precious, and let his hands glide down to her waist to rest there, as if he didn't dare to touch her anywhere else. Without breaking the kiss, Anna wrapped her arms around his shoulders, threading her fingers through his hair, so soft and wispy, and pressed her chest to him, needing more pressure, more touch, more of him. He broke the kiss, gasping, and without breaking eye contact, slid his hands up to her breasts, cupping them through her blouse and brushing his thumbs over the tips, making them pebble under his touch.
His lips on hers drowned out the voice in her head telling her that this was a bad idea, because of how out in the open they were. Then his lips followed his hands and John started nipping at her chest through her shirt, coherent thought was lost.
"John," she gasped, his name the only word she could utter.
She wriggled against him, twisting her hips as his snapped forward, pressing right against her core. Which was clearly something she liked because she cried out, her nails digging into his back, clawing at him and even that felt bloody fantastic.
He clasped her knees and stroked up her thighs, finding his way beneath her skirts to cup her bottom and pull her closer, as if she couldn't feel him already hard against her centre. Anna ignored all rational thought about their locale, something that felt this right couldn't be wrong.
John groaned against her lips when he wriggled a hand between them and cupped her sex, and Anna gasped when he pressed his middle finger slightly harder against her and a wave of warmth and longing flooded her.
"My god," he whispered against the crook of her neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses to her skin, damp and hot. Even through her knickers he could feel how wet she was, how much she wanted this. He desperately wanted to taste her, but for now was content with touching her and hearing her moan in his ear.
With his hips rhythmically shunting into her, trying to find his own relief, Anna could hear amongst their breathing as books thumped onto the ground, nudged off shelves from the force of their tryst. She couldn't find it in herself to care, not when he kissed his way down her breastbone again, pressing kisses between her breasts and leaving a trail of damp spots on the fabric of her blouse that separated her skin from his lips.
Anna almost howled when she felt his fingers against her, hadn't noticed that he had moved the crotch of her underwear aside, giving him direct access, gliding through her heat. He dragged his mouth back to her throat, nipping and sucking to ease her through it. He needed more of her, more of her scent and more of her taste, wanted to drink her in. John could feel himself straining in his trousers, the zipper feeling close to leaving him permanently damaged as he tried to focus on her.
She moaned, high pitched like an owl, when he rubbed over the little pearl above her entrance, and he did it again, and again, circling her clit with his thumb and pressing into her until he felt her thighs tremble violently and she cried out, holding herself to his chest and pulling his hair.
John held her while she collapsed in his arm, panting and wheezing, and then she pressed kisses to his hair.
"That was…" she whispered, not able to say much more. Still she kissed him, sucked on his bottom lip and nibbled on it, and only when he exhaled with a sigh, she pulled gently back, blinking at him looking obscenely satisfied. "Thank you."
He could only grin.
"My pleasure."
"No, I rather think it was mine."
John huffed out a laugh and kissed her softly, so gently, before placing her legs and the ground. She wobbled a bit and had to steady herself with a hand on his shoulder. Anna fussed with her skirt, pushing it down from its place at her hips and rubbed at the creases now present. A few hairs had come loose from her bun and John couldn't resist tucking them behind her ear, hand lingering at her neck for a few seconds longer than necessary.
"Come on," she spoke, taking his hand in hers. "Although I had plans to mess with Mary, I can think of something else that requires my attention more than her."
The pair walked out, hand in hand, and John giddily drove them both back to her flat, with far more pleasurable activities in mind.
Their exchange wasn't unnoticed, however.
Unbeknownst to Anna and John, they were not alone in the school's small library. With his own straining issue, Carl Green also left the grounds with less than savoury thoughts. He had seen another side to the alluring Anna Smith. A side he had hoped to bring about, and was now aching to have her all to himself. His face was set in a snarl as he made plans to make them hurt.
He would make both of them hurt by the time he was through.
xXx
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Soooooo…
How are we all after that? :) Reviews are always appreciated!
