JENNIE

"What will you do with the textbooks?" I asked the librarian as I unloaded the old history books I'd been storing in my classroom.

She grabbed the stack and started pulling them off her counter, one by one, to load onto a cart.

"I think they'll be donated," she answered. "Although I hear you don't even use the new fancy ones we paid good money for."

I smiled, bending down to my rolling chair to pick up another four books to hand to her.

"Not that I don't appreciate them," I teased and she shot me a wink.

If anyone had a problem with me not teaching from the textbook, it certainly wasn't her. She had been teaching in Orleans Parish for more than thirty years and had been in all types of schools, from the advantaged to the destitute. She knew how to make do with what you had and had told me the first week that the best teachers were facilitators. The more the kids did for themselves, the more they learned.

"Hey," someone chirped.

I twisted my head, seeing Jisoo Kim pushing her rolling chair toward the checkout desk as well.

"What's up?" She heaved a sigh, sounding out of breath.

"Just getting rid of the old history texts," I told her. "You?"

"Ugh." She unloaded a stack of what looked like typical library books on geology. "Is it winter break yet?" she whined.

I let out a laugh. It wasn't even October yet.

"All right, I've still got a few things to do before I head home for the day. Thanks," I told the librarian, and then looked to Jisoo as I leaned down to start pushing my chair back. "Have a good night," I singsonged.

"Wait," she shot out. "I'll come with you."

She hurried, dumping the rest of the books on the counter and pushing her chair, following me out.

I exited through the double doors, moving out of the way and holding one open for her.

The school was quiet – all of the students and many of the teachers having already left for the day – and I breathed in, smelling the rain that I knew was coming. The sky had been dark this morning, heavy with thick clouds, and the current weather filled me with trepidation as the wind in the trees carried the warning of a storm that would, without a doubt, be angry.

A hurricane was in the Caribbean, heading for the Gulf, but as of right now, it wasn't set to hit New Orleans. I hoped we were only looking at a tropical storm, but either way, the school was closing for the next two days in anticipation of flooding.

"So," Jisoo drawled as we pushed our chairs on their wheels down the hallway. "I heard something that can't possibly be true."

I kept pushing my chair, our heels echoing in unison down the hall.

"I heard that you" – she spoke slowly – "showed up at Lisa Manoban's office this weekend and told her off." I could feel her eyes on me as I looked straight ahead. "And that you were wearing a miniskirt, no less," she added.

"I wasn't wearing a miniskirt," I grumbled. "How the hell did you hear that?"

She squealed, her mouth opening in a gasp. "So it's true?"

I turned away and continued down the hall, squeezing the chair in my fingers.

She'd talked to Shaw, after all?

Shit.

"It's okay," she soothed. "It's just that Myron Cates is one of Manoban's vice presidents," she told me. "His wife and I became good friends when I taught her son last year, and she said her husband came home Saturday from work having witnessed a bold young woman serving Lisa Manoban her ass on a platter."

She nodded and smiled as if it were an accomplishment.

I looked up at the ceiling, sighing. Great. Another parent I'd made a dynamite impression on.

"Are you…" she inched out, "like, seeing her?"

I shot her a look. "Excuse me?"

"Manoban?" she suggested. "She's certainly gorgeous. And successful. And…" She eyed me, looking thoughtful, "and you're seeing her outside of school hours."

I shook my head. "This conversation is over."

I was not seeing her outside of school hours. This was how the simplest things could get twisted around and sooner or later the story doesn't even resemble the truth. Myron Cates's wife and Jisoo Kim were going to have me giving Manoban a lap dance on a Mardi Gras float next thing I knew.

"Okay, good," she chirped. "If you're not seeing anyone, then come out with me tonight."

It was Monday, but the students had gotten a surprise two-day vacation due to the storm, so there was no school until Thursday.

"I have plans," I lied.

Even I knew I should've gone out and given it a shot. Jisoo was a little annoying, but nice.

I just wasn't a particularly social person, and it had been a long day already.

Maybe another time.

But the next thing I knew, she plopped down on her chair and pushed with her feet, sending herself rolling down the hallway backward and smiling at me.

"Come on," she urged. "Live a little."

I couldn't help but laugh, seeing her sliding down the floor like a carefree child.

"Life moves pretty fast," she stated. "If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, Ferris," I joked, recognizing her Ferris Bueller's Day Off reference. "I know how to have fun."

She snickered, blowing out a breath. "I don't even think you know how to smile," she taunted.

I gasped in feigned outrage.

Plopping my ass down in my chair, I slipped off my heels and turned like her, pushing off with my foot, one after the other, and scurrying after her.

"I know how to have fun," I boasted, clutching my heels to my chest.

The hem of my navy blue dress rested at my knees, and I pedaled my feet, laughing as I caught up to her.

She picked up the pace, and I stood up, tossing my heels into the seat of the chair as I grabbed the sides of the chair and raced it.

"You can't do that!" she screamed, wide-eyed.

I flew past her, rounding the corner to our classrooms.

"There are no rules!" I shouted over my shoulder.

And then I pushed off, dropping into my chair once again and letting myself sail backward to the finish line. I held up my hands, gloating.

"And let that be a lesson to you." I smiled ahead at her playful scowl.

But then her eyebrows shot up, and her mouth fell open.

I looked over my shoulder and immediately put my feet down on the floor, stopping myself.

"Ms. Manoban," I said, looking up at her leaning against the wall next to my classroom door.

What is she doing here?

My chest rose and fell from the exertion, and she tipped her chin down, cocking an eyebrow at me.

I shot up, smoothing my dress down and glancing over at Jisoo. I only caught her smirk before she disappeared, pushing her chair into her classroom down the hall.

I turned back to Manoban. "Excuse me," I said, feeling heat spread over my cheeks. "We were just…"

I trailed off, leaving it there. She knew what we were doing.

Her three-piece black pin-striped suit looked crisp and dark against her fair skin, and her white shirt and slate-gray tie shimmered in the glow of the light overhead.

I took a few steps forward. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

Her eyes shot down to my feet, and I followed her gaze, remembering that I'd forgotten to put my heels back on.

"Always losing your shoes," she commented, a smile curling her mouth.

I pursed my lips and turned around, snatching my heels off the seat and slipping them back onto my feet. Grabbing the back of the chair, I pulled it behind me and entered my classroom, knowing she'd follow.

"You came to my workplace unannounced," she stated behind me. "I thought I would return the favor."

I replaced my chair behind my desk and looked up, seeing that she had closed the door behind her.

"And?" I prompted.

"And I came to apologize," she admitted, stopping a few feet in front of my desk. "I've been unfair, and I'm sorry. Luca has his phone back, so we'll see how this goes."

I stilled, my heart galloping in my chest, and I almost smiled.

Really?

I opened my mouth but had to swallow the lump before I could speak. "Well, that's great," I said, surprised. "Thank you."

I guess I got through to her at her office.

She slid one of her hands into a pocket and narrowed her eyes on me, looking a little surprised.

"You seem very knowledgeable and determined." Her voice sounded genuine. "You're an impressive woman, Ms. Kim, and I should've taken the time to understand your methods."

I kept my shoulders squared, but my eyes dropped, embarrassment warming my cheeks.

"Thank you," I mumbled, turning around to grab a dry-erase marker to start writing the schedule on the board for when the kids came back on Thursday.

"Luca talks about your class," she said behind me. "I can tell your teaching interests him, even if he would never admit it."

I uncapped the marker and rested my hand on the board but didn't write anything.

"He really can't stand me, can he?"

I dropped my hand to my side and spun around slowly, surprised by her question.

And feeling terrible all over again. I should never have said that.

No matter how much I thought I knew about her, they were nothing more than assumptions. Who was I to insinuate her son didn't care for her or vice versa? And what gave me the right to say anything at all in the first place?

She breathed deeply, and for the first time since I'd met her, she looked unsure of herself.

"I was twenty when he was born," she told me. "That's no excuse, but it's the only one I have."

Twenty.

I was twenty-three, and I couldn't imagine having a child right now.

I watched her and waited, not wanting to say anything or interrupt because I found I kind of liked it when she talked.

"I know what you think of me." She looked me dead in the eye and then dropped her gaze, speaking in a voice close to a whisper. "And what he thinks of me."

And then she let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "I don't know why I even care what you think. You don't give a shit about me, but I guess that's what's so intriguing." She moved forward, her soft eyes turning to steel. "You're so cold and distant," she charged. "I guess I wouldn't think anything of it if I hadn't seen you so different at one time."

I inhaled a shaky breath, looking down at her right hand. The same one that had held my waist while we danced.

I licked my lips, barely noticing her advance.

"You were flirty and fun." Her voice turned husky, and I looked up, seeing her round my desk slowly. "And you keep pissing me off, but it feels good," she whispered, playing with me, drawing me in.

I knew that look in her eyes. I may not know much about her, but I knew that look.

And we were in my classroom.

Her son's classroom.

I may have had little shame, but she had none.

"Ms. —"

She cut me off. "Why won't you ever say my name?"

I shook my head, confused. "Why do you care what I think?"

"I don't," she maintained. "I care that you don't think of me at all."

I narrowed my eyes on her, clenching my teeth. "That's not…" I trailed off, plastering my back against the whiteboard as she hovered over me.

"That's not what?" she pressed, her voice sounding strained.

She stood so close that I had only to lift a hand and I could touch her.

"That's not true," I finished.

She leaned in. "You look at me like I don't matter." Her eyes searched mine. "And I don't like it."

"I…" I shifted my eyes, avoiding her gaze. "I…"

Did I look at her like that?

"The masquerade, Shaw's office, my office…" she went on. "You've completely held my attention in any room we've been in together," she admitted. "Whereas you make me feel like I'm not worth your time. How do you do that?"

My body vibrated with her heat, and it was like being with her at that ball all over again. My eyelids fluttered, and I couldn't look at her.

"I…" Fuck, why can't I speak?

I cleared my throat, forcing my eyes up to hers. "I don't mean to be cold." I spoke softly. "You are worth my time." And then I added, "Like all of my students' parents."

She dropped her eyes, speaking softly as well. "It's not often I let people speak to me the way I let you," she confessed. "Nor should I enjoy it as much as I do."

My heart hammered in my chest, and I wanted to tell her all of that was true for me as well. She dominated my attention when she was around, and I felt like she didn't see me or think anything of me.

And even though she pissed me off and riled my temper, I kind of enjoyed it.

In fact, I wanted to run toward it.

"Why you?" she questioned. "Why have I been thinking of you ever since that Mardi Gras ball?"

She pressed her body to mine, and I shook my head slowly.

"Ms. Manoban," I pleaded, but it was useless. My eyes fell to her mouth, and then I glanced to my closed door, knowing that even though the students were gone for the day, there might still be staff around. "Please."

"There was something that drew us together that night," she maintained. "Something that got under my skin, something that's still there."

Her mouth was an inch from mine, and I breathed hard, needing to push her away, but at the same time, that was the last thing I wanted.

"Jennie," she whispered, and reached down behind my thigh, lifting it to press herself closer against me.

I groaned, feeling the ridge of her cock nestle between my legs.

"We can't do this," I told her.

My clothes felt like sandpaper on my skin, and I wanted them off. I wanted her shirt open and to know what she felt like under my fingertips.

"I know," she answered.

But while her left hand held my knee up, her right hand slid between my legs and rubbed my clit through my panties.

I sucked in a sharp breath and clutched her shoulders, letting my eyes fall closed as my head floated away from me.

"Ms. Manoban," I begged.

But her breath fell against my mouth, and she whispered, "I told you there would be no stopping me when we finally ran into each other again."

And before I could open my eyes, she'd captured my bottom lip between her teeth and then kissed me, sending me reeling until I didn't know which way was up.

I couldn't fight it. Her tongue dove into my mouth as she pressed me against the whiteboard and kissed me hard. I circled my arms around her neck, knowing I was getting myself into a shit ton of trouble, but I didn't care at the moment.

My body needed her. That's all it was.

I wouldn't get involved emotionally – I never did.

She grabbed me underneath both thighs and swung me around, planting my ass on the desk.

I groaned, her mouth working strong and fast over mine, stealing my breath as pleasure swarmed in my chest. It spiraled downward like a cyclone low in my belly.

I tightened my legs around her waist as her fingers slid under my dress, raking down my thighs.

I grabbed the back of her neck, cocking my head and returning every inch of her kiss. She tasted like coffee with vanilla.

Dropping my hands down her body, I started unbuttoning her black vest. It was too thick, and I couldn't feel her.

I pulled my mouth back, then dove back in to flick her tongue with mine.

"Jesus Christ," she groaned, eating me up with quick kisses and nibbles. "Why does it have to be you, huh?"

I fumbled with the last button and finally tore open the vest, running my hands up her stomach and chest, covered only by her fine white dress shirt.

But even through the shirt, I felt the dips of her abs and pecs and of her toned waist and back.

Something screeched to my right, and I twisted my head to see the flailing branches of the tree outside scraping against the windowpane. The leaves blew, and I knew the storm would be here soon.

But I turned back to her, both of us breathing heavily, and I loved the storm in Lisa Manoban's eyes even more.

She slid her hands inside my panties and leaned her forehead into mine. I whimpered and grasped the back of her neck with both hands, my pussy throbbing at the thick ridge of her cock pressing against my leg.

She leaned down, her teeth nipping at my jaw as my eyes fluttered closed.

"Lisa." I let my head fall back, craning my neck for her lips. "Ms. Manoban, please stop," I begged.

Her hot breath fell across my ear, and I shivered.

"I thought about you all weekend," she whispered. "How do you make me do that?"

I snatched up her lips again. I liked what she was telling me too much.

She grabbed the hair at the back of my head and pulled, exposing my neck again as she dived down and whispered against my skin, "When you walked in, dressed in that short little skirt, my fucking hands wanted these thighs" – she raked her fingers down my legs again – "almost as much as my mouth did," she admitted.

I squeezed my eyes shut, the need becoming agony. "Ms. Manoban," I quaked. "Oh, God."

I didn't want to stop her, but…

I bit my bottom lip, feeling her fingers slide up and down my pussy, dipping and bringing out the wetness, spreading it over my clit.

And then whimpered, feeling two long fingers plunge inside of me.

"Shit," I moaned, squirming against her fingers. "Please stop," I pleaded. "Lisa, please."

But she just added another finger, staring down and watching the pleasure of what she was doing spread across my face.

"Say it again," she ordered.

I blinked, opening my eyes, even though her thumb rubbing circles on my clit was driving me wild.

"Lisa," I said gently. "Please stop."

Her mouth curled into a smile, and she stole a kiss, nipping at my bottom lip. "You don't want me to, do you?" she breathed out.

She increased her speed, flicking my clit faster and harder and curling the fingers inside of me, making me suck in air quicker and quicker and making me so needy I damn near gave in and begged to ride her cock.

"Lisa, oh, my God," I cried, squeezing my eyes shut again and feeling my insides swirl and tighten.

"On second thought, call me Ms. Manoban," she insisted, and I popped my eyes open, seeing the devil in her grin.

I bit my lips between my teeth, groaning as I leaned back on my hands and slid my ass back and forth, fucking her fingers.

"Yes, Ms. Manoban," I breathed out, dropping my head back as the whole fucking world started to spin.

One of my heels dropped to the floor, but I couldn't care less.

She continued staring down at me, looking like she was completely captivated with my face.

"You going to be nice from now on?" she challenged in a hard voice, rubbing harder.

"Yes, Ms. Manoban," I rushed out.

"You going to keep your temper in check?" Her long fingers filled me up again and again.

I nodded frantically, feeling the orgasm coming. "Yes, Ms. Manoban."

"And I'm not done with you yet," she warned. "Just so you know."

I breathed in and out quickly, my body tensing and shaking. "Yes," I cried out.

And then the orgasm exploded, spreading down my thighs and through my belly. I dropped my head all the way back, plastering my hand to my mouth to stifle the cry as I squeezed my eyes shut and let her rub my clit, bringing the orgasm to an end.

My legs, suddenly as shaky as Jell-O, released their grip on her waist and dangled off the side of the desk.

She kissed me, holding my lips for a few moments, and for just a few moments I felt like I did on Sunday mornings. When I woke up and realized I could stay in bed.

Content.

A small smile spread across my mouth, and I felt high from her.

She withdrew her fingers, and I was almost sad at the loss until she brought them up to my mouth, resting them against my lips. I opened, and I sucked each finger, my lips wrapping around her and cleaning off the proof of what she'd gotten out of me.

Her thumb dragged out of my mouth, tugging gently at my lip, and I watched her watch me.

I blinked long and hard, letting out a sigh.

What the hell are we doing?

I couldn't get involved with a parent, and even if I did, it couldn't be her.

I enjoyed her too much.

I leaned up, planting my feet on the ground, both heels having fallen off. I straightened my underwear and smoothed down my skirt as she slowly buttoned up her vest and straightened her tie.

"I hope it's smooth sailing for us from now on," she commented, buttoning her jacket.

I nodded absently, smoothing my hands down my hair. "Yes," I said, focused more on my messed-up appearance.

But her finger hooked under my chin and lifted. I raised my eyes, meeting hers.

"Yes, what?" she prompted, looking stern.

My clit pulsed and started throbbing again, and I bit back the excitement warming up my chest.

"Yes, Ms. Manoban."

She leaned in slowly, kissing my lips once more, and then pulled back and looked down at me.

"Is my tie straight?" she asked, changing the subject.

I couldn't contain the small laugh that escaped. It amazed me how she could go from hot to boyish in a matter of two seconds.

I reached up and fixed her black and gray tie and then straightened my back, again checking my dress and my hair.

But she tipped my chin back up, locking eyes with me. "You're perfect," she assured me. "Everything about you is perfect."

But then I gasped as she spun me around and forced me to bend over. I had time only to twist my head to see what she was doing behind me before she yanked up my dress and slapped me on the ass.

"Wha—!"

She pulled me back up, my ass pressing into her groin as she smoothed my dress down and palmed my behind, breathing against my neck.

"Except that little episode at my office on Saturday," she growled low in my ear. "Don't ever mouth off to me in public again."

And then she let me go and walked for the door, stopping once she'd put her hand on the door handle.

"I'll see you soon, Ms. Kim." She smirked and walked out, the sound of the janitor's cart rolling down the hallway outside my door.

I stared at her back as she left, my stomach churning at her commands and confidence, and I shot out my foot, kicking the leg of my chair.

She had spanked me.

She'd spanked me!

I looked over at the windows, the angry sky dark with the promise of rain and the trees' leaves dancing wildly.

Smooth sailing, my ass.