Authors: Wendi Zwaduk
“I don’t have much choice. I’m the sole head of the art
department and now the arts department. Swell.” Tessa marched down the hallway,
ready to spit nails. Yes, being around Graig sounded divine. Hell, she
fantasized about him. Wanted to gaze into his blue eyes and lose herself for a
few hours. But to actually have to deal with him day to day? She plunked down
on one of the empty cafeteria seats. A tension headache grew behind her eyes.
“Here’s the fearless leader,” Graig murmured and scooted
onto the seat next to her. “You okay?”
“Fine.” She hadn’t meant to snap at him. The sound of his
voice traveled up and down her spine in a gravely caress. “Sorry.”
“I told you not to huff the art materials.” His breath
warmed her ear and neck.
“Shut up. I had to deal with Dennis. He’s a turd.” If
anything, she and Graig always managed a snappy banter between them. He made
her feel comfortable even when she’d rather hightail it out of the meeting or
jump all over him and smother him with kisses. Her thoughts reverted to visions
of them christening her desk in a tangle of arms and legs.
“Ignore him. His tightie-whities are two sizes too small,”
Graig whispered, turning her senses inside out.
Tessa willed her heart rate to slow down to the normal realm
and pressed her thighs together. A simple conversation shouldn’t affect her so
much. “You do realize he’s my brother-in-law.” There. She’d stopped him with
that tidbit of information. Though God knew nothing would take her mind off
undressing Graig with her eyes.
“I’m sorry for your family’s luck.”
She snorted. “Cute.”
“He was the only one at my interview to give me grief. He
acted like he knew everything and I wasn’t good enough for Valley City Schools.
Then when I gave my suggestions for room assignments, he laughed.”
“He is who he is.”
“So are you.” Graig patted her thigh then rested his chin on
his forearms. “I’m already tired of listening to him babble and Pallas chatter
about taking you on a date. He thinks I’m competition. Anything more between us
probably won’t happen because we’re friends, good friends, and I don’t want to
screw that up.”
“You sound so noble. Such a catch.”
“Never said I was a catch.” Graig touched her thigh once
more. “But I’d love a normal relationship.”
Her skin heated from his touch and her leg trembled. She bit
the inside of her cheek.
Good friends.
Great. Made her sound like a
puppy.
Things between us probably wouldn’t happen.
She wasn’t really
shocked. In Graig’s two years as a sub, he’d shown up to many a faculty
gathering with a pretty girl on his arm. Never the same girl twice either. She
had no chance with him. God, this was going to be a tough year.
Graig scrubbed the sponge across the chalkboard. Every time
he thought something would go right, the lesson, his video presentation, the
seating chart, something else cropped up to kick his butt. He glanced at the
calendar. October 22. Seemed like just the day before he walked into the
classroom fresh and ready to tackle teaching American history to bright-eyed
eighth graders.
“Time whizzes by when you’re having fun.” Tessa leaned on
the doorframe. “How goes it? I see you haven’t been eaten alive.”
He tossed the sponge into the bucket and took a long breath,
letting it out slowly. She folded her arms. The fabric of her standard, boring,
print turtleneck pressed against her breasts and gave him the best view of her
assets. The apron hindered his view of her lower half, but he didn’t care.
Would she dance for him the same way his fantasy girl danced? Any teacher-like
thoughts left his mind. Everything shifted to what she’d look like out of those
dowdy clothes. She never went for glamour, just businesslike blandness. But
underneath he bet she drove men wild. She drove him crazy in so many ways.
Tessa tipped her head. “What? Wishing you had a SMART Board?
There’s something to be said for the traditional chalkboard. Archaic technology
doesn’t break down like computers do.”
If she only knew what was going through his head. She’d
probably belt him. Each time she licked her lips, tipped her head or gave him a
smart remark, he fought the urge to gather her in an embrace. He longed to feel
the silk of her pussy encasing him as he thrust into her body. Would she cry
out during sex? Did she like it a little dirty? Holy shit. His mind had
ventured so far into the sexual harassment arena he could barely believe it.
“Earth to Case.” She waved her hand. “We have a meeting in
two minutes. Are you in there? Or have you been getting into my art supplies?”
Sounded like a great plan. He shook his head. “Sorry. Was
thinking about a lesson plan.” What a liar. “I’m ready when you are.”
She crinkled her nose. “Dork. Come on. It’s a movie about
safety protocol if there’s a bomb threat. Real thrilling stuff, but important.”
Although he thought about dropping back a step to watch the
sway of her ass, Graig kept in time with her. Talking with Tessa was so easy.
She got him, made him laugh and then there was her body. Despite the boxy
pants, the sack-like skirts and the need to cover every inch of herself, he
yearned to touch her. He stuffed his hands into his pockets. He loved women
with healthier, curvier figures and she fit his bill. Just enough cushion for
the pushin’ and perfect to gather in his arms for a cuddle afterward. He
followed her into the library, relishing the gentle wiggle as she walked. Heat
flooded his system and zaps bounced around his brain. Paying attention during
the movie was just not going to happen.
“Let’s sit in the back,” Tessa mumbled. “I hate these
depressing movies.” She plopped down at one of the mahogany tables. Dennis gave
a speech about bomb threat safety and popped the DVD into the machine.
Graig gave paying attention his best shot. He did. Except
every other thought revolved around the woman on his left. The school put no
prohibitions on dating other staff members. But would she actually take him up
on the offer to go out? The film ended and the lights filled the room.
Instruction sheets made the rounds of the room, followed by another lecture
from Dennis, then the meeting disbanded.
Tessa elbowed Graig. “My seventh period cannot get enough of
you.”
“Really?”
And what about you?
Damn. Better not say
that. Yet. He escorted her back down the hallway to their corridor. “Like
what?”
“I don’t even have to leave my room to know what you’re
wearing, what direction you’ve combed your hair or if you were in the hallway
greeting them. Apparently you love the color blue, have a penchant for holding
your pen while you talk, and walk around the room a lot. You really have a
following in the freshman class too.”
“Penchant? I didn’t think they knew that word.” Heat crept
up his neck. The tips of his ears burned and for a moment he forgot where he
was. “Hush. We’re supposed to be watching a movie.”
“The movie ended about five minutes ago. We’re in our
hallway. School’s out and we’re all alone.” Tessa snorted. She leaned on the
wall and her voice dropped to a whisper. “But I forgot. You do love to watch.”
He stared at his classroom door. “I should nab you for
sexual harassment, but I was thinking the same thing. I do like to watch.” He
paused a moment to turn her words over in his mind. “Wait, how do you know?”
The synapses in his brain misfired. Did she know he watched someone? And holy
hell, there was no way the chick across the courtyard was her. Couldn’t be.
Could she? Or did he really want her to be? Part of him didn’t. Most of him
did. “Tessa, what aren’t you telling me?”
Tessa shrugged and unlocked her classroom door. “How’s
Lila?”
Hell. She wanted to talk about his ex. Great. “Beats me.” He
hadn’t gotten past the whole watching business. He nudged her into the art room
where they had a bit more privacy. “How do you know I like to watch?”
“Lila beats you? I’ve got to figure out what brand of
concealer you use. I’ve never seen the welts.” Tessa’s eyes widened and her
mouth fell open. She’d totally ignored his question. “I never figured her for a
Domme.”
“Smart-ass. I have no idea how she is because she left me
back in August. She caught me watching my own private show and took offense.
She keeps trying to come back, but I can’t handle her kind of crazy. She made a
key to my apartment. Every time I put distance between us, she comes back. It’s
nuts.” He cornered her between two enormous stacks of drawing paper, caging her
between his arms. “But you knew about Lila. Why do I think you know more about me
than you’re letting on?”
“No reason.” Tessa ducked under his arm and escaped his
confinement. “Just a guess.” The shyness returned. She fluttered her hands and
didn’t look in his direction. “Forget I said anything.”
Like hell. A thick lock of her hair slipped free of the
pencil holding it in a bun. For fuck’s sake. If she wasn’t his dancer… “She
caught me watching the woman across the courtyard.”
Come on, Tessa. Tell me
the truth.
He sat down on the nearest tabletop. “Do you know who she is?”
Say
it. Be honest with me.
“Me.”
The kernel of information made so many things easier and
harder at the same time. No wonder he recognized her. He wasn’t overlaying her
image on his fantasy girl. She
was
his fantasy girl. “We shouldn’t be
talking about this.” He’d given her an out, but he didn’t want to walk away.
Not yet. “Not here anyway.”
“Why? I’m the one you watch. I told you the truth. We’ve
gotten that little nugget of info out into the open. Case closed.”
Although shy, she acted so calm. So cool. Graig processed
her statement over and over. “She’s really you?”
And thank you, God.
Tessa nodded. “Gee, that’s a rousing endorsement. I’m going
to go hide for a while so my ego can mend.”
“No shit.” He chuckled and stretched his legs. The woman
he’d spent too many nights watching and lusting after happened to be his best
girl friend. She knew all about his proclivity and like a dope he hadn’t put
two and two together before that moment. Well, no. Deep down he knew all along
but worried about what would happen if she stopped dancing for him. He’d seen
everything from the dark curls above her pussy to the pink of her nipples. So
she let him watch and liked it. Graig nodded. Good to know.
She stood behind her desk. “I’ll be back. I’m…going to the
bathroom.” Before he could say anything, she bolted from her safety zone and
rushed out of the room.
So many things were so much easier—the attraction, the
desire… Now to get her to go on a date with him.
For the remainder of the day, Tessa avoided Graig. She’d
blurted out the one thing she wanted to keep quiet. His reaction stung the
most. She wasn’t sure what she saw in his eyes, but disgust and dismay sounded
about right.
She drove home and headed straight for the shower. The hot
spray would clear her mind or at least get it off her embarrassment. She tossed
her bag on the floor and stopped to scratch Mr. Black behind the ears. The
ebony-colored cat stared at her with shiny green eyes.
“You still love me.”
He pushed the top of his head against her hand.
She scooped him into her arms and carried him to the
bedroom. Across the courtyard, a light burned in Graig’s apartment. She peeked
through her partially closed blinds. Graig sat at his desk, fingers thrust into
his hair.
Tears burned behind her eyes. She liked him. A lot. More than
she probably should’ve. Even across the courtyard she saw every detail of him.
Maybe he liked to watch her, but he loved the act. Not her. She sat down on the
bed and rubbed Mr. Black’s belly. “And I blew it with honesty.”
Graig sat back in his chair and stared in her direction. At
her? She could only hope. Instead of the smile he normally wore, a frown marred
his features.
Tessa’s shoulders slumped. Had she screwed up that much?
Damned nonexistent self-esteem.
Lila stepped into frame and eased up behind Graig. His scowl
faded a bit. He didn’t reach for her, but didn’t pull away either.
“I thought she dumped him.” Tessa stood and yanked the
curtains shut. “Well, I’ve managed to embarrass myself and made lewd comments
to a man involved with someone else. Don’t I have the best timing?”
She flicked the light switch and drowned the room in
shadows. Who needed love anyway?
“Why are you here?” Graig covered his papers with his arms.
“I thought you hated me.”
Lila massaged his shoulders. “Call it a mistake in
judgment.” She rubbed her breasts on the back of his neck. “I’ve been lonely.”
He grabbed one of the textbooks and shoved the sheath of
pages into the cover. “Lonely my ass. I saw you out with three different guys
this past weekend. You’ve really made the Dirty Cowboy your hot spot, so spare
me your sob story. Or have you gone all over town talking shit?”
She huffed. “I could. You’re a real perv, staring at people
across the courtyard.”
“Don’t go there. That’s a dead subject.”
“I can go wherever I want and talk to whomever I feel like
talking to.” Lila yanked his curtains closed. “I see she finally closed her
blinds.” She plopped down on the desk and crossed her legs. Her skirt slipped
up her thigh, giving him a healthy view of her legs and her lack of
undergarments. “You really like her? The teacher, right? The prim, little art
teacher who strips in front of her window like a common whore. Bet that would
go over well at the school.”
“It’s none of their business—or yours.” Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“How’d you get into my apartment? This is the second time you’ve broken in.
What else have you gotten into without me knowing?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t play coy. Does she know about
you wanting to switch school districts? No? And I suppose you don’t want her
to. You kind of like having a piece of ass right there at the school for
quickies.”
“Enough.” He stood and grasped her hand.
“That’s more like it,” she purred. “I want you. Right now.
Make love to me. Make me forget all those reasons I should call the school.”
“Don’t pull this shit. Do not. We broke up. Why you won’t
get the hint is beyond me.” He walked her through the apartment and opened the
door. “Get out.”
She frowned. “Why? You’re not afraid of me? I can ruin your
career.”
“But you won’t because that’s not like you.”
“You have no idea.”
“Lila, I’ve got a grant to write, papers to grade and I’m
not in the mood to listen to you bitch.” The headache throbbing behind his eyes
increased. “I’m through and I don’t believe you.” She wouldn’t stoop to blackmail,
would she? She wasn’t desperate enough to actually make the calls. Couldn’t be.
“We belong together. You and me. I love you and I’ll go to
any lengths to show you.”
“You’re immature. I’m tired of it. Tired of you.” He closed
the door and engaged both the deadbolt and the chain. “Mental note: call the
super for new locks. Third time’s a charm.” He tapped the reminder into his
cell phone and headed back to his bedroom. Lila never seemed like the devious
stalker type—not when they were dating. After they split all her quirks and
insecurities came to the surface. He pitied her. Sometimes letting go was hard,
but man, she took breaking up badly to new heights.
Each year at the end of August his troubles doubled—school
and Tessa. Out of habit, he glanced across the courtyard to his mystery woman’s
window. She wasn’t much of a mystery any longer.
Tessa.
His Tessa.
When she was a nameless, faceless woman, the sinfulness of
the act turned him on. Hell, he got a free show every night. Knowing her name
and the face to go along with the sensual moves… He wasn’t going to get much
sleep until he sorted things out with her. He palmed his groin and unbuttoned
his pajama pants. His cock sprang free from the soft cotton. His thoughts
wandered and he imagined her swaying in front of the window. She smiled and
cupped her breasts. Her ass shifted in time with a song he couldn’t hear. He
wrapped his fingers around his dick and stroked. Sweet Jesus, yes. Tingles
started in his balls and surged through his veins. He groaned and pumped harder
on his erection. In his fantasy she opened her mouth and licked her bottom lip.
Graig gripped the arm of the chair and groaned. His entire body trembled as he
spilled his cum all over his pants. He sat in a daze for what seemed like an eternity.
She’d made him come and she hadn’t even been in the same room.
When did life end up complicated? The moment she told him
the truth. Now he had to figure out how to proceed. Ask her out or let the
moment pass? Time to make the moment count.
* * * * *
“Tessa? Please tell me you’re in your room.” Dennis bounded
through the doorway. “Glad you’re still here. I’ve got to talk to you.”
“Not now, Dennis.” Tessa winced. Three days had passed since
her confession to Graig. Three days of not sleeping at night and doing her best
to avoid him during the day had played havoc on her nerves. Whenever Dennis
visited her classroom, he did so in order to get under her skin or reprimand
her. “I’ve got one hundred and thirty still-life drawings to grade.”
“It’s not a school issue. It’s a brother-in-law thing.” His
footsteps slapped on the linoleum floor as he hurried to keep up with her as
she made her way around the room and picked up papers before sitting in her
chair. “Stop hiding behind the desk. I have something for you.”
“And my sister Peri is okay with this brother-in-law thing?”
She snorted to herself then tapped the drawing papers on the desk. “Ignore
that. It’s not been my week.”
Dennis flattened his palms on the tabletops. “Yes she is,
even if you’re being a brat. I don’t get you. So professional when you’re here,
but then you change. Like all the little things that get to you finally break
you. You don’t let anyone in.” He shook his head. “Don’t do that. Burying your
problems and pushing people away won’t help.”
Tessa fought the urge to flinch. Dennis had her to a T.
Compared to Peri’s larger-than-life persona, Tessa felt so small. But dammit,
she refused to let Dennis see her cave. The moment he tossed her aside for her
sister was the moment he gave up the right to tell her what to do.
“And you’re back to being icy. Nice.” He tossed a piece of
paper onto her desk. “I won four tickets to see Crush tonight at the civic
center. Your sister isn’t much into the band, but I know you are.”
“Wow.” Okay, the Crush tickets had her attention. His smart
remarks could pass. She touched the shiny face of the ticket. “You won them?”
“K88 out of Cleveland. Turns out my knowledge of obscure
American history came in handy. Washington was supposed to be the king of the
United States and I knew it. Anyway, the tickets came via courier at lunch.”
Dennis slid the ticket out of her grasp. “Want to go?”
“Absolutely.” She’d play head games later. “Am I riding with
you two or on my own?”
“Ask Graig if he wants to take the fourth ticket.”
“Can’t.” Easy answer. Besides, Graig had better things to do
than tag along with her to a concert. He had a girlfriend to think about.
Again.
“Why?” Dennis’ brows knotted. “You’ll have fun.”
“He’s seeing someone.” Her stomach soured. Sure, she’d seen
Lila over at Graig’s place, but admitting the truth out loud sounded so awful.
“What?” Dennis leaned on her desk with both palms flat.
“Start from the beginning and no, I’m not leaving until you talk.”
Well, shit. “Remember how things got between you and me before
you met Peri?” Tessa rubbed a smudge of charcoal off the top of her hand. Time
to settle things with Dennis too. “We had a good thing but I wasn’t who you
needed and you weren’t right for me either. We didn’t really mesh. It’s the
same idea with Graig, I guess. I mean, I thought it was good, but in my
cockeyed, not-quite-brave-enough-to-tell-him-how-I-feel way, it wasn’t what I
thought. He wants someone else.” Her heart sank. The trend in her life seemed
destined to continue—always the runner-up.
“How are you okay with this? One of these days you’re going
to have to step out of this box you live in. Be the Tessa you want to be. Not
this scared, starched facade. The kids need you to be the tough art teacher who
doesn’t let their behavior slide, but somewhere under there is a woman who
needs to be herself.”
Dammit. He’d nailed her again. She shrugged to hide her
frustration. “I’m not hiding, but I’m also not going to screw up things by
getting bitchy or clingy. It’s not worth it when Graig and I didn’t have anything
to begin with. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with being alone. My cat loves
it. No one to share me with.”
“The moment you let your guard down, you’re going to have
the time of your life. I hope the poor fool who gets you to do that is worth
it. I’m sorry I wasn’t him.”
“That’s probably why Peri’s got you and I’ve got a cat.”
He tucked the ticket into her hand. “Don’t lose this.”
“I won’t.” She frowned at his receding form. “What are you
planning?”
“Come along tonight and you’ll see.”
Graig stared at the timeline on the chalkboard. Everything
looked in order. What the hell did he know? Three days before, things were fine
between them. The sky was blue, birds sang in the trees and Tessa was just his
best girl friend. Then she dropped the World Series of bombshells on him. How
could he have missed her grin as the one across the damn courtyard? He wasn’t
looking at her face? Wanted her to stay anonymous despite his gut feeling about
her identity? Didn’t want to think of her that way? Fuck if he knew anything
other than he wanted to hold her and explore every inch of her body.
“Mr. Case. A moment?”
Graig swiveled in his seat. Fuck. The timeline wasn’t school
business. Dammit. “Mr. Farnsworth.” Great. How did Dennis work stealth so well?
“Nice to see you. What’s up?” What did she tell him? And how long until he lost
his job? He needed to get his nerves in order before he said something stupid.
“I’d love to say I’m here because a parent said you were
working wonders with their child.” Dennis shut the door, folded his arms then
sighed. “Are you blind or just ignorant?”
Graig sat up straight in his chair. His blood ran hot and
cold. What the hell was Dennis getting at? “Excuse me?”
“Look, this is and isn’t a school matter. You’re friends
with Tessa and according to gossip, you’re seeing someone. Right?”
“That’s private—or it was. I’d like to keep things quiet.”
Who else knew about his fucked-up life? “It’s definitely not a school matter.”
“I’m your superior and this deals with a member of my staff.
Enlighten me.”
Fucking hell. Dennis was her brother-in-law. He’d
know…everything. “I prefer to keep my private life private. Get the hint.” He
held his head high despite the sinking feeling in his chest. Never go
toe-to-toe with the guy who handed out the paychecks.
“I don’t play games and I don’t do pissing contests. She’s
my sister-in-law and I will rip off your balls if you did something fucked-up.
Spill it.”
Asshole. Graig folded his arms, matching Dennis’ pose. He
wanted the truth. Fine. “Lila dumped me and I’m glad.”
“And Tessa?”
“I don’t know.” Not the answer he wanted to give, but it
worked for the moment. “It’s complicated.”
“Don’t try to bullshit a professional bullshitter. Your
timeline there tells me an awful lot. Want to come clean instead of me figuring
it out for myself?”
Graig groaned. Baring his feelings sucked. Dammit. He
glanced at Dennis, who glared. “I don’t know where I stand with her. She’s—I
like her. A lot. But man, she’s my best girl friend. I don’t want to trash that
because dating isn’t in our cards.”
“God, I hate drama.”
Great. Honesty got him nowhere with this jerk. Time to fight
fire with fire. “You’re the vice principal of a high school and middle school.
Everything you deal with is drama. Top that off, you got married. What isn’t
drama for you?”
Dennis’ glare never wavered. Hell, as far as Graig could
tell, it got icier. Dennis groaned. “Look, I need you to do something for
me—for Tessa.”
For Tessa, Graig would give his very soul. “Name it.”
Dennis’ expression softened. “Now you’re talking.”