DrawnTogether (6 page)

Tessa stared at her lesson planner, not seeing the words.
Christmas came and went without a word from Graig. They shared a hallway and
nothing else. She’d given him a baseball signed by the local Triple-A ball
team. He left a simple gold necklace on her desk as a present. No matter how
hard she tried, she couldn’t bring herself to wear the chain. The thank-you
note she’d penned never quite made it to his hands.

She closed her book and stared out the window at the
swirling January snow. Writing lesson plans meant focusing. She’d tried for the
last month to concentrate on teaching and failed. Her pride insisted she stand
strong. Her heart crumbled. She held things together during school hours, but
the moment school dismissed, her troubles came back in full force.

Avoiding him wasn’t helping. She turned the staff flyer
over. A note about the upcoming Valentine’s dinner caught her attention. Shit.
Two weeks away from Valentine’s Day and no date. Just her luck.

She stood and adjusted the clip in her hair. Her neck ached
from hunching over the plan book. From the corner of her eye, she noticed
something white moving across her floor. A baseball. Tessa walked over and
picked up the ball then glanced at the door.

Graig, dressed in jogging pants and a tight T-shirt, stood
in the doorway and grinned. “Dropped my gear in the hallway. Darned balls like
to roll all over.”

She held on to the baseball. If he’d dropped anything, she’d
have heard the crash. The noise would’ve echoed off the cinderblock walls. He
lied in order to talk to her? She didn’t care. She missed their banter and
camaraderie. “How’s the baby or was it really a figment of her imagination?”

“Funny you should ask.” Graig leaned on the doorframe. “Lila
still hadn’t told me the relative date we created the bundle or the exact date
the child was supposed to be due. I insisted on a paternity test. She balked
until I marched her to the clinic. I saw everything, which was nothing. The
doctor called me this afternoon with the results I expected. And the house we
are supposedly buying? There isn’t one.”

“I see.” She didn’t. Not really. The whole situation seemed
pretty straightforward but made no sense to her whatsoever.

“I don’t think you do. The whole thing is a farce. No baby.
The doctor confirmed everything. She might have gained a little weight, but the
only place there’s a baby is in Lila’s mind. I knew Lila wanted things her way,
but I never expected her to get this devious. I called her out and she’s
stuck.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.” She winced and
massaged her temples. She hadn’t planned to sound so curt.

“Yeah.” His shoulders slumped. “You know what? I’m not going
to dance around this. I’m tired of games.” He crossed the room in five large
strides. “Tessa, I love you. You might not care about me, but I’m crazy in love
with you.” He cupped her face in both hands. “I’m the bastard son of a married
man and his secretary. He lied to her, told her he’d marry her then stopped
seeing her altogether when I was six. She married another guy who tried to be
my dad. I knew better and knowing I didn’t belong to Gerald really fucked with
my head. I didn’t know where I belonged. I decided I wasn’t going to put myself
in her position. I’d get a good job and have a stable life with a wife and kids
I loved. Except I’ve realized my mom followed her heart. She loved me the way
she knew how. I’m not perfect but I love you in the only way I know how. My
heart belongs to you and I can’t walk away.”

“Graig.” She wobbled on her feet. His words seared onto her
brain. She gripped the sides of his T-shirt. Her eyes burned with unshed tears.

“Tessa, you make me laugh, cry and want to rip out my hair
sometimes. When I realized you were the woman dancing for me, I knew I belonged
right here in this building and this school district. We were drawn together
and I belong with you. I volunteered for this hallway.”

“But—”

He placed his index finger on her bottom lip. “Let me
finish. When you gave me the freedom to sort things out, it hurt. Bad. I poured
out my heart to you and you took the high road. But I understood. The shit with
Lila wasn’t fair and I needed to prove myself to you. Dennis never knew how
special you were. He didn’t see the beautiful woman too scared she’d be pushed
away again. I’m tired of letting your fear and hesitation win. I’m not going
anywhere. I love you and I’m sticking around until you see that. I’ve never
lied to you. I couldn’t.”

“Dennis sorted out your paperwork?” she blurted. Tears
slipped down her cheeks.

“Yes, I revoked the bogus transfer.”

“I hoped you would say that,” she whispered.

“Right before school started, the board threatened to put me
on the permanent sub slot for another year. I didn’t want to sub. I wanted to
teach history. I filled out the paperwork somewhat then forgot about it because
the school called and gave me my job. The more time I spent around you on a
daily basis, the more I realized our friendship mattered more than anything. I
never signed the papers and left them on my hard drive. I didn’t want to go,
but someone else hit the Send button.”

“Lila?”

“She didn’t want to stop until she got what she wanted.” He
sighed. “Dennis noticed the forged signature. My handwriting has never been so
curly. But the paperwork snafu didn’t matter. McKinley wanted someone else.”

“Mr. Case?” A freckle-faced teen poked his head into the
classroom. “We need the keys to the batting cage.”

“Time to practice.” Graig swiped his thumb across her bottom
lip. “Give me a moment, Teddy.”

“Got it, Coach.” The student disappeared behind the door,
but his voice echoed in the hallway. “Coach is in there with the art teacher.
Women screw up everything.”

Graig glanced over his shoulder. “I love coaching the
baseball team, but they’ve got some fantastic timing.” Another sigh. “Practice
is over in the rec center and open to the public tonight. I’d love to see you
there and maybe we can grab supper afterward.”

“I’ll think about it.” She suppressed a snort. Yes, she’d
check out practice. She needed to see the man she loved, even if she’d make him
wait a little bit first.

Graig grinned. “By the way, I like the blouse. It’s a little
more daring but still very you. Wear it again.” He turned on his heel then left
the room.

She shoved her fingers into her hair and mulled over his
words. She looked hot? Better yet, he loved her? Hot damn. Tessa unclasped her
fingers then hurried to her desk. She glanced down at her blouse, an
emerald-green, short-sleeved tunic she’d bought last summer. She shoved her
papers into her messenger bag. Thoughts whizzed through her mind. She’d given
up on men before, but no more. He deserved a second chance.

Graig folded his arms and watched the pitcher go through his
motions again. The senior extended his arm too far to the side when he threw
the ball. “Don’t heave the ball. Throw it. More finesse.”

“Coach?” Teddy, one of his sophomore outfielders, jogged
over to where he stood. “Miss Martin told me to give this to you. I didn’t open
it. She said not to.” He handed Graig a piece of paper. “Yanno, she’s a nice
lady. I never took her art class. Guess I should’ve.”

“You’re in the tenth grade. You still can.” Graig crumbled
the paper in his fist. What the hell was he arguing with the kid for? “What did
she want?” He scanned the bleachers for Tessa, but didn’t see her. Dammit. “Is
she coming back? What did she say?”

“Chill out, man.” Teddy pointed to the note. “First she
asked me to give you that. She smiled then left. She didn’t complain about us
smelling like ass and she watched most of practice before she brought this
over.” He pointed to the bleachers next to the indoor field. “The last chick
you brought… We all hoped you’d ditch her.”

“Miss Flowers?” Graig glanced over at the the wooden
bleachers. How in the name of God did he miss Tessa watching them? “She’s
history. And thanks for critiquing my love life.”

“Coach, she was hot, but fake. It was like she’s all about
how she looked. Crazy.” Teddy shook his head. “Women.”

“You’re getting emotional on me, Ted, and very deep. You’re
wiser than your years.”

“Fuck no. I see it with the chicks my dad brings home. They
want Dad’s money and status, but not me. It’s bullshit.” Teddy rolled his eyes.
“Like them, she was out of your league, Coach.”

“Watch your language.” Graig gripped the bat tighter. Teddy
had piqued his interest. “Was I aiming too high?” He couldn’t wait to hear the
answer to his question.

“Too low. Read your note and beat it. I’m going to run laps.
Something tells me I overstepped my boundaries.” He trotted off down the
first-base line, leaving Graig alone with his thoughts and the note.

Graig scrubbed his forehead with the back of his hand then
unfolded the note. No words, just a pencil drawing of a fully clothed
woman—with curves like Tessa and long dark hair—dancing. Well…holy hell. Thank
God Teddy hadn’t opened it.

“Hey, Toft?” Graig sprinted to where his assistant coach
stood. “Take over the rest of practice. I have to be somewhere.”

“Yeah?” John Toft grinned. “Tessa will be happy.”

“Thanks. I hope so.” How the hell did everyone know about
him and Tessa? Probably because nothing happened in the school without the
gossip vine knowing all about it. He’d heard they inferred Graig and Tessa were
sleeping together a month after he started subbing for Valley. Did he really
care if people knew? Not really. He crossed the parking lot at warp speed then
sped to her apartment. Whatever she wanted, the drawing was too personal for
her not to want to see him in person.

Graig placed his hand on her door. His confidence dipped. Could
this be the beginning of something great or the end of everything between them?
He knocked on the door. “Tessa?”

The lock clicked and the door opened. Tessa smiled at him
from inside her apartment. The moment he locked his gaze on her, the breath
ripped from his chest. The baseball jersey she wore accentuated her curves. The
dip between her breasts gave him a delicious view of her cleavage. His mouth
watered. Instead of her requisite ponytail, her dark hair shimmered around her
shoulders.

“You look fabulous.” He gripped the doorframe. Too fast and
he’d break the mood. This time he’d let her control everything.

“I try.” She shrugged. “Thanks.”

He held up the crinkled note in his free hand. “You left
this for me? Good thing Teddy didn’t open it.”

“He’s a good kid and I watched him give it to you.” She
stepped backward and held the door open. “I wanted to see you.”

“I’m right here.” She’d watched him? His heart swelled.

“Come in, then.” She threaded her fingers around his wrist,
tugging him into the apartment. Once she closed the door, she let go of him.
“When I’m in front of the class, I need to be the buttoned-up, prim teacher.
Look at how the kids treat Lauren. She tries to be one of them and they walk
all over her. If I project what I want from them, then they know I expect it
from them.”

“I don’t want to change you.” But he wanted to touch her. He
wiped his hand on his jogging shorts.

“I’m glad to hear it, but I do need to change. A little. I’m
happy in the classroom, but not when I’m in public. I want to feel sexy and
desired.” She smoothed her hands down the jersey. “I want to be happy in my own
skin.”

“You are very sexy and desired.” And God, he wanted to tear
open the front of the jersey and sample every inch of her sweetness.

“By you?” She gripped the hem of the shirt.

“Yes.” He bridged the gap between them and caged her between
his body and the wall. “I want to make love to you every way I know how then
start all over again.”

“That’s what I needed to know.” Without looking down she
untied the front of his shorts then stuffed her hand down the front and grabbed
his cock. She caressed and stroked him.

Dear God, she made thinking just about impossible. He
focused on her words, not what her hands were doing to his dick. “I get it, but
I don’t. Help me?” His question came out choked, but he didn’t care. “Help me,
babe.”

“It feels good to know I turn you on,” she whispered. “Makes
me love you more.”

“You love me?” His voice cracked and he kissed her light on
the mouth. “Say it again. I need to hear those words on your lips.”

“I want to show you.”

“Yes, babe, show me.” Graig held her hand tight. They had a
chance to work things out and he wasn’t about to let go.

Tessa led him to her bedroom. Christmas lights glittered
across the ceiling and two lava lamps swirled on the nightstands beside her
bed. She clicked the remote for the stereo then nudged him onto the mattress. A
song he’d never heard before filled the room. She shifted her hips and gyrated
toward him—slow, meaningful and sexy as hell. She dragged her hands up her body
then tangled her fingers in her hair until the tresses tumbled onto her
shoulders.

His mouth went dry and his cock stood at attention. He’d
never seen a sexier woman in his life.

She waved her hips then turned her back on him and gave him
a delicious view of her bare ass. Tessa lifted her hair off her shoulders
again, revealing the name and number on the jersey. His name with his lucky
number eighteen.

No more waiting. He grasped the hem of the shirt, pulling
her backward onto his lap. “I love it,” he murmured in her ear and dragged his
tongue along her neck. “Looks better on you anyway.”

Tessa stood long enough to turn around then straddled his
lap. The jersey parted, revealing her total lack of undergarments. He eased the
shirt the rest of the way open until it ended up on the floor. She shivered but
didn’t cover her nudity.

“I’m happy in my own skin.” She parted her lips and smoothed
her hands over his chest.

“I love you in your own skin.” Starting at her neck, he
kissed his way to her breasts and palmed her nipples. He pinched the tight
beads. “These would look so hot if you pierced them.”

“I want to. Someday.” Her breathy voice curled around his
brain.

He knew just the person to help her make her wish come
true—when she was ready. “I love you, Tessa.” The words felt so good on his
tongue. “So much.”

“Love you too.”

Her words stopped him short. “You do?” He needed to hear her
say it again.

“All the way.”

“Halle-fucking-lujah.” He swatted her ass. “I need to be in
you.” Graig held her in his arms then stood long enough to spread her out on
the blankets. Once he’d arranged her for his pleasure, he ripped his T-shirt up
over his head. The jogging shorts and boxers landed at his feet. He toed them
off, along with his shoes and socks. He palmed his cock then shivered. He
didn’t need the prep work. She’d kept him on a hair trigger from the moment he
arrived at her apartment.

Tessa watched him and caressed her breasts. Her nipples
beaded under her touch and her moans filled his ears. “Spank me again.”

“So sexy. Turn over.”

She perched on her hands and knees, waving her ass at him.

“The bad girl wants punishment.” He rubbed both hands over
her butt, caressing her soft skin. She wriggled again and whimpered, prompting
him to give in to her. He spanked both cheeks hard, leaving a ruddy prints on
her skin.

“Yes.” She tipped her head back. “More.”

Graig grinned and swatted her four times, three spanks on
one ass cheek and one on the other. Beneath him, she shuddered and moaned. Power
and desire filled his veins. He kissed the red blotches. Her skin, hot under
his touch, quivered. He slipped one finger between her ass cheeks to her pussy.
Cream coated his fingers.

“Graig.” She ground her hips, driving him deeper into her.
“God.”

He withdrew from her then licked his fingers. Her sweetness
exploded on his tongue. “So good.” He spanked her again, restoring the redness
to her skin.

“Fuck me,” she panted.

“No.” He kissed her bottom again then nudged her onto her
back. “I’m making love to you.” Graig nabbed a condom from the nightstand then
sheathed himself. He crawled onto the bed, kissing his way up her torso to her
breasts then her face. He arranged her legs over his thighs and tangled his
tongue with hers. He swallowed her moans. God, he loved this woman.

“Mine,” he murmured. “All mine.”

Tessa nodded and reached between their bodies to guide his
cock into her pussy. The moment he connected with her, his senses reeled. Every
nerve ending in his body sizzled and he gasped for air. She smoothed her hands
around his waist and grabbed his ass, shoving him deeper into her body.

“You’re a bad girl and I love bad girls.” He rested his
forehead on hers and pistoned into her pussy. His balls slapped her asshole
with each thrust. Her nails bit into his ass. “Love you.”

“Love you too.” She kissed him then arched her back. “More.”

Oh he’d give her more. Graig sat back on his heels and
propped her onto his thighs. He fixed his gaze on hers and gritted his teeth. A
trickle of sweat slid between his shoulder blades.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he chanted in time with his thrusts. He
gripped her hips and lost himself in the sensation of her holding him tight
from within. The flutters in his lower belly swirled through his limbs.

Tessa’s legs trembled and she rubbed her clit. With her free
hand she held on to his wrist. “So close.” Her entire body shuddered and the
muscles in her pussy clamped down on him. Her cream slickened his way and
pushed him out of her cunt.

“Not done yet, love.” He entered her once more and pistoned
his hips. Aided by her cream, he worked himself into a frenzy in moments.
“Fuck,” he bit out and tipped his head back.

Graig slammed into her and his seed filled the condom. Fever
spread over his skin and he couldn’t breathe. He could deal with lovemaking
like this for the rest of his life. “Love you,” he puffed and braced himself on
his hands.

Tessa wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you too.”

He could hear those words coming from her for the rest of
his life too. She completed him. She got him when no one else did and he wasn’t
letting her go. Graig pulled out of her heat then sat back to unload the
condom. He tossed the used rubber in the waste bin then settled beside her and
panted. “I’m not moving. Not for a long, long time.”

“Me neither.” Tessa rolled onto her side and draped her arm
across his chest. “Graig?”

“Yes, babe?” He stroked her hair, loving the warmth of her
body next to his.

“I’m not scared. I believe you and no matter what Lila wants
to throw at us, I’m by your side. You could be halfway across the state.
Doesn’t matter. I love you.”

His spirits soared and he tugged her onto his chest. “You
don’t want to banish me from your hallway?”

“Not a chance.” Her hair slipped over her shoulder and
tickled his skin.

“Then I’m better than good. I’m Superman.”

“You’re a baseball coach.”

“That too. A coach in love with the sexy art teacher.”

“Move in with me.”

“Tessa?” He couldn’t have heard her right. Not possible.
Already? She wanted to move in together? Why the hell not?

She shrugged. “Why have two places? We can live together
now, save up for a better place or a house, even. You love me, I love you. It’s
the next step.”

“You’re right and smarter than me, like always.” He didn’t
care if he’d have to move his crap across the building. He had her love
forever. The rest was easy.