“And here I thought, a week off would make you realize what you wanted.”
I shook my head. “Honestly, being that far away from you just made it feel like a dream. I could lie to myself about what really happened. I was busy with family the whole time, so I didn’t have much time to think.”
I turned toward him.
“But we almost got caught back there. What would have happened? Would we have gone to jail? Would everyone at school have found out? Would I have lost my job?”
“First, we didn’t get caught, and no, we wouldn’t have gone to jail. What would the charge be?”
“I don’t know. Indecent exposure.”
He laughed and ran a thumb down my cheek. “This is another thing I like about you. How naive you are.”
I pulled back. “Yeah, well, I hate it.”
He sadly looked at me. “I know.”
“I just need some time to think.”
He ran a hand down his face. “Sure, I’ll give you that.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“But, Eden?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t want to ever hear you talk about being out of my league or any shit like that again.” He tilted his head. “I wish you’d tell me what happened to you when you were younger that made you feel like you were less than.”
I shook my head. “I can’t.” I’d rather die than have Mace find out.
“Yeah, I figured that was too much to ask of you.”
But I realized then that he would never stop asking. Or never stop wondering.
I started shaking my head again. “I can’t do this.”
“Can’t do what?”
“This.” I pointed to him and then me. “Us.”
“You just said you needed time to think. Now, you’re saying no.”
I looked him in the eye. “That’s right. I’m telling you no.”
“Even though I could go to the principal and tell her what happened between us?”
“You’re going to do what you have to do.”
“This is bullshit, Eden, and you know it.”
“No, Mace, it’s for the best.”
Mace got out and slammed the door.
I slowly pulled out and away.
When I got home, I met Becca in the living room. She was on the couch, watching TV. “Hey. How did furniture shopping go?”
“Oh … uh … good. I think I’ve found everything I needed. For now, at least. How was the dentist?”
“Eh. It was the dentist. No cavities, so I can’t complain.”
“That’s good.”
“Are you okay?”
I sat down in the recliner next to her. “If you found out that dating Connor could possibly get you fired, would you stop? Or would you just hide it from everyone?”
My question put Becca on alert. “Why? What happened? I thought you said teachers could date?”
“No, no. Nothing happened. They can. I’m just trying to get your perspective on something.”
“Why? Is this for a class or something? It sounds more like psychology than any of your classes.”
I gave her a small smile and stood. “Never mind. I’m going to bed.”
I took two steps when Becca said, “Eden?”
I turned. “Yeah?”
“I would totally still date Connor. Some things are just worth it. Jobs come and go, but there’s only one Connor.” She tilted her head. “Does that help?”
“Yeah, babe, it does. Good night.”
“Good night.”
“Although all cells are different, what do they all have in common?”
It was two days later, and once again, it was the last class of the day. I’d given my situation with Mace a lot of thought, and Becca’s words played over and over in my head.
“There’s only one Connor.”
I looked at the back of my classroom. And there was only one Mace. I couldn’t believe I was seriously considering risking everything to be with him. That was, if he even still wanted me around.
After the way things had ended on Wednesday, with him getting mad, I’d been surprised by Mace’s behavior the last two days. He had been a perfect gentleman in class yesterday and, so far, today, too.
But seeing him made me realize how much I missed his attention. I didn’t know how he’d gotten under my skin so fast and so deep. It was probably the same part of him that got me to do things I’d never done before. Things I’d never thought I was capable of doing.
I called on one of the few students who raised their hands. “Yes?”
“Cytoplasm and DNA.”
“Correct. What else?” When no one else answered, I added, “We’re looking for two more things.”
No one raised their hands this time.
“Mace?”
He’d been looking down at his lap, and I thought he’d be caught off guard. But he met my eyes, face somber. “Plasma membrane and ribosomes.”
I grinned. “Correct. I would like everyone to go to chapter two and start reading the first section.”
I went back to my desk while the students started on their reading.
My phone buzzed.
I looked at Mace, but he was looking at his book.
I picked up my cell.
Disappointment filled me. It was Becca.
Becca: What time is your furniture being delivered?
Me: 4 p.m.
Becca: Are you sure you don’t need help?
Me: I don’t think so. If they don’t put it where I want it, we can just move the stuff around tomorrow.
Becca: Okay. Let me know if you change your mind.
Me: Will do.
I looked at the class and Mace. He didn’t look my way.
I pulled up his message thread.
Me: Can we talk after class?
I watched him as he realized he had a message, but as soon as he pulled out his phone, I kept my eyes on my desk.
Mace: I have practice.
Me: It’ll only take a minute.
Mace: I don’t know. I also have a meeting with the principal.
I jerked my head up. Mace snickered.
Mace: Made you look.
Me: You’re not really going to tell the principal that we …
Mace: That we fucked?
Mace: I don’t know.
Mace: Do you want me to?
Me: No!
Mace: Why?
Me: Because I don’t want to lose my job.
Mace: Is that the only reason?
Me: No. That’s what I want to talk to you about.
I looked up, expecting to see a smile on Mace’s face, but he looked sullen.
My phone buzzed.
Mace: I’ll make you a deal.
Me: What’s that?
Mace: I’ll stay after and talk to you, but you have to bring me your panties.
Me: WHAT?
Mace: Bring me your panties. And I’ll consider talking to you.
Me: No way.
Mace: Nice knowing ya.
I looked up at him again. He didn’t look like he was joking, but he wasn’t sending me a you’d better do it look either. He wasn’t paying attention to me at all.
I sat there, worrying my lip, contemplating what to do. Again, I didn’t really think he was going to tell the principal, but I wasn’t sure about the not talking to me part.
But can I really give him my underwear just to get him to have a conversation with me? It seemed ludicrous.
As I ran different scenarios over and over in my head, the students got closer and closer to finishing their reading, and I felt as if the room were getting smaller and smaller.
“Excuse me,” I addressed the class. “I will be back in a moment. No messing around.”
I was out the door before they answered, hoping I’d be fast enough that they wouldn’t have time to cause any trouble.
I slipped into the nearest restroom and closest open stall. I’d worn a dress to work, but it was long, and I h
ad to bunch it up to get the job done. I bunched my present for Mace in my hand and was out in the hall five seconds later.
I made it back to my room and was pleased to see that everyone was still reading quietly. I sat behind my desk.
“Mr. Wagner.”
Mace raised his eyes.
I waved a piece of paper in my hand. “I have a copy of the syllabus you asked for.”
Mace looked at me with skepticism but slowly got out of his seat.
As he walked up, I quickly put my panties in the paper and rolled it up.
I looked up just before Mace reached me. His lean hips and broad chest almost took my breath away.
I handed him the syllabus. “Here you go … along with the other item you asked for.”
He raised an eyebrow and carefully unrolled the paper. The corner of his mouth went up for just a second. He rolled the paper back up and met my eyes. “Much appreciated.”
I nodded. “And I’ll see you after class.”
“That you will.”
Mace walked up to my desk as the rest of the class started filing out. “You wanted to speak with me?”
“Please, have a seat,” I said as I gestured to the chair I kept by my desk for that reason.
Mace sat and waited for me to talk.
I waited for everyone to leave the room before I got up and closed the door. There was a small window to be able to see into the classroom, but at least we could talk freely.
“I thought about what we discussed. And I’d like to reconsider my decision.”
Mace crossed his arms over his chest. “What if I’ve changed my mind?”
“Oh.” I was right. He didn’t want to be with me anymore. “In that case, we have nothing left to talk about.”
Mace shook his head and dropped his arms. “You need to fight, woman. You’re just going to accept me saying I’ve changed my mind? And why would I ask for your underwear if I didn’t want to be with you?”
That was a good question. I shrugged. “I don’t know. To let me know you’re in charge.”
He smiled. “Well, I did do it to show you I’m in charge, but I also did it to see how badly you wanted to talk to me. And, now, I know.”
“You do.”
“I’m curious. What made you change your mind?”
“Something Becca said. And …” I looked down at my hands. “I missed you.”
“Lift your dress and open your legs.”
I looked around in a panic. “Here?”
“Yes, here. Your back is to the wall. No one can see anything but me.” He leaned over. “And I want to see.”
I took a deep breath and slowly lifted my dress. I tried to keep as much covering me on the outside of my legs as I moved it away from my middle. Despite my extreme nervousness, I was getting turned on.
I spread my legs and scooted my bottom down toward the edge of my seat more.
Mace hissed in a breath. “Beautiful.” He reached out and ran a finger between my lips. “So wet.” He pushed two fingers into me, and I moaned. “God, I want to eat your pussy right now.”
“Not here,” I said even though I wanted that, too. “Please don’t stop this time.”
He smiled. “Since you asked nicely.” Mace hooked his fingers toward him and rubbed my G-spot while using his thumb to rub my clit.
My legs began to shake. I wanted to let my head drop back so badly, but I knew what that would look like if someone looked through the window.
“Come on, Eden. Come for me. I want to feel you soak my hand.”
I gripped the armrests on my seat. “Oh God,” I shouted as I came hard. I closed my knees, trapping Mace’s arm between my thighs.
My orgasm subsided; my body relaxed.
Mace slowly withdrew his arm. “Damn, baby, I wish that had been my dick inside you. You squeezed my fingers tight.” He placed his fingers on his tongue and sucked my flavor off of them.
I pushed my dress down just as there was a knock at my door.
My post-orgasmic haze was suddenly overshadowed by an adrenaline rush.
I looked over my shoulder to see Becca waving at me through the window.
I motioned for her to come in.
“Hey, Mace.”
“Hey, Ms. Larsen.”
“You in trouble?” she joked.
“Nah. I just had a few questions for Ms. F.”
“Did you have a good New Year’s after you left dinner?”
Mace nodded. “Yeah. And you?”
“It was good.”
“Was there something you needed?” I asked Becca.
“I just wanted to let you know that, when you’re done getting your furniture delivered, you’re more than welcome to come over for dinner with Connor and me. He has baseball practice tonight, so he won’t be done for a while.”
“Thanks for asking.”
“Too bad you already have plans,” Mace said.
I scrunched up my nose.
“Yeah, you were just talking about how you want to move your furniture around and maybe test it out a little before you move tomorrow.”
“Oh. Yeah.” I looked at Becca, hoping I didn’t look too clueless and/or guilty and that she didn’t wonder why Mace and I had been discussing my new place. “I do kind of want to see where I want to put everything. And I did buy some new bedding, and I want to know if it looks good.”
“Are you sure? That sounds kind of boring.”
Not when I had a feeling I was going to have someone helping me “test out” my new bed. “Yeah. I’ll probably order pizza or something. Thanks for asking.”
“Okay.” She turned to Mace. “What about you? You want to come?”
“I’d love to.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. I saw him look at me out of the corner of his eye, but otherwise, he ignored me.
“But I already have plans.”
“Okay.” Becca started to back away toward the door. “Let us know if either of you changes your mind.”
Mace stood. “I gotta get to practice, but, yeah, I will.”
“Bye,” Becca said and was out the door.
“You should have seen your face,” Mace said as soon as Becca was gone.
“Sometimes, you remind me of just how old you are.”
Mace shrugged. “I also have an eighteen-year-old hard-on and an eighteen-year-old’s stamina, so you win some; you lose some.”
I laughed. “You sure know how to put things in perspective.”
“I really do have to go. My eighteen-year-old self will see your fine ass later.” He started for the back of the room where his backpack was but paused. “Did you mean it about buying stuff for your bed?”
I grinned. “Yes. But I wasn’t thinking about sex when I bought them.”
“Well, start thinking about it now because we’re going to christen your whole house.”
I raised my eyebrows. “That’s a lot of sex, even with a small house.”
“I must’ve forgotten to mention my eighteen-year-old recovery time. We’ll manage it.”
“And, with an eighteen-year-old’s lasting capability, we should be done in about an hour.”
Mace stared at me with a straight face.
Even though I was pretty sure he didn’t like my joke, I continued on, “I’m sorry. Is that too long? Forty-five minutes?”
No response.
“Thirty?”
Still, no response.
I widened my eyes for dramatic effect and lowered my voice to a stage whisper. “Fifteen minutes?” I sat up straight, and in a normal voice, I said, “I’m sorry. Don’t worry; I won’t tell anyone.”
Mace shook his head and went to retrieve his backpack. Once he got to the classroom door, he stopped and said, “I hope you’re prepared for tonight because I’m going to make you regret your words.”
“Ooh. Are you going to fuck me to death?”
“No, but you’re probably going to have a hard time walking tomorrow.” He shook his head in mock sadness. “On
moving day and everything.”
“Ha-ha. You wish.”
He pointed at me. “No, Ms. F, you wish.” And then he was gone.
Knock, knock.
“Hey, Eden, they’re here,” Becca said from outside the bathroom door.
“Thanks. I’ll be out in a second.”
I pulled my dark blonde hair in a ponytail and opened the door.
It was moving day, and I was ready to get started.
I walked into the kitchen where Becca and Connor were kissing.
“All right, you two, knock it off. We have a lot of work to do,” I teased.
Connor separated his lips from Becca’s. “That’s why I brought reinforcements. I hope you don’t mind that I brought family. Becca told me I should bring some single friends. But they were all busy.”
I laughed. “I’m happy for any help at all.”
A tall, brunette man with brown eyes, who was probably in his mid-fifties and looked a lot like Connor, walked into the house from the open garage door.
This had to be Connor’s dad.
But then another man with similar features also came in. He, too, had brown hair and dark eyes and looked to be about the same age.
This guy looked like he could be Connor’s dad, too. I was confused.
Connor put his hand on the first man. “Eden, this is my dad, Russ. Dad, this is Eden, and you remember Becca.”
Russ shook each of our hands. “Nice to meet you, Eden. Good seeing you again, Becca.”
“Likewise,” I said.
“And this is my uncle Paul. Paul, Eden and Becca.”
“Nice to see you again, Becca. And nice to meet you, Eden.”
“Thank you both for helping out. I know you have better things to do than help a stranger move.”
“Glad to help,” Paul said.
“Here you go, Dad.”
Paul turned around, and there was Mace.
Of course this was Mace’s father. Connor and Mace looked alike. And Russ and Paul looked alike.
“And you know Mace, Eden.”
Paul looked back at me.
“Um, yes. I was Mace’s AP chem teacher last semester and his AP bio teacher this semester. I missed you at the conferences. Mace said you travel a lot. But I did meet your wife.”
Wicked Chemistry Page 11
