“Yeah, except she used to be nicer back in college.”
“Ha.” I laughed. “You wish.”
Jamie looked at Adam and lowered his voice. “Did you ask her about being in the wedding? Is she coming?”
Adam smiled, and the amount of love between the two of them almost took my breath away.
“I did, and she is,” Adam said.
Jamie looked back at me. “Thanks for coming to the wedding.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I can’t wait to meet you in person.”
“Same here.”
I heard the door open and looked over to see Mace walking in the house.
“Hey, babe,” Mace said.
I held up my finger to Adam and Jamie. “How was the game?”
“Good. We won.”
“Did you see Becca there?”
Mace shook his head as he took off his shoes. “No, but I didn’t look for her.”
I wasn’t surprised by his answer, and I turned back to the computer screen. But, before I could say anything, Mace came up behind me, swept my hair off my shoulder, and kissed my neck.
“You feeling better?” Mace asked next to my ear.
“Yes.”
“Okay,” Jamie said from the other side of the computer. “Who is that?”
I’d almost forgotten about them when Mace kissed me.
Adam shrugged. “I have no idea.”
I cleared my throat. “Mace, this is Adam and Jamie.”
“Hey, guys.”
“Adam and Jamie, this is Mace. My boyfriend.”
I’d never actually said the B-word out loud, and I was nervous about Mace’s reaction.
He grinned.
Adam leaned in closer. “Wow. We really haven’t talked in a long time.”
I ended my video chat with Adam with a tour of his house and mine. We said good-bye and promised to talk again soon.
I closed my computer in my bedroom, set it on the dresser, and went in search of Mace.
I found Mace in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, guzzling a glass of water. It started to leak out of the corner of his mouth, and he tried to catch it with his hand, but it still dripped down.
The water landed on the top of his bare chest, slid down his pec, over his eight-pack, and was finally stopped by the waistband of his sweatpants.
I licked my lips.
I wanted to be the drop of water.
Correction: I wanted to trace the path of water with my mouth and tongue.
I stepped in front of Mace, making my presence known.
He dropped the glass from his mouth. “Oh, hey, baby.”
“Hey yourself.”
I kissed the corner of his mouth where the water had first spilled. Then, I moved down to his chest, kissing and licking as I made my way down.
“Mmm … I like this,” Mace said.
I got on my knees and pulled his sweats down enough to free his cock. I grabbed his shaft, wrapping my fingers around it. “And I like this.” I kissed the crown of his dick and sucked it in my mouth.
I loved the taste of Mace, but right now, he smelled a little too much like soap and not enough of him. I almost wished he hadn’t showered yet.
I’d gotten better at giving Mace head, although he never even hinted at a complaint before. Now that we’d been together almost two months, I knew what really got him going. Like when I cupped his dick with my tongue and sucked.
“Fuck, Eden. Fuck, fuck, fuck.” He grabbed ahold of my hair. “You know I love when you do that.”
I laid my tongue flat and pushed him to the back of my throat. I still couldn’t take all of him, but I could take more than I had the first night we were together.
“Five more seconds, baby, and then I gotta pull you off.”
I hummed in protest around him, but Mace just smiled down at me.
So, I did the move he liked again.
He hissed and tugged my head back. He bent over, picking me up, and set me on the counter.
I lifted my ass as he pulled my pants and underwear down and off my legs. He grabbed my hips and pulled me to the edge of the counter and onto his waiting cock.
“Oh, yeah,” I cried out as I wrapped my legs around Mace’s waist.
I knew Becca was upset with me about Mace, but he was worth it. He was worth the risk. One hundred percent worth it.
He pounded into me and angled me, so the head of his shaft rubbed my G-spot over and over. He had learned a few things about me, like how to make me come that way.
He still gave my clit love, but there was something about a G-spot orgasm that made me love them.
“Are you close?” he asked.
“No.”
Mace chuckled. “Liar. I can feel you tightening.”
“But I don’t want it to end.”
He kissed me. “Me either. I hate it when we’re in class, and I can’t just bend you over whenever I want. It’s torture. I want to live inside you, Eden.”
“Oh, damn.”
“You want me to come inside you?”
I nodded.
“You want my seed in you?”
I nodded again.
“You want me to leave a piece of me deep inside your womb?”
Digging in my nails, I scratched at his back. He really indulged my impregnation fantasy because that was all I needed to push me over the edge. My legs shook, and I squeezed Mace’s torso with my thighs.
“Fuck yes. I love making you come.” He continued thrusting into me, seeing my orgasm to the end until he reached his own.
He yanked me to him hard and exploded inside me. I tightened my inner muscles down around him to make it feel even better.
“God, I love fucking you without a condom,” Mace said as he wrapped me in his arms. “Remember, a few weeks ago, when we had to interrupt our good time to go find protection?”
I slapped the outside of the drawer behind me. “Yeah, and I guess we stocked up for nothing.”
Mace grinned. “I guess so.”
He kissed me and slowly pulled out of me.
“Not only do I love the feel of you bare, but I love seeing my cock bare, too.” He looked up at me. “Does that make me weird?”
I laughed. “No. I like that you like that.”
He held up a finger. “Don’t move.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Mace ran off to the bathroom with his sweatpants around his thighs, and I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
Thirty seconds later, he came back with a towel. One side was dry, and he tenderly removed the evidence of both of our desires from me the best he could. Then, he took the wet side and washed me down.
I cupped his cheek and pulled him close. “You are so sweet.”
He planted a kiss on my lips. “Just don’t tell anyone, okay?”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
Mace picked up my pants off the floor and handed them to me.
We got greasy takeout for dinner and watched Netflix. I fell asleep on his chest at an embarrassingly early time, especially for a Saturday, but I had some sleep to make up.
Later, Mace carried me to bed and handed me my pajamas. Then, he climbed into bed beside me and pulled me to him.
I was so used to him sleeping next to me; it was hard for me when he wasn’t there. I was going to miss him next year, but at least he was here now. I buried my nose in his neck and slowly drifted toward slumber.
Overall, it had been a great day. I’d talked to Adam, and things were all good between us now. The only dark cloud was Becca, and even though I tried to think of all the good things, she was the last thing I thought about before I fell asleep.
I gave Becca the rest of the weekend to avoid me. I tried calling several times on Sunday but to no avail. I thought about going to her house again, but I knew that, when I’d gotten Adam’s letter, I’d needed space. So, I was trying to do the same for her.
But, Monday morning, I was going to make her talk to me. I
got up early and went to work ahead of my normal time. I made sure to get all my morning work done, and then I took my phone and waited in her classroom.
After passing several levels on one of my favorite games, I was getting bored. I was starting to worry she’d never come. I looked up at the clock. Students would start coming in soon, and I feared we wouldn’t have a lot of time to talk.
I was ready to do battle and demand that Becca give me a chance to speak, but when she walked through the door, my fire vanished.
She stopped when she saw me.
“Hey,” I said as I stood from the student chair I’d been sitting in.
Becca nodded and continued to her desk.
“I suppose you know why I’m here.”
Becca looked at her open door and whispered, “Because you’re fucking a student?”
I winced. “It’s not like that.”
She snorted. “It isn’t?”
She was flustering me. This was already going wrong. “I mean, I am. But it’s more than that. I really care about him, Becca.”
“If you cared about him, you wouldn’t be dating him.”
Ouch.
Becca’s shoulders sagged. “Damn it, Eden, you’re not supposed to cry.”
I shook my head back and forth and swiped a tear from under my eye. “I’m not crying.”
“Ugh, this is so messed up. You know that, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” The hurt on her face was as plain as day.
“Because I could get in trouble for this. Because I’ve never done something so crazy before. And because I didn’t want you to judge me. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just thought it would be easier if you didn’t know.”
“Well, you are right about that. It was easier. But I’m still hurt that you didn’t tell me.”
“I know. And I’m sorry.”
“You already mentioned that.”
“But I really am sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”
“Is this why you moved out?”
“No. I had already planned to move out.”
She seemed relieved by this news.
“Why can’t you just wait to date him until school’s out? It’s less than two months away.”
She was right. In the grand scheme of things, less than two months wasn’t that long to wait. But, at the same time, I didn’t have that much time left with him.
“Because he’ll go to college in August. I only have a few months with him before he moves away.”
“If you even make it that long.”
“Ouch.” This time, I said it out loud.
She held up her hands. “You’re right. That was below the belt. Okay, so let’s say you do last through the summer. You’re just going to break up when he goes to college.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Maybe. I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it.”
“Jesus, Eden.”
“I know, okay? But, even if he wanted to stay together, I don’t think we should. He’s eighteen. Nineteen when he goes to college. He doesn’t need to be thinking about a girlfriend back home. He should have fun.”
“Don’t you think that’s for him to decide?”
“You just said we wouldn’t last until college. Now, you’re telling me he might want to do a long-distance relationship.”
“I’m a walking contradiction, I suppose.”
“Look, I’m not going to talk to him about the future. We’re having fun. He’s never mentioned anything long-term, and neither have I.”
“Even if you do stay together after graduation, you’re going to have to be apart for a while. Otherwise, everyone’s going to suspect you dated while he was in school. At least, if you’re having fun, it’ll be over and in the past.”
“This is too much thinking. I’m getting a headache.”
“You have a headache? I’ve been stressing all weekend.”
“Then, why didn’t you answer my calls?”
“Because I needed time to think. You should understand that.”
I knew what she was hinting at.
“I talked to Adam.”
Finally, a smile. “I’m glad. Did you tell him about Mace?”
“We video-chatted, so he met him. But I didn’t tell him that Mace was my student.”
“Good, because, if you’d told Adam just like that but kept it a secret from me, I’d have had to cut you.”
She was joking. I took it as a good sign that things would be all right with us.
“So, where do we go from here?” I asked.
“I still need time to process this. While I’m mad and hurt that you didn’t tell me, I kind of wish I were still in the dark. You’re my friend, Eden, but you’re also my coworker. I’m the one who brought you on and recommended you. Also, Mace is Connor’s cousin. Now, I have to keep this a secret from my boyfriend. Who also works here. What if you get caught and no one believes that I or Connor didn’t know?”
This was why Mace and I had kept our relationship to ourselves.
“I’m going to need space. I love you, but I’m not quite ready to forgive you yet, and I don’t want to fake it. I don’t want to pretend like everything is okay when it’s not.”
“How much time do you need?”
“I don’t know. A couple of days, a week, a month. I don’t know. But either way, I think it’s best we keep our distance until either you and Mace break it off or until the school year ends.”
“But I don’t want to lose you.”
Becca came around her desk and hugged me. “You’re not going to lose me. But until it’s safe, I don’t want to get in trouble. I don’t want Connor to get in trouble.”
“I understand.” I didn’t like it, but I understood.
“For the record, I don’t want you to get in trouble either.”
I smiled—or tried to. “I know.”
“I’m still here for you if you need me.”
“I know. And same here.”
We said good-bye, and I walked back to my classroom with a heavy heart. I understood where Becca was coming from even if I didn’t like it. I just hoped she didn’t cut me out of her life forever.
The last period of the day was about to start, and I watched as my students came into the room. Mace looked me over before heading to his seat. I had told him through text messages about my conversation with Becca. The CliffsNotes version anyway.
My phone buzzed.
Mace: How are you doing?
Me: Pretty good. I’m ready for the day to be over and to go home.
Mace: Did you talk to Becca any more?
Me: No. I ate lunch in my room. I didn’t want it to be awkward.
It was like high school all over again. How ironic.
Mace: I’m sorry, babe.
Me: You’re worth it.
Mace: Damn right I am. I’ll prove it tonight.
Me: Damn right you will.
The bell rang, and I set my phone down. I grabbed the stack of papers on my desk and stood. “Okay, class. How was your weekend?”
I got about twenty answers of, “Fine.”
That was nothing new. They weren’t very forthcoming most days.
“I need everyone to put away their things. We’re going to take the test right away. Unless anyone has any questions first?”
There was a lot of grumbling, but they cleared their desks, leaving only their pencils and erasers.
“Don’t forget to put away your phones, too,” I reminded them, looking in Mace’s direction.
Mace smirked but put his phone in his pocket and held up his empty hands.
I handed five copies to everyone in the front row, so they could hand them back, and the students went to work.
I took the silence as a chance to catch up on some grading, and before I knew it, the first student came up and set their completed test on the table at the front of the room. I only saw the person out of the corner of my eye and didn’t look up. My students knew they could
do whatever they wanted—within reason—until the other students were done. I trusted them.
But this student walked over to me and stood in front of my desk.
I looked up to see Mace.
I wanted to grin and tell him good job for getting done so fast, but other students would see my face if anyone looked up.
“May I help you?”
“I need to use the restroom.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
He made an X over his muscular chest. “I swear.”
“Okay. Go ahead.”
Mace left, and I went back to correcting and grading. A couple of more students came up, laid down their tests, and went back to their desks.
I was almost finished when the phone in my classroom rang. I got up from my desk and answered, “This is Ms. Fijalkowski.”
“Hello, Ms. F. Can you come down to the office for a moment?”
I looked at my class. Whoever was looking for me hadn’t checked my schedule before calling.
“They said it’s an emergency.”
“An emergency?” I pulled the phone over to my desk and picked up my cell. No missed calls or texts.
“Yes.”
“I have a class.”
“Someone is on their way.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.” I hurried out of my room, worried about who was calling me about an emergency. All I could think about were my parents.
When I reached the office, the secretary pointed to the phone on the end of the counter. “Line two.”
I picked up the receiver. “This is Eden Fijalkowski.”
“Don’t panic.”
It was Mace.
I turned my back to the secretary. “What are you doing?”
“I need you to come to room 203.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can.”
“You’re supposed to be in class,” I whispered. “You could get in trouble.”
“You’re going to be in trouble if you don’t get here in sixty seconds.”
I hung up.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes. Someone has a different definition of emergency than me. I have to go make some phone calls, but no one is dying.” That should be good enough for her not to worry about me not flying out of the building, and it gave me an excuse to go and talk to Mace.
“Thank heavens.”
“I’ll see you later.”
Wicked Chemistry Page 15
