Teacher

by Fiona Cole

  Irritation prickled along the back of my neck. I did nothing to hold back my hard sigh and eye roll. “I’m a big girl, Erik. I can go to a bar without you. Besides, Daniel will be there.”

  Knowing Daniel would be there did nothing to soften the furrowed brows and pinched lips. “You’ve been hanging out with him a lot,” he said with more than a little suspicion.

  “Relax. We’re just friends.” I gave Erik my best smile. “He’s actually going to teach me to flirt tonight.”

  “He’s what?”

  I almost laughed at the way Erik’s voice rose at least three octaves. But my shoulders grew tight in the apparent way he still thought of me as the damaged girl who couldn’t move on. I had moved on. Why couldn’t he see that?

  “Don’t act so shocked. I’m a grown woman. I get to flirt.”

  “Jesus,” he groaned, running a hand down his face. “Just…just be careful. Do you have the mace I got you?”

  “Ugh. I’m leaving.” I brushed past him into the elevator, standing tall.

  “Call me when you get home safely,” Erik demanded.

  “Yes, Dad.”

  I just caught his own eye roll before the doors slid shut.

  I ran home and tried not to overthink my outfit. Otherwise, I’d never make it to the bar. I settled on jeans and a cute top.

  As soon as I cleared the doors at Voy, I stopped. Standing at the bar were Ian and Carina. I looked around, expecting Erik to pop out despite me telling him I didn’t need him.

  With heavy feet, I approached the group with a glare. “Seriously?”

  “Well, hello to you too,” Carina said with an arched brow. I gave an apologetic stare, she returned with a wink.

  “What a coincidence, Little Brandt,” Ian said with wide eyes.

  Carina slapped his chest and rolled her eyes.

  “Erik sent you, didn’t he?” I asked.

  Ian’s face scrunched up, and he looked around like he was shocked I’d asked. “What? No. I’ve not spoken to Erik since work. Nope. This is all a coincidence.”

  “Shut up, Ian,” Carina said without any heat.

  He leaned down into her space, and the look he gave her was almost indecent to watch. “Make me.”

  I turned away when she shifted to press into his chest. It was their moment.

  “Hey, there,” Daniel greeted, sliding up beside me. “Can I get you a drink?”

  “Sure.”

  “Jackson, get the girl a drink.”

  Jackson gave Daniel a deadpanned stare. “I’m spitting in yours.”

  “Just the way I like it.”

  Jackson slid my tequila in front of me. “Hey, Hanna.”

  “Hey. How are you?”

  “Good, about to get off work and head home to my man.”

  “Tell Jake we all said hi,” Daniel said. Jackson winked in return before helping another customer. “Tell me about your day. What happened?”

  Remembering the lunchroom, I cringed all over again and refused to meet his eyes as I repeated the incident.

  By the end, Daniel’s cheeks were red and his mouth white from trying to pinch his lips and hold back the laugh I knew he wanted to let free.

  “Go ahead,” I said, waving my hand. “Laugh it up.”

  “It probably wasn’t that bad,” he soothed, letting a smile finally break free.

  “It was horrible.”

  “Well, let’s see what we can do.”

  “What you need to do,” Carina said, hopping in. “Is give them all your attention. Or at least the illusion of it.”

  Carina faced Ian and stroked her nail down the lapel of his jacket. “Make eye contact,” she explained. “Face him directly. None of the hard to get stuff. We’re too old for that shit.”

  “Hey, Ian,” Carina breathed in the most sultry voice. My jaw almost hit the floor at the way she made it sound normal and not at all forced.

  “Damn, Hell-cat,” Ian muttered.

  She gave him an exaggerated wink before curling back into his arms. “The trick is to take a deep breath to try and calm down and always, always think before you speak.”

  “Easier said than done,” I grumbled.

  “Most things are.”

  “Another trick,” she continued. “Is to make the touches casual. Like they’re an old friend. It forms that tiny connection and makes them wonder what it would feel like to be touched anywhere else.”

  “Jesus,” Daniel grumbled.

  “Listen,” Ian said. “The real trick is to not do those things. You want to hide your assets. Keep them guessing. Bonus is that they look you in the eye and not anywhere else.” He awkwardly gestured to my chest before continuing. “This way, you know they’re really listening to you. And talk about what you love. If it’s math, then go to town with those math puns. Tell him your favorite equations. Guys dig it.”

  “Oh, my goodness,” Carina groaned. “You’re an idiot.”

  “Says the woman who sleeps with me every night.”

  “Fair point. I can’t argue with that.”

  Ian and Carina went off on a tangent, and I fell back against the bar, exhausted by the overload of information.

  “Ignore them,” Daniel said. “Just be yourself. Carina was right though, take a deep breath to help keep from word vomiting. Also,” he held up a finger. “Always have an out. Feeling trapped in a situation can make it worse.”

  “A what?”

  “An out. A hand signal with a friend to rescue you. A phone call. Anything.”

  “Okay.” I took a fortifying breath, pulling myself upright, stretching my neck side to side.

  “How about him?” Daniel nodded to a guy at the end of the bar.

  He looked…safe. A button-down with his sleeves rolled up his forearms. Longish, light brown hair that kept falling into his eyes, and a mouth that smiled each time the bartender talked to him.

  “He’s looked down here more than once.”

  “He has?”

  “Don’t look so shocked. You’re a knockout, Hanna.”

  Flashes of Daniel staring between my thighs as he came bombarded my brain, and I shook them off. That probably wasn’t what he thought about when he complimented my looks.

  “If things get to be too much, just brush your middle finger along your brow. I’ll come rescue you.”

  “My hero.” I pretended to swoon.

  He laughed and shoved my shoulder. “Go. Remember deep breaths and be yourself.”

  I edged around the bodies on shaky legs until I was finally able to lean my elbows on the bar next to the stranger. Daniel spoke to Jackson on the opposite end but kept glancing my way, making me feel secure.

  “Hi,” I said.

  He looked to me with the deepest brown eyes I think I’d ever seen. His lips tipped up into an easy smile that was even more devastating less than two feet away. “Hey,” he greeted.

  His deep voice hit me in the chest, and I took a deep breath before letting words tumble free.

  “Can I get you a drink?” I asked.

  “Isn’t that my line?”

  I leaned in conspiratorially. “I know the bartender.”

  “Ohhh,” he nodded in understanding. “Sure. I’m not one to turn down a free drink from a pretty lady.”

  His compliment hit me, creating a swirl of pride, mixing with the typical fear in my chest. I did my best to shove down all the scenarios where this man kidnapped me, and I was forced to use the one hour of self-defense Daniel taught me to save my life.

  Jackson looked over, and I shouted our drinks. When I looked back to the man, he’d shifted on his stool to fully face me, hand held out. “Zane.”

  I swallowed, looking down at his large hand, mentally preparing to place mine in his. My heart thundered, and just as soon as my hand was in his, I quickly snatched it back. If he noticed my discomfort, he was nice enough to not call me out on it.

  “Hanna,” I introduced, swallowing the nerves.

  “Nice to meet you, Hanna.”

/>   With one last look to Daniel and another deep breath, I sat on the stool beside him and tried to flirt.

  It ended up being less flirting and more like talking. Two strangers getting to know each other. And the thing I got to know about Zane was that he liked to drink. One drink turned into two and then into three. All within a thirty-minute span. When his attention began to drift more to my chest than my face, red flags started waving. When his hand landed on my thigh, entirely too high for anyone’s liking, I knew it was time to get out.

  I jerked to the side, pulling away and ramming my knee into the bar.

  Glancing over, I thankfully found Daniel’s eyes on mine. I rubbed my brow with my middle finger and waited. Less than a minute later, heat pressed to my back, and Daniel’s familiar spicy orange scent wrapped around me.

  “Baby,” he said against my ear. “I know I said we could do a threesome, but I’ve changed my mind. I want you all to myself tonight.”

  I could barely focus on Zane’s glassy eyes widening. All my senses focused on the way Daniel’s arms wrapped around my middle. The quick zap of panic at the first touch quickly faded to a happy buzz.

  “Uhhh,” Zane mumbled. “What?”

  “We like to get a little weird. You don’t mind being my bottom, right?”

  Zane’s hands flew up as he sat back. “Whoa. Sorry, Hanna. Not my thing.” His face scrunched up. “You seemed so normal,” he muttered.

  I could only muster a high-pitched laugh of discomfort.

  Warm lips trailed up my neck to my ear. “Come on, baby. I’ve got plans for you.”

  Daniel gripped my hand and led me back over to our seat. Still in shock over the rush of sensations, I could do nothing but sit there, wide-eyed, and waiting for the next move.

  He dragged his hand through his hair and leaned his elbows against the bar, smiling. “Still your hero?”

  “Yeah,” I laughed. “Just a really dirty one.”

  “You want to try again?”

  “I think I’m good for tonight. As not-great as that was, I think it was a step up from earlier.”

  “I’m proud of you for trying.”

  His compliment almost had me bouncing in my seat. “I learned from the best.”

  Daniel slid a water my way, and I took a healthy sip. I’d had enough to drink and watching Zane down his own had me desperate for a water.

  “So, can I confess something?” Maybe it was the earlier drinks, or maybe it was just my need to share with him that this process was working, but when he looked my way, eyebrow raised, I found myself admitting what I’d done. “I masturbated.”

  His eyes widened comically large before he blinked and looked at the bar. His eyes moved back to mine to find me almost bouncing in my seat. Now that I’d said it out loud, I wanted to get it all off my chest and share with someone who knew how awesome this was for me.

  “I mean, I’d tried before, and I just couldn’t focus my mind enough to make it work, but after what we’d done, I was lying in bed and just…just had to. It was amazing.”

  His lips slowly quirked up in a smile. I was sure I shocked him with my confession.

  “Sorry, I’d usually talk to Alex, but she’s been busy, and you’re my next best friend. I also figured I’d let you know it’s working.”

  He took a deep breath and finished his drink before setting his glass on the bar and reaching across the space to rest his hand on mine. His smile shifted from a little forced to genuine. “I’m glad for you, Hanna. It’s what you’re working toward, and I’m proud of you for taking control.”

  “It was awesome,” I sighed dreamily.

  “It usually is,” he laughed.

  “How often do you masturbate?”

  He rubbed at his forehead with his thumb and laughed harder. “Honestly?” he asked, wincing.

  “I mean, we might as well continue with the honesty.”

  “Not often. I don’t have to.”

  “Oh.” I sat back, the realization of what he meant hitting me. “Well, good for you,” I said, forcing a smile I didn’t quite feel. Not that it mattered because Daniel and I owed each other nothing.

  “I never asked, is there someone specific you’re doing this for? I know you mentioned trying to flirt in the office today. A certain someone catching your eye?”

  “Umm…” I tucked my hair behind my ear, hesitating. Why was this making me uncomfortable after I just admitted that I pleasured myself? I shook off the nerves. “His name is Sean. He was the guy at the dinner party at Carina’s. Someone told me he liked me, which I know sounds very juvenile.”

  “Not at all,” he said, waving away my concern. “Do you like him?”

  “I don’t know. I have a hard time letting myself get comfortable with him, so we don’t get to talk much. And when we do, I start laying down some sweet math puns.”

  “Well, then how could he resist?” he joked.

  “I don’t know, honestly. I think I’m kind of focusing all my attention on this and letting the rest fall in place.”

  “I think that’s smart.”

  “Thank you. For everything,” I added softly.

  “It’s my pleasure. Sometimes literally.”

  We both laughed until he cleared his throat.

  “So, do you mind if I ask if you’ve tried more than once?”

  “Ugh, yeah,” I groaned, dropping my head to the bar.

  “Well, that sounds less promising.”

  “I couldn’t…I couldn’t do it again.”

  “Is there a reason holding you back?”

  Well, I won’t let myself imagine you jerking off anymore, and that seemed to be the key to my orgasm. Yeah, that wouldn’t go over well. Instead, I avoided answering with a shrug.

  “How about we meet at Voyeur again next week?”

  I perked up. “Yeah?”

  “Of course.”

  “I can pay for a membership. I don’t want to take advantage of your generosity and have you miss out. I know it’s a hefty amount.”

  “Don’t worry about it. This isn’t about a club membership. This is about me helping a friend.”

  “Thank you, Daniel.”

  “Of course. So, what do you want to do next?”

  “I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

  One side of his mouth tipped up, and he turned just enough to look at me from the side of his eye. “A lot of things.”

  I breathed a laugh, brushing my hair behind my ear. “Okay.”

  Taking in my nerves, he turned to face me fully. “Hanna, I want to do whatever you’re comfortable with. Feel free to use and abuse me.”

  13

  Daniel

  Hanna: Plan something for me...Further than last time, but not by much.

  Hanna: I don’t know what to do.

  Her last message was what won me over.

  Now I sat at Voyeur, pounding water, wishing it was vodka. Anything strong enough to calm my nerves, but I wanted to be alert for her. I wanted to do this right.

  I could do this right.

  The last person to ask me to do something was Sabrina, and I had regrets that still clung to me today.

  Familiar green eyes flashed in my memory.

  “I want to go to the formal, Daniel. Plan it for me. Surprise me,” Sabrina pleaded wistfully.

  “Sabrina,” I sighed. “I just don’t want to go. I’ve got that show I’m going to with Kent. I planned this a month ago, and before I did, I asked about the formal, and you said no. I’m not canceling because you changed your mind.”

  The wistfulness dropped like an anvil, and all that was left was accusation and anger. “You’re choosing Kent over me?”

  “No. You know I’m not.”

  “I love you, Daniel. Be with me,” she pleaded almost desperately.

  I ran a tired hand over my face. “Why don’t you come with us?”

  “Because I don’t want to. I want to dress up and feel pretty and dance with my boyfriend. Please. Do this for me.”
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br />   “Sabrina, I can’t.”

  Anger morphed her features into a snarl, and I braced myself. “Fine,” she shouted. “Fuck you. I’ll go with Kyle. Maybe I’ll even fuck him.”

  Exhaustion wore down my patience. More and more, Sabrina ran scalding hot to freezing cold, and I struggled to keep up. Too often, I found myself putting everything on hold to make her moods less drastic, and right then, I was tired. Too tired to be anything but a selfish asshole.

  “You know, what? Fine. Have fun.” I stormed out, not wanting her anger to grow until it crumbled to tears. I didn’t want to be there for the long drawn out ordeal.

  “More water?” Charlotte, my bartender, asked.

  “Yeah. Thanks.”

  Scrubbing a hand through my hair, I tugged at the strands as if trying to pull the memory out. Sabrina was always with me, but I tried not to think about her too much. But the more time I spent helping Hanna, the more and more the memories crept in. It was hard when their eyes were so similar.

  Remembering how I let Sabrina down that night, just confirmed I was doing the right thing for Hanna. Maybe if I did enough for her, I could make up for all I did wrong before. I could balance my past mistakes with my future.

  “Hey.”

  Hanna’s soft voice among the music snapped my attention her way, and I was pretty sure my jaw hit the floor. She wore a long-sleeve, black wrap dress that cut almost all the way down to her belly button. My mouth watered at the curve of her full breasts, wondering how hard I’d have to tug on the fitted material before her nipple popped out. On top of that, it ended about six inches above her over the knee-high black boots.

  “Jesus, Hanna.”

  She stepped from foot to foot, pulling her arms in front of her. “Too much?”

  “God, no. Honestly, you’re the sexiest woman in the room.”

  Her nerves slipped away, only to be replaced by a stunning smile she did her best to hide under her teeth.

  “Would you like a drink?”

  “Actually, I wouldn’t mind getting started.”

  “Eager?” I joked.

  “Maybe a little.” She shrugged. “You’ve got me addicted.”

  “Pleasure isn’t a bad thing to be addicted to as long as you’re safe about it.”