Karaoke Chemistry: A Witchy Small Town Romcom (Sacred River Book 2)

9. Riggs

IT’S BEEN A week since our kiss in her classroom. A week in which I didn’t get to go to karaoke because I spent a couple of days with Pops, knowing I’d be pretty swamped with the start of a new school year.

He’d known something was up with me, too, teasing me about a girl and giving me the same kind of light-hearted hell he’d always given me. All I could do was shrug and take it, because Magnolia was the first woman who’d ever held my interest enough to make me wonder what a future with her might look like.

A week to wonder what the hell I’d gotten myself into. I’d finally let myself kiss her, really kiss her, only to find out she’s a… witch? I’m still having trouble with that one. I run a hand over my face, then startle when the bell rings.

Mrs. Hayes sticks her head in my office. “Happy first day of school, Principal Finlay!” She’s far too effervescent, and it honestly makes me worry about her heart health. The woman should have retired a decade ago, but swears that working is what keeps her going.

I’m still a little irritated with her. All the gossip she spilled on me, and she didn’t lead with “Oh, by the way, Miss Rowan, the chemistry teacher, can do more than just chemistry?” I still don’t understand anything, and the irony of it all is that no one in town mentions it outright. I went to the drugstore and told the pharmacist I was having some bad allergies, and they suggested I see the women at Rowan’s Apothecary for some tea. At the garden center, I said I was looking for some local plants, and the proprietor insisted the Rowan property had the best selection, if I could get them to sell me anything. I went to the library to ask about some books on the history of the town, and instead of mentioning the Rowan witches, the librarian just pointed to the relevant section and went back to helping someone with a job application.

Honestly. It’s either that everyone is just so used to it that they don’t mention it, or it’s not real.

I have a feeling it’s the former.

I grimace at Mrs. Hayes. “Happy first day of school.”

She waves at me to get up. “Come on! Students to greet, parents to meet.”

I haul myself up and follow her to the front, checking my cuffs and straightening my tie as I go. I ease into the hallway, careful not to mess with the flow of students entering from the front. It’s a perfectly normal high school in what I thought was a perfectly normal town, but I can’t stop squinting at people to see if they’re, I don’t know, werewolves or some shit.

It’s ridiculous.

“Hi, Mr. Finlay!” A student I’ve never met is waving and smiling at me, her young face almost impossibly fresh and enthusiastic.

Beside me, Mrs. Hayes leans in and says, “That’s Claire Jersey. Senior. Captain of the cheerleading team.”

I smile at the girl. “Good morning, Miss Jersey.”

The girl flushes, ducks her head, and scurries off.

The process repeats for the next ten minutes, Mrs. Hayes feeding me info about students as they pass by and introducing me to others who slow down long enough for her to catch their eye. I’ve already met the football team, so I get plenty of “what’s up, Principal F?” nods as they make their way down the hall.

Eventually, the two-minute warning bell sounds, and the sounds of lockers being shut eases. I put my hands in my pockets and start to walk. A few minutes later, homeroom has begun and Mrs. Hayes is giving the morning announcements, her voice echoing into the empty halls. Already the place smells different, lingering scents of perfume and body spray mingling alongside a distinct ‘new school year’ smell. New shoes, pencils, backpacks, that sort of thing. It’s subtle, but I’ve taught for so long that there’s no mistaking it. Glad to know that even in a town that apparently houses witches, some things never change.

Mrs. Hayes finishes with the announcements, and it’s not long before I’m in the science hall, drawn to Magnolia like always. I haven’t seen her all week, but it hasn’t stopped me from thinking of her, of the way she went soft in my arms, giving in to me as I plundered her lush mouth.

I clear my throat and remind myself I’m the principal. Principals can’t have semis as they walk the halls. My dick doesn’t get the memo, which is not surprising. When has it ever listened to me when it comes to Magnolia Rowan?

Her voice is clear as a bell, melodic and damn near riding out of her classroom on a wave to me, luring me in. Tingles race over my skin, and I feel like a drunk Disney character, lumbering toward her with my tongue lolling. In reality, I’ve merely slowed my steps until I’m standing just outside her door, thankful that she hasn’t papered over the thin strip of window so that I can watch her.

She’s animated, speaking with both authority and excitement, and it’s cute as hell. I know, without a doubt, that I’d have a crush on her if I were one of her students. Her hair is up in what I think of as her customary Magnolia braids, only they’re a little fancier than usual. French braids, maybe? No makeup. A shirt that says Why can you never trust an atom? They make up literally everything, and a long skirt with tiny red flowers on it. Birkenstocks. Briefly, I wonder if her toes are polished, and picture them pressed against my hands as I massage them. I don’t have a thing for feet, but I absolutely have a thing for her.

“Principal Finlay!” Mr. Dander calls my name from down the hall. “We need to talk about those marching uniforms.”

He’s loud enough that Magnolia jerks her gaze toward the door, and I give her what I hope is a stern look before turning my attention to the band director. This man may just be my new sworn enemy.

Later,when I know Magnolia has a free period, I ask Mrs. Hayes to have Miss Rowan come see me. Because I don’t know if it’s magic or straight-up lust, but if I don’t get a taste of this woman, my world will crumble. Not five minutes later, Magnolia appears, a confused look of apprehension on her face.

“Shut the door,” I demand.

She does it, a flush rising up her neck as she turns back to me. “Did I do something wrong?”

I couldn’t be more grateful for the way this office faces the front of the school and gets the early afternoon sun. It ensures that no one outside can see through the glare, so we’re free from any curious eyes.

I nod, my expression deadly serious. Then I say, “No.”

She’s even more confused, and my dick twitches.

“Come here.” I scoot back from the desk. “On this side.”

She hesitates.

“Seven,” I say, using the name on purpose in the hopes that it lures that side of her to the surface. “Now.”

It works, because her expression morphs right before my eyes, going from innocent to siren. Even her posture changes, the self-assurance of her alter ego surfacing in the way she rounds the desk and slides into position before me, her eyes fused to mine.

“Better,” I murmur.

“Why have I been called to the principal’s office, Riggs?” Her voice is breathy.

I drift my hands to her hips, the cotton of the skirt soft beneath my touch. “Because I wanted to see you,” I admit. “And I know it’s risky, but I had to.” I watch her closely, moving to palm her calves beneath her skirt, still holding her gaze. “Is this okay?”

She swallows and darts a look at the door before blinking slowly.

“Do you feel it?” I ask. “The sparks?”

Her breath hitches as the pulse in her neck speeds up. That’s a yes. I trace my fingers up her skin, ready to stop the moment she wants me to, swallowing a groan at how silky smooth she is.

“Riggs,” she sighs and closes her eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Touching you.” I move my hands farther up the skirt, then lean forward in the chair and press my nose to the apex of her thighs, inhaling, so fucking grateful she’s let me go this far. She hisses softly. “Smelling you.”

“Someone is going to come in.” Her voice is strangled.

“They won’t. Mrs. Hayes is under strict instructions. Now tell me something,” I demand, leaning my head back and moving one hand up her leg while the other traces her skin to the front of her thigh.

Her breathing is ragged. “Wh-what?”

“When you get yourself off, do you use a toy? Or your fingers?”

“Holy shit,” she exhales. Her hands clench. “What the hell is going on? We are in school ohmygodddd,” she trails off.

I let out a low chuckle as I press against her clit on the outside of her cotton panties. Panties that I’m nearly certain are plain and some kind of pastel color. I make a note to buy her some lacy confection for later. Right now, it’s all I can do not to yank these down and plunge my tongue into her. “I told you that you could have it your way. I didn’t say I wasn’t going to have it my way, too, Seven.”

“Riggs,” she whispers. “Please.”

“It’s hardly the time to beg, sweetheart. Answer the question.” I trace a finger up the seam of her, noting the wetness and aching to taste her arousal. I circle my thumb around the tight bundle of nerves, and her hips angle up as she shifts her legs to open them a little wider.

“Fff-ingers,” she whimpers.

“Do you not like toys?”

Her hips swirl, chasing the orgasm I’m absolutely going to give her. She smells so fucking good. “I—god, I do, I just…” she squeezes eyes shut and lets her head fall back.

I’m tempted to edge her, and as delicious as that sounds, I can’t risk it here. So I press harder on her clit, watching her face to gauge precisely what she likes and following it. “Just what, Seven?” I murmur.

“Mine broke and I can’t have it shipped to the house because my sisters will know,” she answers, her voice weak. “God, Riggs, please don’t stop,” she whispers.

She’s right there, so damn close, and even though I know I shouldn’t, even though that door could fly open at any fucking second, I do it. I push the cotton aside and plunge two fingers into her, bending them to beckon her orgasm on. She gasps, her mouth popping open with a silent scream as she detonates, her walls clenching around my fingers and her legs shaking with the force of her climax. I think the papers on my desk vibrate as she comes, but I’m not about to take my eyes off her to confirm it.

“There you go,” I soothe. “So good, you’re so fucking gorgeous.” I keep encouraging her, praising her, relishing the way her inner muscles pulse around my fingers.

She comes back to earth and looks at me, her cheeks flushed and rosy, her neck a dark pink. Her eyes are glassy with release, and they heat as she watches me pull my fingers from her and suck them into my mouth.

“Fuck, you taste incredible,” I say, my voice husky. “I can’t wait to lay you out on this desk and eat you, Seven. Then I’ll turn you around and fuck you until neither of us can stand.”

She squeaks, and it’s fucking adorable.

“Don’t have anything to say?” I grin, entirely satisfied with myself, hard as steel dick notwithstanding.

There’s a knock at the door, and Magnolia moves faster than I thought possible. She throws on a bright smile and tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she turns to the door, fully in place on the other side of the desk as the door opens and Mrs. Hayes pokes her head in.

“Sorry to interrupt, Principal Finlay, but some parents are here to see you.” She doesn’t look sorry at all, and it’s clear she’s not sure what to make of me or Magnolia.

“I was just leaving.” Magnolia ducks her head at Mrs. Hayes. “I’ll send you the information for the lab materials.” She looks back at me as she speaks, and I swear there might be a glint of mischief in her eyes.

Like I said: fucking adorable.