5
Sitting at my desk as the new crop of students begins to enter my classroom, I glance up when a clean and spicy scent touches my senses. I know that scent. My chest palpitates. My mouth drops open. My eyes lock on the back of him. I tilt my head and stare at a familiar body.
No, oh my god. No.
My legs clench together under the desk, and I quiver. Dropping my gaze, I rush my hands through my hair and locate my glasses. I want to see this young man clearly.
Raising only my eyes, I watch as he lays his backpack on one of the tables. A drum fest plays inside my chest. He turns, and I gasp. Holy fuck. My body freezes as he walks over to my desk.
“Good morning, Mrs. Turner, is it? I’m Jaden Lugo.” He smiles as he stands opposite me and offers his hand. My desk is between us. Smiling, I stand and lay my hand in his. He’s playing it straight up, acting like we don’t know one another intimately.
“Oh, um, good morning. It’s Miss Turner.” Blinking my eyes rapidly, I begin to pan my gaze up his long, perfect body. I pause at his pecs. I can see them clearly through the tight t-shirt he’s wearing. My fingers curl as I remember how glorious they felt beneath my hands each time we fucked.
After too many seconds, I resume my scan of him. I pretend I didn’t hear his name.
“I’m sorry. You said you were…?” I meet his steel-blue eyes, and a familiar fire ignites inside of me.
“Jaden. Jaden Lugo. It’s nice to meet you, Miss Turner.” He holds my hand; he doesn’t shake it.
“I can’t wait to learn from you. I’ve heard great things about you.” He pinches my hand softly and winks at me.
My legs are spaghetti as I brace myself with my free hand splayed on my desk.
“Thank you, Jaden. I hope I live up to everything you’ve heard.” I slowly pull my hand back while he’s smiling wickedly, and I’m overheated. I need a drink, a fan, a fucking block of ice to sit my searing ass on.
The rest of my students file in, a total of eight, and take their seats at the tall metal tables we use as desks. I avoid looking at Jaden. I know I won’t be able to stand if our eyes meet. Sucking in a deep breath, I hold it for a beat, then let it out. I slide my hands down my much too short black skirt and push back my chair. Thank God, I’m wearing my black flats today. I come out from behind my oak desk with my iPad containing everyone’s names and stand in the center of the tables.
“Good morning, everyone, and welcome. I’m Miss Turner.” I tap on the iPad surface and scan my students’ names. I notice all of them have already ascertained their AS degree, meaning they all only need two more years of classes to receive their bachelor’s degree.
“I’ll be your instructor for the next two years. How many of you are here to attain your bachelor’s degree?” I glance around the room and notice everyone’s arms up.
“That makes me happy to see everyone wanting to dedicate themselves to my class.” Jaden’s hand waves in my peripheral vision, and I turn his way. Avoiding his gaze, I stare at his chin and say, “Yes, Jaden?”
“When do we start cooking?” His smile is wide and extremely inviting.
“Soon,” I say as my legs turn to jelly. I take steps backward until I find my desk. Leaning against it for stability, I continue, “Let’s start by introducing ourselves and telling everyone what your goals are. What you want from this class.” I look briefly at Jaden and wave toward him.
“You may begin.”
Standing from the table he shares with another young man, Jaden says, “Hey, everyone. I’m Jaden Lugo, and my dream, my goal is to learn all I can, and one day open my own restaurant in New York City.” He glances at me before taking his seat again.
I drop my gaze away from his much too desirable body. I cannot be caught staring at him like I know I am. I bite the inside of my cheek and keep my lips tight.
“Well, Jaden. Those are lofty goals, but with a positive attitude and determination, it can be done.” I look at the young man next to Jaden.
“You’re next.” I raise my arm for him to stand.
“Hi, everyone. I’m Bob Tracy. My dream is to own my own place one day too. But not in New York City.” He glances at Jaden.
“A nice small diner will do for me.” He smiles and sits back down.
I nod to the young woman at the next table. Standing, she smiles Jaden’s way. A sharp pang stings me, but I shake it off. Of course, an attractive young man is going to have beautiful young women fawn all over him. I’m crazy to think he’d want to spend his life with a divorced, single mom, so much older than him.
“It’s nice to meet you all. I’m Candace Dormond. I want to learn how to cook and maybe one day own my own place back home.”
The rest of my students introduce themselves and their dreams for their futures. I try to concentrate on my lesson plan for the first day, but every time I catch Jaden’s blue gaze, my mind stops functioning and I stop breathing for a few beats. I know he’s watching me. The heat from his stare goes right to my core. I try to avoid his look for the remainder of the class.
When class finally ends, I stand by the door to say goodbye to my new students. After the seven leave, I glance to the lone young man standing by my desk. His smile is full of sin.
He curls his index finger, inviting me to come to him. I know I shouldn’t, but fuck, I’ve already had him several times over the past two weeks. Why not now? We’re both adults…
But I know why not. Now he’s my student, I can’t think about him like that anymore. Us being adults won’t matter to the university’s ethics committee.
I meander my way to the other side of my desk and stand between it and my chair. Hoping the desk is enough of a barrier, I risk glancing up into Jaden’s mesmerizing eyes.
“Hey.” I blink slowly and clasp my hands on my desk after I sit in my chair. My legs are wet noodles.
“Hey, Miss Turner.” Jaden hops onto my desk, sitting on the edge, then twists to lean in close to me.
“Jaden, we…”
His hand holds my chin as his lips cover mine.
I succumb to his will and kiss him back. He tastes so fucking good.
His soft tongue caresses the edges of my lips, then darts inside and tangles with mine.
Remembering where we are, I quickly but reluctantly break our kiss. My eyes close as I hang my head and shake it slowly.
“Blaire, look at me.” Jaden lifts my chin with his finger, then cups my cheek with his palm.
“We can’t do this, Jaden. I’m your instructor now. It’s not right.” I pull back from him and drop my gaze. Clasping my hands in my lap, I breathe deeply and hope he understands we cannot continue what we have for the past two weeks. I want to be with him, but I can’t risk my career. I won’t.
“But what about?—”
I raise my hand, shake my head, and whisper, “No, I’m sorry. I can’t see you anymore.” My heart shatters. The intense ache traveling through my body makes my breath hitch. I push my chair back, creating more space between us, and fold my arms under my breasts. I draw in a deep breath and lift my head. Meeting Jaden’s glassy eyes, I gather my words. I have to make him understand.
“Jaden—”
His hands fly up and he asks, “Why? Because you’re my teacher for one class?” His eyes narrow, he clenches his jaw.
Holding onto the back of my chair for support, I say, “Yes. That’s exactly why. It’s against the university’s policy for teachers and students to be involved.”
“But we’re adults, Bl?—”
My hand waves fast as I stop him.
“It doesn’t matter that we’re adults. It’s strictly prohibited.” I pull in a breath and hold it for a beat.
“Please…”
“No,” I state firmly.
“I have a daughter I need to support and myself. I can’t risk my career. I’m sorry…”
He drags his hand over his close-cut hair and rubs his neck. He paces around the space between my desk and the metal tables. Turning back to me, he huffs out a breath, then walks toward me.
“I don’t want you to lose your job, but I don’t want to lose you either.” He shakes his head.
“We don’t have a choice. It’s over.” I cross my arms over my chest and straighten my spine.
“Blaire, there must be some way we can see one another. Off campus. In our private time. How can the university control what we do as adults when we’re not here?” His eyes draw close as he swipes his hand under his nose.
My entire being wants to make it all okay for us to be together, but I know I can’t, and I won’t. I try again to make him understand,
“Jaden, I can’t change the policy. This hurts me as much as it hurts you. I don’t want to stop seeing you. I must stop seeing you. I don’t have a choice. Please understand.”
He turns away from me again, scratching his hands over his head repeatedly. His hands land on his hips when he faces me.
“We can keep us a secret. I won’t tell?—”
I wave my hand in the air again and shake my head slowly.
“No. It doesn’t work that way,” I say sternly.
The door to my classroom opens as Jaden reaches for me. I gasp and step back out of his reach.
“Oh…” Candace holds the door as she glances between me and Jaden.
My heart’s racing too fast and I feel lightheaded. I force a warm smile and ask, “Did you forget something, Candace?”
“Um… No… Sorry, I didn’t…” She turns quickly and leaves the classroom.
“Jaden,” I snap, “That is why we can’t do this.” I point to the door. Glaring at him, I plead with him to stop.
His head falls to his chest, his feet shuffle slowly as he walks away from me. His shoulders slump deeply. He turns when he reaches the door.
“Blaire,” he whispers, then leaves my classroom.
I let out the breath I’d held and fall into my chair, pulling it close to my desk again. Folding my arms on it, I drop my head onto my arms as tears escape my eyes.