30. Theo
Theo
Ideliberately wait for Eleanor to leave the faculty lounge before I do. Given half the chance, I’d follow her into her empty classroom and take her on her desk.
Danny lingers behind too, flicking through Eleanor’s notes. I do the same, biding my time, impressed by how thorough they are.
She was amazing in that meeting. Juliana pushed boundaries as usual, but Eleanor kept her in line and kept everyone on track, seamlessly assigning roles and establishing expectations with a kind but firm hand.
I’ve never seen her lead like that, not beyond third graders, and pride warms me inside out.
That woman is a force to be reckoned with, in her own quietly confident way, and that’s hot as hell.
My feet itch with the urge to find her, to tell her how proud I am—no, to show her—but I shake it off.
I’ve been fighting my own battle the past few days after pouncing on her at Halloween.
Every vivid detail of that night is etched into my memory; how she let me devour her, claim her, fuck her with a kind of animal hunger I’ve never felt before.
Hell, she didn’t just let me, she loved it.
And it’s been a constant struggle not to do it again.
“Are you heading to the assembly?” Danny asks, breaking into my very not-safe-for-work thoughts.
I nod, rising with a resigned sigh. Between meetings and the fundraiser, it’s been days since I’ve had my hands on Eleanor, and my patience is wearing thin. Again.
“She did well in there,” Danny says as we amble into the corridor. “I know you were reluctant when she first pitched Safe Harbor, but you seem to have come around.”
I bite my tongue. If I say anything now, it will be too much, about how she’s so intelligent and funny, how stupid I was to ever doubt her, how I’m feeling things for this woman I’m too scared to name.
We pass a couple of students making out against the lockers, and it makes me smile. I’m forty-seven, but Eleanor makes me feel sixteen again. How I wish I could push her up against the lockers and kiss her like that.
“Hey, guys.” Danny’s voice has me looking back. He’s stopped beside the teens, shaking his head. “You should be in assembly. Come on.”
The kids grumble, making excuses as Danny shoos them along the hall. When he joins me again, his forehead is lined with disbelief.
“Are you okay, man?”
“Fine.” I shrug, the image of kissing Eleanor against the lockers still floating through my mind.
Danny’s eyes move over my face, expression morphing into one of understanding. We continue in silence and I pause at the stairs, knowing I’ll be heading straight to Eleanor’s classroom, despite myself.
“Actually, I’ve got something I need to do,” I say, foot already on the top step. “You go on without me.”
“Theo,” Danny says, and I glance at him. “I’ve got your back, okay? I want you to be happy.”
I blink, wondering what the hell he’s talking about. He lowers his voice, leaning in close, even though we’re alone.
“Just… be careful, man. Don’t give the board another reason to go after you.” He claps me gently on the shoulder, then continues along the corridor before I can respond.
I stare after him, pulse pounding in my temple.
He knows. Don’t ask me how, but he’s figured it out.
Shit.
I curl my hands into fists in the pockets of my slacks, glancing around as if everyone has somehow heard. But it’s only me, alone in the corridor, and the realization that Danny won’t report me. Hell, he’s going to support me.
Don’t give the board another reason to go after you.
I force an exhale, replaying his words. Danny might not report me, but anyone else could. I’m not sure how far I can push this. How much I’ll get away with before it blows up in my face. In Eleanor’s face.
But my feet propel me down the steps anyway.
I’ll just talk to her, I tell myself, but I know I’m a dead man walking. My blood burns hot and urgent through my veins as I look for her, knowing we still have at least an hour before the assembly wraps up. The things I could do to her in an hour…
But as I round the corner and nudge open her door, my shoulders sag to find her classroom empty.
I pop my head into the supply closet at the back of her classroom, remembering the last time we were in here, but that’s empty too.
Where is she?
I check reception, the guidance counselor’s office, but nothing. Picking up my pace, I take the stairs two at a time, glancing into the faculty lounge again. Nothing. I’m about to give up when I hear the whir of the photocopier from the copy room two doors down.
And there she is, at the photocopier on the far side of the room, her back to me as she makes copies.
I stand in the doorway for a moment, breathless as I absorb her beauty.
The curve where her neck meets her shoulder.
The wisps of hair that fall loose from her barrette and curl at her nape.
The dip of her waist and flair of her hips in the skirt she chose today, bright with a bold geometric print. Everything Eleanor, so perfect.
I breathe out slowly, easing in her presence. She hears, glancing over her shoulder, a surprised smile curving that pretty mouth.
“Hi.”
Stepping into the room, I kick the door shut behind me.
“Eleanor,” I murmur, closing the distance between us. She turns back to her copies, as if she’s got better things to do, but when I lower my mouth to the soft skin of her neck, she shivers.
“Headmaster Wright,” she teases. “You know this is how rumors start, don’t you?”
I give a dark chuckle, hands coming to her waist. That should stop me, especially after Danny’s warning, but it doesn’t. At this point, I don’t think anything could.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. The way you led that meeting… you nailed it.”
She sighs, letting her head fall back against my chest. “Thanks.”
“I know we have a lot to do, but come to my place tonight? We can work?”
She laughs. “I’m not sure how much work we’ll get done.”
My fingers flex on her waist. “Good point,” I say thickly.
God help me, I can’t stop myself. I glance at the framed fire drill map on the wall in front of us, but it’s not the map I care about, it’s the closed door behind us, reflected in the glass. Everyone is in the auditorium. We won’t be interrupted.
“I’m sick of waiting.” My voice comes out rough and gravelly, fanning over her neck, and she turns soft and pliant against me. I slide my hands up her stomach to cup her breasts, teasing her nipples through her shirt. They’re already hard.
“Sir!” she gasps in mock surprise. “What are you doing?”
Heat spirals down through my abdomen. Fuck, I love it when she calls me that. Even more with this little game.
“You think you can eye-fuck me in that meeting and get away with it?”
I pinch her nipples, making her whimper as she spasms against the copier. Checking the reflection again, I find the waistline of her skirt and dip my hand inside, cupping her pussy over her underwear.
“There are consequences when you’re naughty, Miss Hart.”
She grinds against my hand, breathing heavily, and I slip into her panties to find her already soaked. Jesus. My cock thickens as I slide my fingers over her slippery clit.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she whispers.
I drag my mouth over her neck as I stroke the sensitive spot, loving the way she turns to putty in my hands.
“Can you feel how wet you’re getting?”
She wiggles restlessly, caught between me and the copier, neck hot under my mouth.
“You like being naughty for me, don’t you, sweetheart?”
I glance at the reflection again, making sure we’re still alone. Her breath stutters when I push two fingers into her, grazing my teeth on her earlobe.
“You like letting the headmaster finger you in the copy room.”
She moans, gripping the copier, knuckles white. “God, yes.”
Fuck, it’s too much. She’s so damn wet. So eager for me. I rut against her ass, so turned on it’s fucking painful.
“Go on,” I grate out. “Tell me who makes you come.”
She tightens around my fingers, hips stuttering as she reaches her limit. “You, sir,” she rasps, quivering against the copier.
Fuck yes, I do.
“That’s my good girl.”
I kiss her neck as she comes down, loving the feel of her, slack against me. But it’s not enough. My dick aches, and I need to feel her tightness wrapped around it.
I turn and stalk to the door, jamming a chair under the handle.
“I’m going to fuck you over the copier,” I rumble, freeing my throbbing cock from my pants.
Eleanor’s eyes are wide and excited as she lifts her skirt, exposing her pantie-clad ass to me. I push the cotton aside, dragging the leaking head of my dick through her wet slit, teasing her.
“Is this what you want, sweetheart?” I’m thick and hard, ready to sink into her, but I need to hear her say it.
“Yes.” She whimpers, lifting her ass. “Please.”
“Good girl.” I squeeze her hip, loving those sweet little manners of hers.
Then I thrust deep into her, bracing myself against the copy machine. She stifles a moan, her hands coming over mine, fingers scrabbling. She’s so wet that I can hear every thrust, muffled only by the sound of the copier.
“You’re dripping for me,” I growl into her ear. “You like being the reason I lose control?”
“Fuck, Theo, yes.”
My hand comes back to her hip, gripping hard, wanting to leave a mark. I’m frantic in my need for her, barely remembering to glance at the reflection above us. I’ve jammed the door, but that’s not much. Someone could get in if they wanted.
And I just don’t fucking care.
It’s her. Everything about her. It doesn’t matter how hard I fight it. I need her. The school could burn down around me and I wouldn’t notice, I’m so consumed by my need for her.
“You like how desperate I get for you?” I choke out. Because I am. I’m desperate and deranged and so unhinged it’s scary. I don’t recognize myself.
“I’m desperate for you too,” she rasps, turning to glance back at me with fierce hazel eyes. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Theo. Can’t focus. I want you all the time.”
Shit.
Her confession hits me square in the chest. I slow my thrusts, pressing my back flush to hers, arms encircling her waist as I pull her close and bury my nose in her hair.
I need more from her. More than stolen moments between meetings. More than keeping her hidden, my dirty little secret.
But I don’t have the answers to that right now. And if we get caught, I won’t get a chance at any of it.
She wriggles, trying to move on my dick, and I press a soothing kiss to her temple.
“Keep still, sweetheart. Let me take care of you.”
Keeping one eye on the reflection above us, I fuck her hard and swiftly, bringing her over the edge before exploding inside her.
After, as we straighten our clothes, she gazes at me with a deep flush on her cheeks.
“That was so hot.” Her gaze flits to the door, then back to me. “So fucking hot.”
I give her a filthy grin, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I know.” I hesitate, wanting to tell her how much she means to me, how much I want something more, but this isn’t the time or place.
Instead, she turns back to the copier, and I slip out of the room, not nearly as satisfied as I’d hoped.