Chapter 12
12
Tovah walked into class the last night and sat in her usual seat. Knowing Zach wasn’t going to be there, she felt none of the tension or anxiousness that came with sitting in his class. It had been an unusual semester to say the least.
The Zach who lectured wasn’t the same one she knew as her neighbor. The professor in him was professional, closed off, secretive. The neighbor was open, caring, fun.
One thing that hadn’t changed: his fan club had not abated. If anything, they had gotten stronger and bolder as the days wound down to this final class.
The ringleader, Eloisa, wore a very revealing dress to class, and sat directly across from the podium, artfully arranging herself for maximum exposure.
Tovah smiled to herself at the waste of effort. Zach had repeatedly rebuffed the young woman and hadn’t bothered to tell the class he wasn’t even going to be there to administer the exam. Tragic. Not to mention highly amusing.
Tovah busied herself by getting out a pencil and separate eraser. Studying had been more of a review of the material. She had a pretty good handle on the subject.
The TA entered the room. She was the one who had come in to speak with Zach on another occasion.
A collective gasp went through the adoring masses. The women all turned to each other and started whispering.
“If I can have your attention, please?” The TA waited until the room had quieted. “Dr. Quinn asked me to administer your examination this evening. The test is divided up into three parts.” She held up a copy. “The first fifty questions are matching. The second fifty are multiple choice.” She flipped to the last page. “The last part is an essay question, which can be answered on the front and back of the paper. Any questions?”
The blonde who sat to Eloisa’s right raised her hand.
“Yes?”
“Where is he? Why wouldn’t he bother showing up for the last class? I’m of a mind to ask for a refund.”
Victoria looked shocked by the question and vehemence of the attack. “Well, first of all, I don’t know where he is as he doesn’t run his itinerary through me. Secondly, there is nothing in the code of conduct for professors that they have to be here for the administration of exams. Most of the professors on campus will turn over such a task to their TAs. Thirdly, if you think the university will release any funds this late in the semester because a professor didn’t show for the exam, but said exam was offered at the time and date stated on the syllabus, then you are welcome to see the bursar during regular business hours.”
“How dare?—”
Victoria cut her off by looking around the room. “Any other questions?”
The cut was beautiful to witness.
“Rude little bitch,” came the mumble from the center of the circle.
Oh, Zach was going to hear about that. Tovah doubted that he would appreciate his TA being called names because he didn’t show up to class.
“The rude little bitch who is holding the tests,” came the clap back.
Victoria handed out the sheets. “You can write on these. No need for extra paper. Once you complete the test, place your booklets on the end of the lectern and you may go. Have a happy and safe holiday.”
Eloisa continued to grumble. Her pose wasn’t quite as artful as before. She hunkered over her paper and started to work.
Tovah wanted to laugh but refrained. How did anyone act so immature and be part of the collegiate scene? It simply boggled the mind.
As time wore down, Tovah worked on the test. The first fifty questions were easy as the answers in the matching section were quite obvious. All the multiple choices were clear cut as well. Some even had ridiculous answers that brought a smile to her face.
The essay was the shocker.
In what capacity are you going to use the knowledge you gained from this class?
Wow. That left everything up in the air. Sky was the limit. It might mean career wise, or basic knowledge. Tovah explained her love of forensics and how she had yet to decide how she was going to use her degree but the more she knew the better prepared she would be to make that decision.
Briefly, she wondered how Miss Loudmouth would answer that question.
No doubt the only reason she took the class was because Zach taught it, not because of the subject matter.
She gathered up her belongings and walked to the front of the class. She gave Victoria a brief smile before handing her paper in and then walking out of the classroom.
Last final down and she was really and truly free until January when the next semester started.
Even though the semester had been challenging, not once had she second-guessed her decision to go back to get a second degree. On the contrary, she was energized, knowing that she had one small block of classes down.
After a quick trip to the restroom, devoid of any of her classmates, she went home to change for her date.
Chills and heat alternated their way up and down her body. Anticipation was a buzz in her blood. If she wasn’t wearing high-heeled boots she could have run all the way to her grandma’s house.
Once there, she headed straight for the bathroom, but was stopped by Rose.
“Come here for a minute, Tovah. I want to talk to you.”
Tovah came up short. She really didn’t have time for a conversation. “Can it wait? I have to change my clothes and spruce myself up a bit.”
Rose had a knowing smile on her face. “Are you going out?”
“Yes. Zach is taking me for a ride and then out for a drink.”
“Good.” Rose nodded in approval. “Don’t come home tonight.”
Shock dropped Tovah’s mouth open. She sputtered before choking out, “What? Why?”
“Because you need to get some—as the young people say.”
“Grandma!”
“Oh, don’t ‘grandma,’ me. You two are both perfectly attractive, healthy adults. Neither of you are seeing anyone regularly. There’s no reason in the world why you shouldn’t indulge in a little play time.” She got a dreamy look in her eyes. “I remember your grandpa?—”
Tovah covered her ears. “Please don’t tell me about you and Grandpa having sex. I don’t think I can handle it.”
“Good God. Don’t be such a prude. We were young and hot ourselves once.” The dreamy look returned. “Your grandpa had a very abundant sex drive.”
Tovah was torn between admiration and ick. No one wanted to hear about that from their elder relations. However, knowing her grandparents loved each other so much was comforting in an odd way.
“And you loved him very much.”
Rose nodded. Her eyes took on a suspicious sheen as she looked away. “He was my world.”
Sadness settled over her features before she smiled up at Tovah. “I only wish for you to find someone who will love you like your grandfather loved me.”
Tovah reach out and took her grandma’s hand. “I don’t know if that’s what this is with Zach, or he’s sees me as someone simply to pass the time. I know I am seeing him because I want to, which is a major leap forward to where I was this time last year.”
“And I’m very thankful for that.”
Tovah squeezed Rose’s hand. “Don’t wait up for me, just in case.”
Rose laughed. “No. Don’t worry. I won’t.”
Zach didn’t even show up for the last class. As was custom for his teaching style, he preferred to let the TA handle the final. He’d asked Victoria the week before to hold space for the evening class. Since it was only a test, he had every confidence she could manage without any problems. He, on the other hand, was across town making sure everything was ready for his big date with Tovah.
December 10 th had arrived.
He’d stripped the bed and placed new sheets and pillowcases. The fridge was filled with finger foods to eat after they had long and vigorous sex. First, however, was a nighttime ride and a couple of drinks at the Gus Stop.
A promise was a promise and he meant to deliver.
And then some.
Tovah’s car had pulled up into the drive some time before. He’d waited to go over to pick her up in case she had to change. Hopefully, she’d wear something conducive to riding on the back of the bike. He hadn’t told her what to wear. They had spoken about the date enough over the past few weeks that he felt confident that Tovah knew what was expected. The only question was if she actually owned any clothes that fit the bill.
Then again, she had gone riding with Dirx. Damn it all to hell in a sidecar.
Tovah was smart. She’d figure it out.
How long should he wait? Zach knew women, but he hadn’t paid much attention as to how long it took one to get ready. Most of the time his needs were met in bars or they came to him. He didn’t necessarily plan it out so far in advance.
A knock on his door brought him out of his contemplations. He looked down at his phone app. Damn, she looked good on camera.
Heat filled him. Anticipation hummed in his veins.
He crossed the room to the door. “I was debating how long to wait before I came to pick you up.”
Tovah gave him a sheepish smile and head shake. “Grandma is in rare form tonight. I didn’t want to subject you to the same lecture I got.”
His guts tightened. Had he been wrong about how Miss Rose would feel about him taking her granddaughter out? Hell, she was the one who encouraged him to keep an eye on Tovah.
“Was it bad?” He stood back to let her inside.
“She told me not to come home tonight, then regaled me with tales of how good my grandpa was in bed.”
Zach laughed, his mood lifting again. “I take it you didn’t need that information.”
“Could have lived happily the rest of my life without it.”
He scanned her outfit. She looked good. Jeans that skimmed her full, pin-up girl figure, a deep wine-colored t-shirt that hugged her large breasts, topped with a black leather jacket.
“Tell me you didn’t have to go out and buy that outfit for tonight.”
“I’ll tell you that, but it would be a lie.” She lifted a shoulder. “I consider it a practical investment living here in the mountains.”
He glanced down at her footwear. Low-heeled boots with leather so shiny, they had to have just come out of the box. Like with the outfit, he approved of the boots. “You did good.”
“Thanks. The salesclerk kept trying to get me to buy the high-heeled boots in red, but I didn’t want to be taller than you.”
His mind boggled at the thought of her in his bed in nothing but that long, flowing hair and red spiked heels. “Hmm.”
If the night went well, he might decide to go back to the store and get them for her. Well, for him, if he was perfectly honest.
“Let me get my jacket and we can go.”
It was already nearly 10:30. Things were just getting going at the Gus Stop. They went out through the garage, and he used the remote to put up the outside door.
He wasn’t the type to keep a helmet for any women he took for a ride, but he did have an old one that would fit.
Zach lifted the helmet off the shelf and handed it to her. The one he used was on the back of the bike. “Put this on.”
Tovah set about twisting her hair up into a knot on the top of her head, then put the helmet on over it. Not once did she make a face or complain that doing so would mess up her hair. Hard points for that.
He started to fasten the strap for her then leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. A soft breath painted his mouth, and he took the kiss deeper. God, she tasted so fucking good. Sweet and minty.
Before things went too far, he broke off the contact. “I’ve wanted to do that all semester.”
“You’ve been very good.”
“You don’t even know the half of it.” He picked up his helmet and put it on then helped steady her while she got on the back of the bike.
Two minutes later they were riding out of the neighborhood. She had her arms around him, breasts pressed to his back. Though their jackets were for warmth and safety, he’d never hated protective leather more in his life than that moment.
They drove through the winding roads. The air was cool and crisp with a hint of snow. They wouldn’t stay long at the Gus Stop. No sense in being out riding if it was going to get colder. At the moment the streets were dry, but that might change.
They pulled up to the Gus Stop and he parked the bike in his regular spot. He shut down the engine and pulled off his helmet. “Dirx and Weaver are here.”
“Oh, good. I haven’t seen them in months.” Her smile was large, and eyes sparkled under the parking lot lights.
Zach gave her a stern look. “I’m not sharing you with them.”
Another laugh. “I’m going to have my hands full with you.”
“I hope you mean that the way I think.”
She lifted a shoulder and started into the bar. “Take it anyway you want. You’re going to be correct.”
Yeah, what he wanted was his cock in her hand, pumping away. Her lips wrapped around the head, sucking him dry.
He opened the door for her, and they stepped into his world. His other world. The one he only let those on his inside circle see.
She glanced around the room, an expression of wonder on her face. Silence fell. Conversations came to a stop and every single person in the bar turned to gawk.
“Hey, Red!” Weaver yelled from a table in the back.
Then Tovah was in motion, weaving her way between tables to say hello. She walked with purpose and confidence, as if she’d been coming to the Gus Stop for years. As if she wasn’t some goddamned goddess walking among mortals.
Dirx had also risen to envelop her in a hug. Ian came out from under the table to say hello.
“Oh, Ian.” She bent down and let the dog lick the tip of her nose. “Who’s the best boy?”
Ian’s tail wagged so hard the table was in danger of being knocked over.
“So, this is the Gus Stop?” Tovah rose and looked around, hands on hips as she surveyed. “From the talk I heard during breaks from class, I thought it would be more of a dive.”
Dirx tilted his head and squinted. “Well, it’s not a family-type establishment.”
“Families shouldn’t be in bars anyways.” Tovah sat in the chair Zach had pulled out for her. “At least not families that have littles with them. Grown families…” She tapped her hands on the table. “I’ll have a beer.”
“One beer coming up.” Zach smiled as he walked away and left her at the table with the guys. Oh, yeah, she was having fun, but was nervous as well. That was good. He wanted her to get the entire experience.