Page 9 of Her Forbidden Teacher

As I wait for the rest of the class to arrive, I ignore my buzzing phone and let my mind wander to that embarrassing day in the dean’s office. The entire situation was awkward for everyone involved. I couldn’t even look at Mr. Thompson knowing he’d seen me without my shirt and most of my breasts showing.Even if it was against his will, he still saw me half naked. When our eyes met for a brief moment, his face turned redder than a tomato and he made a sour expression as if I disgusted him.

“Good morning, Addison.”

I snap my head up to meet the warm, inviting green eyes of Mr. Langford. The memory of my humiliation quickly fades as I admire his smile. He really does have a cute smile.

“Hi.” I bite on my bottom lip, so I don’t start yammering to him. Anxiety makes me yap sometimes.

His eyes narrow and his features tighten as he zeroes in on my mouth. I release my lip from my nervous grip and taste the metallic flavor of blood. He steps away to grab a tissue and returns to hand it to me.

“Everything okay?” he asks, voice low enough for only me to hear.

I take the tissue and accidentally touch his smooth fingers. It sends a shiver down my spine despite the warmth of the sun shining in through the windows. Quickly, I dabble at the small cut I inflicted on myself.

“It will be,” I say honestly, releasing a resigned sigh. “I’m trying.”

His eyes flicker with unmasked curiosity. Like hewantsto know what I mean. “I understand that all too well. We gotta take it day by day. Sometimes even hour by hour.”

“Lately, it’s minute by minute.”

He winks at me. “That works too.”

I’m glad he walks away after that friendly wink because it affects me more than it should. It’s gratifying in some way. Like maybe I’m not the leper I think I am.

Until he finds out the truth about you…

Then he probably won’t ever speak to you again.

It wasn’t a fear until now, but it’s a reality. If Mr. Langford finds out about why I moved schools, he might avoid me like theplague for fear of rumors or what I might “send” to him. This sends my heart into a frantic cadence. A trickle of sweat makes its way down my spine.

A massive guy who must play football for as big as he is takes the seat right beside me on the bench. His weight makes the wood creak in protest. I don’t want to be rude, but his closeness makes me want to skitter away from him.

“Hey,” he says in greeting. “I’m Duke.”

“Addison.” I flash him a fake smile. “Nice to meet you.”

When I glance over at Mr. Langford, he’s watching us with a blank expression on his face. I have the urge to cry out to him that I don’t want to sit right next to this behemoth. But why would he care?

Class finally begins and we get swept up in the lesson. We’re planting more things today which is fine by me. Our picnic table gets super messy because Duke’s hands are the size of dinner plates. He might be able to throw a football or tackle someone, but his fingers were not made for planting in small pots. It’s almost comical how filthy he is.

Someone texts me again and my watch lights up.

Unknown Number: Heard you’re trying to fuck Coach Long.

I freeze, disgusted by the text that’s probably Nick since I blocked him. Not only is Coach Long married, andI would neverwith a married man, but it’s simply not true. I’m considering replying back to this coward, but then I feel it.

A warm, massive, filthy palm on my bare thigh.

I whip my head over to find Duke smirking at me. His meaty hand squeezes my entire thigh. When I grab onto his wrist to stop him, I realize he’s too strong to physically remove him from my person.

So, I do the only thing I can think of.

I grab two of my pots and dump them over his head.

At least it makes him remove his hand, even if he is whining like a terrible toddler that I messed up his hair. Luckily, the bell rings, and he bolts from me. A few classmates snigger my way but follow after him.

“Addison. Stay after, please.”

I freeze, ignoring a few perverted remarks from another couple of kids as they leave. It’s not until the greenhouse is empty that I realize I’m shaking.