Page 122 of Teach Me Your Ways

49

GRADY

I’d barely finished unpacking the first box when Cece sauntered into my office carrying a plant. When I thought I was definitely getting fired, I had packed up most of my office. I didn’t want to risk Carver locking me out and keeping my shit. And that bitch was vindictive enough to do exactly that. I had no doubt in my mind she would take my various trinkets and trophies and keep them for herself.

“A plant?” I asked.

“Your office is drab,” she said. “It needs life.”

“I specialize in dead. Old. Drab.”

She laughed and went about setting it on the shelf. I couldn’t resist. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her body against mine. She was wearing one of those skirts that drove me crazy, the kind that swished when she walked, and a blouse that clung to her in all the right places. My hands itched to touch her, to pull her close and remind her just how much I liked holding her. I had never felt this way about anyone before. She consumed me.

“You know, if you wanted to liven up my office, you could’ve showed up naked,” I said and nuzzled her neck. “That’s very lively.”

My lips moved to her earlobe and nibbled, pulling it into my mouth.

“Grady,” she whispered, her voice soft and breathless. “Someone could walk in.”

“Let them,” I said. “I don’t care who sees us.”

She melted into me then, her ass wiggling against what was quickly becoming a very hard situation. I moved my lips to her neck and sucked. She groaned and dropped her head back to rest on my shoulder. I wanted to grab her tits but I stopped myself. There was a risk someone would walk in. A little nuzzling wasn’t scandalous. And we were in the privacy of my office. I could reach over and throw the lock. The fantasy that had been plaguing me since I first laid eyes on her sounded like a really good idea. I could put her on my desk, feast on her delicious pussy, and then fuck her while she was sprawled out naked and wanting.

Before I could make my way to the door, Felix opened it. Cece jumped out of my arms and I had to grab a box to hide my erection.

“You two busy?” Felix had a grin on his face. He knew we were about to be busy before he interrupted.

“Would it matter if we were?” I asked, not bothering to hide my irritation.

He chuckled. “I’ve got big news.”

The chuckle said it wasn’t bad news, but I was leery. “What’s up?”

Felix looked from me to Cece. “Dean Carver has been terminated as of this morning.”

“Fired?” Cece sounded as shocked as I felt.

“Fired,” Felix said. “The board found cause: misuse of funds, power plays, deliberate sabotage of Stone’s projects.” He looked at me and I could see he was dead serious. “They sided with you.”

I closed my mouth, still processing. I knew I was keeping my job, but I just assumed I was going to be stuck dealing with the dean for the rest of my days.

“Holy shit,” Cece gasped.

“I have more news,” Felix said.

“I’m afraid to ask,” I said.

“I have been appointed acting dean of the anthropology department.”

My head spun. “Felix? Wait—you’re dean?”

Felix nodded with a smile so big it covered half his face. I wasn’t jealous. He was capable. He was smart and more than qualified and I sure as hell didn’t want it. “That’s right. Doesn’t have to go to board vote. They’ve already made the shift. As of an hour ago, I’m the dean.”

“Felix,” I said and slapped his shoulder. “Congratulations. Good for you, man.”

He grinned. “Thank you.”

“Congratulations,” Cece said.