Page 10 of Payback, Penelope

Jacob slides one arm under me and bands it over my chest while he snakes the other under my negligee and palms my belly. “Shh, Mama. I’ve got you. I’ll hold you while you sleep, and in the morning, we’ll make love again before Dad comes home.”

I nod, placing my hand over his, looking forward to Jacob holding me just like this every night, my belly growing large and round with his child each passing day.

Chapter 6

Penelope

After a sleepy round of early morning sex, in which I woke up to Jacob already moving slowly in and out of my sore pussy, Jacob drives us to what has to be an astronomically expensive apartment complex so he can run upstairs and change into clean clothes. I nod off in the car after popping two extra-strength over-the-counter pain pills while I wait for him.

Once we get to the enormous two-story tan brick high school, it takes copious amounts of coffee to stay awake after drinking too much and not getting enough sleep the night before. It also takes a herculean effort not to clutch my stomach and hobble down the hallways, feeling like my insides have been forcibly rearranged to accommodate Jacob’s dick.

I actively keep my distance from him throughout the day, squireling myself away in my classroom because I know the second I get too close to him, I’ll jump on his cock and beg him to cum inside me again. Though it’s not illegal or frowned upon for two teachers to date—if that is what we’re doing—itisif we get caught having sex on school grounds, and I’m too scared of losing my job or worse.

A major bonus is that I’ve successfully avoided Mr. Andrews, who looks even worse off than I do, after briefly running intohim and his gel helmet in the copy room this morning. The man gives me the heebie jeebies.

Sandra strides into my classroom fifteen minutes before the end of our work day with a knowing look. I’ve caught her eyeing me the few times we passed each other, though we’ve been too busy to stop and chat. In a voice so loud it might carry down the hallway, she asks, “How’s your pussycat?”

I widen my eyes and shush her, rushing to the door and pulling it closed again. “My pussycat is just fine, thank you.”

“Just fine?” She huffs and raises one brow. “I’d think a beast of a man like Jacob would do a better job thanjust fine. How disappointing.”

“Oh my god, Sandra. Anyone ever tell you how inappropriate you are?”

“All the time. It’s one of my most redeeming qualities.”

I bark out a surprised laugh, making my abs and core spasm after all of the abuse my body has happily suffered. I double over and lean against my desk until it passes.

She snaps her fingers. “Ha! I knew it! That man stuffed your cat well and good.” She chucks my arm. “Good for you, girly.” She pulls her short self onto my desk, kicking her feet like a child in her leopard-patterned pleated capris. “Now, give me all the juicy details. How big is it? Did you orgasm? I’ve never met Daniel, but I’ve seen pictures, and he looks like the kind of man who’d leave a pussycat to starve.”

“Jesus, Sandra. You can’t just ask me that.”

“Sure I can! I’m your best friend, and best friends tell each other everything.”

I open my mouth to tell her thatno, she’s not, but pause. Sandra just may be the closest friend I’ve ever had, and I feel like a shitty friend for not realizing and acknowledging it before now. We go out for dinner and drinks all the time, even when it’s just the two of us, and I’ve never had one bad thing to sayabout her. She knows all about my married life and divorce, and I know all about her five kids and two new grandbabies, who she’s always boasting about, as well as her losing the love of her life six years ago. In fact, she’s kind of my hero with her give-no-shits personality and strong sense of self.

I settle onto the desk next to her, my crotch on fire on the hard surface, and widen my hands in an approximation of the size of Jacob’s dick.

She gasps. “No.”

I nod. “Almost the size of a fucking wine bottle. It’s a miracle I can even stand today and didn’t end up in the hospital.”

“You lucky cat. I loved my Larry Barry to the depths of my soul—unfortunate name aside—but bless his heart, he wasn’t much bigger than a Vienna sausage.”

It’s my turn to exclaim, “No. Surely not. You’ve got five kids!”

“Oh honey, don’t confuse size for skill. I’d have given him more if my body hadn’t quit on me. That man had so many tricks up his sleeves that I didn’t walk straight for thirty-five years. Damn, I miss him and his small dick.”

We share a laugh tinged with tears as she remembers the husband who left her shattered when he passed. As brokenhearted as she is, I can’t help but be slightly envious. I’ve never had that kind of love, though I wonder if J—

We both jump out of our skin when Mr. Andrews knocks on my door impatiently and steps into the room. I immediately cross my arms over my chest, wishing I had worn a cardigan over the delicate ivory spaghetti strap blouse I wore today, even with the stifling temperature of my classroom.

“Ms. Barlow, I’m glad I finally caught you again. Would you mind—”

Jacob steps in directly behind him, his black button-down sleeves rolled up, exposing his meaty forearms that held me all night. Mr. Andrews stumbles forward when Jacob pushes pasthim and up to my side. Hands crossed in front of his chest, which he puffs out, he gives Mr. Andrews a cold look, then a megawatt smile to Mrs. Barry, who waggles her fingers at him.

“Sorry to interrupt, ladies, but the dealership just called. Your car is ready, Penelope. I’ll take you to pick it up before we go home.”

By sayingbefore we go homeinstead ofbefore you go home, he’s painted a picture for Mr. Andrews of us dating and possibly living together. For a fraction of a second, Mr. Andrews looks crestfallen, and I hope that’ll put a final end to his pursuit of me romantically.

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