Page 7 of Classroom Confessions

Krista brought my next whiskey, stopping to chat with Cole. They’d had a brief thing a year or so ago that ended on amicable terms. He still looked out for her and had gone a little batshit crazy when another guy manhandled her during her shift.

“Any trouble?” When Cole looked at Krista now, it was with the careful consideration of a friend. It held none of the heat I’d noticed when he talked about Rebecca.

Shit. I downed the next drink and tried to physically scrub Rebecca from my thoughts. My nails scraped my scalp. I tuned out Cole and Krista, peering over the woman’s head in search of a distraction.

A familiar head of silvery brown hair snagged my attention. David. I kicked Cole beneath the table. “Found out why David’s not answering his phone. He’s already here. And he’s with someone.”

The ‘someone’ raised her head far enough that I got a full view of her face. Curses spewed out so fast that Cole started to stand. “What the fuck?” He leaned over me and squinted. “Tell me I’m going blind. For fuck’s sake, Ethan, tell me he’s not on a date with Rebecca. Tell me he’s here with the other girl.”

I couldn’t tell him that because from where we sat, with the two of them leaning closer and closer, her hand on his arm and the soft smile bending her luscious mouth, they were definitely on a date.

The other woman whispered into Rebecca’s ear, then stood and joined a man at the bar. Rebecca and David stared into each other’s eyes with enough intensity I could almost smell their arousal from here.

“Fuck.” I grabbed Cole’s beer and finished it for him. “What do we do?”

4

REBECCA

I’d agreed to drinks with David after he brought Fitz to me at the coffee shop. It had seemed like the right move at the time, and I didn’t regret it now.

Lily had stuck around long enough to make sure I was having a good time, then she’d found the opportunity to leave us alone. I almost called her back, but David leaned over the table, his voice thick and deep. “Have you ever sung karaoke?”

“No way.” I gripped his arm tighter, not even remembering when I’d put my hand on the ridge of muscle that wrapped around his forearm. “I’m not much of a singer.” In the shower with no one but Fitz, sure. No way I’d step up on that stage, especially during a first date. I flashed him my best smile and tossed my hair over my shoulder. I’d chosen a sleek, black dress tonight that hid enough of my curves that I felt super sexy. From the way David watched me, he liked what he saw. He’d put out all the right signals, paying attention to no one but me. Even when the beautiful waitress came over with our drinks, he never looked away from me.

It could be a false sense of security. For all I knew, David had the ability to make any woman feel special. Kudos to him because if he kept it up, I’d invite him home.

The smile he gave me set my heart fluttering and pooled heat in my belly. Silver hair brushed his temples, and he’d swept the longer top strands back from his face, showing off his sharp jaw. “How’s Fitz?”

The question gave me a chance to reel in my thoughts, which were dangerously close to intimate images of me and David in my bed. I’d never considered myself a prude, but I couldn’t remember ever inviting a man home on the first date. “He’s fine.” I managed an answer before a look from Lily reminded me that she’d told me to let loose tonight and ‘live a little’.

I should be home studying for an upcoming test in Ethan’s class. I didn’t understand half of what he said, and the other half of the time, I was too busy writing down ideas for chapters in my novel to bother listening.

I seriously had to get everything onto my computer. The problem was that the minute I saw the blank page and the blinking cursor, all my creativity fled. I’d resorted to handwriting a chapter at a time and then typing it into the computer for safekeeping. Still. I had pages and pages of notes tucked away in my notebook.

“Penny for your thoughts?” David trailed his knuckle up the back of my hand and along the inner curve of my elbow.

It was a simple gesture, but the close intimacy of the small table where our knees bumped and his breath caressed my cheek turned it sexual.

With a nod at Lily, I made my decision. “I’m thinking we should get out of here.”

David stilled for a fraction of a second. Warm fingers continued up my arm and over my shoulder. His thumb brushed the hollow of my throat. “My place or yours?”

“Mine.” I squeaked out the answer through the sudden tightness in my throat. I’d had a few drinks but remained sober enough to make the call to move things along. That didn’t mean I was going to a strange man’s house. He’d know where I lived, but after spending the last hour talking with David, I trusted him. Infamous last words in many situations. I took a calming breath and pushed aside my mind’s ability to conjure worst-case scenarios. They were helpful when writing, not so much when I had every intention of having sex with one of the most gorgeous men I’d ever met.

Ethan and Cole flashed through my mind’s eye, but I pushed them aside too. They were off limits, whereas David was very much available.

He stood and held out a hand to me. “Lead the way, Princess.” It should have sounded corny, but with his voice, it came out husky and with just the right amount of command. It made me feel special. Loved. Coveted.

Damn it all, I was getting ideas for a new scene. Later. I’d worry about all of that later. I bottled up the way I felt—tingling in my palms, a slight buzzing in my lips, and a deep, aching throb in my clit that made it hell to walk.

We made it to his car and he held the door open for me. When I settled into the leather seat, he leaned in and brushed a kiss over my lips.

“I had to know if you taste as good as you look.” He lingered, his lips a breath from mine.

I closed the distance, wrapping my hands around his neck and pulling him deeper into the car. A sense of boldness held me and gave me courage enough to slip my tongue into his mouth. His hands framed my jaw as he broke off the kiss. “I hope to God you live close. I need you naked and moaning my name.” He kissed my cheek. “Not here in the parking lot. Somewhere soft where I can take my time with you.”

Damn, the man knew how to talk sex without being crude. I didn’t mind that either, but tonight felt special.

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