Page 14 of Tempting Teacher

I wish I fucking knew. If I admit to myself what I want to come next, I’d probably scare the hell out of both of us. Instead, I tell her what I’ve decided. “We’re going on a date.”

“A date?” She echoes.

“Yep.” I confirm. “Our fourth lesson is supposed to be about intimacy. Being intimate means getting to know each other. Learning things about each other that either leads to attraction and takes you to that next level, or sends you running in the opposite direction.”

“Okay.” She states. “And then what?”

“And then, you’ll have the tools you need to decide. Is he worthy of you? Your time, your mind, your lips, and eventually, your body. I think by now, you know what to do from there.”

“Yes, I think you’ve covered that quite well.” She admits.

“Be ready at seven p.m. on Friday. I’ll pick you up.” I instruct. “Wear something nice. Something you would wear if it was a real date.”

“It’s not?”

I take pause at her question, then answer. “It will be our last lesson.”

“But you said five.” She reminds me.

“You’ll be fine. More than fine.” And a fifth lesson would take me to a place I’m not ready to go. I need to let her go sooner than later, before my feelings swallow me whole.

“If you say so.” She relents. “I’ll be in my new apartment then. My student housing was available early.”

“Do you have the address?”

“556 West 113th Street. Room 3F.”

“You’re going to Columbia?” My interest piquing as I glance over at the pile of mail on my desk, my class schedules in the mix.

“Yes, how did you know?” Curiosity in her voice.

“That’s just several blocks from me. I’m familiar with the area.” I explain, hoping she doesn’t press any further. “I’ll see you Friday, then.”

“At seven.” She confirms.

I hang up without warning and can imagine her staring at the phone, marveling again at my callousness.

At exactly seven o’clock Friday, I step out of the car I hired and approach the entrance for the address she provided. I’d never actually been inside any of the student housing, even though I had lived in my current location for the last five years. I didn’t tend to mingle with any of the students at the college given my preference for paying customers at Temptations. I walk through the doors and locate an elevator, taking it up to the third floor. I find her room easily enough and knock.

A minute later the door swings open, a sharp inhale catching my breath when she steps into sight. “You look stunning.”

She’s wearing a silky black dress, with flowing ruffles on both sides of a V-neck keyhole that travels down until they meet in the middle, continuing until the hem. The waist is fitted but then loose once past the hips, flaring out just slightly mid-thigh, showcasing her long, lean legs. The strappy heels she’s wearing are a perfect match to the silver chain weaved into the collar tying the dress at the back of her neck. Her hair is loose, flowing over her shoulders in soft waves. Crisp, blue eyes stare back at me, her lips tinted a light pink, almost the same color as her flushed cheeks.

“Thank you.” She takes a step back. “Would you like to come in? It’s a little messy. I’m still trying to get organized.”

“I have a car waiting. We should probably leave now if we want to make our reservation. It’s for seven-thirty and there’s traffic.”

“Okay.” She twists around to snatch a set of keys and a small clutch off a bookcase, then turns back to me. “Let’s go.”

She locks the door, slipping the keys into the bag when she’s done, and we stroll to the elevator. The door opens immediately when I press the call button, so we step inside. As soon as we’re in the enclosed space I smell her. I’m not certain if it’s her perfume, her shampoo, or lotion, but it surrounds me in a light powdery, floral scent that has me taking an unconscious step closer as I drag a deep breath in.

She turns her head, her eyes widening when she notices. “Are you okay?”

The elevator dings, announcing our arrival to the lobby, her attention diverted long enough for me to avoid the question. I place my hand on the small of her back to urge her forward. “The car’s right out front.”

Once we’re seated, I give the driver the address of the restaurant and we’re off.

“Where are we going?” Her feet are crossed at the ankles, her legs tucked to the side, her hands folded in her lap.

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