Page 184 of Forbidden Lessons

It could be ADHD. He could even be on the spectrum.

But I’m convinced it’s trauma.

The way he flinches at loud noises. How uncomfortable he gets when I’m terse with him. He’s constantly gauging my mood, like a weather vane. I’m guessing it saved his skin a few times in the past, getting out before the tornado hit.

I grasp the back of his neck, his muscles tensing when I squeeze. “Lead the way.”

“It’s fine. I got this.” He walks, keeping me in his peripheries with quick glances.

I keep hold of his neck, enjoying the way he resists. “Nonsense. I haven’t thanked you for taking my class the other day. Although…a few of my students didn’t like your approach.”

Kai’s muscles relax a little, and I let my hand slide off his back. “Yeah, uh, I got a little carried away.” He laughs, clapping his hands. “Fuck, you should have seen the panic on their faces when I read those envelopes. You missed out big time.”

“Don’t worry. I have more than enough to keep me entertained.”

“Oh, right.” His brows tense into a small frown, gone a second later. “That’s a lot of shit for you to grade.”

“For us.” I clap him on the back. “Think I’m combing through all those videos myself?”

He’s quiet for a moment, green eyes unfocused before sharpening on me as we round the corner. The country club’s entrance is up ahead, doors closed now that all the guests have arrived.

“Should I even be looking at that stuff, Sir? I mean…it’s kinda private.”

“That’s kinda the whole point.”

Kai stiffens like he thinks I’m mocking him.

Maybe I am.

I suppose I shouldn’t take it out on him. Haven put me in a foul mood with her tantrum earlier today, and I’m still holding onto some of that frustration. Even stroking it out to some particular

“I have a question for you,” I say, tucking my hands behind my back as we come up to the donation boxes. “Is it cruel to force someone to do something against their will, even if it’s in their best interest?”

Kai looks at the boxes, and then back at me.

Shrugs off his tux jacket as he glances away to consider my question.

“Does it hurt them?”

“You’re talking about physical pain?” I follow suit, slipping off my tux and laying it over the donation box filled with blankets.

“Yeah. Like, shoving someone off the train tracks before it hits them. It’ll hurt a little, but a lot less than the train fucking hit them will.”

I tilt my head. “Sure. There’s some pain involved. But it will save their life.”

Kai lays his on top of mine and rolls up his sleeves, moving on automatic as his eyes stare off at nothing. “No. That’s not cruel.”

I suppress a smile as we walk over to the box filled with pet food and toys. “Up to what point is that a fair trade off?”

He laughs, grabbing the handle on the other side of the box, but cuts off when he sees my expression. “Anything short of torture.”

“Torture is…subjective.”

We lift the box, and my gaze fixates on a wound on Kai’s inner arm, just below his elbow.

“Jesus,” he mutters. “This thing’s fucking heavy.”

“Hm. People like giving. Especially to the needy.” We push open the front door and manhandle the box outside.

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