Page 60 of Taming His Teacher

I answer with a parting of my lips, inviting him in, asking him to take from me because I want to give him everything he’s given to me with those small words.

Chapter 18

Erin

Long winter weekend is here at long last and the dorm is distinctly empty. It’s time.

“Take off your shoes.”

I toe off my loafers and stare down at my bare feet, not knowing what to do with my hands. I settle for clenching them in my skirt, but Shep tuts at me. “Hands straight by your sides.”

My chest heaves as I find the will to loosen them and do as he’s asked. I’ve left crescents of red from my nails indenting my palms, and though the apartment is warm, I’m shaking.

“You’re all right Erin. You look so beautiful and I’m so pleased with you. When it’s done, you’re going to come sit with me. Would you like that?”

“Yes, Zach.”

“That’s what I thought. So be a good girl and take off your sweater.”

I have a hard time unbuttoning my cardigan, trembling as I am, but when I’ve gotten it undone and slid it off my shoulders and dropped it on the chair, I stand straight as he showed me and put my hands, open, to my sides. My reward is a smile that sends puffs of warmth through my body.

“Your shirt.”

My fingers are less than dexterous and I huff in frustration as the last button defies my efforts.

“Take a deep breath. There’s no rush.”

Easy for him to say, sitting on my couch, not stripping down naked.

“Skirt.”

The zipper is more forgiving of my jitters and suddenly I’m left in my bra and underwear—the nicest ones I have, the only ones that match.

“Come here.”

I take a step but he tuts at me again, making me at once ashamed for not being able to please him but also so hot for him.Scold me, correct me, teach me. Tell me how to please you. Please.

“On your knees.”

My mouth opens and my eyelids flutter. Like, crawl? For real? The idea is at once the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard but also humiliating.Crawl?

“Hey. Look at me.”

He’s leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped together.

“You don’t have to if you really don’t want to. Safe out and I won’t ask you again. But tell me something first. Do you actually not want to do this or do you think you shouldn’t want to?”

I consider, standing there in this pretty lingerie, worrying the corner of my lip with my teeth. “B.”

The letter is so quiet I’d be surprised if he heard it. But every particle of him that isn’t devoted to the business of being alive is focused on me. Whether he’s read my lips or he has the ears of an owl, he knows what I’ve said and his mouth widens ever so slightly.

“If that’s true, could you try it for me? I want to touch you.”

“Yes, Zach.”

He leans back, satisfied, draping an arm over the back of the couch. The sight of him, belonging here and me belonging to him, it fills my heart, crowding out some of the nervousness. I drop first one knee and then the other to the rug, hands resting on the tops of my thighs before I reach them forward, spreading my fingers and pressing my palms into the floor. I don’t remember the last time I was on my hands and knees. It takes me a few seconds to get the points of contact my body has with the floor and my spine into the proper alignment.

When I’ve found it, I wiggle my hips to confirm and Shep laughs, a garbled chuckle smothered somewhere in his throat. “You’re going to be the death of me, I swear.”

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