Page 36 of Mastered By Lust

And I can live without that. Sure, I crave the intimacy. The two of us, staring into each other’s eyes and being connected in such a vulnerable way. But he’s giving me what he can, and it’s enough. It has to be enough.

There’s so much more to our time together, too. In the soft way he touches my hand when we’re sitting on the couch together, quietly reading. In the half-smile he makes when I tease him. In the way he reminds me to behave, because if I don’t, “Daddy” is going to come out andmake mebehave.

He hasn’t threatened me with a spanking yet, but it seems like the next logical step. I shiver again, and not from the cold.

Rain patters against my windshield as I navigate toward San Esteban School of the Arts. My next student wants to meet at a campus café.

The car behind me was at the library, too. I’m not sure why I notice it, because it’s plain white, nondescript. Maybe it’s the way my spine prickles every time I catch it in my rearview. Are they following me?

A part of me says I’m overthinking this. Another part of me kicks the first part of me and says in Danica’s voice,Bitch, we were just fucking kidnapped. Paranoia is healthy.

It’s a relief when the white car turns onto a different street before I reach campus. I’m just imagining things.

I cross campus to reach the coffee shop, and I see someone who reminds me of Dmitri. It isn’t him, though—the man has the same color hair, but a slighter build. I feel a pang of longing just the same.

I haven’t heard from Dmitri since Mr. Aseyev’s birthday party three days ago. I did hear from his cousin. He texted me photos of us playing bocce ball, taken by one of his moms. He added,I challenged Uncle Craig to a rematch this weekend. You in?

I wasn’t sure what to say. Was he serious? It didn’t sound like it. I reacted with a smiley face and hoped that was good enough.

Besides, I have enough on my mind. The auction is this weekend. I’m on the fence about attending. Dmitri was upset, and my petty self wants to do the auction simply to spite him. But I also don’t want to make him feel bad. We were friends. Wearefriends. I don’t want to be a dick.

Why should what I do with my body affect our friendship, though?

I nod to myself. Fuck it. I’m doing the auction. Gage promised to win me, so I’m not worried about that.

“You know I’ll fuck around with you for free,” I told him last night.

“I know, baby girl.” He grinned, showing his teeth, his dark eyes predatory. “Why don’t you show me right now?”

What followed was that interlude where I got off on his leg.

I reach the coffee shop, my hoodie soaked all the way through. It so seldom rains, I don’t keep an umbrella or raincoat in my car.

My tutoring session goes well, and it’s time for my final session of the day—Hector, back at the public library. I leave the coffee shop and return to campus parking, but I stop short. Is that the same white car, parked across the lot from mine?

No, it must be a different one. The other couldn’t have found me here—they turned off Solitaire Street before I did.

I keep an eye on the other car as I climb into mine. I lock the doors before even starting the engine. A feeling of unease tightens my shoulders. As I pull out of the lot, the other car remains where it is. It doesn’t look like anyone is inside it, anyway.

Chill the fuck out, Leah.

I blast the heater, hoping to dry off on my way back to the public library. Next week, I’m going to ask my new sophomore to meet me at the public library instead. The coffee shop was cute, but noisy. More importantly, I don’t love driving back and forth.

I reach the library and peel off my too-wet hoodie. At least the rain has stopped.

No sign of the white car, thank fuck. I can’t handle more people creeping on me. Mick’s loan sharks were enough excitement for several lifetimes.

I hurry into the shelter of the library and join Hector at one of the big tables.

“Leah, hey.” Hector gestures at the Advanced Placement prep books stacked in front of him.

“Hey. Are you ready to party?”

“Tests are in May. I don’t know if I can handle it.” His deep brown eyes are wide with anxiety.

“You can.” I nod for emphasis. “You’re going to be one of the best prepared students in the exam hall.”

“If you say so. Where should we start?”

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