Page 15 of Tattooed By Her Silver Fox

He takes my finger, the one with the rose tattoo, and slides the masterpiece on before kissing the back of my hand and then placing my palm on his cheek.

I can’t say no to those eyes or the kind soul I see behind them. I lean down until our eyes meet and our mouths hover a breath apart. “I’m ready for you to make me yours. My answer is yes.”

Epilogue

Vi

I’ve stood on the stage of our school’s multi-purpose room countless times in the past without even thinking about the parents watching me from the floor. But today, there’s a bead of sweat running down my back, and it’s not from the hundred kindergarten parents holding up cell phones to record my every move.

It’s one set of eyes that has me melting on the stage as I begin to call my students up from their seats to receive their promotion certificates. Between kids, I glance at the back corner of the room near the open doors where Fox is leaning on the wall and looking sexy as hell in a black polo shirt and dark washed jeans that hug every curve if his thick thighs.

I lick my lips and call the next kid and the next until I reach Bash. I hear Fox’s whistle from the back of the room and smile as Bash takes his paper and hugs me around the middle. He’s the only kid who does.

After all the other teachers present awards to all of the kids, we line up and head back to our classroom and wait for the parents to join us for cookies and punch. A sea of faces enters my room, and I patiently give each one my attention until the line dies down, and Robby and Fox are left to speak to me.

Robby scoops Bash up in his arms and throws him up on his shoulders. I’m afraid his little paper graduation cap might fall off, but Fox is at his side and catches it.

“Thank you for everything, Ms. Catto. Bash has had a hard year, but being able to keep you as his teacher sure made things a lot less stressful for him.”

I smile. “I’m so glad I could help. Bash is an exceptional student. I’m glad I got to keep him.” When Robby smiles, I see a younger version of Fox in the way his eyes light up, and one side of his mouth rises higher than the other. It’s cute on Robby, but sexy as hell on Fox.

Once Robby and Bash move on to the cookie and punch table, Fox makes his way over. He has his hands shoved in his pockets, but there’s something dangerous flickering in the depths of his eyes.

“You looked good up on that stage,” he says and smiles and reaches for my shoulder. My sundress has no sleeves, and when his palm hits my bare flesh, I’m on fire.

“Not that you made it easy for me with the way you stared.” I put my hand on his chest, and he covers mine with his.

“I had to let all those fathers know you’re mine somehow.”

I’m about to laugh when he leans in, and his mouth covers mine. His hand loops around the back of my neck, and he pulls me closer until I’m against his chest and moaning on his tongue.

Sweet Jesus, I will never get used to the way Fox takes ownership of my body, and I hope he never stops doing so. I begin to pull away, and Fox latches onto my lower lip with his teeth and tugs before letting me go. It’s hot, and I’m breathless the reason I didn’t hear Ms. Garcia walk into the classroom until she cleared her throat.

“Ms. Catto,” she begins. Every nerve in my body fires at once, and I’m burning hot and freezing cold at the same time. She’s going to fire me. Or, at the very least, put me on probation until she can address the school board, and she’ll probably go after my teaching license. “Now that your parents and students are gone, I need to see you in my office.”

Her jaw is set, but I don’t miss the slight hint of a smile behind her tight lips. Firing me makes her happy. Throwing away years of great teaching and a teacher that parents love just so she can assert her power probably will make her entire day.

But she’ll have to find someone else to unleash her power trip on today because with Fox beside me and Bash looking on from the corner, a surge of confidence runs through me, and for the first time, I’m not afraid of what happens next. I place my hand on Fox’s chest and address Ms. Garcia with the same sarcastic tone as she’d just given me.

“I’d love to come to speak with you, Ms. Garcia, but first, I’d like to introduce you to my fiancee.”

Fox steps closer to my side and puts his arm around my waist.

“If my future wedding is an issue for you, I’d be happy to have my resignation on your desk by tomorrow morning. Seeing how much the parents enjoyed having me as their child’s teacher this year, that might become an issue for the school when they find out you fired over my engagement.”

I don’t turn away from Ms. Garcia, but I can feel Fox’s chest puff and I know he’s smiling. He’s given me the strength to stand up for myself and the security to know that no matter what happens, he’ll always be there to catch me.

Ms. Garcia stumbles over a few words before she finally speaks. “Well, we can talk about it more in the morning. I’m sure you’re busy now and need time to clean up after the reception.” She’s out the door without another word, and Robby and Bash follow.

I’m alone with Fox in my classroom, and I’m so full of pride I’m about to bust open when he turns me around and pulls me in tight to his chest. I peer up into his eyes and take him in.

“That was simply amazing,” he says.

“I never could have done that without you standing beside me,” I say and press up to my tiptoes to kiss his lips.

“You could have, and you would have Sweetness. You’re a badass in the making. I think this calls for a new tattoo.”

“Oh,” I say. “What were you thinking?”

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