Page 23 of Mariposa
I roll my eyes and exit the building without another glance.
As soon as the door closes behind me, someone’s hot breath clouds my ear.
“You better watch your fucking back. Most of the guys don’t want you here. You don’t belong in our space! The instructors won’t always be there to protect you.” Willis and Preston shove me with their shoulders before they march forward with a menacing edge to their cruel stares.
I spit out more blood and laugh.
I don’t need protection.
“You’re going to regret entering the course, Isla. I have plans for you.” Willis sneers from a few feet away.
Great.
In addition to trying to survive Beast, I have to watch out for Willis and his insecure crew of followers.
11
KADE
ONE MONTH UNTIL GRADUATION
Ican’t stop thinking of the way that little stubborn pain in my ass rolled her eyes at me. I can’t stop thinking of the way it had me flinching to bark out more punishments for her. The biggest problem of it all? I can’t stop thinking about how much I liked it and the way it had a surge of blood rushing to my dick.
Guilt crashes into me, reminding me of how wrong it is to have that flutter of emotion. She makes mefeel…I thought this type of fire was dead to me.
It’s Thanksgiving break, and almost all of my students, except for a few, flew back home. I have some administrative stuff to take care of here, plus my mother isn’t home, and my son wants nothing to do with me. There is no “going home” for me. My job is it for me, as it has been for the past nineteen years.
I’m already itching to return to class. I don’t know what to do with myself if I’m not in uniform. And a part of me misses seeing one of my students.
Fuck.
My current assignment as her instructor makes it impossible to escape her, and I don’t ever turn a job down. What is wrong with me?
“Come on, Kade…just like old times, right?” Karen lowers herself until she’s on her knees, and her ass sits on the heels of her feet. Bringing my short glass of whiskey to my lips, I take a swig. The familiar poison helps me relax, but it doesn’t change the glare I’m sending her as she plays with my belt.
Karen.
Our relationship started as co-workers years ago. Now we’re friends who sometimes like to bed each other. She’s not my girlfriend. Never has been. We take care of each other’s needs from time to time.
“Where is that mind of yours tonight?” she whispers seductively. Her tongue swipes at her bottom lip. “My mouth is watering to taste you again.”
I continue glaring at her and return the glass to my mouth. My whole body grows warm, and the demons are silenced. Why not add a good meaningless fuck to it tonight? That’s what it always is with Karen—she never expects more. She knows I don’t kiss on the mouth, either; a rule I’ve had regarding my one-night stand relationships since I divorced. Kissing is intimate, and I don’t intend to break my rules for anyone.
But when she unzips my jeans, it does the opposite for me. My dick remains flaccid. She doesn’t impact me, not even a fraction.
I’m a numb man who doesn’t know how to feel shit anymore after the things I’ve seen and experienced, but for some odd reason, Violet Isla intrigues me beyond a teacher-student relationship. I shouldn’t think of my son’s girlfriend more than I do, but it’s hard when her smile makes me weak. Her voice, her drive, and her strength have me captivated.
“No, Karen. Not tonight,” I murmur.
I’m inebriated, and even when I like to have drunk sex, tonight is different. I can’t do it. I can’t fuck Karen’s mouthbecause the truth is, I haven’t been okay lately, and as much as I want to fuck my survivor’s guilt away, I won’t do it.
She ignores my refusal and wraps her hand around my cock, stroking it up and down from base to tip, and I grimace.
“Why not? I’ll do all the work; you can just sit back and enjoy.” She licks her lips again and opens her mouth wide so I can see the top of her tongue.
I snatch her wrists firmly.
“I said, no, goddammit,” I snarl. Karen’s mouth closes, and she narrows her brows at me. She gets to her feet with flattened lips.
