Page 57 of Teacher's Pet
He froze for half a beat before thrashing, kicking out. “Fuck you, Nathan! You wanted me—”
I tightened my hold, cutting him off. “For sex.”
“Stop! Leave me alone!” His voice cracked, but I didn’t let go.
My grip tightened around him, as I lowered over him.
No amount of discipline would ever set him straight.
“Please…” his voice sounded different, more raw.
I let go instantly. He curled in on himself, arms clamped tight over his chest like I’d strip him bare again. His knees were drawn up, head down, breathing uneven.
The silence between us was heavy. I didn’t let it settle.
“I’m not yours, Ryan.” My voice was cold, each word deliberate. “I will never love you the way I love my wife. Not now, not ever. Me getting a bit carried away isn’t going to change that.”
He looked at me like I’d just ripped the air out of his lungs. Good. He needed to hear this.
“You’re a pain in the ass,” I continued, my tone sharper now, “and now I understand exactly why your father wants nothing to do with you. You push, you manipulate, you turn everything into a game, and then you act surprised when people walk away. You don’t keep anyone without ruining them first.”
He flinched, but I didn’t stop.
“You think this little act will trap me here? That I’ll forget the life I built before you barged in? You’ve got no idea what real love looks like. All you know is how to claw at someone until they bleed for you, and you call that affection.”
I leaned forward, my eyes locked on his, my voice dropping low.
“Let me make this perfectly clear, what you feel for me isn’t love. It’s obsession. And obsession doesn’t keep people. It destroys them. Me and you have no future and the sooner you understand that, the closer you’ll be to the reality you live in.”
He gave a short, breathy laugh, like I’d just told the weakest joke in the world. But his eyes betrayed the crack in his armor.
“Is that supposed to hurt my feelings?” he said, standing and yanking his clothes back on. “Coming from the man still playing doting husband to the woman who let another guy fuck her?”
The hit landed, but I didn’t let it show. I swallowed hard, he turned with a grin. “Your opinion on love means very little to me.”
Chapter 12
RYAN
“Chug, chug.”I raise the red plastic cup and feel the mixed drink burn down my throat.
I hear whistling and cheering somewhere in the background, but I ignored it, stumbling back toward the kitchen for another drink.
The house was crawling with college students, all getting shit-faced on a Friday night. The kitchen was packed, blue and pink neon lights bouncing off the sleek white fridge doors. I caught myself against the counter, then pushed past a couple people until I was in front of a counter brimming with bottles.
My chest felt wired, humming with adrenaline. No shame, no embarrassment, no hurt. Just me and this bottle of Jack Daniel’s.
I twisted the cap off and tipped it back, shoving the lukewarm liquid past my lips. I barely registered someone stepping up beside me until their hot breath brushed my ear.
“Looking good, blondie.”
I giggled and turned, draping my arms over their shoulders.
Tall,reallytall, and in the dim light, they almost resembled him.
I glance up to meet brown, interested eyes. “Lonely, blondie?”
I’ve never seen him before.
