Page 1 of Chasing Temptation
Chapter One
Doing as she asked is harder than I was anticipating. I’ve never chased a woman in my life. I’m usually the one trying to shake the clingers, but sitting here, waiting for the clock to tick around so I can leave for my class, I wouldn't be opposed to wrapping my arms around her the second I walk into the room and never letting go.
It’s been three days since I dropped her off for work on Monday morning, and I’ve not heard a squeak from her since. I kinda hoped she might at least message me to let me know she’s okay, but apparently her need for space meant as much distance as she could put between us as possible.
I can’t really argue; she’s got shit going on, and this thing between us has been intense to say the least. She’s my teacher, for fuck’s sake.
The plan was to re-do a couple of my GCSEs, rewrite a couple of the fuck tonne of mistakes I’ve made in my life, and see if I’m actually competent enough to consider further education and possibly a serious qualification that might allow me to be more than just a builder.
Okay, so I’m notjusta builder—my job description says I’m a site agent—but I’m under no illusion that I only got that title because I was in my old boss’ back pocket.
I was a mess the day I stumbled into Johnson & Son’s office. If the boss had turned out to be anyone but my dad’s old mate, I doubt that anyone in their right mind would have given me a job. I was seventeen, covered in tattoos, hungover, and I probably smelled like the back end of a rhino, but he gave me a chance.
Or rather, he gave me what I needed in order for me to do his dirty work.
The second I saw him, I should have known he wasn’t offering me a job out of the goodness of his heart. The man had been a friend of my father’s; anyone who spent any time with that man was obviously of dubious character. I should have known better than to agree to dance with the devil. It was only later that I was to learn that he was probably worse than my father ever was. He was the master manipulator, and I had no choice but to be his bitch. He could take everything away from me in one swift move if I disobeyed him.
Weirdly, he was the only man I’d listened to in my entire life.
But it wasn’t through choice.
It was through necessity.
Looking back now, I can’t be all that angry. Yes, he played me, but he wasn’t hiding it from me; the person he was really playing was his daughter, Lauren. She’s the reason I can’t be angry about it all, because he gave me her.
I’d had a few friends growing up but nothing lifelong. The guys at the pretentious all boys private school my parents sent me to only wanted to know me because I knew how to get my hands on alcohol and good weed. Then, when my gran enrolled me into her local comprehensive, I was the bad boy all the ‘cool’ kids wanted to befriend and all the girls wanted to bed. I certainly got an education from that place, although not in the way of qualifications. I learned that girls would go even further out of their way than boys to get what they wanted, and it was where I discovered that really, I didn’t care what sex they were as long as they were willing. I’d lose myself and my shitty life in them in a heartbeat.
I’ve never been embarrassed by the way I’ve lived my life or the bad, slutty choices I’ve made.
Not until I walked into her classroom and her dark, innocent eyes stared into mine. In that moment, I wished everyone I’d ever touched would vanish. She was too good for me, and I was desperate to be worthy. The longer she looked at me, the more I wanted her.
I told myself it was lust at first sight, but even in those very first moments I knew it was more than that. Yes, I wanted to bend her over her desk and fuck her until she cried out my name—that was a given—but more than that I wanted to pull her into my arms and tell her that I’d take away the fear that was oozing from her.
My phone buzzes beside me, and I almost manage to crack a smile at seeing my best friend’s picture staring back at me.
Lauren:What time are you showing your face tonight? Erica won’t forgive you if you bail.
Tonight’s my flat mate’s birthday. I do need to be there after everything she’s been through recently, but nothing will drag me away from seeing Quinn tonight. I’ve promised Lauren that I’ll get to the restaurant as soon as I can, but I don’t think she believes me.
I’ve kept my Thursday night dalliances to myself. I thought I was crazy when I filled out the application online to go back to school, and I had no idea what those around me would think. Lauren knows about my past, and I’ve no doubt she’d support me no matter what, but everyone else…I’m not so sure. They don’t know what a fuck up I was, and, quite honestly, I’d rather not have to revisit that time in my life.
I reply, promising that I’ll be there. What I really want to do is convince Quinn to come with me after class and introduce her to my friends. This thing between us has only been going on for a few days at the most, but already I’m sick of hiding her.
It’s still too early to leave but fuck it. I grab my leather jacket and my bag and head out of the flat. I usually take the tube, but seeing as it’s pissing it down with rain and with the hope that I’ll be able to get Quinn away quicker after class, I unlock the van door and jump in. It’s meant to be for business use only, but what’s Ben going to do? Fire me? Lauren wouldn’t allow it.
One of the benefits of having a bestie who’s banging the boss.
I park a little down the street, thinking it’ll make Quinn happy later, and slowly make my way inside.
I’m the first to arrive, not that it’s a surprise, and her classroom door is shut. I clench and unclench my fists with my need to go barrelling in and pull her into my arms. The fact that she’s in the middle of teaching a class is the only thing that stops me. After three days, I’m fucking desperate to feel her body pressed up against mine and to breathe in her sweet scent.
A couple of others I recognise join me. I nod at them in greeting, but no words pass my lips. Befriending my classmates has never been that high up on my to do list. Getting up close and personal with the teacher, though…that one’s right up there.
Eventually her class comes to an end and students start filing out of the room. My heart pounds as the anticipation of seeing her gets the better of me.
Shoving my hands in my pockets to stop me from pushing the students leaving the room aside in my haste to get in, I wait as patiently as possible.
When it looks like the last couple of stragglers have left, I take a step forward, beating anyone else to the doorway. They might be keen to learn or whatever, but my need is much more important.
