Page 20 of Bad Teacher

She disengaged her hand from his and rubbed her temples. So many emotions came in waves, washing through her. Regret, pain, and… comfort. “The treatment with therapy and antidepressants came first, and then for a few months I was ashamed, and fearful of it coming back. I knew I’d lost my husband, and that was my fault. And maybe I’d lost my kids too,” she said, her voice wavering. A fresh batch of tears prickled her eyes again, and she sobbed.

He held her in his arms, and stroked her back. “You came back, though. You made it through, Violet.”

His touch was comforting, reassuring, and welcoming like a well-worn quilt. She softened in his arms, until a long sigh escaped her lips, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for not judging me.”

“You were ill and needed to heal. What’s to judge, ma chérie?”

She held him tight, so tight that oxygen faltered for a moment. Their bodies plastered together, still with a cool sheen of sweat, naked, but the jolt bolting through her didn’t have an ounce of sexuality. Well, maybe an ounce or two. Mainly a warm, soft, liberating sensation spread though her. He deposited a kiss on her shoulder, and she smiled against his neck. The sex had been amazing, earth shattering but this… this moment was priceless.

“When do you have to leave?” she said, assuming he’d hired a sitter and at some point needed to go back to his daughter. Having him spend the night had never crossed her mind even at the most positive of times. She couldn’t fool herself, and preferred not to. “I don’t want to keep you away from Marcelle—”

“I still got time,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “Relax, Violet. I’m not going anywhere.”

I’m not going anywhere.Her muscles loosened, and she reveled in his embrace. A silly part of her dared to dream for a while, and hope those words were true.

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