Page 7 of Sweet Valentine

“Hey, sweetheart.” She blushes at the endearment as I stand, making my way over to her. The enormous box in her hands looks awkward, and I immediately grab it and place it on one of the kids’ desks. “What do you have in here? Bricks?” This monster is heavy, and when I hear her subtle laugh behind me, I turn to see that gorgeous smile across her face.

“Well, there are seventy cookies in there. One cookie might not weigh that much, but put that many together? It gets heavy.” I open the top and inspect her work. I’m floored. They look incredible and smell amazing.

“Val, these are…” I look up, and her eyes meet mine. “Incredible,” I whisper as I take a step toward her. “You’re meant to do this, you know?” She blushes as I continue getting closer until I’m an inch away from her and can feel her breath against my skin. My fingers find hers as they brush together, and when I hear her intake of breath, I take it up a notch. I lean in, my nose trailing up the column of her neck to the shell of her ear. Her head leans back, giving me what I want as my hands grip her hips and bring her body flush with mine.

“Noah,” she whispers, her fingers digging into my shirt, pulling me closer.

“Are you gonna finally admit you want this?” I ask, already knowing the answer. “I’ve been a patient man, sweetheart, but I’m at my limit here…” Her gasp makes my whole body come alive as I lean back and trace her jaw with my thumbs. Her tongue darts out over her bottom lip, and I lean in, knowing her lips will taste and feel just as good as they do in my imagination.

“Mr. Taylor!” The greeting is screamed from the doorway as a sea of small children make their way into the room. I was so distracted by Val that I didn’t even hear the end-of-lunch bell.

“They served hot dogs for lunch!” Kaylee, one of my cutest students, screams as she makes her way over to her desk. I take a quick look at Val, who has that sexy blush covering her skin that I love so much.

“If you’re not careful, I’ll want to see exactly how far that blush goes…” I whisper as all the kids take their seats. Val smacks my arm, and for a split second, I wonder if I went too far, then I look up to see that smile of hers. I sigh in relief.

“Guys, I’d like for you to say hi to Ms. Valentina, she baked all these cookies,” I say, pointing to the box on Derek’s desk. He looks my way, and I nod my head. He opens the top.

“Holy cow! You made all of these? There has to be a million in here!” I laugh at the exaggeration and feel my chest compress when Val crouches down beside Derek’s desk.

“Unfortunately, there aren’t a million, but there are enough for you guys to bring with you to the retirement home down the street.” Derek smiles at her, closing the box.

“Everyone, I want you to find your letters and line up at the door. I will be right back.” I motion for Val to follow me into the hall, and when the door closes behind her, I spin, pinning her to the lockers and then taking a quick look around.

“Noah, what are y—?” I don’t let her finish before my mouth finds hers. I couldn’t take one more minute of not knowing what she tastes like. I was right, her lips are everything I wanted them to be. On a moan, she opens for me, and I slip my tongue inside, groaning at the feeling of her against me.

One of my hands wraps around the nape of her neck, pulling her close, and the other grabs her ass and brings her heat straight against my aching cock. “Val, I know you’re scared of this,”—my voice lowers as her breathing increases—“but this is right…this feels right.” She nods her head, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I kiss her lightly, feeling her body relax against mine.

“Noah, this is insane. I’ve only known you a week!” Her head slams back against the lockers as I smile down at her scowling face.

“Sweetheart, I need to get back to class, but I’m not leaving this hallway until you agree to go out with me.”

“And if I say no?” The sass makes my cock strain against the zipper of my jeans.

“Don’t joke about denying me what’s mine…” I say, tracing my fingers up the curve of her neck, cupping her jaw, making her gaze meet mine. I know if I don’t stop soon, I won’t be able to, so I pull away, hating every second.

“God, Noah, what are you doing to me?” I don’t know if the question is actually for me, but I answer anyway.

“I’m making a move, something I’ve been dying to do since the moment I saw you. Now, will you agree to go out with me so I can take my class to the retirement home?” She smiles, taking my wrist in her hand, pulling my fingers away from her neck.

“Tell you what,” she says, taking my phone out of my back pocket, then using my thumb to unlock it. “If you text me later to let me know how the trip was, I’ll consider it.” She types in her phone number and hands the cell back to me.

“Trust me, baby, I will be calling you tonight.”

“I close at eight,” she says as she gives me a kiss on the cheek. She winks as she traces a finger over my chest, making me harder than I’ve ever been in my life. From the look in her eye as she walks away, she knows exactly what she does to me.

CHAPTER EIGHT

My whole body whines as I shut my front door and head into my bedroom.

All I want is a hot shower so I can wash all the flour off my body. But once I sit down on the side of my bed, the only thing I can think about is shutting my eyes and getting some sleep. Yet sleep doesn’t come. I lie there, eyes open, brain wide-awake, planning the next day’s events. Just as I shut off my bedside light for the fifth time, desperately trying to get some sleep, my phone goes off.

Noah: You awake?

Me: Unfortunately, yes.

Noah: I can text you tomorrow if you want.

Me: No, it’s fine. This happens to me all the time. My brain doesn’t know when to shut off.

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