Page 49 of The Omega Lesson

A flimsy explanation, but there’s no time for her to grill me as the bell rings for assembly. We quickly make our way across the quad and file through the staff door into the auditorium. “Actually, Idowant all the grubby details,” she hisses as we take our seats at the side of the stage. “I’m thinking that maybe Mr. Apple Pie isn’t as innocent as you’re trying to make out.”

I just smile and tuck my head, happy to fade into the background like I tend to do at these events. It goes against my nature, but there’s no point in drawing attention to myself when we’re already on display for hundreds of students. But for once, I find myself scanning the rows of Peppermint House until I find Mattie. He’s staring right at me with his arms crossed and his mouth tilted up in a secret smile, and I quickly look away. The only way to avoid public drooling is to keep my gaze firmly focused on the headmaster.

He opens the assembly by reciting the school creed and reminding us of the Prendiville motto:sta rectus, sta fortis, sta celsus. Stand right, stand strong, stand proud. There’s a recap of the Old Boys’ Dinner, updates on the upcoming Senior Camp and various sporting events, and then a reminder about school discipline when Drummond is off campus. Basically, that all staff will step up and keep the boys in line. I slide in my seat a little at that while Robyn snickers into her sleeve. Thankfully, Miller then moves on to some general business, before he puffs himself up and announces a new staff member will be joining the academy. I perk up, grateful to hand the mantle of newbie off to some other poor sucker.

“This is actually a newly-created position,” he tells us, gripping the lectern with a proud smile. “Part-time, as the instructor is a very sought-after man, who is graciously giving back to the school he once attended. That’s correct. The new Master of Dressage is a former Prendiville student, as well as being a three-times National Grand Prix Dressage Champion, and the owner of two Melbourne Cup winners. Gentleman, put your hands together for Mr. Noah Lyall.”

I swear I feel my ears pop as Noah saunters onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause. He’s still in his jodhpurs and polo, but now he’s tapping a riding crop against the top of his shining jump boots. The spotlight follows him across the stage to the lectern, bouncing off his midnight black quiff and stunningly white teeth. When he swings his sparkling eyes my way, I have to clench my thighs to stop myself moaning.

“Nowthatis a Master of Discipline,” Robyn says with a throaty laugh and a few of the other teachers bob their heads in agreement. I’m tempted to tell them to put their eyes back in their heads, but I can’t really blame them. Noah is leaning casually on the lectern, his arse on perfect display in his skin-tight pants and his crop tapping his bulging thigh.

“I’ve recently become quite nostalgic for my Prendiville days,” he drawls into the microphone as he gazes out at the awe-struck students. “Reminded me of all the good times I had here, and I figured, why not come back and see if I can lick any of you into shape?”

I bite my lip hard enough to draw blood as he turns, kicking one gleaming boot against the other, and stares at me. “I’ll also be offering staff freebies if anyone is interested in a lesson or two.”

There’s a definite buzz of excitement from my colleagues atthatoffer and I scowl at Noah, but he just lifts a cocky brow. He’s still grinning as Miller thanks him for his motivational words and ushers him over to a seat in the front row. I barely hear the boys getting to their feet to close out the assembly with the school anthem, since I’m too busy trying to probe the back of Noah’s head. Is he serious? When he said he didn’t like us going to school without him, I thought he might ask for the occasional text update. Not that he was planning to sign up to the Prendiville faculty!

Something I would ask him to explain if he wasn’t surrounded by about fifty other staff members as the students file out of the hall. Miller is saying something about getting him settled in when Noah turns and stares straight into my soul. “Actually, I was hoping Miss Novak could give me a tour of the campus.”

Miller frowns. “I doubt it’s changed that much since your schooldays…”

But Noah is still watching me with his black-as-sin eyes. “Oh, I don’t know. I’d definitely say there’s been some improvements since I was here.”

“Oh, God,” I mutter under my breath.

“Well, of course she’ll help out,” Miller says, clearly missing the innuendo as he waves me forward. “When’s your free period, Miss Novak?”

“Just before recess.”

“That will be fine. How about you come to my office and we have a coffee until then?”

He’s clearly talking to Noah, since he doesn’t share his fancy espresso machine with just anyone. Noah gives me a cheeky wave as they head off and I turn to Robyn. She’s smiling so hard, she looks like she’s modelling a new brand of toothpaste. “Mr. Apple. Pie.”

Lexi

“You are way off base,” I tell Robyn, desperately looking around for a distraction. But before I can escape, she grabs my arm and ushers me out of the auditorium. There are kids everywhere, and we both put on our most professional teacher faces until we’re through the worst of the crowd.

“Bullshit,” she hisses as soon as we have a section of path to ourselves. “You are so taking that fine, fine specimen over the jumps. Your tongue was practically hanging down to his very shiny boots.”

“Ew.” I force myself to screw up my nose, because I suddenly have an image of myself on my knees between those very shiny boots.

“Noah Lyall?”She squeals, jarring me out of my fantasy. “I can’t believe it! But why are you being so cagey about it? If I was making sweet, sweet love with one of the elusive Lyall brothers, I’d be screaming it from the bell tower...”

She almost runs into my back as I stop in the doorway to our office, gaping at Mattie. He’s leaning on the edge of my desk, his cheek bulging as he takes a massive bite out of one of my apples.

“That sexy freak is stalking us,” he says before he realises I’m not alone, then starts choking on his apple. When he’s recovered, he flashes Robyn a nervous smile. “Sorry for barging into your office, Ms. Lorde, but I really need to talk to Lexi.”

Robyn makes a choking sound of her own as she slowly swivels to gape at me. “Is this the ice cream?”

“That’s… Mattie,” I say slowly. “And yes, you weren’t off base about Noah. We’re together. The three of us.”

“Well.” Robyn looks between us for a moment, then grabs my shoulders and gives them a warning squeeze. “You and I are going to get very, very grubby real soon. But first, we all have class. So put away your… apples.”

She looks pointedly at my open door before heading into her own classroom. Mattie drops the apple core into my bin and brushes his hand off on his pants, his cheeks warm. “My first public claiming,” he murmurs. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

“Me either.” But even though a part of me is still blinking in shock, a bigger part won’t let me deny my feelings for Mattie. Especially when he’s standing there staring at me with his heart in his eyes. “I guess it’s just a morning for big gestures.”

He smiles and nudges the apple bouquet. “He’s such a brown-noser, sucking up to the teacher.”

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