Mia’s smile faltered for a moment, her small fingers fidgeting with the ends of her braids as she replied. “Um, he had to go somewhere, but he’s coming back.”
As if on cue, the door opened, the sudden movement drawing my attention. A tall man in dark blue coveralls and scuffed work boots walked in, and before I even registered his appearance,Mia’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, her tiny hand pointing at him as she exclaimed with pure adoration, “That’s my daddy!”
My eyes locked onto his, and my breath whooshed out of my lungs in a sickening rush, my heart pounding against my ribcage. Dark, mesmerizing eyes that had captivated me for almost a year now through my laptop screen now stared back at me in person, sending a shiver down my spine. His tanned skin, sculpted jawline, and full lips were all too familiar, features that had haunted my fantasies more times than I could count.
It was him.
Magic Marco.
The sight of him hit me like a wave, pulling me back to the solitude of my apartment, to my bedroom where I’d lost myself in Magic Marco’s PrivatelyYours webpage. I had, willingly and eagerly, parted with my hard-earned cash each month for his platinum subscription—the highest tier available—to access his private collection, a treasure trove of raw, unfiltered moments where he lay bare on his bed, his hands wandering over his skin, or stood under the cascade of his shower, his fingers wrapped around his thick cock.
Not to mention access to the exclusive chatroom during his livestreams to talk with him directly.
A flush of warmth climbed up my neck, the heat of embarrassment and disbelief mingling as I stood there, struggling to maintain my composure, mere inches away from the man who had fueled my fantasies when there was no one else. Magic Marco had been my escape, my secret indulgence in this small town.
I lived for those moments when that notification hit my screen:Magic Marco is going live.
And now, he was standing right in front of me, the father of my new student—this man I knew so… intimately yet had never met in person.
Fuck. How was I going to manage this?
“Hi, I’m Marc Mendez.” His deep voice, smooth and rich like honey, sent a tremor through my body as he extended his hand, his grip firm and warm as I shook it. A jolt of electricity raced up my arm, my heart beating so loudly I was sure he heard it. I swallowed hard, my mind racing with thoughts of how to handle this. His eyes, even more captivating in person, held mine for a moment that seemed to stretch into eternity, his tone polite and professional. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Parker.”
Guilt knotted in my stomach at the sudden realization that the father of one of my students was someone I had watched in many, many sexual circumstances, and my skin prickled with both shock and shameful arousal, knowing so much about him while he was oblivious to my secret.
Here he was, standing before me, his warm hand clasped in mine, that hand that I had seen touch and probe and—
Get a grip, Parker. You’re a professional.
A deep, steadying breath helped push aside the swirling—and inappropriate—thoughts. Focus on Mia, the adorable little girl watching us with innocent, trusting eyes.
“Mr. Mendez, nice to meet you.” The words were stiff and awkward on my tongue, forced out through the haze of disbelief. I cleared my throat as I turned to Mia and her sweet, expectant face and forced a smile, hoping it appeared genuine and encouraging. “I was just telling Mia she doesn’t need to be nervous. We’re going to have such a good time learning together this year…”
As I spoke, I sensed her father’s cool gaze on me. The scent of his aftershave, a subtle, masculine fragrance, made my head spin slightly. I shifted my attention to Natalie, desperate for a distraction. “So, what were you saying about Mia’s health situation?”
Natalie gestured to Mr. Mendez, and I focused on his words, and not the lips I had seen in countless videos. “Her seizures are under better control now,” he said, his dark eyes filled with concern and relief. “She’s been on a new medication for several months now, and we haven’t seen any major episodes since then. I kept her home for the first half of the year, just to be sure, but after talking to her pediatrician, we think she’s ready to start school.”
I nodded, my thoughts a chaotic mix of relief that Mia’s condition seemed manageable. As scary as this sounded, if Mia’s doctor was on board with enrolling her in school, that was enough for me. “Thank you for sharing that with me, Mr. Mendez. We’ll do everything we can to ensure Mia has a safe and enjoyable learning experience here.”
Mr. Mendez’s smile, warm and genuine, sent a flutter through my chest, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he replied, his tone filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Mr. Parker. I appreciate your understanding and support.” Relief washed over his handsome features. “This is the first time I’ve left her somewhere like this. She’s thrilled about finally getting to go to school, but I’m the nervous wreck.” He chuckled, his broad shoulders loosening slightly. Placing a tender hand on Mia’s back, he met my gaze with an unguarded vulnerability in his dark eyes. “Mia’s my whole world. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to her.”
I watched his fierce, protective stance; it was like a lion guarding its cub and it sent an unexpected warmth through me. But he needed to be reassured, just as any parent dropping off their child. “Mr. Mendez, please know that Mia will be welcomed into our classroom with open arms. I can promise you that.”
His intense gaze never broke from mine as I spoke. “Thanks for saying that. It’s what I needed to hear.”
Behind him, Natalie nodded at me with a quick wink. Another worried parent won over by the ‘always safe and dependable’ Kendall Parker, kindergarten teacher extraordinaire.
There had been the occasional eyebrow raised when some parents learned that their young child’s teacher was not just a man, but a gay man. Word spread fast in a small-town like Blanco Springs, Texas. But once those parents met me—a skinny red-head in a polo shirt and khakis—those worries quickly dissipated. Something about my lean frame and delicate features gave the impression that I was harmless—which was mostly true. Despite countless hours spent at the gym, my body remained slender and soft, lacking the defined muscles that some might associate with masculinity.
While that certainly hadn’t helped in the dating department, it ended up working out with my career choice.
Natalie turned to Mr. Mendez. “I’ll get a health plan together for the faculty, so that everyone who needs to know is aware of Mia’s condition. With proper precautions and her prescribed medications on hand, she’ll be able to manage her conditions just fine during the school day.”
As she spoke, I snuck glances at him, drinking in every detail. The way his coveralls stretched across his muscular frame, the way he smelled, the movement of his full lips.
Yes, I’d have to figure out how I was going to manage this—at least until the end of the school year. March, April, and May.
I could do this.
