It didn’t disappear completely. It was still there, simmering somewhere in my core. But the excitement of Jace going down on me in my office chair, and then fucking me on my desk, on top of a stack of papers…
I couldn’t stop smiling.
The bar was already crowded when I arrived, even though it was barely five o’clock. I squeezed into an empty barstool next to two older women who looked like professors. Idly, I wondered if either of them had ever slept with one of their students.
When my phone chimed with a Signal message, I knew exactly who it would be.
Jace: I know you’re probably second guessing yourself right now. So I want to reassure you that I will not tell anyone about this. I understand discretion. You never have to worry about that with me. Even if I’m failing your class next month, I would never use any of this against you. You have my word, Lila.
Me: That’s good to hear. Thank you.
Jace: Having said that… I really hope that wasn’t just a one-time thing.
Me: Me too :-)
Jace: Now what can I do to get my A- bumped up to an A+ next time?
Me: I have some ideas.
Jace: I’m listening.
“Is Jace still bothering you?”
I glanced up with a jerk. Brock was mixing a drink in front of me, his eyes focused on his work.
Instinctively, I pulled my phone away. The screen wasn’t facing him. He couldn’t have seen who I was texting.
“Why do you ask?”
“You told me Jace was being stubborn,” Brock said. “Just wondering if he’s finally given it a rest. I noticed that he didn’t leave any fruit or tuna cans on your desk this morning.”
I relaxed and said, “Actually, he has stopped bothering me. I’ll take another gin and tonic, when you have a chance.”
“Way ahead of you.” He smiled and carefully placed a sprig of green leaf into the drink, gave it a stir, then handed it to me. “Iremembered your drink from last week. Added a little something special to this one. Let me know what you think.”
I took a sip. “Is that… mint? It’s good!”
He smiled with satisfaction. “Not everyone likes mint, but I think it really makes the ginpop. Back in Chicago, we called the drink a Southside.”
“Is that where you’re from?” I asked.
“Nah, I grew up in Nashville. I worked in construction for a few years after I dropped out of college the first time. That took me to Chicago for half a year. I bartended at night.”
“It’sreallygood,” I said, taking another long sip. “And I intend to pay for it. I can’t accept any more free drinks.”
Brock nodded once. “Conflict of interest, since you’re my professor. I get it.” He leaned a little closer. “But I’ll give you the employee discount. Don’t tell anyone.”
It felt like such a silly boundary for me to set after having sex with a student. But it let me feel like I was in control of everything happening. Even though I was bending—okay,breaking—the rules with Jace, it was still important to maintain proper relationships with all my other students.
“You said you had a forbidden relationship when you were eighteen, right?” I asked.
He blinked in surprise. “I did.”
“How’d it end? Did it fizzle out, or blow up in your faces?”
A fond smile touched his lips for a moment as he stared off. “When I graduated, we went on a few real dates. Dinner, movies, bowling. The spark wasn’t there anymore. We realized we didn’t have anything in common. The only reason we were hooking up was because it was taboo. Without that, it wasn’t any fun. Excuse me a second.”
He moved a few spots down the bar to take another customer’s order. She was an attractive woman wearing a low-cut top, her breasts practically spilling out when she leaned forward. Brock smiled at her, planting his palms on the bar counter in a way that made his muscles tighten against his black shirt.
