Page 97 of Playing for Keeps

She gasped, clinging to my shoulders, adjusting to the stretch before she started to move. With every roll of her hips and every frantic bounce, the truck rocked. I gripped her ass, and guided her faster and harder until the rhythm made us both lose it.

“Max – oh God–” Her voice broke, high and desperate, as I angled her hips just right. Her cry ripped through the truck when she came, clenching around me. I followed a heartbeat later, thrusting deep and shaking against her as my release tore through me.

For a while, all I could hear was our ragged breathing and the quiet of the night outside. Her hair was stuck to her forehead, and her big, reckless smile made her look like sin and salvation rolled up in one. I kissed her again, softer now, my hand cupping the back of her neck. “Backseat next time,” I whispered against her lips.

She laughed, still breathless. “Bed next time.”

47

EMMA

The phone rang right after I put my bag down in my office. Margaret’s voice came through, as brisk and warm as always, asking if I could stop by her office. Ten minutes later, I was there, smoothing my jumper unnecessarily as I walked in.

“Emma, thanks for coming in,” she said, standing up for a moment before pointing to the chair across from her desk.

“Of course,” I said as I sat down. “You wanted to talk about my classes. Is there a problem?”

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “No, not at all. In fact, it’s the other way around. The feedback has been great; students really love your classes. Some of them have even asked if you would come back next year.”

“Oh, that’s… that’s really nice of them. I loved teaching. I’ve always loved talking about books, but these classes were more than that. The look on their faces when something clicked is fantastic. Makes all the preparation worthwhile.”

“I’m glad to hear that, because I’d like to offer you a teaching position next year. And not just to continue what you’ve already been doing. If you’re interested, we’d like to add more classes to your schedule.”

For a moment, I simply stared at her, not quite registering the words. “That’s a very nice offer. Thank you. And for the compliment. Truly.”

“But you’re saying no,” she said, her voice gentle but certain, as if she could already tell I was hesitating.

I bit my lip. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it before.”

“And now that the offer is on the table?”

I looked down at my hands and played with my cuff. “I’ll think about it. I promise. When do you want me to decide?”

“There’s no hurry. Take a couple of weeks. When you’ve had a chance to think about it, let me know.”

I nodded. “Okay. Thanks again. Really. It means a lot that you thought of me.”

Her face softened as she continued. “You deserve it, Emma. This year, you’ve brought so much to the department. It’s been noticed.”

That made me blush.

After that, we talked about lighter things again, like papers due at the end of the term and the stress of exam season, until Margaret leaned back with a smile.

“Now, on a different note,” she said, “a group of us is planning a department dinner to mark the end of the year. It would be great if you could come. It will be a chance to unwind a little and toast to making it through the semester.”

“That sounds lovely.”

“Good,” she said, and then she started writing something on a sticky note. “It’s Friday night next week. I’ll also send the details by email.”

I thanked her again, got up, and wandered back into the corridor, still a little stunned by everything we’d just talked about.

“Emma.”

I glanced up. Simon was coming toward me, hands shoved in his pockets, his face somewhere between laid-back and nosy.

“I’ve got some news,” he said. “Though maybe you’ve already heard.”

“You’re making me nervous,” I said, trying to smile.