My workout was actually quite bearable. Jeff was not around today and I was thankful I did not have to talk about our time at the club. He was a nice guy, but I wasn’t attracted to him in the least.

As the day went on, I realized that several of my books were missing. It dawned on me that I had left them in Mr. Honor’s car the entire weekend. My nerves were on edge as I sat through lunch listening to Claire and Becka rave about their weekend in the clubs. I picked at my food, never actually taking a bite.

“I still can’t believe Jeff wrecked his car. He is lucky to be alive.” Becka said sadly.

“That’s what he gets for drinking and driving.” Claire chimed in. I rolled my eyes remembering how they passed the liquor around the car that very night.

As the bell rang, I sat frozen in my seat, not sure if I could go to his class. I wanted more than anything to see him but I was scared of his reaction. Sitting through an entire period without him so much as glancing my way would devastate me.

“Come on, you’re going to be late.” Becka said cheerfully as she looped her arm in mine and pulled me from the seat. I dumped my lunch tray and made my way down the hall to Mr. Honor’s class. I stood outside as everyone filed in. I glanced through the doorway to see Mr. Honor leaning against the front of his desk. His eyes met mine and for a moment, time froze. I held my breath and stared at him. He wore a dark black button up shirt that made his blue eyes glow. A male student walked up to him and got his attention. I took a deep breath and slinked inside. I noticed a small stack of books on my desk and could not help but smile. I sat down and fidgeted with my pen, not wanting to look up at him. He began to speak asking random questions about the chapter he had assigned for us to read over the weekend. I let my mind wander as I chewed on the end of my pencil.

“Emma…Emma!” William called and I glanced up to see the entire class staring at me.

“What” I asked, sounding more irritated than I intended.

“Who exacted punishment on the rebels of the North of England reffered to as ‘The Harrying of the North’?” His eyes burned into mine and the entire class sat silent, waiting for my response.

“William the Conqueror.” I blurted out, thinking of his text messages to me. He smiled at our own private joke.

“That is correct Ms. Townsend.” His lips curved up in a devilish grin. My heart leaped into my thoat. “Good girl” I nearly melted out of my seat into a puddle on the floor. Those words had a direct connection to the naughtiest of places on my body. I bit my lip as my cheeks burned pink. His eyes narrowed and I quickly let my lip free. He moved on to other questions and the conversation blurred in my mind. William had a way of taking over my every thought. The bell rang, ending the class in what seemed like record time. I reluctantly moved on to my next class, wishing I could spend his free period alone with him. I spent the rest of the day fantasising about going back and being bent over his desk again. I couldn’t ignore his rejection. I sucked it up and managed to make it to all of my classes. I refused to humiliate myself.

When the day ended I was overcome by sadness. I did my best to have ‘girl talk’ with Claire and Becka, but eventually they made their way to their cars and I was left sitting alone in the parking lot. My phone vibrated, jarring me from my self loathing.

You are incredibly beautiful, even when you’re sad.

I smiled, then suddenly realized I was being watched. I refused to look around.

Is that why you broke my heart?

I sat waiting for what felt like an eternity for his response.

I would give anything to take back all of the pain I have caused you.

Some of the pain we enjoyed.

I bit my lip and waited patiently for his response.

Go home Emma.

I glanced over at Mr. Honor’s car. Angela, the school secretary, was standing by his door and he had gotten out to talk to her. Jealousy consumed my thoughts.

Now!

He texted again. I put the car into drive and sped out of the parking lot. My vision quickly blurred by my tears. As much as I hated to admit it, I couldn’t hate this man so much if I didn’t love him.

Slow down.

His text sent anger coarsing through my veins. As the light at the end of the lot turned green I stepped on the gas as hard as I could. I drove over to Becka’s house to grab the clothes I had left over the weekend. She wanted me o stay longer but the thought of being around anyone else right now didn’t sound appealing. I made up an excuse about having to be home for dinner, even though I was pretty sure that my Aunt wouldn’t even be home.

Chapter Twenty-Three

As predicted my driveway sat empty as I pulled in. I parked inside the garage and made sure I locked the door behind me as I entered my home. I set my books on the table and walked back the hall to my room. I opened my bedroom door and stood in the doorway, unable to move my feet.

“So you enjoy the pain?” William asked, his blue eyes flashed to mine and he had the hint of smile. “Close the door.” He said in a low, commanding tone. I stepped inside and pushed the door closed behind me, leaning back against it. “If Angela knew about you, she isn’t going to say or do anything about it.” He said confidently. He read the look of confusion on my face and answered my unspoken question. “She’s married. The last thing she wants is for her husband to find out she likes fucking other men.” His words stabbed me. I had been hoping that William had never gotten that far with her. I looked down at the ground, biting my lip. “She wasn’t really my type. I like my woman all to myself.” He walked towards me and put his fingers on my chin, tipping my head up to meet his gaze. My heart began to thud in my chest. “Breathe Emma.” I drew in a quick breath as I steadied myself against the door. Every emotion imaginable was flooding through me and it left my head swimming in dizziness. He slowly ran his finger along the line of my jaw, as his other hand slid down my waist. His fingers glided over my hip bone and down my thigh. He stopped underneath of my knee, pulling my leg up suddenly next to him and leaning in hard against me. As his face moved closer he brushed passed my mouth to my earlobe. “I miss the taste of you on my lips.” All of the strength left my body and if he wasn’t pressed so tightly against me I would have melted onto the floor. I let out a low heavy breath in his ear and I felt his body respond against me. He rested his forehead against mine, his thumb tracing my lower lip. I slipped my tongue out, gently touching it to the tip of his finger. A small moan escaped his lips and he pushed his finger back against my mouth. I opened wider, letting his finger slip inside as I gently swirled my around it. His mouth ran open along my face. “I should go.”

“No” I replied with more desperation in my voice than I intended. He smiled, leaning his forehead against mine as he closed his eyes. “I tried to stay away from you Emma, but I can’t. You consume my every thought. After graduation we should get away from here for awhile.” I hadn’t realized that graduation was only two weeks away. More importantly, had William just asked me to go away with him, alone?

“Where?” I aksed, not believing I had heard him correctly.

“Anywhere. It doesn’t matter. Just… far away from this place. I want to wake up to your smile.” His look was serious and I tried my best not to grin like a fool. Inside I was jumping up and down with joy. The emotional rollercoaster this man has put my on from one moment to the next had finally reached its peak. “Say yes.” His bright blue eyes burned with wanting.

“Yes, Sir” I smirked. He pressed his lips hard against mine. Electricity surged between us as I clung desperatly to his touch. “Be a good girl.” He smirked but there was an underlying warning to his words. I moved to the side, and he walked out of my bedroom, leaving my wanting more of him.

I spent the rest of the evening catching up on school work and deciding on something to wear for graduation. Every thought went back to William. He was obviously more emotionally damaged than I was but something about us together worked. He craved control and I needed someone to keep me from being self-destructive.

That night I dreamed of William and I. I pictured us in a small home in Michigan with a white picket fence. We were happy and caring, waving at our neighbors as they passed by, but as the door opened to our quaint little home my thoughts twisted into a gruesome nightmare. Mr. Honor’s face contorted into an evil madmad, whip in hand. The walls where lined with woman, chained and shackled begging to be set free. I sat up in my bed, dripping with sweat and unable to control my breathing.

“Everything okay in here?” Aunt Judy asked as she flipped on the bedroom light. I put my hand up to cover my face from the harsh intrusion.

“I’m fine. Just a bad dream.” I explained. She rolled her eyes.

“It’s always something with you, Emma.” She groaned as she pulled my door shut behind her. I barely slept the rest of the night. As the sun began to rise I got out of bed and got a head start on the day. I brewed a fresh pot of coffee and took extra time to primp myself. Something I hardly ever did before meeting William. I spent the remainder of the morning searching the internet for romantic and secluded places that William and I could go after graduation. I wasn’t sure what price range was suitable, but judging by his expansive living space and shiny new sports car, he had money that did not come from a substitute teacher’s salary. There was so much about him that was a complete mystery to me and I hoped that during our time alone he would let me inside that beautiful mind of his. My thoughts began to wander to his very particular tastes in the bedroom and I wished I knew what had made him this way. He obviously had a very caring side to him but he struggled to keep that hidden from everyone, especially me.

I had wasted away the morning and decided to get ready and head to school. For once, I would actually make it there early. I filled another cup of coffee and headed out on to the highway. I cranked the radio, singing along to Harder to Breathe, the lyrics taking on a whole new meaning than they had before.

The lot at school was virtually empty, aside from a few teacher’s who began to file in. My phone muted as a text message came through.

Eager to learn Ms. Townsend?

I smilled like a drug addict who had just gotten their fix.

You are a great teacher.

There are so many more things I would like to teach you, Emma.

Euphoria swept over me. Every inch of my body tingled with delight. Cars began to fill in around me. I got out and made my way into the school. As a turned the corner in the main hall I ran directly into the school secretary, Angela Brown. I literally ran into her sending my books crashing to the ground around us.

“I’m so sorry.” She clammered and bent down to pick up my books. I bent down, helping gather my things, not able to take my eyes off her. She smiled apologetically. She held out my books, waiting for me to take them.

“Thanks” I said, grabbing my things. She continued on her way, leaving me standing in udder confusion. She had no clue about William and I. So if she wrote the note, what did she mean by she knew what he was doing and that she was going to make him pay? Why would someone who is married make such a threat to a man that obviously needed complete and total control? She had to have known how he would react. None of this made any sense. Perhaps there was more going on than Mr. Honor had told me. Not a shocking surprise considering I knew very little about his past.

I walked down to the gym and changed quickly into my workout clothes. As I sat on the bleachers waiting for the class to begin Jeff hobbled over next to me on a set of dull gray crutches.

“You’re alive” I joked and he looked down at the ground, embarrassed.

“Broke my ankle and got a few bumps and bruises, but I’m okay.” He shrugged and lowered himself down to sit next to me. I stared ahead at the other students as they filed out of the locker rooms. “So…I had fun at the club with you.” I rolled my eyes. Jeff, along with everyone else, didn’t even acknowledge my absense after I had left the dance floor.