Honor Thy Teacher (19 page)

“Emma!” I shook her. She growned but did not open her eyes. “Get some water!” I shouted at Stephen. He ran to the kitchen and filled a glass, bringing it back to me. I splashed water on her face and her eyes bagan to flutter.

“What happened?” She asked, looking around, confused.

“
Are y
ou narcaleptic?” The Stephen asked, looking genuin
e
ly scared shitless.

“NO” She answered, tugging at her shirt. I placed my hand on her shoulder to soothe her.

“W
e didn’t mean ‘get rid of her’ like that.”
I had to hold back a laugh. It was
exactly
what we meant.
“We just need to figure out how to make her not come back again and again once she has been paid.”
I rubbed her knee, trying to make sure she believed me. She looked to Stephen.

“Right, well, we need to negotiate terms and have your lawyer speak with her. Are you sure this is about the money and not about some sort of revenge?” He
asked, his eyes burning through me
.

“No, no. She’s the one who broke my heart, remember?”
I glared at him. He was saying too much.

“Yea, I know.
I just needed to make sure there
was nothing else that would come out later.”
He stood up and I
rose from the couch. “Should be a pretty straight forward arrangement. Are you sure you want to pay her off? You could always let her say what she wants. It’s not like you need the teaching job.”
I ran my
hands through his hair and nodded.
I knew he was really asking
if I thought she would go throug
h with it. If she would spill everything.

“You know I can’t let this come out. I would never hear the end of it from my father.”

“I’ll help as much as I can. I owe you that much.” Stephen replied, holding out his han
d. We
shook and the mayor nodded at Emma
politely before leaving. I
followed after him and locked the door.

“You could have warned me that you had company!” 
She smacked me playfully on the arm.

“You could have warned me that you passed out so easily. Had that happened in the bedroom I would have thought I killed you.”
My mind flashed to the hotel.

“Sorry” She looked down at her feet. I stepped closer, pulling her into my arms and squeezing her tightly.

“Can I ask you something?” I took a deep breath, my arms stiffened.

“Ask away”

“What did you do for the mayor that he feels he owes you?”
She looked up to me.

“If it wasn’t for me he would have never made it through college. I tutored him, helped keep him on track.”
I smiled at her and squeezed her closer.

“Here I thought you helped him bury a hooker or something.”
She joked. I laughed and stared over her.

“No, the dead hookers didn’t start to pile up until after he became mayor.”
She bit her lip and slapped me playfully on the chest.

“Where are you going to come up with the kind of money she is asking for on a professor’s salary?”
She asked. I let go of her and ran my hands though my hair. She was asking too many questions.

“My father. In fact, he is the reason she and I did
n’t last in the first place.” I shook my head
. “Abby started turtoring me senior year. I was more into hanging out with my friend
s and getting in trouble. I didn
’t take my grades seriously. One night on
e
thing lead to another. I’ll spare you the details but my father found out that we were seeing each other. He went to Abby and offered her money to stay away from me.”
I stared off at the wall.
“She took it and never looked back. To add insult to injury she began flaunting some new guy around town. Everywhere I went I saw
them together. It wasn’t until college when she called me and begged for me to come see her. We dated for a few months.
” I glanced
down at the floor, “
We ran off to V
egas on a whim and got married. Everything was perfect again until I found out my father had paid her. She begged for me to stay with her but I couldn’t. Now she wants to make my life miserable.”
I looked her in the eye to gauge her reaction.

“I’m so sorry.” She stepped closer but I put up my hand to stop her.

“I don’t want to be pit
ied, Emma. It was a long time ago. I just want this bitch out of my life once and for all.”

“So, if your father is rich, why are you working as a professor?”

“I don’t know. I tutored all through college and I really enjoyed it. There was something really fulfilling about seeing that look on someone’s face when they unders
tand something new.” I smiled
. “Plus, I like to be in control, but I’m sure you noticed that. I don’t want to ever
get hurt like that again.” I ran my fingers down the length of her jaw and smacked her playfully on her bottom with my
other hand.

“Ouch!”
She jumped and I pulled her body against mine.

“I think I answered enough questions for one day.”
I ran my thumb over her bottom lip.

We spent the next few hours in bed together.

“Go take a nice  long bath. I’
ll make us something to eat.” I kissed her
quickly on the forehead
and made my way into the kitchen to prepare something to eat.

“That smells delicious!” She said as she
sat down at t
he kitchen island and twirled her
wet hair into a bun.

“Thanks” I sat a plate down in front of her. Cheese ravioli in a mushroom sauce. One of my favorite dishes. I watched her clean her plate and I could barely stand to eat a bite.

“Not hungry?” She asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I was just thinking about how money changes people.”
Lie.
Money doesn’t change people. You are either good or bad, kind or greedy, dominant or submissive. Her eyebrows knitted together as she thought that over.

“I wouldn’t do that to you. I’m not that kind of person. I’m not her.
” She said, putting her hand on mine. She
thought I was talking about Abby
. I laced my fingers in hers and gave her hand a squeeze. After a moment, she let go of my hand and went off to the bedroom. She reappeared with her cell phone pressed to her ear.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Aunt Judy? I won’t be home tonight.” She smiled at me. She endd the call and sat the phone down, raising her eyebrow at
me. She turned and walked towar
ds the elevator.
She stepped inside and di
sappeared behind the doors.

I got up from my stool and rinsed our dishes in the sink. I grabbed the bourbon and poured a quick drink as I thought of Emma alone, upstairs.
I smirked and emptied my glass, setting it back down on the counter. I headed towards the elevator. My pulse began to race as I got closer. The doors opened and I gave myself a minute for my eyes to adjust. Then I saw her, spead out on a table and waiting for me.
Perfection.
I began to unhook my belt as I drank in her beauty.

“You certainly know
how to make me feel better.” I said as I slid his pants over my hips. I
spent the ne
xt hour torturing and teasing her until she wanted to scream. “Say it” I whispered in her ear as I hovered over her. She
pulled against the restraints
. “Say it!” I ordered.

“I l
ove you” She panted. I thrust himself into her and she
cried out at the sudden pain.
I didn’t slow. I needed this and she was willing to give it to me.

“I love you” I whispered in her ear. Her body pulsed and tightened around me. I thrust into her again. Again. I finished falling lazily on top of her.
I trailed kisses over her face as I undid her wrists. Once freed, her arms wrapped aound my neck and held my mouth to hers.

My phone rang out in the darkness. Her arms squeezed me tighter.

“I have to get it. It may be my lawyer.”
  Her arms relaxed and I was able to get up. I answered my phone as I watched her unlock her ankles. My lawyer rambled in my ear about payoffs. I watched her slip on her clothes.
It was just a big of a turn on as when she took them off.
I put my hand on the small of her back and led her to the elevator.

“I don’t give a fuck about the money. I want her out of my life.”
I ran my hands through my hair. If the money did not keep her away I
would find a more permane
nt solution.
We stepped out of the elevator and Emma headed f
or the bathroom. I sighed, relie
ved to have some privacy.

“There is nothing to stop her from coming back for more. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what is going on.” Mr. D
aniels pleaded with me. I gritte
d my teeth.

“What the fuck do I pay you for?” I growled and threw the phone on the couch. I sunk down, resting my head in my hands.

I di
dn’t hear Emma coming. I felt the couch sink down next to me and her hand rubbed my back. I sat up and grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t” I hissed. She looked at me as if I had stabbed her in the heart. She pulled back and slid across the couch.

“It’s okay.” She
whispered. “You have a lot on your mind.”
I shook my head. I was pushing away the one person I wanted to protect.

“I know it’s not fair to you and I am trying, but it is hard for me to get close to people.”
I explained. It also wasn’t
safe
for me to get close to people. Not for them anyway.