CHAPTER TWELVE
Thorn
It’s funny how we lose track of time when we’re enjoying ourselves. Days blur into weeks, weeks speed into months and before you know it, you’re facing the big day.
Because it’s been six months, and today the girls are graduating.
That meant Minnie’s graduating.
My girl is leaving.
And she’s the reason why I lost track of time. Because we’ve fallen into a routine. Or as much of a routine when you’re sneaking around with a teen nymph, a luscious female with big, bobbling boobies and a cunt that just won’t stop.
Because yeah, it was supposed to be Wednesdays only. We saw each other for two hours Wednesday nights, and originally, that was our only private time.
But the need got too strong.
It burned hot as white steel, consuming us.
And so we started seeing each other all the time. I’d call her to my office, drilling that sweet puss as she bent over the desk. Or she’d steal over to my cabin late at night, when the camp was asleep. Or there was that time in her dorm room. Shit yeah. With three sleeping girls snoozing away, I’d pounded that beautiful ass good, my sweet girl biting her pillow, muffling those shrieks as her bottom seized around my dick.
So yeah, it’s been a dirty six months. Illegal and immoral are only the tip of the iceberg.
And yet I can’t stop.
Why the hell not?
Am I out of my mind?
It’s getting to the point where I’m wondering if this is really about the sex. Sure, Minnie’s amazing in bed. That young body is hot as hell, flexible and tight, always creaming for my thick cock. But there were times when it became something different.
Like when Minnie fell asleep next to me after a hard session, that beautiful form curvy and still. I’d stare as she breathed, big boobs rising and falling, drinking her in. And shit, but my heart turned over, taking in the sweet sight.
Fuck.
My heart?
What the hell was that about?
And how many more lines was I willing to cross?
The knock on my office door shook me back to reality. Today was graduation and the ceremony was only a few hours away. Parents were already beginning to arrive, station wagons trundling up the mountain in dusty clouds. So I straightened my tie while assuming a professional expression.
“Come in.”
And shit, but Patrick Evans limped into my office, his suit ill-fitting and baggy like a clown. That bald pate shone under the harsh fluorescent light of my office, face puffy and sweaty. Was there a whiff of alcohol? But the man looked sober enough, even if his appearance was raggedy and sad.
Still, it didn’t stop me from getting pissed at him for looking like this on one of the most important days of Minnie’s life.
“Thorn,” he grunted, sliding into the chair in front of my desk. Fine, make yourself at home. I got up and circled around, extending a hand.
“It’s good to see that you could make it, Patrick,” came my neutral voice.
He simply shrugged and took my fist in a limp, clammy grip.
“Yeah. Well, I guess I have to make sure that the kid gets on stage for her diploma. After all, it’s the only thing she’s got. She ain’t comin’ home with me,” he snorted vehemently.
My chest tightened. That was right. Today was the big day, when Patrick cut all ties. Talk about a demoralizing ending to what was supposed to be a day of celebration.
But shit, I’d done everything I could to prepare Minnie without actually telling her about her dad’s plans. I’d told her she could come to me for anything. That she had a place with me always. Hell, I’d given her a key to my cabin, so she could let herself in. It was supposed to be for our hot and heavy sessions, but maybe I wanted her around for more than that.
The female was gonna be fine. On my watch, things were gonna be a-okay.
“I see you didn’t change your mind about your daughter,” I rumbled, one eyebrow raised.
“Has she?” he snorted, crossing one leg over the other with arrogance. “Minnie still stuck on that make-up shit? What a waste of time,” he spat.
I shook my head.
“Your daughter’s very passionate about her calling. In fact, she’s gotten rave reviews for her artistry. Did you know that she did a bunch of her friends’ looks for a school dance a month ago?”
That was true. I had arranged an event with another of my reform schools, an all boys’ academy that happened to be nearby. We had the male students come here since Forest Hills is bigger with a large cafeteria that could act as an event space. And it was true. Minnie did a number of the girls’ makeup, spreading her talent. The results were incredible, transforming teenage ugly ducklings into swans for a night.
“So I see that she even has you impressed, huh?” Pat grunted sourly, shaking his head and pulling out a cigarette from his suit jacket.
I jerked my chin.
“No smoking in my office,” was the curt warning.
His eyebrows raised but at least the loser put his cigarette away. “So what? Who cares? As long as she graduates, then it’s all good.”
I sighed and shook my head. Because it was a lot more than that. Minnie was supposed to be the class salutatorian. Her grades were impressive. But the girl declined because she was considerate when it came to other people. I remembered our conversation.
“This is a good thing, Minnie. Why not?” I asked her. “Why wouldn’t you want to graduate second in your class? It’s an achievement sweetheart. Announce it to the world, let people know how far you’ve come.”
She sighed and looked at me, eyes reflective.
“The other girls were here before I was, Thorn. They worked their asses off for those grades longer than I have. I just swept in, somewhere in the middle, and now I’m gonna graduate as salutatorian? That wouldn’t be fair to them.”
My eyes softened at her words. “But you worked hard for your grades too.”
“Not as much they did,” she told me firmly. “I never wanted to graduate with honors, Grayson. I simply wanted to graduate. And Master,” she said slowly, raising big brown eyes to mine. “It means more to them. Let someone else take it. It’ll make her happy, and I don’t begrudge someone else their hard-earned reward.”
My heart overflowed. Shit, this girl was something special. Because Minnie deserved to graduate second in her class. The redhead deserved the special accolades, the honor of a plaque with her name engraved on it.
But because there was another girl who wanted it bad, Minnie was willing to let go. And that’s what I loved about my girl the most. How she put other peoples’ concerns above her own, their fears, joys, and hopes held in the palm of her hand.
I nodded, respecting her decision. “If that’s what you want, then I won’t stop you. But let’s hear what the board has to say.”
And lo and behold, but the school board acceded to her request. They let another girl take the salutatorian slot, persuaded by Minnie’s soft words and caring concern. She’d them left astounded, actually. Privately afterwards, a couple folks approached me and said Minnie truly had the potential to be something so much more. In fact, she was potentially the best student ever to graduate from Forest Hills.
Of course. The female is incredible and amazing, I sensed it the first time we met.
But sadly, her father felt differently.
“Yeah, she’s got no place to go after this,” Pat rubbed his hands together, a sly smile on his face. “Well, scratch that. I got her a one-way bus ticket,” he said, pulling a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket. “Who knows where she’s headed next,” he practically crowed.
It was sad. Real sad, seeing a father revel in his daughter’s demise.
So I put a stop to it.
“She’s graduating, Patrick. Minnie’s a smart girl. She’ll find a way, diploma in hand.”
Of course, the female was gonna be fine. I’d see to it, even if her father had no idea.
Pat ‘tsked’ loudly and shook his head.
“That girl ain’t got rocks for brains,” he snorted. “She’s gonna fall over flat once she realizes she ain’t got a home no more.”
I counted to five to make sure that I didn’t beat him to a pulp, right here right now. Because fuck! This guy was such a prick. And on graduation day, no less. I’d like to skewer his balls and then throw them to the dogs.
But instead, words came instead.
“Your daughter was supposed to be the salutatorian. She declined,” was my neutral sentence.
Patrick looked surprised.
“What’s that?” he sniped, nails grimy on the one-way bus ticket. “What’s that mean?”
My look was cool.
“It means your daughter had such excellent grades that she ranked second in her class academically. But she declined the honor.”
Patrick’s expression twisted into anger, then bafflement.
“What? Why would she do that? That girl dumb or some shit?”
This conversation was pointless, but I continued smoothly.
“Naw, your daughter has an innate sense of justice, that’s all. She told me it wasn’t fair for her to take that honor when the other girls worked longer and harder than she did.”
Pat shook his head again, snorting like a bull.
“Yeah, don’t you see how stupid she is? Giving away the good stuff for nothing. Not even an education can fix it when you ain’t got no common sense.”
Fuck.
What a loser.
I was about to say something truly nasty when my receptionist breezed in, like she could sense impending danger. She smiled at the two of us and then turned to me.
“Graduation will start soon. Mr. Thorn, I suggest you head out in the field.”
I turned to Patrick.
“Thanks Sylvia. Let’s go, shall we, Mr. Evans? After you,” I said courteously.
And briskly, the two of us headed out of my office to the field where parents and students alike were milling around. It was crowded, filled with proud moms and dads and the flashes of cameras.
But my eyes weren’t scanning the happy families and students. I was looking for a certain girl with a body that had men doing double-takes. And when I saw Minnie, everything came to a complete stop.
Because the girl looked amazing in a modest floral dress that hugged her curves perfectly. The fabric skimmed her curves, but wasn’t slutty or too revealing. She’d left her hair down, cascading in a wave of curls, framing that beautiful face. There wasn’t a trace of make-up and yet her skin was flawless, eyes bright.
Oh shit.
I was gonna lose it, right here in front of all these families.
I was gonna give it all away, my feelings for this gorgeous, intelligent woman out in the open.
But nothing happned because upon seeing his daughter, Patrick scampered over, skidding to a halt in the grass.
And right in front of everyone, he began berating her, one finger wagging in the air, his face a mask of righteous fury.
It didn’t look good. Minnie had her head bowed, those curls drooping as Pat went on and on, mouth moving like a motor. What the fuck. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but from the looks of surrounding people, it was bad.
Real bad.
Probably pure poison pouring from his vocal cords.
I strode over, big form about to bust in and make things right. But as I neared, two figures popped up in front of me.
“Mr. Thorn!”
It took me a moment before I could register who had stopped me. They were Keira Crest’s parents. I smiled and shook both of their hands eve if my brain was somewhere else.
“Mr. and Mrs. Crest. Hello, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Mr. Crest had a huge smile on his face. “Not as pleased as we are to see the man who has changed our daughter.”
I smiled and nodded. I always made it a point to get to know my students, no matter how brief the meeting might be. And it helped because whenever a pupil improved, I made sure to compliment them. That’s why I knew Keira well. She’d done a bang-up job of bringing her grades from F’s up to C’s.
“Your daughter’s changed for the best,” I said with a courteous nod. “But it’s not me or Forest Hills. The change came from within,” was my reply. “Keira desired it, and so it happened.”
The Crests nodded and cooed, beaming at their daughter proudly.
“Keira, you’ve done great honey,” praised Mrs. Crest, stroking her daughter’s hair. “We couldn’t be happier.”
“Absolutely fantastic,” boasted her dad. “I dare any other parent to match our daughter’s achievement.”
And this is why I became an educator. Because it gives me pleasure to bring out the best in an individual to help them achieve their greatest. And frankly, the contrast between the Crests and Pat Evans couldn’t be more distinct. On the one hand, Mr. and Mrs. Crest were elated about their daughter, wishing Keira the best. On the other, Pat Evans was belittling his daughter the would-be salutatorian right now.
But this wasn’t the time to get into it. The ceremony began and parents and teachers took their seats. We watched as graduates filed to the front of the field, decked in black gowns and silver caps. Sure enough, there was Minnie, beautiful as always, smiling that gorgeous smile. But I could see that it didn’t reach her eyes.
I made a mental note to fucking kill Patrick later. He’d done this to her, and my heart ripped in two.
Suddenly, a voice intruded.
“Let’s all give a warm round of applause for the headmaster of this school, Grayson Thorn!” boomed the announcer.
That was my cue to stand up and I did, making my way to the stage and to the podium. I was to give a speech for the graduates. I’ve been doing this since I founded my academies, so public speaking came easy.
Without thinking, I launched into my usual inspirational homily:
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you. I quote that from B.B King. And I want you all to remember,” was my intonation, looking at the crowd in front of me. “You started in this school as a troubled kids, with a long list of mistakes and expecting a dark future to swallow you whole. You used to skip school and do drugs, or maybe party until the sun came up. But then, things changed. You changed. You wanted something different. So you came to Forest Hills to find that change. Our mission is to turn you into model citizens of this country equipped with a solid, supportive education. Because an education is something that others can never take away.”
I surveyed the crowd, gazing over the students who looked back with bright, beaming faces. My heart warmed. This was my goal. To make sure that the troubled youth knew they still had a rosy future.
And the speech continued:
“You are no longer the kids that showed up years ago. As you graduate from Forest Hills, that is the very part of yourself that you will leave here. A troubled youth who made the wrong decisions. Instead, you are now fearless women, ready to face a brand new adventure. This is not the end of your story. This only the beginning of another chapter and may you make the right choices this time.” I smiled at them. “Congratulations. Graduates, I quote St. Ignatius of Loyola here: Go forth and set the world on fire. ”
The students cheered and clapped as I made my way back to my seat. Oh shit, there were even some girls sobbing with emotion, tears streaming down their faces. I knew what it felt like to graduate high school. I knew the warm feeling that filled your heart because you have achieved something in life. But still, it was just the beginning and life had a long ways to go yet.
I came back to the stage when it was time to hand students their diplomas. Each of them stood up as their name was called, the girls striding across the stage one by one. And soon, it was time.
“Minnie Evans!”
Minnie came up to the stage, a tight smile plastered on her face as she shook my hand, reaching for her diploma with the other. Unfortunately, I could tell the bomb had been dropped. Those green eyes were slightly glassy, her smile wavering beneath a frozen facade.
This was Pat’s fault.
He ruined her shining moment.
When the ceremony ended and pictures were being taken, I searched the crowd for Minnie. I didn’t care if people saw us; I just wanted to make sure that she was alright. From the corner of my eye, I saw the redhead slip inside the school, a heavy metal door shutting softly behind that curvy form.
She probably wanted privacy.
But this was a tough time. Better to be together. So ambling casually, I let myself into the building as well. And sure enough, there she was, standing to the side in a dark corner.
“Hey sweetheart,” I greeted her, my hands stuffed inside my pockets. “Congratulations on your big day.”
The girl turned slightly, eyes watery, a weak smile on her lips.
“Thank you, Grayson,” she said quietly, head bowed.
Her choice of address was interesting. When we were in the throes of sex, she called me Master. But lately, we’d been having more and more conversation, and the girl’s started calling me Thorn only, or even using my first name, Grayson. Frankly, it felt good. No one addresses me as Gray or Grayson, and it was right that this special girl used my given name.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I inquired again. Of course, it had to be Patrick. I already knew, but didn’t want to let on.
After all, it wasn’t Minnie that was the problem. It was her dad.
But the redhead didn’t answer my question; she just looked down and stammered some more. I tilted her head up with firm, strong fingers, and oh shit, but those eyes glistened with unshed tears. My heart went out to the female. This was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life, and instead she was losing her home.
“Did he kick you out?” were my gruff words.
Her eyes widened and she took a step back, surprise written in her eyes.
“How did you know?” she stuttered uncomfortably.
I sighed and stuffed my hands back into my pocket, shooting her a grim look. “Pat called me. It was a few months ago but he let loose on the phone, saying he was gonna send you on your way. I didn’t think that he’d actually go through with it,” were my reflective words. “But clearly, I was wrong.”
“You certainly don’t know my father,” she replied bitterly, anger starting to replace the hurt that she felt. “You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
Oh shit, oh shit. I hated to see my girl like this, torn up and abused. So I did the only thing that made sense.
“Do you need a place to stay sweetheart? You know you can always crash at mine.”
What a dumb question. Of course she needed a place to call home. Her only one had been yanked out from under her feet.
But still, I knew the offer was something that Minnie needed to hear, a bulwark against the rising tide.
She swallowed heavily before looking up at me.
“Would you Mr. Thorn?” she asked quietly, words slow. “Would you do that for me? I don’t have any money,” she said softly. “So I can’t pay. But maybe I could do some work around Forest Hills? The dishes? Work in the kitchen? I don’t know,” she said, face falling. “This is all so sudden.”
I cut in.
“Sweetheart, no,” was my rough growl. “You don’t need to earn your keep. No need to sing for your supper. Just stay and recover, you already have the key to my cabin.”
But Minnie’s chin jerked up then, eyes suspiciously bright.
“I can’t Thorn,” she said, shaking her head furiously, tears beginning to pour. “I can’t just stay here for nothing. It’s not right. You know that,” she said in a whisper.
But my heart wouldn’t relent. The redhead needed me. My sweet girl was in distress and hell if she wasn’t gonna take my help.
“Baby,” I growled. “Move your stuff into my cabin tonight. No ifs, ands or buts. Tonight,” was my rough command.
Because the truth was clear in my mind now, pulsing like a throbbing heartbeat. I wasn’t doing this because I pitied her. I wasn’t doing this because she had no place to go. I was doing to this so I could keep the sweet girl.
I wanted that curvy body.
That intelligent mind.
The sweet, sensitive soul.
And in my heart, this wasn’t just about sex anymore.
Minnie had done a number on me, and shit, but I was willing to do anything to get her to stay.
“Please,” I growled low, my voice almost a whisper. The redhead’s face lifted slowly, eyes wide and innocent, still shining with tears. Because I don’t exactly say please and thank you very often. And yet I’d just uttered the word, begging her to stay. Oh shit, oh shit. My heart felt like it was ready to pound out of my chest.
“I’m sorry?” she managed on a shaky voice. “Master?” her sentence left off on a question.
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to get my bearings. This was new for me for sure. Women declaring themselves, throwing their bodies at my feet? Par for the course. But me doing the same? Never. Not once. This was completely new. So I took a deep breath, trying to calm my heart so that it wouldn’t explode from my rib cage.
“I want you to stay, Minnie,” came the low growl. “Here, at Forest Hills. With me.”
“Thorn,” she began, her eyes shining with tears. Oh god, say yes. Please say yes, sweetness. I can’t bear it if you don’t.
But she shook her head, looking down.
“I can’t. You know that.”
What the fuck? No, I didn’t know that at all. Why the hell not? So I demanded.
“What’s going on?” I ground out, chest tight. My heart was slowly coming to a stop. At any moment the pieces would shatter completely, and I’d be a broken mess.
Minnie sniffled before looking up.
“You’re only offering a place because you pity me,” she said in a low voice, caramel eyes brimming. “I don’t need that. And I definitely don’t want it.”
But the girl was wrong. This wasn’t about pity at all, and I told her so.
“Sweetheart, it’s not that. I don’t pity you, not at all,” were my raspy words. An edge of desperation laced the sentence, my need obvious. “I want you to stay, Minnie. You need someone right now and I can be that person for you.”
She swallowed heavily, unable to meet my eyes. But then something brave and bold took hold in her heart. The girl looked up at me, eyes shining before taking a deep breath.
“Why then, Thorn?” she asked quietly. “Why do you want me to stay?”
And suddenly, I realized the moment had come. This was it. Sink or swim, the turning point for us both. And I couldn’t lie. The air my chest grew tight, everything but the female going out of focus, disappearing into a haze.
And shit, but I said words I never thought I’d hear.
“Because I need you, baby,” were my raspy words. “Stay with me. Make me happy. Make us happy,” came my growl.
And those innocent eyes flooded with tears once more, but they were joyous tears this time. Eyes shining, Minnie grasped my big fists in her small hands, squeezing me tight.
“Yes Grayson,” was her soft reply. “Yes, I’ll stay with you then.”
And oh shit, but my heart burst open then. Never has something like this happened before. I’ve had dozens of women throw themselves at my feet, declaring their love. Young and old, rich and poor, the females come in droves and I never feel anything. It’s pretty fucking unreal, how the situation plays itself over and over again, like Groundhog Day on repeat.
But this time it was different. This time, there was hope soaring in my soul, bursting boundaries so that I could breathe deeply for the first time in my life. A weight that I didn’t even know existed lifted from my shoulders, the sun and its warm rays breaking from the clouds.
Because this is my woman. Minnie belongs with me, and I belong to her. And incredibly, she recognized it too.
So I stepped closer and tilted that beautiful chin with my thumb. My eyes searched her chocolate ones, those eyes luminous and glowing. Oh god, she was so beautiful, natural and innocent. The girl didn’t need an ounce of make-up. Nor was there an ounce of artifice in her heart.
And that was what I loved most about her.
Slowly, I leaned in and captured her lips with mine. We often share fiery, passionate kisses, ones that are a prelude to a hot session, my hands stroking over her curves, delving into every secret crevice while making her moan.
But this one was different. This one was a meeting of the souls, a touch of the lips that was a promise. Because my mouth memorized hers, tasting the sweetness and submission. This female was everything to me, intoxicating and addictive. I could feel our hearts merging together, creating a new symphony, something rising where there had been nothing before.
Is this love?
Is this what it feels like to fall in love with an innocent nymph?
Because it felt like it for sure. I was literally dizzy, the air burning in my lungs, heart about to explode from my chest. This moment was perfect, encapsulated in time as our souls touched, minds becoming one.
And when I pulled away, our foreheads rested against each other, both of us breathed hard. Oh shit. There had been nothing nasty going on, just the mere touch of our lips. And yet I felt drugged, a junkie on a high from a kiss that was pure kryptonite.
It had to be love.
What else feels like this?
And fortunately, I wasn’t alone.
Because Minnie looked back at me, those chocolate eyes filled with hope, renewal, longing, and yes, the flash of something deep and profound.
In that moment, I knew.
I wasn’t in this alone, and neither was she.
We were two people bound together, our emotions strong and true.
Nothing could be better, more sweet, or more satisfying. Yes, we started as a headmaster and student at a reform school. But now the relationship was changing, merging and morphing, becoming something new. Minnie was still eighteen. I was still forty-five. And yeah, our beginning was sordid, possibly even illegal and definitely amoral.
But it’s in the past now because we’re about to explore new territory, becoming a couple in full. And shit, but after decades, it was right. It felt one hundred percent on target, a new hope lifting my heart and expanding it in ways that were incredible and unexpected. Because I have my beautiful girl … and Minnie’s everything to me.