“One week off. You have no idea how much I need this week off.”
Corina set her oversized bag down on one of the kid’s desks as she dropped into the seat. It was the last day before our Thanksgiving break, and we had a half day. Next week we had the whole week off. It was a much-needed break for all of us.
“Hard to believe Thanksgiving is next week,” I said.
She rolled her neck. “Thank God. I love my students, but I need a break from them and their parents. If one more mom tries to set me up on a date, I swear I’m going to blow a fuse.”
I chuckled. “They mean well.”
Lifting her brow, she asked, “They still snooping for information on you and Steed?”
“Gina is. Pretty much everyone else knows we’re seeing each other.”
“Speaking of, how are things going with you guys? I never see you anymore so I don’t get the dirty low down.”
“Dirty low down?”
Corina nodded. “Please. If he is anything like his twin brother, I’m sure the boy does dirty, dirty things to you when you’re alone.”
My cheeks heated. “Have you seen Mitchell again?”
Her smile faded and a look of hurt moved in so fast I might have missed it had I not been focused on her. “No, but I’ve gone out a few times with Tripp. At least he’s interested.”
She faked a laugh.
I leaned back. So Mitchell was honoring the brother code. Interesting. “How’s it going? With Tripp?”
With a shrug, she replied, “It’s okay. He loves politics and law and throws in a bit of ranching every now and then. Those seem to be the only three things he ever talks about.”
“Why do you go out with him then?”
Chewing on her lip, she replied, “He’s nice. Treats me with respect. And it keeps me from sitting home all alone watching Disney movies and daydreaming about my prince charming. I get the feeling he is looking for arm candy, especially since he wants to run for mayor someday.”
“Have y’all slept together yet?”
She tossed her head back and let out a roar of laughter. “No. I informed him I wasn’t the type of girl to spread my legs open like that. Besides, we aren’t even remotely close to that in our relationship. If you can call it that.”
I leaned forward. “And yet, you did with Mitchell. Spread your legs.”
Her face was pained. “That was different. It was a moment of weakness, and I had been drinking. It was a mistake. Clearly he thinks so as well since he went radio silent afterwards.”
Dragging in a deep breath, I blew it out. I needed to let her know about both Mitchell and Tripp liking her. “I’m pretty sure Mitchell likes you, Corina.”
Her eyes grew wide, and I swore I saw confusion in her eyes. Then she laughed and said, “I doubt it.”
“No, Corina, he does.”
Her smile faded. “It was a one-night stand. Just like you said, Paxton. I’m over it.”
I opened my mouth, but someone knocked on the door. Corina turned to look over her shoulder and I glanced up. Steed stood there with a beaming expression on his face.
Damn. He looked hot as hell. His black T-shirt showcased his ripped upper body perfectly. His cowboy hat was in his hand and his hair was a disheveled mess. I could imagine him running his hand through it as he worked on the ranch with Trevor. Letting my eyes travel down his body, I couldn’t help but notice how his Wrangler jeans fit him perfectly. The icing on the cake were the cowboy boots I had given him so long ago. I loved that he still wore them. My lower stomach pooled with heat.
I wanted him. Now.
Jesus. Anytime this man is around I’m horny as hell.
Steed tilted his head and lifted a brow. I’m sure he noticed the way I was eye fucking him.
“Hey, Steed. How’s it going?” Corina asked, standing and reaching for her bag.
I made a mental note to finish our conversation about Mitchell later.
“It’s going good. How about you?”
She shrugged. “Same crap, different day.”
He chuckled. “Tripp said you’re heading back home for Thanksgiving?”
Corina paused. “Um. No. My parents are going on a cruise, and my older brother is going skiing with his fiancé. I’m planning a nice Marie Callender’s turkey pot pie and Cinderella.”
I stood. “What? Why didn’t you tell me you were staying in town?”
Swinging the bag over her shoulder, she winked. “It’s no big deal. I’m planning on catching up on some reading and work.”
“You should come to our place for Thanksgiving, Corina. My mother cooks for a small army,” Steed offered.
Corina laughed. “Your family is a small army. Thank you, but really, it’s okay.”
I rounded my desk and took her wrist. I knew Corina; she would hate being alone. “Please come. I know Melanie and John would love to have you. And Chloe adores you. Plus my parents will be there. Please.”
Her eyes wouldn’t meet mine. “I’m late for an appointment. We’ll chat later about it, okay?”
I nodded and dropped her wrist. “Sure.”
Corina kissed me on the cheek and headed towards the door. “You guys have fun today.”
Steed watched as Corina made her way out of my classroom and down the hall. Turning back to me, he frowned. “Shit. Tripp is an asshole.”
There was no way I could hold back my chuckle. “What makes you say that?”
“Because by the look on her face, she clearly told him she wasn’t going home. He didn’t pay attention. He never pays attention unless it has something to do with him.”
My eyes focused on the doorway Corina had walked through moments ago. “I think she likes Mitchell. You know they spent a night together.”
Steed’s brows lifted. “No shit? When?”
“That night you took me home from Cord’s bar. She was with Mitchell, and she told me they pretty much got lost in each other all night, which I might add is so unlike her. But Mitchell hasn’t called or anything.”
“That’s because Tripp’s laid claim.”
“Laid claim? What is she, a cow? Does Tripp even like her?”
With a grim twist of his mouth, he replied, “Sorry. Bad choice of words. Anyway, I think he likes her. He seems to enjoy her company, and he does talk about her, but come to think of it, he seems to talk about her more when Mitchell’s around.”
“I wonder if Mitchell likes her.”
Steed made his way over to me. With each step, my body grew hotter. “If he does, maybe he’s confused? He actually felt something for a woman, and he doesn’t know how to deal with it. Then add Tripp into the equation.”
Rolling my eyes, I mumbled, “Men.”
He stopped in front of me. “Ya know, when I first knocked and you looked at me, I could swear I saw a hungry look in your eyes.”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “You saw right.”
His hand slipped behind my neck, pulling me close. “What are you hungry for?”
“You.”
“Chloe’s with Amelia this afternoon.”
My body trembled from the look of promise in his eyes. “I know. Auntie afternoon Amelia called it.”
“Do you know what that means?”
“You’re going to take me back to my place and have your wicked way with me?”
A crooked grin grew over his handsome face, and my knees wobbled. “As amazing as that sounds, no.”
I pouted. Something one of my students would do, but it seemed to make Steed’s eyes turn darker. Kind of like the other day when he stopped by my house and nearly ravaged me when I opened the door. He said it was my pigtails that got to him. I made a mental note to wear them more often.
“Amelia is keeping Chloe most of the day, so I made plans for this afternoon and evening.”
My heart fluttered. An entire afternoon and evening alone with Steed. We’d been able to sneak in alone time over the last couple of months, but it had been a few weeks since our last…sleepover.
“I like the sounds of that, Mr. Parker.”
“Grab your shit, let’s go. The faster we start this date the faster my cock is inside of you.”
I inhaled sharply. No matter how much he talked that way, it still shot a bolt of electricity right between my legs. If he slipped his hand in my panties, I had no doubt I’d be soaked for him.
“You’re lucky no one heard that dirty mouth of yours.”
He laughed. “Don’t deny it. You like my dirty mouth.”
My brows lifted, and my lower stomach pulled with an aching need. “Oh, I’m not denying it.”
His eyes darkened. “I didn’t think so.”
I walked around my desk and grabbed some papers. Even though it was Thanksgiving break, I still needed to work on lesson plans. I nestled the paperwork into the Fry bag I talked myself into buying a few months back. Reaching for my purse, I turned and headed back to Steed.
“Did you really bring work home?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes. “I have to, or I’ll get behind.”
“You’re a damn kindergarten teacher, Pax. You shouldn’t be working so much outside of work.”
Laughing, I hooked my arm around his. “Tell that to the higher ups who seem to love piling more work onto us.”
As we moved through the classroom, my excitement grew. What did Steed have planned for us? More importantly, when would he make good on his promise to be inside of me?
We walked in silence. The only thing making any noise were my high heels clicking on the floor. I peeked up to see Steed smiling, and I longed to know what was making him wear his happy face.
I cleared my throat. “What are you thinking about?”
Turning to look at me, his smile grew bigger. “Us.”
I couldn’t stop my smile. “I like the sound of that. What about us?”
Steed pushed the door open, and we walked out into the cool fall breeze. I loved fall in Texas. The air smelled crisp and clean. Hints of spicy cinnamon and pumpkin wafted from certain stores or homes. Burning piles of leaves and sweaters always made me long for simpler days…sitting in bleachers and watching Steed play football was always a happy fall memory.
“How good we are together. How happy you make me and how I hope like hell I make you happy. The fact that Chloe loves the idea of us. It all makes me happy.”
He reached for my hand and laced his fingers in mine.
“That makes me happy too.”
We stopped at my car, and he turned me to face him. He placed his hand on the side of my face, and I couldn’t help but lean into it.
“You make me so damn happy, Pax. I hope you know that.”
“I do know that. And you make me beyond happy. I haven’t been this happy in years.”
Steed leaned down and brushed his lips over mine. “I have a feeling we’re being watched by some nosy co-worker of yours or even a parent, so I’ll behave. But later, my lips are going to be devouring that sweet soft mouth.”
I swallowed hard, my heart beating harder. Opening my mouth, nothing came out but a small breath of air. Steed flashed his panty melting smile and kissed me softly, but way too quickly. “I’ll follow you back to your place so you can drop your car off.”
Nodding, I opened the door to my car and tossed my purse and bag in. Steed turned to leave, but I reached for his hand.
“Wait.”
Steed faced me again, a slight look of concern on his face.
“I don’t care what people see, what they think, or what they say. I love you and I never want either of us to hide that fact.”
The concern melted away and his eyes lit up, causing my stomach to dip. He cupped my face within his hands, his eyes searching my face. “You’re my everything, Paxton.”
Those sweet simple words meant more than he could ever imagine. He leaned down and kissed me. It was one of those knock my socks off kisses. One that started out slow and sweet, but quickly turned passionate and needy. I grabbed his arms to steady myself because Steed was making my entire world wobble.
His tongue felt like it was everywhere. Over my lips, dancing with my own, exploring my mouth like he’d never kissed me before. It was a mind-blowing kiss. He hadn’t even touched my body anywhere other than my face, and my core was pulsing.
When he finally pulled back, I dragged in a breath. My heart beat like crazy.
“You’re my everything,” I managed to whisper.
“Now maybe Gina will get the picture that I’m not interested in her.”
I pinched my brows then looked over his shoulder. She was standing at the front entrance of the school with two other moms. Steed must have seen her when he turned to walk to his truck.
Focusing back on him, I snickered, “Let’s hope.”