“Mr. Tanner!” Collin’s face froze in shock at the sight of the man.

I nod at my frequent classroom visitor, “Mr. Tanner.”

Steven walks past Collin and leans across me, his face inches from mine, to grab a pastry from the box that his son was eating from.

Eating the whole thing in one bite, he gives me a slow smile that makes my insides dance that traitorous dance, “I thought we were on a first name basis, Abby.”

My eyes shoot daggers at him, “You’re mistaken, Mr. Tanner.”

He just shrugs and reaches over to take another pastry, before I grab his hand mid-way, stopping him, “Those are for Aaron.”

His hip was leaning against my desk and his muscled thigh, hidden underneath those gray pants, was right next to my face as I gave him a steady look.

He didn’t take his hand back from me, just murmurs, “But I’m also hungry. What will you feed me?”

The way his eyes roamed over my body in deliberate meaning, made me swallow hard, and release his hand.

Ignoring him, I turn my head to my boss, who was gaping at us, “You were asking me something, Mr. – I mean, Collin?”

“N-No, nothing. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

With that, Collin walks out leaving me behind frowning.

I look up at Steven with a scowl, “If my job gets put in jeopardy because of your actions –“

Steven shrugs, licking the crumbs off his thumb, his gray eyes on mine, “What did I do?”

My cheeks flush, “You know what you did.”

“I assure you, Abby. I have no idea.”

I glare at him. This was not how I had intended today to go.

I had had a plan.

Steven’s voice break into my thoughts, “So, who was that?”

“Why do you want to know?” I ask him, in a challenging voice.

“Just curious, since you seem to be on a first name basis with him, but not with me.” He leans across me and snags a puff pastry.

I turn around and glare at Aaron, “Will you get that away from your father? I saved those for you, not him.”

Aaron immediately grabs the box and moves to a safer location, just out of his father’s reach.

“Turning my own son against me now, eh Abby?”

My eyes roam over his long frame, as he leans against my desk, his hands now tucked in his pockets, the overcoat that had become so staple to him, hanging around his ankles.

“What do you want, Mr. Tanner?” I sigh, tired of whatever game he was playing.

He studies me, his lips slightly curved, “How did you find the muffins?”

“Why’d you send them?”

He just watches me, and then nudges his head at his son, who picks up his bag and runs out, holding the Tupperware box close to his chest.

“Bye, Miss Abby!”

I stand up, and Steven’s grin widens when I refuse to back down.

“Why did you send the muffins?”

“Because you like them,” He replies, his eyes moving to my mouth, before meeting my gaze.

I grit my teeth, and my body takes a small step closer to his obvious delight, “I don’t like you.”

I feel his hands creep up to settle at the curve of my hip, a possessive hold, “I think you do.”

“Well, you think wrong, then.” I inform him, very aware of the way his eyes darkened.

My own pulse was skipping a beat, it was running so fast.

His voice was a rough murmur, “Well, let’s check that, shall we?”

Before I knew it, his other hand had pulled the pins from my up-do, and gripped my hair tightly, before smashing his mouth down on mine.

It wasn’t a gentle kiss by any terms.

It wasn’t tender.

There was nothing soft about it.

He stepped in and dominated my mouth.

I fought back.

I wasn’t going to let him win.

But, he walked me back into the wall, and the grip on my hair was almost punishing, as he plundered my mouth. His tongue probes at my lips and I am forced to give way, my mind so fogged with hot pleasure that I can no longer think straight.

He lowers his hands to cup my ass, and then suddenly, both his hands are on my ass as he lifts me up to put my legs around his waist.

His eyes are dark as they open momentarily, and they promise me both pain and pleasure, a combination I had not known I would want with such desperation.

His tongue explores every crevice of my mouth, sucking on my tongue, as I moan at all these sensations, feeling my panties grow wetter each time he sucks on my tongue. His mouth moves below, presses open-mouth kisses on my jaw, my neck, my collar bone. He sucks my neck harder when I moan, my eyes open, unseeing.

When he bites down on my collar bone, I let out a short cry, and he immediately covers my mouth with his again.

We both are breathing hard when he releases me, and as he lets me down, my body brushes against the evidence of his arousal and I swallow hard.

He uses his hand to lift my chin up to face him and his eyes search my face.

Whatever he found there, satisfied him, and he leans forward to whisper against my ear, his hot breath making me shiver, “I’m not done with you yet, Abby.”

He turns around to walk out, and I stumble into my seat, mind not functioning.

What the hell was that?

My fingers move to my swollen lips and my legs are clenched together.

I was still turned on.

I had had a total of two lovers. Both of them had been gentle in bed.

I stare at the door, my heart still beating so fast.

Steven Tanner didn’t seem like the type to be gentle in bed. Those gray eyes, when he had pulled my head back with a firm grip in my hair, had promised me exquisite pain and pleasure, and I felt myself craving that.

“No.” I stand up, my voice echoing in the empty classroom. “I’m not going to – I’m not going to do this.”

I move around the room, my movements jerky as I stuff the remaining papers in my bag.

My date with Travis was in two days.

My face turns red at the idea that I was just seeing the man to sleep with him. I march to my car and start the engine.

It splutters and dies.

Scowling, I try again.

This time it starts, and I breathe a sigh of relief. However, Steven’s words come roaring back and I grumble under my breath.

There is nothing wrong with my car.

I had first purchased Gertha at a used car sales lot when I was eighteen, and I have maintained her ever since.

The sky was dark again, I note peering outside. I wondered what the weather was going to throw at us today.

However, no matter how much I try to distract myself, I could still remember the feel of Steven’s lips on my mouth, and the way they had trailed over my jaw, one wet kiss after another.

Stopping at the red traffic light, I rest my head against my hands on the steering wheel.

What did he want from me, I think, my blood still heated.

“I’m not done with you yet, Abby.”

His words circle in my head.

By the time I reach home, my mind is a jumble of confusing thoughts and I cannot wait to meet Travis and get rid of this burning need inside my body.

The minute I step into the apartment, Scarlett darts out, holding a scrap of red cloth in her hands, all excited, “Well, what do you think?”

“I am not wearing that!” I scowl at her. “I might as well go naked.”

Scarlett, however, isn’t paying attention, her eyes fixed on my neck, “What the hell is that?”

Defensively, my hand creeps up to my neck and I whirl around to see what she is staring at, in the foyer mirror.

My eyes widen in horror, dawning realization at what that smug look in Steven’s eyes had been.

“That’s a hickey!” My best friend declares, “Let me see!”

I dodge her as she leaps toward me, but she is quicker, and a brief struggle ensues till she wins.

“Where’d you get a hickey from?” She demands from on top of me where she was sitting.

I look guilty, and her eyes widen, “No!”

I wince.

She grabs my face, forcing me to look at her, “Steven Tanner gave you a hickey?! You made out with Steven Tanner?”

I push her off me, glaring, “Don’t make it sound like some kind of honour.”

Scarlett’s eyes narrows, and her voice chilled, “Tell me he didn’t force himself on-“

“No!” I blush. “He – It was – I kissed him back.”

The last part was a mumble, but Scarlett heard me.

However, she leans back against the couch, studying me, her arms crossed over her chest, “Then I don’t get it.”

“Get what?” I try to calm myself down to get my colour back to normal.

“A hot guy comes on to you, he kisses you, but you’re angry? On the other hand, you’re willing to sleep with Travis, who I know you are not interested in. Why would you choose Travis over this guy?”

I fidget, a little uneasy, “I don’t know.”

“Abby.”

I sigh, pulling my knees up to wrap my arms around, “All the boys I’ve ever gone out with have – they felt safe. I liked their kisses, I liked laughing with them. But Steven is so intense. Every time he looks at me, it feels like he can’t wait to sink his teeth into me.”

“How is that a bad thing?” My friend questions, her gaze unwavering from my form.

I glance at her, “It’s not. I’m not saying it is. I just don’t know how to handle it.”

“What’s wrong with enjoying it?” Scarlett demands. “Have a wild affair. You’ve earned it.”

“I’ve earned it?” I echo, blankly.

Scarlett nudges me with her foot, “You can’t play it safe your whole life, honey. You’ll end up with someone boring and be unhappy.”

When I scrunch my nose at her, she stabs me with her toe again, her voice firm, “I’m serious, Abby. There’s no harm in trying to see where this goes.”

“What if he’s just passing his time with me?” I ask.

Scarlett raises a brow, “So you pass your time with him. That’s it. Don’t look for anything deeper in this, if your instincts are telling you this won’t lead anywhere. Just have some fun.”

I frown and ponder over that thought.

Twisting and turning in bed, I fall into a troubled sleep that night. Dreaming of a pair of gray eyes that could look into my soul.