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Chapter Nineteen

Hallie

A slow smile spreads over my face as I glance over my shoulder with a confidence normally absent from me. I feel sexy and professional all in one. The garters are hidden beneath my pencil skirt, and they’re not something I would normally wear, but one night over the course of my divorce, Sharna and I spent an evening drinking cheap wine, and I ordered a pile of clothes that Gerrard would have forbid me to wear. She said I deserved it, and I couldn’t agree more. I’d spent years being suppressed and was ready to simply be me.

Since Rocco left last night, I haven’t stopped thinking about the way my body lights up beneath his touch. His degrading words wrap around me and bring me a sense of warmth I’ve never experienced, a need I’ve never encountered, and a craving I never knew I wanted.

I glance at my phone and swipe the latest message from Gerrard off the screen. I can’t deal with him, not when I have to endure his presence this weekend, so instead, I shove my phone in my laptop bag and head toward the door.

After my meeting with the principal to discuss my absence yesterday, my morning ran slow. At lunch, I searched the cafeteria for Rocco, to no avail. I might have felt his eyes on me, but I never saw him, making me wonder if I was paranoid.

So, when the class period begins, a pang of nervousness fills me. I want to see him, but then I worry about how I will react. Will people look at us and know what we’ve done?

What if he doesn’t look at me the same way? With the heated gaze that sets my body alight.

I chew on my bottom lip, ignoring the hustle and bustle of the classroom while everyone takes a seat.

“You okay?” I snap my eyes up at the sound of his velvety tone as he leans over my desk, and I take a deep breath, inhaling his cologne, and my mouth waters.

Jesus, he’s gorgeous.

I close my eyes momentarily, once again kicking myself for falling for a student. An eighteen-year-old student.

When I open my eyes, his narrowed gaze roams over my face, and I soften at the concern marring his.

“I’m fine…now,” I tack on, and his coiled muscles relax. A smile plays on his lips, then he nods and turns to walk toward his desk.

“Looks like the new kid has a stiffy for Ms. Davis too, huh?” Blair, one of the jocks, jokes, and I cringe at the implication.

Rocco flies through the air so quick I barely have time to blink. He grabs Blair by the scruff of his neck. “What the fuck did you just say?”

I rush toward them while two of Blair’s friends attempt to pull Rocco away, but his grip tightens, causing Blair to become red-faced and his eyeballs bulge.

“Rocco! Stop, right now!” I scream as I rush over to them.

Ignoring me as the veins on his temple protrude, his grip tightens on Blair’s neck. “I’m warning you, Rocco!” I bellow.

He turns his face to glare at me. “Warning me?” He lifts a brow, making me swallow at the threat behind it.

“Ye-yes. Warning you.” My voice quivers, and I hate it.

As if sensing my discomfort, Rocco releases Blair and pushes him back into his chair. “Next time, I’ll take it out on your mouth, motherfucker.”

Blair sucks in sharp gulps of air while rubbing his throat.

Maybe I should send him to the emergency room? Nausea swirls in my stomach at the thought. “Dick,” Blair mumbles, and I decide against it.

Grumbles and whines come from the students as Rocco throws himself into his chair with a heavy huff.

“Any more outbursts, and you’ll all be sent to the principal,” I spit out to no one in particular as I stride toward my desk, ignoring the startled gasps of the class.

This is going to be one hell of a lesson.