Page 22

twenty-two

Miles

“ T hat was fucking incredible,” I tell her after another round of mind-blowing sex.

She lets out a soft laugh, turning her head to face me and still panting. “Yes, yes, it was.”

I came over around nine, and it’s already one in the morning. I have interviews today, and I really should get some rest.

“I should probably go. I’m starving and need to sleep.”

She rolls over, pulling the sheet up to her chest. “You can stay. I have food and a bed you can get some sleep in.”

“I think we’ll end up not sleeping.”

Penelope smiles. “Probably.”

I get up, looking over my shoulder to catch her staring at my naked ass. “You keep looking at me like that and I’m not going anywhere.”

“What if I don’t want you to leave?”

Fuck. This girl is going to be the death of me. I can’t get enough of her. “Say the word and I’ll climb back in bed and eat something else.”

She pushes up on her knees, crawling toward me with her breasts swaying.

I nearly growl. “Fuck it, who needs sleep?”

I grab her hips, tossing her on the bed, and she giggles. I slowly crawl up her body, kissing my way as I go. My tongue circles her nipple, and then I suck it hard. I do the same to the other, listening to her moans and gasps.

Penelope’s fingers tangle in my hair, holding me there so I continue a little longer, but that’s not what I want to taste.

I take her hands and pin them above her head. “Keep them there,” I command. “Do you trust me to make you feel good?”

Her blue eyes are wide, but she nods. “I trust you.”

Those words fill me with a pride that has me ready to conquer the world. “I won’t betray it.”

“I know.”

I’m not just talking about now. I would never hurt her. I’m going to test her trust, though.

“I want to tie your hands to the bed. I’m not sure you won’t move otherwise. Will you let me?”

She nods.

I reach down and grab the belt off her robe she was wearing when I got here, and I walk over, wrapping it around her wrists and then to the wrought iron spindle on her frame. It’s not tight—she could easily get out of it with one pull—but it at least gives the illusion.

“Are you wet for me, Penelope?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“I bet you are. Such a good girl being sprawled like that for me. You are so beautiful like this. I got you.”

“I know,” she answers softly.

“Now, spread your legs for me. Let me see how wet you are.”

Slowly she does as told. This week I’ve had her many ways, but seeing her like this, giving me the power, means everything to me.

All I want is for her to trust me, to share her pain so I can shoulder it for her. Something is weighing her down, keeping her from letting me in. I can feel I’m chipping away at it and, at the same time, completely falling for her.

“Miles,” she moans my name. “Please.”

I move between her legs, my face hovering over her cunt. “I’m going to make you come on my tongue, Penelope. I told you I was hungry.”

She whimpers when I bring my tongue to her clit, flicking it gently. My hands are on each thigh, holding her apart. She can’t move much, just her hips the smallest amounts. I lick and suck on her clit, then ease up, repeating the sequence over and over again. I push my tongue inside her, fucking her with it, wishing it was my cock taking her.

I lift her higher, devouring her, and she starts to tremble. I can feel her body tensing around me, and I move back to her clit, sucking it hard and then using my teeth.

Penelope detonates in my arms. Her head thrashes back and forth, and I keep going, riding out every minute of pleasure I can give her. She moans my name softly before biting down on her lip to keep quiet.

“Do you need to be untied?” I ask after her orgasm is done.

“More?”

“Yes, sweetheart, there’s more. Answer me.”

“No,” she pants.

I grab her hips, flipping her over and pulling her onto her knees. Her upper half is suspended, and I push her knees closer for better leverage.

“I’ve got you,” I tell her. “I’ll hold you, just grab onto the bedpost.”

She moves closer, and I spread her knees before driving into her. Her heat envelops me and she gasps, throwing her head back.

I reach up with one hand, grabbing her hair and just holding it. She looks at me from over her shoulder, her tongue darting along her lips.

“Just like that, Penny. Let me fuck you hard.”

“Yes.”

I slam into her over and over, my cock so hard as her pussy tightens. I release her hair and grip her hips tighter, needing more of her. Needing it all.

My hand moves to where we’re joined, my fingers coated in her arousal, and I move to her ass. I don’t know if this will be too far, but I want her. I want every part of her to be mine.

“Tell me if you want me to stop,” I say as I move to her ass.

Just a little, I slide around the hole, warning her.

“Oh God,” she moans .

I keep going, moving closer and closer to entering it. “Does it feel good?”

She doesn’t answer at first, but the way she’s rocking on my cock tells me it does. “Yes.” Her answer is a whisper.

“Good. Tell me when it doesn’t.”

I breach the entrance just a little and she gasps, her head dropping. Her knuckles are white as she holds the metal frame. I go deeper, sliding my finger in and out in rhythm with my dick. Each thrust I do the same in her ass. Her pussy is so tight, milking me so hard that I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out.

The pleasure is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. My hand on her hip tightens. “I’m close, baby.”

“I’m . . . I can’t . . .” she pants between breaths.

I push my finger in again, and her head flies back, her arms go limp, and she comes apart, screaming into the pillow.

I can’t hold back anymore. I come so hard, falling onto her back, jerking my hips until there’s nothing left.

Wanting to make sure she’s okay, I reach my hand up and untie the knot. I roll off to the side, careful not to crush her before pulling her to me.

“Are you okay?” I ask, pushing her hair off her face.

She laughs once. “I’m not sure what I am, but that was ... unreal.”

“It was,” I agree.

Her eyes drift down and I know if I lie here, I’ll fall asleep again, and then we’ll have to worry about Kai. So I kiss her nose and extricate myself, needing to toss the condom away, and pull the covers over her.

Penelope nestles in and sighs. I grab my clothes that are thrown around the room—the two of us were in a hurry once I got here—and head into the bathroom.

I clean up, get dressed, and kiss her again, slipping out the front door before I don’t have the strength to walk away.

“You know, passing notes to the girl you like isn’t part of my job description,” Mrs. Hendrix complains as she puts a coffee cup down.

“But you’re so good at it.”

Her one blond brow raises. “Uh-huh. So what’s the deal with you and her anyway? I don’t know much about her, just that she moved here recently.”

“She did, and she has a little boy named Kai. He’s six.”

Mrs. Hendrix watches me as I read the note on the cup.

Date? Yes or No?

I grin and grab my phone to text her.

Yes.

Penelope

When?

You tell me, it was your idea. I have an interview now, let me know the details.

I look up and she’s rolling her eyes. “I’m going to guess it’s a yes?”

“It is.”

“So you’re going to buy more coffee that you won’t drink?”

I nod. “I sure am.”

I’d buy a million coffees that I’d never drink if it means I get to see Penelope and get to be with her.

“You look happy,” she notes.

“That’s because I am.”

“Even with the fact that we start school in a week without faculty we need?”

Yeah, that part isn’t so great, but I’m thinking my luck is going to change. I’m putting that out in the universe, because if there’s not one in this bunch, I’m fucked. And not the good kind .

“It’s going to sort itself out.”

She shrugs. “If you say so. This first one is moving to Ember Falls. She’s here for a few days, and I was able to get her in. At least we won’t have to worry about you running into her if you don’t hire her. I’ll go get her.”

I grab the résumé and look it over. I’m freaking exhausted, and reading it is almost difficult. I chug my coffee, waiting for the caffeine to kick in, and put my glasses on to review her résumé so I at least know her name.

“Mr. Anderson, this is Violet Leone.”

I stand and extend my hand, but the two of us just look at each other for a minute. I know her. I swear I know her.

“Violet Leone? Have we . . . ?”

She smiles. “Miles, God, it’s been a really long time.”

So I do know her. How? Violet. Then it hits me.

“Oh my God, Violet Stewart?”

“Well, I was Stewart, but ... anyway. It’s so good to see you.”

“It’s been, what? Fifteen years?”

Violet Stewart used to come spend the summers here with her grandmother, who was friends with Gran, and we used to play as kids. When she turned sixteen, she just stopped coming. She was traveling or whatever with her parents, but it’s been forever.

She smiles. “Sixteen, I think, but yeah, a long time.”

“How are you? What are you doing here?”

“Good, I’m here for an interview with, well, you.”

I motion for her to sit. “Please, sit, let’s begin the interview. Tell me why you’re interested in the position.”

Everett is going to lose his fucking mind when he realizes she’s back in town. The two of them were together, as kids do, and they promised each other the world. She broke his heart when she stopped coming.

“I’ve decided to come back to Ember Falls for a while, start over, maybe build a life like my grandma had. She was always so happy here. I have a master’s degree in English literature, and I’m licensed to teach. I saw the opening here, and I got on a plane to leave California.”

“Were you teaching there? ”

Her eyes narrow a little, and she shakes her head. “No, not ... really. I stopped teaching when I got married. Dylan didn’t really want me to work, with his schedule.”

“I see. Do you have any in-the-classroom experience?”

“Yes, I taught before I got married. I was or is or was married for just three years, so I have experience.”

She stumbles a little over her words, and I feel like there’s more to this than her just coming to Ember Falls.

“So you were married, but aren’t now?”

I hear Mrs. Hendrix sigh heavily. “Mrs. Leone, what my boss isn’t catching is that your husband is Dylan Leone, and you weren’t working because your husband is a very famous actor.”

“I was getting there,” I bristle.

Maybe. I don’t really keep up on gossip.

Violet smiles softly. “Yes, we’re in the middle of a very public, very painful divorce. So I’d like to have this job. I’d be really good at it. I love kids and love English. I’ll be able to guarantee one full school year. After that, I don’t know if I’ll ... well, I don’t know my plans.”

“I see. So you’d be able to give me this school year, and we can assess the next? I’d need to know before the end of the year to be able to put out a hiring message.”

She nods. “Yes, I can guarantee that. I’m going to be staying at my grandmother’s, well, I guess it’s my house regardless if I get the job or not.”

There’s not a doubt in my mind she’s the right person. Honestly, she’s the first candidate I didn’t want to kick out. I look over to Mrs. Hendrix, and she nods.

I stand and extend my hand. “You’re hired.”

Violet lets out a long sigh. “Thank you. I’d like to go by my maiden name, if possible?”

“Of course, whatever you’d like.”

“Thank you, Miles.”

“Welcome to being a teacher at Ember Falls High School. You start next week.”