Page 47 of Resist

“How ‘bout a strap or a flogger? Teachers used to have those, right?”

I tapped my pen on my lips, liking his prop ideas. “Yes, but again, I don’t have—”

“No, a ruler!” His eyes lit up. “I can do more with a ruler.”

Every muscle in my core tightened at the thought of Lucas being seductive with a long, wooden rod. “I’ll get you one by tomorrow.” I bit down on my fingernail.

“No need, there’s one in here.” Josh tossed a ruler at Lucas then dragged the hotel desk he’d found it in from an alcove near the window to the middle of the room. “Remember that gig we did for that wealthy chick in Sydney at the start of the year … the one where we used office chairs on wheels?”

“Yeah.”

“I think you should do some of that in your new routine, and you can also move whoever you choose from the crowd around the stage without hurting yourself or her.”

“Good idea.”

“We’ll work on it tomorrow. But first, your transition from geek to god.”

Lucas paced the room, his hands resting on his head. “It’ll have to be when the music gets louder in that first verse.”

Spinning the desk chair to face him, Josh straddled the seat and rolled his hips against it. “The music changes real quick, Dimps, so the transition will need to be fast.”

“I know.”

“How ‘bout a Hulk?”

“A ‘Hulk’,” I asked. “What’s that?”

“It’s when we rip our shirts from our bodies.”

“Oh!” I yawned. “He’s going to need more than just a Hulk.”

“I can toss the reading glasses at a blackboard or flip the desk over?”

“Hm …” I narrowed my eyes. “I like it, but no. You should keep the desk upright. You can use it later in the routine. And you should keep the glasses on. Reading glasses on men are hot, and you are a hot teacher after all.”

He scratched his head. “They are?”

“Sure.”

“I have reading glasses. I just never wear them.” He ran his hands through his hair and it gave me an idea.

“Come here,” I said, waving him over.

Lucas pushed off the wall and stood before me, his expression uncertain.

“Kneel,” I demanded.

“Ooh, kinky.”

I shot Josh a derisive look as he spun on the chair before focussing on Lucas again. “Trust me. Come closer. I want to try something.”

Lucas dropped to his knees, his face level with mine. I reached out and smoothed his caramel hair to one side of his face, his brow curiously wrinkled, his eyes pinballs in their sockets.

“Damn it! It’s not working. I need it wet.”

“Don’t we all.”

Lucas chuckled at Josh’s remark, but I was too focussed to be distracted.