Page 36 of Student Seduction

“Your brother hates me.” I sighed. “And I’m worried about Drew. I don’t like leaving him alone with Devon. I know it was him that hurt him. I can’t explain it. I just know.”

“My brother doesn’t even know you. He’s just worried. Because you’re…”

We let the dreaded S word linger silently between us.

“I’ll be eighteen next Thursday.”

Aiden opened his own water. “You’ll still be a student, Emersyn.” I watched his jaw muscles move as he spoke. “I teach a class you need to graduate. Do you know how that will look?”

I tried to form thoughts other than wanting to touch him, wanting him to hold me and comfort me after this night from Hell. I wished we could go back in time to before Derek and Devon brought their drama here.

“Bad?”

He sighed and leaned against the counter. “Like I forced you, like I used a position of authority to coerce you to perform sexual favors in exchange for a good grade in a class you need to earn your diploma.”

“So…really bad then.”

He didn’t speak.

“Earlier, before we were interrupted,” I began. “You seemed to have made peace with it. With the risk.”

I knew what had changed his mind. His brother’s disapproval. Which was understandable.

He ran a hand through his hair. “I was out of my head. You do that to me.”

“I’m sorry.” I looked up at him from under my lashes feeling like a child. Feeling guilty for getting us into this situation. “I should’ve told you at the carnival—that I was still in high school. What happened wasn’t fair to you. It’s not fair for you to be in this position now.”

I rubbed my palms across my jeans.

“I’ll talk to Principal Stewart and tell him I need to transfer to someone else’s class. Surely there’s another section of Government.”

Aiden swallowed hard. “There is. Milner is teaching it next semester for anyone who doesn’t pass this semester.”

Ignoring the sinking feeling in my stomach, I crossed my arm over my chest to rub the other one. I needed some form of comfort.

“Good. Then it’s settled. I’ll tell him I have to switch.”

He stared at me, seeing past what I was trying to project. I didn’t breathe as he moved closer. I still held my breath as he reached out and rubbed my arms with his warm hands.

“I’d hate that. I’d hate not seeing you first thing every morning. Not knowing if you were okay. If you’d made it to school. What enticing outfit your were wearing to drive me insane.”

I exhaled. “Tell me what you want me to do, Aiden. I don’t want to get you in trouble. I don’t know what to do.”

“First, I’m going to take you home. Because I know you’re going to be worried about Drew if you don’t get to see that he made it home safely.”

I hated to admit it, but he was right.

“And second?” I prompted as we headed out of the camper. “What do we do about this? About…us?”

Aiden stopped to lock up. “I’ll let you know when I figure that part out.”