Page 42 of Teacher's Pet

I sighed dramatically. “Please give me something. One thing, professor.”

A pause. Then, quietly, “I like it when people are quiet when they’re told to be.”

I bit back a smile. “So… obedience. Got it.”

His eyes flicked up, sharp, before he reached for the detachable shower head. “I’m going to rinse you off.”

I watched him work, the air thick between us, until a sudden rattle at the doorknob freezed me in place.

“Nathan?” A groggy female voice filtered through the door. My stomach dropped.

Mr. Thorne moved quickly toward the door. “Yes, honey?”

“Why are you showering this late? Come to bed.”

“I will, sweetheart. Give me a few minutes.”

“Open the door.”

There’s a brief silence before his voice came again, smooth but tight. “Give me a minute. I’m… wet.”

“Nathan, I need to pee.”

Our eyes locked. His jaw tightened. Then he was suddenly in front of me, gripping my arm.

“Ow—what the hell—?”

“Shhh.” He glanced around, then nodded toward the large walk-in shower with its thick curtain.

“Get in there.”

“What? No—”

His look shut me up instantly. He guided, okay, shoved, me into the shower. I’m too distracted by the fact that I’m completely naked and he’s seen all of me to argue further.

I heard him unlock the door and take a tiny peek by the corner of the curtain.

The second Nathan cracked the door, his wife was already looking at him like she had sniffed out a secret. She’s sharp-eyed, arms folded, blocking the hallway like she owns the place.

“You’re acting weird,” she said.

“I’m not,” Nathan answered too fast, voice tight.

I twisted the shower knob just enough for the water to start hissing. Not full-on running, just enough for the sound to slip past him and land in her ears.

Her gaze flicked toward the bathroom. “Who’s in there?”

“No one,” Nathan said, stepping out and pulling the door almost closed behind him. “I’ll be up in a minute.”

I was still able to make out his wife’s facial expressions.

She studied him, then tilted her head. “You still going to insist I’m projecting?”

Nathan hesitated. “Lilly—”

“Because if you are, I’m leaving! I can’t keep paying for it forever, Nathan. I feel like you told me you were over me accidentally screwing Paul, but then you get like this! And I can’t even ask why you're acting super odd without you then gaslighting me about some projection bullshit!”

The words hit me like a slap.