Connections Page 6

  She smelled like cheap beer and smoke, but a hint of peach body spray lingered. Carter could feel his erection wanting to break free from his boxers. “You sure you want this Amanda?”

  “I’m very sure about this Mr. Jensen.” She looked into his eyes for a moment studying just how green they were.

  He kissed her, she tasted of sugar as his tongue explored her mouth, and his hands felt the curves of her body as he pulled her close to him. “If we do this, there is no going back.”

  “This is what I want.” Amanda forced him to look her in the eyes to see how serious she was about this. “I’m not a stupid child. I’m a woman, treat me like one.”

  Carter felt a flood of arousal at the attitude she presented him with as he urged her legs to wrap around him as he pressed her body against the wall of the hallway. Part of him was tempted to take her on the stairs—but then he remembered his promise of a proper bed as he kissed her neck and climbed the stairs slowly. The desire between the two of them starting to boil over as they stood outside his bedroom door.

  “Mr. Jensen, I’m yours to fuck.” Amanda’s voice as thick with desire as her body arched towards Carters.

  He couldn’t help but smile, “Are you getting turned on calling me Mr. Jensen?”

  “Well, I figured I am in your homeroom class, isn’t that one of the hottest sex fantasies, teacher and student?”

  He reached his hand down her waist, slipping his hand under the elastic of her shorts, “You are my student, and I am your teacher. This is reality and I’m going to fuck you. I’m going to make you cum like you’ve never come before.” He slid his hand down to her bare pussy, he could feel how wet she already was. “I’ve watched you make yourself cum Amanda, but what I’m going to do in that bedroom will be like nothing you will ever experience before or ever will again.”

  She bit her lip as she felt his finger go over her swollen clit.

  “Do you understand, no turning back?”

  She nodded as her body moved without thought, urging his hand to touch more of her.

  Carter kicked the door open further and took her with him into the room, pulling her shorts down just enough as she fell back on the bed.

  She kicked her shorts off the rest of the way as she watched Carter remove his t-shirt before dropping to his knees, pulling her body towards the edge of the bed.

  Carter moved quickly with his fingers, exploring the wet, virgin hole before he started to taste her slowly with his tongue. He was going to drive her mad, bring her to the brink, slow it down and then back again.

  Amanda couldn’t think straight, she couldn’t focus with all that her body was doing. She only knew that this was exactly what she wanted. She could feel her stomach tighten, her head get light, the world seem to be spinning around her as her body exploded in a way she’d never gotten close to before.

  Carter had never been with a woman who was this wet, this ready. He opened his nightstand drawer and pulled out a condom. Tearing the wrapper open, slipping it on he looked down at Amanda, still lost in the bliss of her orgasm as his thumb trailed over her clit as he thrust into her quickly.

  “Oh fuck!” She cried out, her eyes squeezed shut as her hands clutched the bedspread in her hands.

  Carter didn’t move, he wanted to, but he knew she needed a moment with his cock inside of her, his thumb drawing her body’s focus to her clit before he started to thrust. Careful to make sure he didn’t go to hard, too fast just yet.

  “Harder.” She begged as she released the bedspread and reached down, taking control of the action of her clit.

  Carter grabbed her legs, loosing himself in the moment as he fucked her, enjoying her tight pussy gripping him, hungry for him until he couldn’t hold back any longer as he started coming.

  “Oh Mr. Jensen!” Amanda cried out as she felt another wave of pleasure sweep through her body.

  Carter collapsed on top of her, she kissed him. It was soft and sensual.

  “That was better than I imagined it would be.”

  He kissed her neck, knowing he wasn’t done with her just yet, “You’re so tight, I’ve never felt someone so tight and so wet.”

  He was still inside of her as she began to rock her body slowly building the momentum.

  “I saved myself for you.” She confessed as she wrapped her legs around him, her heels pushing him into her.

  Carter was shocked; he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The clarity of the situation was starting to hit him. He was in the middle of fucking one of his students. If anyone ever found out this happened, he would lose his job, he knew he should stop, end this now but everything felt so right, everything else in this moment made sense. He didn’t know what to say to her, so he kissed her just as he felt his body spasm with a small climax.

  “You can’t tell anyone about this.” Carter finally spoke a few moments later as he stared at the ceiling.

  Amanda lay next to him, “I know. I won’t.”

  Carter sat up, “I know your 18, but I’m your teacher. I could lose my job.”

  “You won’t.” She reached out, stroking his face with her fingertips. “I don’t want just one night with you Carter.”

  He felt his heart race, he hadn’t thought this through and he knew that now. But he thought about his options, he could keep chasing women he’d gone to high school with who if it hadn’t happened with by now, it wouldn’t. He could finally give into Eva’s advances, but the thought of that turned his stomach. This woman, ten years his junior was looking at him in a way no woman had—not even Shayla in high school.

  “We keep this between us until I say so, okay?”

  Amanda nodded, “I promise, no one will find out from me.”

  “Good, now come here.” He opened his arms for her and she filled the space as he held her.

  Carter Jensen hadn’t realized what he’d been looking for. He wasn’t sure if he’d really found it. Whatever he had discovered though was what he needed after all this time, and the years of heartbreak and living in the shadow of his brother.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The sky was still dark when Shayla opened her eyes, feeling Zach arms holding her. She couldn’t remember a time when she felt so safe in a man’s arms. She had never felt that way with Brad, not that they’d had many nights where he actually held her.

  Her stomach twisted as she thought about him, everything she’d done with him, for him. She took a moment to study Zach’s face while he slept, the way his lips were parted slightly and body breathed.

  His lips looked so kissable, she was tempted to give in and kiss him. Yet even though she was drawn to him in so many ways, she knew that now was not the time. The sun was aching to kiss the sky, just as much as she was aching to kiss him.

  Not here. She couldn’t stay here a minute longer then she really had to. She pushed herself off the bed, trying to let him sleep as she looked around for everything she had brought with her.

  Zach sat up, his eyes heavy with sleep. “Shay?”

  “Hey, I didn’t want to wake you.” She pulled a t-shirt on and looked around for her jeans.

  “It’s alright.” He stood up, stretching his athletic body.

  “The first train leaves soon. I want to get out of here as soon as possible.”

  “Are you going to tell me what the problem is?”

  Shayla pulled on her jeans and socks, “My Mother, I just need to get away from her. She’s the reason I don’t normally come back home. I just can’t deal with her, and the secrets.”

  Zach just nodded, knowing that she would talk, if and when she wanted to. “Yes, well I will have to escort you then if are serious about going out this early in the morning.”

  She threw the last few items into a bag and pulled her sneakers on, “How did I get so lucky?”

  “You took the right train back here, that’s how.” He smiled as he grabbed her bag. “Are you going to leave a note?”

  Shayla sighed as she realized he was right, “I guess I s
hould.”

  “I’ll meet you outside.”

  “Thank you.” Her hand reached out gently brushing against his for a moment before she pulled it back.

  Zach opened the door, the glow of the hallway night light behind him. “Anytime, Shay.”

  She looked around the room for a piece of paper, finally pulling open her bag and ripping off the cover of a script.

  Had to go back to the city, I need to prepare for work.

  She tossed the note on the kitchen table on her way out of the house, meeting Zach on the front porch.

  Taking in one final look of the house, she felt like she was finally free of some dark cloud that had been over her for as long as she could recall.

  They walked in silence, thankful as the sun came out and the birds started to sing. Shayla purchased her ticket from the machine and looked over at Zach, “Thank you, I know I’ve said it already, but I need to say it again.”

  “I have a meeting, Wednesday with my agent, so I have to be in the city. Um, would you like to have lunch?”

  Her stomach twisted with butterflies and nerves, “I would love that.” She just had to get this Brad situation under control, once it was, she would be ready to give into her real feelings for Zach.

  “I’ll call you.” He kissed her, softly, intimately in a way that surprised himself and her.

  “You better.” She teased as the heard the train nearing. “Don’t let Carter and Eva get to you.”

  “Easier said than done.” He started to back away, even though he really wanted to just go with her. “Safe journey.”

  Shayla blew him a kiss before grabbing her bags and boarding the train. She sat in the first available seat she saw, chewing on her lower lip as she for the first time since yesterday afternoon had a moment to really think about what had happened.

  Her mother had lied to her, all of her life.

  The same mother that had tried to convince her not to go into acting.

  The same mother that told her not to work on a soap opera.

  The same mother that had secretly been an actress.

  The same mother that had secretly been an actress on the same soap opera she was now on.

  Her mother, would be playing—her mother.

  Escape.

  That’s all Shayla wanted right now. She had to get away from the hypocrisies of her family. She had to get back to her real life, no matter how empty it really was. An emptiness waiting to be filled by someone, she just wasn’t sure who.

  Shayla opened the small box as she looked over the desk towards Brad. “What is this?”

  “It’s a key, to a studio apartment a few blocks from here.” He rose from his chair and moved towards the front of the desk watching as she studied it.

  “I think I’m missing something.” Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail; her nails a perfect airbrushed French manicure.

  Brad smiled, “It’s where I want you to live while you go to school.”

  “It is?” She couldn’t believe this. “Why?”

  Brad took her hand, running his thumb on her nails, “Because Shayla, I want you in a safe place. I want a place where I can stay with you; I can’t do that in the dorms.”

  “You mean, like overnight?” Her heartbeat was loud in her ears, was this really happening.

  “I can finagle a night a bit more often now that I got the promotion. I told my wife it would be cheaper to have a little studio for me to stay in then getting a hotel room, that that I’ve got more entertaining to do in the city.” Brad looked at his hand, his gold wedding band looking up at him. “Anyways, she’ll never question it if I stay over once a week. She’s more grateful for the time away from me.”

  “Oh Brad, don’t worry about her. You’ve got me.” Shayla smiled her lips glossy and eyes bright. “One day, you’ll be free of her, and you’ll still have me.”

  He smiled as he looked at his young lover, “I’ll always have you, won’t I?”

  “Yes, of course you will. I will always be yours, you can count on me. If I could I would shout it from the rooftops. I would do anything for you Brad, don’t you see that? I’ve already done so much for you.” Her eyes searched his nervously.

  “Yes that you have.” He kissed her forehead, “You know, I only ask that of you when I really need your help.”

  “Yes, I know that.” She took his hand in hers, “Now, is there anything I can do for you right now?”

  Brad reached over on his desk, picking up an envelope, “In here, is a credit card with your name on it, and some cash. Go pick out some linens for the bed and something for yourself.”

  “Really?” Shayla couldn’t believe the responsibility of this all; she couldn’t believe any of this.

  “Yes, really, it will be your home and mine.” Brad couldn’t help but smile.

  “Well, I guess I better get going. What’s the address?”

  “Here” He picked up a piece of paper, “I’ll be by this evening after work for just a little bit.”

  “Thank you, Brad.”

  “Thank you, Shayla.”

  Shayla opened the door of her apartment; it was a spacious loft really. Glass windows all along one wall looking out on the city, plenty of light during the daytime and yet she was high enough up that she felt as though she had plenty of privacy. The floors were hardwood, her kitchen counter tops were butcher block, and the appliances stainless steel.

  She opened the fridge, not expecting much as she pulled out a bottle of wine. Yes it was early, not even 9am yet. Perfect though for her to forget everything, a chance for her to become numb for just a little bit and forget about her Mother.

  She poured some of her chardonnay into a mason jar as she let her mind drift to Zach. Her stomach twisted as she thought about him, the way he looked at her, the way she felt around him.

  It was different.

  It was good different.

  Especially when she thought about Brad.

  She took a long drink of her wine.

  Why now? Why did she have to meet Zach on a train, when she was thinking of Brad? Why had she even been thinking of Brad? Why the hell was she letting him back into her life?

  Her hands shook as she took another sip of the wine and the silence of the loft was broken with the ringing of her phone.

  She didn’t think as she threw the Mason jar to the floor.

  Shayla only felt better for a moment, before she realized she would have to clean up the glass. She reached towards the counter for her phone; she didn’t recognize the number as she hit the speaker phone icon, “Hello?”

  “Shayla, its Brad.” His voice was smooth and masculine with that same tone that had always made her body quiver with desire in the past.

  “What do you want Brad?” She didn’t even try to hide the frustration in her voice.

  He laughed, “You know exactly what I want Shayla.”

  She rolled her eyes, thankful he couldn’t see her right now. “What, the wife hasn’t blown you in the last decade so you thought, hey let me go find my old little mistress and see if she wants to?”

  “Oh, Shayla” He sighed, “You should know me better than that. I never wanted to break up.”

  “But you never wanted to leave your wife either.”

  “Give me a chance Shayla. I never went looking for you. You came to me that day. The moment we first spoke, I knew there was something about you. I felt it again when I say you yesterday. Please, meet me in the city this afternoon.”

  Shayla closed her eyes, afraid to move, afraid of the glass and her feelings. “Where?”

  “I’m at the studio.” His voice changed a little bit.

  “What time?”

  “Noon”

  Shayla felt her body quiver. “Fine, I’ll be there.”

  “Good. I’ll see you soon Shayla.”

  She reached over and hung up, looking down at the broken glass around her as she backed away slowly, thankful she had her shoes on as she went to gather her broom to sweep up the
pieces.

  She looked at the clock, she had plenty of time to show, change into fresh clothing, and gather the courage it was going to take to show up at the studio apartment she’d once shared with him. The apartment where he kept her.

  Her hand shook as she reached up to knock on the door. She’d opted to wear skinny jeans, a long t-shirt, loose sweater and a scarf. She knew this was not the look he was expecting.

  No, Brad would expect her in a trench coat; fishnets and high heels that would make her character throw up instead of the ballet flats she’d opted for.

  The door opened, the television was on with a football pre-game report. Brad looked at her, the disappointment visible on his face. “Come on in.”

  She looked around; it had become very much a man cave over the last few years since she’d left. “It’s different.” Shayla tried to smile, and she did slightly when she saw that the beaded curtain she’d hung still separated the bedroom area from the rest of the apartment.

  “You took the comforts that made this a home when you left.” He stood near the fridge and took out a bottle of vodka, “Screwdriver?”

  “Yeah, um, sure,” Shayla put her purse down on the counter, “What are you doing in the city today?”

  “I told Claire that I had to work. Technically watching this game is work.”

  Shayla glanced and realized almost immediately who he meant; one of the pre-game reporters was one of the men from last night, one of the men she’d been a bonus for. “I’m not the same girl I used to be Brad.”

  “I know.” He handed her the drink, that just from the look of it, screamed strong.

  She took a sip, enjoying the feel of the vodka warming her body, helping her to relax. “What do you want from me Brad? Why did you want to see me again?”

  Brad stayed a few steps away, “I still love you Shay.”

  She took a sip, trying to form her thoughts before finally speaking, “I don’t think what we had was love.”

  Brad put his drink down, stepped towards her, his hand on her cheek, “Shayla Daniels, has any man ever made you feel the way I do?”