I’m in deeper shit than I thought.
“Here’s how your future is going to go, Gilbert Clark.” She smiled, rocking her body into her hand as if chasing an orgasm just out of reach. Her lips twisted as she sucked in a gasp, forcing her arm to drop and stop touching herself. “You are never to speak to Olin again.”
“What?” That hurt worse than any fist on my cock. “That’s not possible—”
“It is if you want her to continue being one of my best students with a good enough recommendation to get into any university she chooses. I hear dancing is her dream...it would be such a shame to kill her wish.”
I bit my lip, holding back a retort.
She continued, “Second, you are never to speak of this...to anyone.” Her eyes flashed as she pointed a finger in my face. “If you do, let me share how that conversation will go for you. You’ll claim I molested you in the storeroom. You’ll declare sexual abuse, and I’ll be asked for my side of the story.” Her head tilted. “Who do you think they’ll believe? The teacher who’s done charity work at the local reform house for the past six years, who’s dedicated her life to the enrichment of her students, and who lives with her elderly mother? Or the angry, aggressive teen who sleeps with whores and is the offspring of an alcoholic pimp?”
The darkness of the storeroom swallowed me whole.
She was right.
In a war of words, she’d win.
No one would believe me. Not in a million years.
I hung my head, raking a shaky hand through my hair.
She tasted my defeat, laughing with cold-hearted joy. “There is a way out of this, you know.”
I squeezed my eyes. I didn’t want to look at her. I didn’t want to hear anymore.
I already knew the way out. I’d known it for years—I’d just been too goddamn afraid to face it.
With breath trapped in my lungs, I forced myself to stand tall and grunt, “You want to fuck me.”
She trembled on the spot. “Well, aren’t you a naughty boy.”
I glowered. “I didn’t say I wanted to fuck you. I want to kill you. I’d rather have sex with a rabies-infected dog than get anywhere near you.”
She licked her lips, her cheeks a deep red with need. “And that just makes this all the more delicious.”
My nostrils flared. I looked at the empty classroom.
My virginity was Olin’s. We hadn’t discussed if she was a virgin or how we would plan our first time. All I knew was sex could be bought, stolen, and dirty, but sex with Olin promised to give me every freedom I sought.
Sex would give me her body, heart, and soul. She’d belong to me as surely as I belonged to her. It would bind us together. For fucking ever.
And now...I’d lost that.
That special hope of a better future had just been torn out of my reach and pissed all over by the one woman who was supposed to have my back.
Ms Tallup came closer, her perfume sickly and far too sweet. “Meet me at the rear entrance of Motel Gardenia on Sunday at six p.m. I’ll let you in so no one sees you. There, I’m going to take your virginity and make you a man.” Her voice turned husky. “And you’re going to fuck me until I say stop. You are mine to do with as I please. If I want you to fuck me all night, you will. If I want you on your knees begging, you will. You are not allowed to wear a condom—”
“What? No way am I—”
“Don’t interrupt. I’m on birth control and clean. You’re a sweet little virgin, and I want you bare. I want you to always remember the woman who stole your youth. I’ll be your first. I’ll always be a part of your life.” She sighed as if her proposition was romantic and heartfelt and not the most diabolically disgusting thing I’d ever heard. “After a night together, you’re free. I’ll let you graduate if you stay true to your word never to speak to Olin or any other girl in this school again. Your cock is mine and will stay mine until you walk from these grounds. Just one night, little Gilbert. One night of fucking for a lifetime of freedom.” She ran her fingertip along my bottom lip. “Not such a bad deal...is it?”
I fought the insane urge to bite her finger into pieces.
Ripping my face out of her reach, I snarled, “And how do I know you’ll leave me alone? How do I know you won’t go straight to the police after and—”
“Because I could go straight to the police right now.” Her eyes glittered with madness. “If you don’t turn up on Sunday night, I’ll say you assaulted me. I’ll say you held me down and forced me. That you’re a minor with the aggressive nature of a murderer, and I escaped just in time. I’ll make sure you never see the sun outside of a prison again. You’re already screwed, Mr. Clark. I have all the ammunition I need to bury you, so you might as well accept my deal.”
She laughed quietly. “After all, it’s better to be with an older woman who knows how to please a man, rather than with a little girl who doesn’t. You won’t hate what I do to you.” She blew me a kiss. “You’ll love it. You’ll be begging for another night.”
“I will never beg for anything from you.”
“You already did.” She smirked. “You begged for Olin’s future. And I’m giving it to you. If you give yourself to me.”
I couldn’t stay there anymore.
I couldn’t listen to another twisted, poisoned word.
Lurching from the storeroom, Ms Tallup’s voice chased me as she purred, “Six p.m. on Sunday, Gilbert. Don’t be late.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
______________________________
Olin
-The Present-
I WAS BORROWING tomorrow’s happiness.
I knew that.
I knew this wasn’t real and wouldn’t last.
I knew Gil would kick me from his life the moment he’d dealt with whatever issues he struggled with.
But it didn’t change a thing.
Is it naïve to accept the upcoming abandonment? Is it even called abandonment when you know it’s inevitable?
My thoughts rushed and raced as Gil drove us in his white hatchback that I suspected was a cheap alternative to another vehicle he might’ve sold to pay whatever debt he owed.
He didn’t seem comfortable driving it. Then again, he didn’t seem at ease with anything.
We didn’t speak as we arrived outside a large department store in downtown Birmingham. I helped him carry boxes of paint, glitter, and rhinestones from the car. He carried the heavier stuff like air guns, gas bottles, and an entire wooden box of brushes and sponges.
Pedestrians watched us with mild curiosity. The city wasn’t too busy thanks to most of the workers already ensconced in their places of business, toiling through a long day.
I squinted against the sun as Gil dumped his armful against the wall of the huge store. Motioning for me to do the same, he marched back to the car and pulled out a foldable trestle table along with a few other artwork requirements.
I waited until he’d set up the table and placed what he needed into logical positions before asking, “What exactly is the commission?” My eyes scanned the milling people, hoping I didn’t recognise anyone from Status Enterprises. Calling in sick after only being employed a few days had chipped away at Shannon’s supportive welcome. Her tone had turned cooler, and she’d asked for a doctor’s certificate if my symptoms went on longer than forty-eight hours—company policy.