“Would you knock it off?” I spit out.
“Knock what off, Stray?”
“That annoying tapping and humming. And stop calling me that.”
“What else is there to call you?”
God, he’s such an asshole. And even worse, I hate that his evil grin affects me. I refuse to give him any more satisfaction and turn back around, only to realize the entire class is watching us. Even Mr. Gibson. If he hadn’t looked infuriated with me before, he sure does now.
“Is there a problem?” he asks, his gaze never leaving mine.
“Nope. No problem here.”
That’s when the asshole speaks up. “Well, if she would stop flirting with me, I might be able to concentrate.”
What! I turn back around. “I was not flirting with you. That’s the last thing I’d be doing.”
“Sure about that, Stray?” He cocks his eyebrow.
“Oh, I’m sure. Assholes aren’t my thing.” The entire class erupts into a fit of laughter. Mr. Gibson slaps a book on his desk.
“That’s enough. Everyone turn to page forty-five. I want you to do the quiz at the end of the chapter after you finish reading. Miss Mitchell, I would like to see you out in the hallway.”
My mouth drops open. “Me? Why me? I’m not the one who started it. He was—”
“Now, Miss Mitchell.”
I huff loudly and slam my book shut. Throwing myself out of my chair, I shoot a nasty glare at the asshole and walk up the aisle while everyone claps at my back. I don’t bother looking at Mr. Gibson as I walk into the hallway. He exits just as I slam my back against the locker, crossing my arms over my chest.
“What was that in there?” His voice is accusatory, like it was my fault. I open my mouth to defend myself, but then figure why does it matter? No one ever takes my side.
“You heard him. I was flirting with him.”
His nostrils flare. “Give me the real answer.”
“That is the real answer. I’m not gonna pass this class, so I was trying to flirt to get him to do my homework. Now you know my endgame. What are you gonna do? Detention? Kick me out? Or do you still feel like saving me, Mr. Gibson?” I’m so angry, my lower lip starts to quiver. I bite down on it, refusing to expose my emotions to anyone.
Mr. Gibson stands there, his chest expanding as he takes in a deep breath. “First off, you’re going to watch the way you speak to me. Second, I’m not going to stand here and feel sorry for you. Your sad story and puppy dog eyes won’t work on me. Until you’re done with this little tantrum and realize I’m on your side, detention it is. Hope you don’t have anything planned for the rest of the week because your ass is mine every day after school until I say otherwise.”
I open my mouth to complain, but he storms back into the classroom before anything can come out. Shit. What did I just do? The last thing I need is to spend any more time near him.
Chapter 5
Samuel
I pop the top of my beer and lean back onto my couch.
Catalina Mitchell.
Angelic. Innocent. Soon to be mine.
She has no idea how special she is. No one gives her a second glance. But I do. I know her potential. I just need her to know it too.
The speculation on why she left is comical, from alien abduction to teen pregnancy. The question is, why is she returning? I tried to stay away, but my interest had gotten the best of me. The second I got wind she was in my class, I requested her file. It was too easy, and no one batted an eye when I kept digging. More and more, I became obsessed. Intrigued by those intense lustrous eyes. She’s just like the others. Innocent on the outside, but there’s a need to be seen and wanted on the inside.
She’s a textbook case of neglect. Absent father. Abusive mother. Divorced when she turned fourteen. I can practically smell the daddy issues. The more I read, the more she fascinated me. The more she fascinated me, the hungrier I became for her, like a beast lying dormant until she walked into my classroom. Even the stories didn’t do her justice until those fiery eyes met mine. I know I should stay away. But it’s too late for that. Now, I’m invested. It isn’t wrong anymore. It’s fate.
My body buzzes with anticipation at having her under my thumb for the entire week of detention. I didn’t even run the damn discipline program. I searched out Steven from the Math department and convinced him to let me take detention duty from him for the week. I debated if she would even show up. There was a defiance in her eyes that made me want to turn her over and spank the shit out of her. She wanted to act like a child, I would treat her like one.
Fuck, I’m getting hard at the mere image.
She turns eighteen soon. This doesn’t have to be like the rest. We can do this the right way. Come Friday, she’ll be putty in my hands.
Another realization has my jaw clenching. I’m not the only one with a close eye on her. I caught the gym coach gazing at her too long. It was only when he noticed me watching that he pulled his sleazy eyes away. But if I see him staring, does anyone see me staring?
Until the time is right, I need to learn how to look and not touch. Play a little cat and mouse until she turns eighteen. Then I’ll test the waters to see if little Miss Mitchell wants to reciprocate. No doubt, she won’t know how to turn me down.
My hand finds its way into my slacks and wraps around my cock, squeezing tight. “I have to be good for now.” I close my eyes and picture her mouth being filled with me as I stroke myself hard and fast, all too quickly soaking my shirt.
Catalina
I make it through another day. Only a million more until I’m out of this hell hole. I try to hide in the shadows, but it seems impossible. At lunch, a girl I knew my freshman year invited herself to sit with me. She reminded me of her name, Melissa, and I vaguely remembered us hanging out here and there. She spent the entire hour filling me in about her life since the last time I had apparently seen her. I silently thanked the gods when the bell rang and I could get the fuck out of there.
Just like yesterday, I don’t have a ride home. I stare off into the distance, a smidge of jealousy as everyone gets into their warm vehicles. I still refuse to call Mom. Getting to school by bus was a one-time thing. They’re only meant for freshmen and losers, so that’s out. Out of nowhere, a thick shoulder slams into mine, knocking my backpack to the ground. It’s no surprise when I see the asshole walking down the steps. He turns around just in time for me to give him the big old middle finger. I debate on jumping on his back and wrestling him just to siphon some of his warmth, but I’d rather freeze.
I hate that I have this inexplainable attraction to him. And it’s becoming a problem for me. I can see myself, despite his cruelty toward me, getting sucked into his alluring trap. Even my body betrays me as it hums with the fantasy of what it would be like to be with someone like him. Fierce. Dominating. Cutthroat. Would he bruise me while he fucked me? Take me hard? Or would he surprise me and be a gentle giant hiding behind this angry façade?
“Jesus, I’m losing my mind.” I shake off my momentary insanity and jog down the steps. I spend the evening at the park until the sun goes down, bringing with it an even more bitter temperature. By the time I walk into the house, my mom is waiting for me. It leads to another night of fighting and me escaping into the confines of my room.