Page 8 of The Cost of a Bride

“Yeah,” she says slowly. “You’re a…teacher, right?”

I freeze. It’s like one of those moments in the movies where a sudden rush of memories and images comes flooding through you in high speed. I instantly realize who it is I’m looking at – who I just has sex with.

Sapphire is one of my former students.

She was just a child the last time I saw her, seven or eight years old. But it’s definitely her.

“You’re Mr. Hartford, right?” she asks.

I nod slowly. “And you…your name’s not Sapphire, is it?” I ask. “It’s Nikki.”

4

Russell

The realization comesover me and hits me like a load of bricks to the chest. It’s like I’ve gone back in time and then jumped back to the present again in the blink of an eye. There she is, Nikki Wilson, the little girl from my class from over ten years ago.

Only this isn’t the Nikki I knew from before. She’s grown, she’s matured, she’s gone through puberty to an extent that I barely even recognize her anymore. That little girl I once knew is no longer there; she’s awomannow. A woman that had me captivated the moment I saw her. Not to mention she had the attention of all the other men in the room too.

Jesus, this is messed up. Isn’t it?

It’s not like she’s still a child now, but now that I know who she is, it’s like I can’t shake that image of who shewasout of my mind.

“That’s right,” Nikki says with a smile. “Nikki Wilson. That’s me.”

“Christ…” I mutter, averting my eyes. “How in the world…?”

“I guess it was just meant to be,” she giggles. “I mean, I held on to my virginity for a long time, and then you came along. What are the chances?”

I sigh and sit back down on the bed, my head in my hands. “How did you not recognize me, Nikki? I mean – it makes sense that I don’t recognize you, but…”

“Well, I joined your class late, remember?” she replies. “My parents moved into town…”

“Right.” I nod.

“So I didn’t get to know you like everyone else did,” she continues. “But I do remember that all the girls in class thought you were mega cute.”

I raise a hand in the air immediately and grimace. “That’s enough, okay? I don’t need to think about pre-pubescent girls thinking I’m cute.”

Nikki laughs. “It was innocent,Mr. Hartford.Not likethat.”

“Okay, but still,” I reply.

I’m torn. My starvation and desire for Nikki has not left me. In fact, after what we just did together, it may have risen to another level. I’ve made her mine, and the experience with her was even better than anything I could have imagined. But now, after the realization that she is a former student of mine has come crashing down on me, I’m a complete mess sitting beside her on the bed. And she can see it.

“Don’t worry about it, Russell,” she says softly, placing a delicate hand on my back. “It’s no big deal. Really.”

“No big deal?” I reply, getting to my feet. “Sure, that’s easy for you to say.”

“We’re both consenting adults now,” she replies. “What’s the matter?”

“Well, aside from the fact that I just broke the law–?”

“You didn’t break the law.” Nikki smiles, nearly melting me inside with how gorgeous she is. “You paid me for mytime, Russell. Just my time.”

“Okay, fine,” I agree. “I paid you for your time. But the school has a rule about fraternization with students–”

“I’m not a student.”