Page 1 of Sexploitation
Parker
Field trips area teacher’s version of hell.
Anyone who says otherwise is a damn liar. We’re responsible for keeping up with a hundred kids, making sure nobody does anything stupid. Like jump on a fence and pull on a donkey’s tail.
“Cole, what are you doing?” I fuss, hating my shrill tone. “Take your hands off that fence and get back in line.”
We haven’t even made it all the way into the damn farm yet, and these kids are testing my patience. The heat isn’t helping matters, either. It’s already got me sweating like a whore in church, and there’s a fragrant smell of rancid animal shit in the air. This is going to be a long ass day.
I turn back to the class as Cole takes his position in line, and my stomach flips. The last person I expected to see today, or ever again, is standing just a few feet away.
I’m officially in hell.
The chatter of children seems to fade into the background, a mere roaring sound in my ears as he moves closer with a smirk painted across his handsome face.
“Well, hello there.” His eyes trail over me as he comes to a stop, making my skin hot. “You look good, Peach.”
Elias Jackson was supposed to be a stop on my best friend Josie’s ‘sexploration’ after her husband cheated on her. But he ended up being ‘a one-night stand that never was’ for me. And the bastard has the nerve to show up here now, looking more fucking delectable than ever.
“Elias...” I roll my eyes at his compliment, hating the way it makes my heart flutter. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here today.”
It’s been over a year since ourdate. When Josie called asking me to meet with Elias so he wouldn’t be completely stood up, I didn’t even hesitate. Sure, I thought it was a bit foolish. But she’d already made up her mind. Her heart was set on August. And considering how they’re now the most nauseatingly happy couple in the world, I’d say she made a good call.
I thought everything went so well with Elias that night. Great, even. He was a little disappointed that Josie bailed, which made things awkward at first. We were having a lot of fun together by the end of the date, though. He even ended up coming back to my place for a nightcap. I’d been waiting all night for that man to kiss me, and when he did, it was a toe-curling, orgasm-inducing kind of kiss. Then I tried to pull him toward my bedroom, and he planted his feet.
I’d really like to take you out again, but I’m not sleeping with you. Not yet.
Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I don’t get denied. I’m the girl who turns men down, often and without remorse. But his rejection wasn’t even the problem. It was thenot yetthat put a bad taste in my mouth. I’m not sure what kind of shit he was trying to peddle, but I wasn’t buying it.
He chuckles, those damn dimples making an appearance. “I try to make it anytime Grace has a school function. With her momma being gone and all, seems important for me to show up.”
“Of course.” Guilt knots in my gut as I nod my head. “I think it’s great that you can be here for her.”
Elias told me all about his late wife and her passing during our dinner. Normally, that would’ve been a major red flag, a pretending to go to the bathroom and walking out the back door type of emergency. But my heart went out to him as he talked about the trials of being a single father, all while mourning the loss of her mother and running his own business.
He leans in, his voice low so only I can hear. “There may have been another incentive for coming here today.”
The intoxicating scent of his cologne washes over me as he pulls away again, clouding my thoughts. His gaze is filled with mischief as it meets mine, as if he knows his closeness is fucking with my head.
Sweet baby Jesus, the man is good-looking.
Thick, dark hair that’s just begging for you to run your fingers through it, a salt and pepper beard on his strong jawline, and chocolate eyes that’ll melt your heart and leave your panties wet.
He may be pushing sixty, but you’d never know it by looking at him in those jeans and biker boots. His tatted arms are on display in the short-sleeve Henley he’s wearing, a tuft of chest hair peeking out. He looks so rugged, strong. Like he could toss me around with ease. It’s sexy as hell.
“Elias,” Josie calls, saving me before I have the chance to say or do something stupid. She gives him a beaming smile, her hand resting on the small bump of her growing belly. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
My head swings back and forth between them as I try to figure out what the hell is going on. This heifer knew he was coming and didn’t tell me. She’s disowned. We can no longer be friends. She knows all about what happened with Elias that night, why I never wanted to see him again. Keeping this from me is unacceptable.
“I wouldn’t miss it.” His eyes twinkle when he glances down at her stomach. “Looks like congratulations are in order.”
“Thank you,” Josie gushes, her face glowing. “I didn’t think it was in the cards for me at my age. But we couldn’t be more thrilled.”
“I’m happy for you,” he tells her.
Their exchange causes a ping of unwarranted jealousy in my chest. I hate that he was interested in her first.
Josie turns to give me her attention. “Elias’s daughter is in my class this year.”