Page 21 of Her Forbidden Teacher

I follow after him, again checking out his cute butt. He sits on one side of the bench that faces the lake and pats the spot next to him. All too eagerly, I take the seat, our thighs so close they touch.

Theo busies himself revealing each wrapped package of food as if they are all gifts to me. I’m entertained by how happy he is to share his favorites with me.

“This all looks so amazing.” I snatch an onion ring to take a bite. “Oh my God. This is heavenly.”

“Right? My sister Penny and I would eat there all the time as kids. It was our favorite place.” His excitement wanes. “Then I just didn’t go for a while. First time I’ve been back in ages.”

“Let me guess,” I say as I pick up a cheeseburger that drips with savory grease. “Mary Ellen hated it.”

He barks out a laugh that scares a squirrel nearby. “Yeah, actually. You’re too perceptive for your own good.”

“We’ve established she’s a psycho bitch. But, also, who could hate this place? The food is to-die for.”

“She hated it because I loved it. Story of my life.” He shakes his head in exasperation. Then, he picks up his shake and takes a drink. “This one is banana. Sounds gross but hear me out. It’s great.”

When he offers me a taste from his straw, my stomach flutters. With eyes on his, I wrap my lips around the straw andhollow out my cheeks as I suck the thick shake into my mouth. Sweetness hits my tongue and I groan in appreciation. His expression turns dark and almost angry. I’d be worried except there’s an unmasked hunger flickering in his eyes.

He wants me.

I can see it clear as day.

Pulling away, I give him a shy smile. “So good.”

“The fucking best,” he growls.

Are we still talking about a shake?

We eat until we’re stuffed and then deposit our trash into the can. Since I don’t want to leave him, I walk toward the edge of the lake.

“Is it safe to put my feet in?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at him.

His gaze lifts from my ass to meet my stare. I note that his cheeks redden from being caught. “Yeah. I used to swim all the time here. Worst that ever happened was I fish found its way in my swim trunks. Talk about a gross feeling.”

I giggle as I slip out of my sandals. The water isn’t too warm but it’s not cold either. It does wonders to cool me off. I walk until I’m thigh-high, the water teasing the hem of my romper.

“You going to stare at my ass all day or come join me?” I turn to watch his expression, laughing when he grimaces. “I’m just teasing. It feels good, though.”

He scrubs a palm over his face as if he’s mentally having trouble deciding, but then he begins untying his shoes. I watch his every movement as he removes both shoes, his socks, his watch, and his wallet, my keys, and his phone from his pockets. Then, he walks into the water not caring that his slacks are getting soaked. When he reaches me, I can’t help but step a bit closer.

“I like spending time with you,” I admit, staring at his chest and not his face. “Is that bad?”

He chuckles. “If it’s bad, then I’m bad too. I’ve been miserable for a while now. Lately, I’m laughing again. Having fun again.”

A fish splashes nearby and I scream, wrapping my arms around his neck. His roar of laughter sends me into a fit of giggles as I try to climb him, getting my legs out of the water.

“You’re in their house,” he says through his laughter. “What did you expect?”

I shudder, tightening my grip around his neck. “I don’t know. For them to stay in the deep end.”

The water rises up to my breasts as he takes us deeper. Suddenly, the thought of fish all around us freaks me the hell out. But Theo has a hold of me and that keeps me from racing back to the car.

“I’m scared,” I say with a whimper, shivering. “Take me back.”

His arms, beneath the water, wrap tightly around me. “I’ll keep you safe.”

My lips brush over the side of his neck. He smells so damn good. I ache to run my tongue along the column of muscle but barely manage to refrain. When the water comes up to my chin and my hair is dancing around us, he stops taking us deeper. His palm slides down my spine and settles just above my ass.

I want him to grope me.