Page 32 of Sexploration

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 chocolate gaze is filled with mischief as it meets mine, as if he knows his closeness is fucking with my head.

“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.”

My brows lift, my teeth grinding. This feels like the type of information she should’ve told me. The fact that she didn’t is very suspect. It’s almost like she wanted me to be ambushed today.

“Oh... how cool.” There’s not even a hint of sincerity in my tone, my eyes glancing back at the kids to make sure no one else has made a break for it. “I’d love to chat, but we really need to get everyone inside.”

Josie bites back a smile, her eyebrows lifted as she offers Elias a quick wave and returns to her students. She and I will be having a little conversation about being a sneaky little bitch later.

Her co-conspirator doesn’t seem to get the hint, though.

“You didn’t return any of my calls,” he whispers, walking at my side while I count my kids one more time.

That’s another thing. Josie never should’ve given him my number in the first place. I didn’t speak to her for a week after that.

“Because I wasn’t interested in whatever it was you were offering.”

“Offering?” He scoffs.

I nod at my TA, giving her the go-ahead to lead everyone inside before locking my hard glare on him. “Look... I don’t know what you want from me, but—"

“Let me clear things up for you, then,” he says, his voice low and seductive. “I want you.”

A thrill shoots through me, my skin tingling. “Well... that’s not happening.”

His head tilts as he studies me, a cocky grin on his face. “Oh, darlin’, I wasn’t asking. Youwillbe mine.”

There’s something undeniably sexy about his arrogant confidence, that Alpha energy making my lady bits tremble.

“Umm... hard pass.” I turn and walk away from him, needing to put as much distance as possible between us. And quickly.

“Go ahead and run, Peach.” He snickers from behind me. “I think I might enjoy the chase.”