“Absolutely, you will. Don’t think I’m letting you get away with keeping the rest of the story to yourself.” Isa waved her off with an extra flourish.
A few hours of teaching and coaching passed before Sylvie sat down to her to-do list and opened her laptop to a sea of unopened emails. What she should be doing was editing her book. The publisher had been in touch over the holidays to grant her another extension. Only this one came with an ultimatum: cough up the goods or pay back the advance. It wasn’t that explicit, but she could read between the passive-aggressive lines of her commissioning editor. She’d really pushed her luck, ignoring deadlines and procrastinating for weeks. Her sex life had become a major distraction too.
Scrolling through the endless messages she’d ignored before they broke up for Christmas, she didn’t notice the sun set until her eyes watered from the blue glare of the screen. She turned her silenced cell phone over, wondering if Ade had been in touch. They’d promised each other time to focus, but that was easier said than done.
Maybe she could drop Ade a quick note. She wanted to see her tonight, even though a good night’s sleep in her own bed—alone—would be the best thing for her mind and body. Ade had reawakened a passion deep inside, but the fatigue from their midnight sessions was starting to show in the shadows under her eyes.
Right on cue, Sylvie heard Ade’s telltale footsteps in the corridor. She bit the lid of her pen, awaiting Ade’s appearance. As the door creaked ajar, Sylvie’s heart skipped a beat. They’d barely made it through a whole day without seeing each other. She didn’t know whether to despair or rejoice.
“Can I disturb you, ma’am?” Ade grinned, looking every bit the grad student, sporting her washed-out hoodie and jeans.
“Well, it’s past my office hours, but Icouldmake an exception.”
Ade sauntered to the edge of the desk and leaned against it.
“I can’t promise any special treatment.” Sylvie pursed her lips, hiding her smile behind the pretense of her strict principal routine.
“Well, that’s a real shame.” Ade stuck out her bottom lip. “I washoping for somespecialtreatment.” She spun the chair around and positioned herself between Sylvie’s knees.
Sylvie’s throat dried out so much she worried she wouldn’t be able to form her next line. “What kind of thing did you have in mind?”
Ade held her gaze, giving nothing away. Perched against the desk, with a clear height advantage, Ade’s gaze dropped to Sylvie’s breasts. She raised her eyebrow, clocking the widening of Ade’s pupils as she began to open the top button, and the next, and each one until her blouse fell open.
Ade froze in her spot.
“Is this the kind of special treatment you’re used to?” Sylvie asked.
Ade’s lips twitched in an almost-smile. “Not quite.”
A dare? Sylvie flicked her eyes to the door, closed but unlocked. She paused for a second, weighing the possibility of someone coming by this late in the day. She’d heard all the students leave an hour ago, and most of the staff would be gone by now. They had at least two hours until the final sweep by security.
Rising, Sylvie slipped her shirt to the floor, bracing herself for the chill around her bare shoulders. She stood at eye-level with Ade but didn’t move closer. She longed to be touched, but the lack of it intensified every nerve ending.
She removed her shoes and socks and stepped out of her pants. Standing there, in nothing but her lacy underwear was a real turn-on, and the evidence pooled between her legs. As if she knew, Ade’s gaze flicked up and down her abdomen, and she licked her lips.
Sylvie held herself back, resisting the strong urge to collapse into the gap between Ade’s thighs and succumb to her lips. “What do you want?”
Ade gripped Sylvie’s hips, moving her around so they swapped places, then she took the vacant seat. Her breath came fast against Sylvie’s breasts before she leaned back into the chair. “Touchyourself for me.”
Sylvie almost came at the instruction. No one had ever commanded her with such direct tenderness. Conscious of every inch of her bare skin, she shivered. Her breath was barely a whisper as she ran her fingers over her beating heart, between the channel of her breasts and down the center of her ribs. She stopped at her lace waistband, awaiting further instruction.
“Go on.” Ade swallowed.
Sylvie could barely contain the urge to straddle Ade’s lap and rub her center against her thigh. She wished the charge between them would last forever. Her hand traveled further down, dipping beneath the sheer fabric, the only barrier between her sex and Ade’s loving gaze. “Please, Ade.”
“What do you want?” Ade whispered.
Sylvie’s knees buckled and she breached the space between them, falling until Ade wrapped her strong arms around her and looked up.
Ade bit her lip. “Tell me. Let me give you everything you want.”
“Touch me, please.” Sylvie straddled Ade’s lap, her thighs shaking with need.
Ade grinned. “You still have too many layers on.” She grabbed a pair of scissors from the pencil cup. “Let me get rid of these.” She cut through the seam of Sylvie’s panties and let them drop to the side, giving her full access to Sylvie’s pulsing desire.
Fuck.Sylvie couldn’t focus on anything except Ade’s fingers on her throbbing body. She glanced down at Ade’s fully clothed body and dropped her head in a moment of vulnerability.
“No.” Ade tipped her chin up. “You’re perfect. I want you to see yourself in my arms, feeling every single thing.”
