Kids start calling out sweet things about my brain and I almost double over in laughter.
“I’ve been tricking her for months now. Making her solve problems so that when I asked her this question, I could trace her solutions in the stars and get the answer I wanted.”
Snickers.
“So, Shannon Drake, here’s my question.” I roll my eyes. I know he’s not going to ask me to marry him, that is ridiculous. I’m eighteen years old. “What do you think about me so far?” He winks. “Should we see what Shannon’s answer is in the stars?”
“Yes!” they all call out.
He hands me the little clicker he’s using to start each animation. “Be my guest,” he says. “I can’t wait to see what you have to say.”
Jesus Christ. I have never smiled so much in my life.
I click through the animations, one at a time. Slowly at first, but the kids urge me to go faster to see what it says.
They call it after a few letters.
“I love you,” I say, when the presentation is complete.
“I never doubted you, babe.” He’s grinning so wide, so proud of himself. And the kids are going crazy with excitement. “Thank you for coming, everyone, and there’s lots of puzzles for you to solve in your programs today, so make sure you go home and figure them all out. Now let me ask you one more question.”
He waits as they settle.
“Do I make science and math fun or what?”
A chorus of screaming yeses.
Wildly successful presentation over.
It’s only then that I notice a large group of people dressed in suits in the back of the room. They are smiling and clapping for Mateo as he takes my hand and raises it up with his in triumph.
They are the representatives, I realize. From other planetariums around the world. People he’s counting on to buy his new educational software. His very expensive educational product that came from the fruit of all his years of hard work and research.
And they are sold.
I fuck the shit out of Mateo Alesci that night on the beach outside our room. I fuck the shit out of him every night we spend there. And every morning. And during our afternoon naps. I cannot get enough of him.
I do love him. And I never want this to end.
Chapter Thirty
“Stop it,” I say, pushing Mateo off me. “I’m working, dammit.”
He bites my shoulder and I can’t help but smile. “School’s out.”
“Not until next week. I need to finish this assignment.”
“The only assignments that matter are mine,” he growls, taking his nibbles to my earlobe.
I shake my head and try not to giggle. “Not true. Your mother is expecting mad skills for her website and I’m not even done with my own site yet.”
“Play with me, Shannon,” he whines. “Please. I’ll let you suck my cock.”
I look at him from the corner of my eye. “Behave now and I’ll let you spank me later.”
His gaze goes all drifty as he pictures it. He likes to play Bad Little Schoolgirl with me. He has a paddle with my name on it and everything.
I can only roll my eyes. But I’m more than willing to put on knee socks and a tartan skirt and let him bend my bare ass over his lap.
He hits hard too. He leaves red palm prints on my cheeks and then he takes a picture of them so I can see when we’re done. But just picturing myself spread open for his inspection, my long hair dangling down his legs, my hands grabbing on to his suit pants…
Jesus. I close my laptop and say, “What do you have in mind?”
“Hmmmm,” he moans, letting his hands explore my body. They leave my shoulders and grab my breasts. I’m already naked because it’s a kitchen work day. “I want the whole neighborhood to hear us,” he whispers. “Everyone. I want to fuck you in the front yard.”
“Oh, no,” I say. I don’t tell him no often, but no. “I’m not having sex in your front yard.” I might be sitting naked in his kitchen, but I have to draw the line somewhere. Plus, the blinds are closed and it’s late. So no one is looking in here.
“No?” he says, taking my hand and pulling me up from my seat.
“No,” I say, but I’m already smiling because he’s sucking on my nipple and there’s no chance he’s not getting his way. I might say no, but it never works. Mateo always gets his way.
“I want everyone to know, Shannon,” he says, taking his kisses up to my shoulder again. “I’m tired of hiding you in here.”
“We’re not hiding.” Not really. We stopped hiding after Hawaii. But there’s nothing to hide anyway. I finished my last trig test two weeks ago and Mateo turned in my grade. Even Mr. Bowman couldn’t stop us now.