Tasting The Forbidden

5. Playing Games

Melissa’s pov:

I ate in silence, which was admittedly unlike me, listening to Billy and the new teacher bond over a game of soccer.

Then, unexpectedly, as we were halfway done, Mr Blackwood let out in earnest, “I think you two could make the pack proud during the upcoming festival.”

“You think so too?” Billy’s response was easy and light, as if the compliment he just received made his day.

What was wrong with my best friend? Surely, their short bonding time didn’t make him forget everything — my reality, everything I wasn’t.

“Oh puh-lease!” I rolled my eyes, to which Mr Blackwood raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. I could almost imagine his wolf snarling, his anger simmering just below the surface, not quite liking the defiance. “You’re new in town, so you probably don’t know, but I don’t have a wolf. How am I supposed to compete in the damned festival?”

“Princess,” Billy let out softly, whereas the new teacher’s gaze lingered on me — intense, brooding, and knowing.

I felt compelled to look away, tears stinging my eyes.

“I am not one to throw compliments at just about anyone,” the infuriatingly handsome man then deadpanned, and didn’t say a word further.

“I didn’t…” I was at a loss for words, not quite sure what answer he expected, what answer would be appropriate.

“Think about it,” he then offered in a somehow mellow but deep voice, which had me snapping my legs together.

Oh heavens! The man’s s*x appeal was too much for me to handle, and I wasn’t sure I liked it. If a mere look and a few words were going to be my undoing like this… I dared not think about the kind of devastating effect he would no doubt have on me, if he were to touch me.

Deliciously dangerous, a part of me purred.

“We’ll consider it,” Billy let out after a beat, seemingly oblivious to the tension between me and the damned new teacher that had me creaming my panties.

“Great,” he nodded. “I look forward to training you both.”

My mind conjured up images, filthy inappropriate ones, that no student should have about her teacher, and I felt my face burn immediately.

I didn’t waste time and dropped my gaze to the pizza, allowing the guys to talk some more again.

Somewhere along the way, as I glared at the food, I wished I hadn’t suggested Billy and I went for pizza.

I was done eating. Not because I wasn’t hungry anymore. Not because the pizza tasted bad… But the man sitting across me made it hard to f*****g breathe properly, never mind eating without making a mess of things.

A warmth, restless and all-consuming, spread from my insides to every part of me, and I felt in need of refreshments.

Before I could beckon the waiter over and ask for a lemon juice, a voice startled me, “Are you eating that?”

The slice that remained on my plate untouched seemed to mock me.

I could have totally expected such words from Billy… Only it wasn’t him who had spoken.

I soon found myself looking into Mr Blackwood’s steely gray eyes, almost in a trance. His faint smile had me gulping down air. I took in the heat that seemed to linger in his eyes, the dimple on his cheek that begged to be smoothed over, and every damned manly pheromone that emanated from him, and felt like I could just melt in a puddle by his feet.

He’s asked you a question, dummy, a part of me brought me back out of my reveries, snapping me back to reality.

“No,” I said, even though I was no longer sure what he had even asked to begin with. I was just that confrontational and then some.

“Don’t mind me then,” he said, even as he reached out to the plate, and took the slice.

My eyes widened. Did the man have no shame? And no, this wasn’t about pizza. This was about the easiness with which he just did that, the intimacy that didn’t seem to faze him, but had me trembling to my very core.

I would have happily fled to the restroom, but I was much too stubborn, much too proud to allow him that satisfaction.

Again, filthy images flashed before my own eyes, making me throb deliciously, dangerously.

What was wrong with my body? I had never had such a visceral response to a man, not even Jake… As it was, I craved Mr Blackwood’s touch like some basic need that had to be fulfilled. I also wanted his lips on me, again, kissing me passionately, as if he was starved for me.

Oh heavens! May this body of mine hold on! may my mind remain sane!

And then, he inhaled deeply, his eyes darkening, his faint smile turning into a wicked and teasing smirk… And I found myself rising to my feet immediately, ready to bolt out of there, consequences and pride be damned.

“You okay, princess?” Billy asked, his gaze shifting from his phone to my face.

Mr Blackwood, on the other hand, bit into the slice nonchalantly, a little bit of a smirk still on his face, making mine burn with embarrassment.

“Peachy,” I rasped out. “Restroom break, that’s all.”

“Right,” he nodded at me in understanding, despite the questions in his eyes.

I must look quite flustered.

How could I let myself be intimidated by a man such as him?

Okay, the new teacher was fine, but getting worked up over him, and a damned slice of pizza, wasn’t a good idea… But then again, it wasn’t about reason. My mind had no say in this. It was pure instincts, as devastating as they could be.

And my instincts wanted me to beg him to take me.

How wrong was that?

After rincing my face abundantly, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole, I finally emerged from the restroom. To my utter and complete dismay, I came face to face with the very man whom my mind was busy preparing wet dreams about.

What now? I mentally groaned, though it was more out of sheer s****l frustration than anything else.

“That’s one dangerous game you’re playing, Parkers,” he drawled, his eyes dropping to my mouth, like he wanted to devour me the same I wanted him to touch me.

“I’m…” I gulped down my dread and nervousness. “I’m not playing.”

“Good,” he nodded, his lips curving up into a smirk. “Because games are for the manipulative, and I would hate to have a manipulative… student.”

I swallowed hard, and for the umpteenth time that day, I looked away… knowing full well, I was doomed.