All characters are 18 years or older.
*****
On Monday I asked Kevin to stay after class. With the classroom door wide open I said, "Yesterday, it was wonderful, but..."
"I was afraid of that but," he said, forcing a smile.
"I shouldn't have let it happen. It was my fault."
"Mrs. Huff, it wasn't your fault. It was my intent to seduce you, to make you my lover."
His directness startled me. "Do you understand the consequences of what you're suggesting?"
"Yes." He was candid; he understood.
I looked out the window. I was pretty enough to capture the media's attention. I imagined a hoard of reporters, cameras in hand, filming me as I was led from the school in hand cuffs. I imagined my daughter watching me on television.
"No, it ends now."
I steeled myself for an emotional outburst or threat, but instead was met with a determination that matched my own.
"The moment you walked into class I knew our bodies were designed to please each other, that someday you'd be mine. If there was any doubt about that proposition, it was settled yesterday. Yesterday was the best sex of your life, no rule or regulation will change that. I won't stop trying to make you my lover and, in the end, I'll succeed. It's what we both want."
I started to argue, but stopped. Continuing the debate, I realized, would only weaken me. I was already aroused and his calm confident tone only served to further incite my desire for him. If we argued, if I re-lived what happened the day before, I might just... It was better to stop. There was one more thing I needed to address, but wasn't sure how to raise it.
"There is something else, what happened, it needs to be kept private."
He listened, was confused for a second, and then understood.
"Are you afraid I'll brag to my friends or try to blackmail you?"
I was almost ashamed to admit it, but I was. "Yes."
He perceived my embarrassment and, surprisingly, moved to comfort me.
"I hadn't thought about that, but I can see why it would worry you. I haven't and I won't. What happened is between us."
He left the classroom. I wanted to beg him to come back, to make love to me one last time.
* * * *
Kevin was true to his word. He did not threaten or cajole me and if word of our liaison got out, there was no evidence of it. I was thankful. If word spread that Kevin had nailed the hot new teacher, most every girl in the class would throw herself at him (assuming they weren't already), but he kept the secret. Nonetheless, I could see his desire for me in his eyes and wondered if I looked the same; I often left class with underwear damp as my imagination replayed our encounter in the woods. While showering I'd masturbate while dreaming about Kevin taking me. If my husband wondered why I was suddenly more aggressive in bed, he did not ask why.
On the positive side, Julie was adjusting to the new school faster than I'd anticipated and was moving among a better class of friends. I could also tell from her good mood, gossipy phone calls, and endless text messaging that there was a proto-boyfriend out there.
About three weeks after my tryst with Kevin I arrived home, having stopped at the grocery store. The supermarket had been crowded and I was in a surly mood. My husband was watching television. I wanted to ask him to give me a hand unloading the car but in my present mood I was afraid I'd bite his head off if I got one of his half-ass answers.
As I lugged the groceries in from the car my husband yelled from the next room.
"You were right."
"About what?" I yelled back. Why couldn't he get his lazy butt off the couch, walk in here, have a normal conversation, and give me a fucking hand.
"Julie, she's been seeing someone. I met him today. You were also right about getting her to new environs. She said he's one of the school's top students. Remember how we couldn't figure out how she got a 96 on her calculus exam. It turns out he tutored her. They're studying together now; she has another exam tomorrow; he's one of your students; he spoke real well of you."
"Did you catch his name?"
"Yeah, I think, Calvin or Kevin something."
My knees buckled. Fear, trepidation, and anger coursed though my body and reverberated in my voice. "Damn it, is that the best you can do, what's his fucking name!!"
My husband stumbled into the kitchen to issue one of those I-am-not-sure-what-I-did-but-I-better-apologize-to-the-wife-anyway apologies, but it didn't matter. I had run through the list of my students in my head. There was only one possible candidate for Kevin or Calvin something.
I poured my husband a few more drinks than usual that night and shuffled him off to bed. I wanted to be the only person awake when Julie got home. I wasn't sure why; I had no plan to confront her. Maybe, it was because I had no idea what I might do that I didn't want Bruce as a witness.
She arrived home skipping, walking on air, glowing in post-orgasmic joy. Her eyes were lazy and dreamy and her face split by a wide smile. I knew the look; she may have been studying (her 97 confirmed she had) but any woman could see that she'd been fucked and fucked well.
Julie kissed me affectionately and then hugged me. "Mommy, you were right. You always told me to date nice smart guys, but I liked bad boys, I figured they'd...," she stopped, realizing she had started a sentence she didn't want to finish.
A pause and she re-booted. "But I got me a nice one now and he's great. He treats me well, helps me out at school, and," she paused, searching for a euphemism, "he's a wonderful kisser. He's even cute. He's one of your students, he says you're a great teacher."