Starting With You

20. Ladies and gentleman, my boyfriend. The caveman.

Jensen

AFTER TEDDY HANDS THE CLASS OFF TO Vivi for snacks and crafts, I snag her hand and pull her into my office. I close the blinds, the room falling slightly darker but much more private. Then I stalk toward her. With each step I take toward her, she takes one back, until she runs into the wall.

"Pinned again, I see," I whisper, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind her ear.

"I thought we talked about this already. Work. Appropriate behavior. Ring any bells?" She palms my chest, attempting to inch some distance between our bodies, but I don't allow for the space. Instead, I press closer. The strawberry scent of her hair is intoxicating this close to her; I can't help myself and inhale as I press my nose into the top of her braid.

"I remember those words coming out of your mouth, but I don't remember ever agreeing to them," I hedge.

"Jensen," she warns. Her hands fist my shirt having given up the fight to push me away.

Pressing my leg between hers, I'm able to wedge our bodies closer together. "Teddy," I mimic her tone.

"Maybe you want to confess something about a certain teacher while you have me compromised like this?" She hooks her fingers in my belt loops and hauls my hips into her. Her eyes widen when the evidence of my growing erection rubs against her.

I groan against her neck. "Teddy, that is the very last thing I'm thinking about right now."

"Good answer." She grins at me. "She was pretty thirsty, though, right? You must have left quite the impression on her."

I cup her cheek and run a thumb over her bottom lip before lightly kissing her. "We went out once forever ago. Nothing memorable."

"Hmmm." She blinks at me. Jesus, she's cute when she's jealous. Before I can control the urge, I bend to take her mouth in a possessive kiss, showing her with my actions what my words obviously couldn't.

"Now that's memorable." I smirk at her when her eyes flutter open.

When there's a knock on my office door, Teddy pushes us apart. She wanders over to the windows and reopens the blinds.

"Come in," I call as I watch Teddy cross the room to sit in one of the chairs I have situated in the corner for guests.

A young man dressed in grubby clothes and a backward baseball cap strides in and then stops when he spots Teddy. Without bothering to hide his knowing smirk, he removes his hat and runs a hand through the unruly curls before replacing the hat on his head.

"Yes, Cameron?" I ask my employee, urging him along.

"I can come back. I didn't realize you had your lady friend here."

Teddy snorts. "Shut it, Cam. You're an asshole."

He chuckles. "Sorry, Teddy. You know this place is worse than a hair salon. Fucking Chatty Cathys."

"Yeah, yeah." I wave my hand in a circular motion.

"Just wondering if I can have next Friday off? My girl wants to take a trip to the Twin Cities. Long weekend, ya know?"

"You know Rylie handles that shit."

I usher him out of my office and start to close the door as he says, "That chick scares the fuck out of me. Last time she gave me tips on how to please my girl. Like in depth tips. Pretty sure the HR lady should take her own sexual harassment classes."

I hear Teddy giggling behind me. "Good luck, pal," I call to Cameron before I shut and lock the door.

"You," I say, pointing at Teddy, "are in trouble. Maybe we're even in a fight."

"What? Why? I can't be held responsible for Rylie. She's her own person." Teddy folds her arms across her chest defiantly.

I cross the room and stare down at her in the chair. "I don't give a fuck about Rylie. I care about you. And the way you just acted. What the fuck was that, Teddy?"

"What do you mean?"

I pull her to her feet so I can look in her eyes. "Are you wanting to keep this secret? Because the way you practically hid in the closet feels like maybe you're not wanting people to know about us."

She gestures toward the door where Cameron just left. "Everybody knows, J. Chatty Cathys, remember? And I'm sure Marg will print it in tomorrow's paper."

I reach for her hand and hold it between both of mine. It feels so small and delicate compared to mine. Teddy's presence feels so big to me. It always surprises me when her actual size sneaks up on me.

"Teddy," I say softy, peering into her eyes, "can I hold your hand in public and kiss you and touch you? Can I claim you as mine so the jackoffs stay away?"

She rolls her eyes at me and tries to pull her hand away but I only squeeze tighter. "Is this your possessive caveman jealousy talking?"

"No, Teddy. I'm just sick of holding back with you. I just want to be us."

"And what exactly is that, Jensen?"

I relinquish her hand to grab her waist, running my hands up to her ribs and back down before settling with a firm grip on her hips. "You want to put labels on it, Teddy?"

"Yeah. Maybe I do." She cocks an eyebrow in challenge.

I squeeze her hips and rock her toward me. "Fine. You're my girl. Happy?"

"Jesus, J. You can't even say it, can you?" She fists my shirt as if to curb her irritation.

"What? Girlfriend. Yes, I can. I just did. See?" I offer her a crooked smile.

She shakes her head, biting her lip to hide her smile. "Practice. Pretend like you're introducing me to someone."

"To who?" I demand. "Everybody knows you."

She smacks my chest. "Pretend, dummy."

"Fine." I sigh heavily before giving in. "'Hey, Chuck. This fine piece of ass is my girlfriend. Stay, the fuck away from her.' There. You happy?"

"No. It's my turn." She flashes me a wicked smile before she bats her eyes and coos, "'Hi, Chuck. You're pretty hot, but I can't fuck you because my boyfriend here might kill you.'" She grins up at me quite pleased with herself.

"Oh, I'd definitely kill Chuck. I already hate this Chuck dude. How do we know him again? And is
he really that hot?" I grab her ass with both hands and haul her against me, clenching my jaw.

Rolling her eyes, she chuckles and declares, "J, you are ridiculous. He's fake. There's no Chuck."

"That's right. There's only me. You're mine. Everyone else can fuck off."

"Ladies and gentleman, my boyfriend. The caveman."