BARE SOULS: A STEAMY TEACHER/STUDENT ROMANCE

CHAPTER 42 | ZANE

It took me a second to analyze the situation and process what was going on. That was definitely my brother Rick with Harper. And they were getting really friendly.

.... Since when were they so close?

   "Geez! How old are you?" Sofia asked both Harper and Rick. Rick laughed stupidly while Harper, after crossing my gaze, looked terribly embarrassed and looked away.

Her move pissed me off. Why was she looking away, suddenly acting shy?

   "Babe, it's a wedding, not a business meeting" Rick told Sofia while rolling his eyes.

   "Look around... They're all business partners..." She replied before glancing at Harper's dress strap that slipped off, revealing a generous portion of her cleavage. She cleared her throat and nodded toward Harper as a lame way to say hi. "Come on, now. Gerard is asking for you!" She said while grabbing Rick's hand who sighed and winked toward Harper before being dragged away.

She looked at him leaving with a smile that I didn't like at all. Somehow, looking at how cute she was suddenly acting with Rick was getting on my nerves.

She finally looked at me. "Hello Mr Jackson. I'm surprised to see you here".

    "I'm also surprised I came.... And we're not in school, you can call me Zane, you know?"

She looked away for a second before turning her eyes toward me again. "Sorry... Zane" she said before slightly blushing which made me crack and irrepressible smile.

    "What? Does it embarrass you to say my name now? Wasn't there a rule we established regarding how to act with each other?" I teased her a bit.

   "You established all the rules, so... I guess you can answer that better than I can" she answered, now avoiding my gaze.

   "You're right..." I admitted. "I had no Idea you and my brother got along that well..."

She frowned for a second, apparently not understanding my question. "He was the only person I knew here, so..."

She obviously looked very uncomfortable and that was understandable. For the past four weeks, we barely exchanged a word except when she was answering a question during class.

To be honest, I avoided to the max all contact with her. Every single time I looked at her, I automatically felt the irrepressible need to touch her. And even if I wanted her really bad, I just couldn't be weak anymore. 

As frustrating as it was, I felt a certain freedom since I put an end to it. Ever since that missed call, Maria stopped calling. I would lie if I said it did not worry me. On that first Friday she did not call, I stayed awake all night, wondering if I really screwed it up this time. It certainly bothered me a lot. But somehow, my brain was numb. I knew I should have done something... but I just couldn't resolve myself to pick up the phone and call her.

Instead, I went back to my old ways and I fucked many women... many... too many. But none managed to satisfy me like Harper. None managed to leave me with that amazing after feeling only her gave me. None gave me the need to see them again. None made me feel like she did. And that was bothersome... because like a pathetic dog, most nights, I ended jerking of in my bed thinking about her. 

I knew it was temporary... just like when you try a fantastic drug that wake up all your senses. The withdrawal is process, but you still manage to get through if you cautiously avoid all temptation. But here's the thing.... I was facing it Monday through Friday for an hour per day. 

But on that day, if felt even harder. Because she looked amazing in fitted short white dress and silver heeled sandals. Her hair was left down in beautiful chunky curls that were bouncing with every single of her movements. She had nude makeup on, accentuating her natural beauty. She was stunning, as usual.