"Please..." I start to cry and he smashes his mouth against mine as I claw at his face and arms.
"Let her go!"
The shout stops Patrick and suddenly Michael is there and so is the wrestling coach, Mr. Keene. Keene grabs Patrick and pushes him against the wall, hard.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Winegarten?!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Patrick starts to cry and Keene shuffles him away, back into the gym
I stand there against the wall, hugging myself and I can't look at Michael who is watching me silently.
Finally, he says my name. "Taryn..."
That does it. I start bawling and slowly sink to the floor. Worst. Day. Ever.
Michael lifts me up and envelopes me in his arms. I cry against his chest and he strokes my back in a very un-teacher like way. I feel him sigh, his breath blowing out on my hair.
"Come on. Let's go."
I let him lead me away.
Chapter Seven
"Here, drink this."
Michael hands me a steaming mug of something and I take a sip. It's an herbal tea, I think chamomile. I hold it tightly in my hands, my knees drawn up to my chest.
He took me to his house, which totally floored me. Well not a house really, it's a condo and it's really nice, what little I've seen of it. I'm kind of surprised a teacher can afford such a nice place but it fits right in with his "style". It's pretty and perfect. Just like him.
Michael sits beside me and rests his arm on the back of the couch. He has that same black braided bracelet on his wrist and I concentrate on the wispy blond hairs on his tanned, toned forearm.
"Think you can talk about it now?" He's looking at me so kindly it makes me want to cry again, but I'm so humiliated by all the bawling I've already done.
I nod and take another sip of tea. "I guess."
"Has Patrick done that before? Has he hurt you?"
"No. He was just mad."
Michael sighs and thins his lips. "It doesn't matter if he was mad or not, Taryn. He should never have put his hands on you like that. I hope Keene kicks his ass off the team. Do you wanna call your mom or dad?"
I give him a tiny smile. "No, my mom's not home and my dad is in London right now."
He puts his hand to his mouth and rubs his chin. "Well I wish I could do something, to help you. I just don't know what though.
Kiss me? The thought makes me giggle and he smiles back at me quizzically.
"And why is that funny?"
"It's not." I admit. I slide my legs down and tuck them under me, cross legged. "Thanks for the tea, Mr. Hayes."
His phone buzzes and he glances at it, frowns, and then puts it back in his pocket.
"Hey, when we're not in school you can call me Michael, okay?
I set the tea on a coaster on the coffee table and settle back, looking at him coyly.
"Good, and you can call me Taryn instead of Miss Bishop, like you did today."
Michael grins at me and I want to run my tongue over his straight white teeth. Holy crap, I almost wish I was drunk so I was brave enough to just jump his bones right then and there.
"Got a little tetchy with me today didn't you?"
I snort a laugh. "'Tetchy'? Who says 'tetchy'?"
"Us old guys." He taps my knee with his finger. "So, I want you to know you can talk to me, okay? I know I'm not your mom or your dad, or even your older brother, but I have been known to be a good listener. Occasionally I even offer good advice."
I know he means well but I honestly have no desire to spill my guts about my complicated love and social life right now. Especially to my hunky teacher. I try to think of another subject to discuss because I don't want him to suddenly say I need to go home.
"Tell me more about Shakespeare."
Michael settles back on the couch himself, bringing a knee up. Our kneecaps are touching and I feel tingles in all the right places. Does he know how turned on he makes me? I can't tell.
"You should be telling me aboutShakespeare," he chuckles. His phone goes again and he swears softly, his brow furrowing into a frown. Again, he ignores the call, setting the phone on the floor beside him. I wonder who keeps calling him. "I should be quizzing you, seeing how much attention you actually paid in class."
I playfully shoot my foot out, nudging his leg. Then I just leave it there, my foot now resting against his calf. He doesn't move away.
"I do pay attention!" I snap at him but I'm grinning. "Tell me something you haven't taught us yet. Like about Anne Hathaway."
"Ah...Anne Hathaway." Michael narrows his eyes at me. "What exactly did you want to know?"
"You know. She was like twelve when she married him, wasn't she?"
"And pregnant." He smirks at me.
Shit, there's so much sexual tension between us. I think anyway. I mean, I'm not quite sure how sexy he is actually feeling but I'm about to melt into a puddle right there on his couch.
Then his phone rings again and this time he's really pissed.
"For fuck's sake!" He grabs his phone and jumps up. "Hang on, Taryn. I have to take this or she'll never stop."
I watch him stalk from the room, down a hallway and my heart sinks.
She? The blonde girlfriend no doubt. Damn. What shitty timing.
I listen quietly and can just about hear Michael's end of the conversation.
"- I know, Ava! I can't talk right now, alright? .... Because I'm with a student and you are annoying me. I told you I need a fucking break! ......Yeah, well you calling and texting me 24/7 is not a break!"
I'm frozen to my seat. So, the girlfriend's name is Ava and
