The Teacher's Secret

Chapter 6

I yawned and stretched. It was time for me to hit the sack. It was late but I was so reluctant to get up out of my cozy spot on the couch. I snuggled a little deeper into the couch and pulled the throw over my body. The time on the television said 10:30 p.m. I should be sleepy but, frankly, I was not. I felt a bit bored to say the least and a tad bit lonely. It was in moments like these that anger would rise within me. Here I was at thirty-eight, lonely, a little depressed and looking to start over after ten years of marriage. This should not have been happening! Gary had put me in this spot and I felt resentment, like bile, rise in my throat. I was really at a loss at how he could have gotten us in this mess but there was no turning back now. I had to place more value on myself and get out there and do what it takes to move on and be the best version of myself.

I sighed.

I wondered what Jade was doing at this moment.

It seemed as if my thoughts had conjured him up for at that very moment my phone rang. It was Jade.

“Hi Jade,” I answered the phone trying my best to keep the smile out of my voice.

“Hi Mrs. Clarke,” Jade replied.

“You ok?” I asked when I detected a hint of sadness in his voice.

There was silence and then a sigh.

“Miss, I need somewhere to stay for the night,” Jade said. “Can you put me up?”

“Jade, where are you now?” I asked, concern rising within me.

“I don’t even know the name of this community but I am in a park. I can see the Madison Bridge. I think I saw a sign that said The Frank Hill Park when I was coming in,” Jade explained.

“Alright. Can you see an apartment building painted in shades of blue?” I asked.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Ok. Walk towards that building and go around to the front of it,” I instructed him. “I will meet you there.”

I rushed to my bedroom and to my closet. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a stretchy top. At the door, I slipped on a pair of sneakers, grabbed my keys and stepped out, closing the door behind me. I took the elevator to the ground floor and then headed to the automatic doors. I stood there on the sidewalk looking left and right to see if Jade was approaching me. I fidgeted a little, anxious to see Jade put in an appearance. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw him walking towards me.

“Jade!” I yelled and waved at him.

I could see him smile and pick up his pace. In a moment he was by my side. I hugged him and held his hand, leading him towards the apartment building.

“I didn’t know you lived in this area,” Jade said as he looked at me.

“Yes, I have been living in this area for a while now,” I replied.

“Cool,” Jade said as he walked with me towards the elevator.

We took the elevator up to my apartment.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” I said as I opened the door.

“Thanks for doing this,” Jade said as he took off his shoes by the door.

“You are welcome, Jade,” I said, closing the door behind me. “Are you hungry?”

“Naw, I’m fine,” Jade answered.

“Well, let me show you around,” I offered.

At the end of the tour of the apartment, we ended up on the balcony where we sat and chatted for nearly an hour. In that time, Jade had answered his phone, informing his mother that he was with one of his teachers and that he would be spending the night.

Jade had rested his head on my shoulder as he poured out his heart and eyes. I felt his pain resting heavily in my chest and I could not help but cry with him. We sat there, allowing the misery to wash over us and flow away into the night. We were just two broken souls finding solace in each other’s arms and company. Somehow I knew that things would be alright.

“Is that meal offer still on the table?” Jade asked, a big grin on his face.

“Sure, Jade,” I said.

“Great!” he exclaimed. “For I am famished!”

As we got up from the balcony and walked to the apartment’s interior, I asked, “What are you in the mood for?”

“What do you have?” Jade responded. “I don’t want to put you out.”

“Well, tell me what you want and I will see what I have,” I said.

“How about pizza?” he suggested.

“You are in luck, for I have a pizza in the freezer,” I grinned.

While we waited for the pizza to be heated in the oven, I took out a bag of chips and salsa dip and we chomped down and shot the breeze.

“So, where is Mr. Clarke?” Jade enquired.

“I don’t know at this point,” I said.

“How come?” Jade asked.

“Maybe with some woman. Who knows?” I said, watching the surprise on Jade’s face.

“And you’re ok with that?” Jade asked leaning against the counter and looking me straight into the eye.

“Jade,” I sighed, “I am no longer married.”

“What?!” Jade exclaimed. “How long now?”

“Just a short while but we have been separated for over two years,” I explained.

“Now I know why you have been so sad,” Jade said as he moved to take my hands into his. I loved the warmth and softness of his hands and the comfort they gave me.

“Well, yes, and I know someone who has brought me comfort in that sad time,” I said, smiling awkwardly.

“Is that so?” Jade teased. “And who might that be?”

“I think you know who that is,” I responded with a shy smile as I looked up at him.

Jade tilted my chin up so I was looking dead into his eyes. It seemed as if the air was sucked out of the room as I saw the hint of desire in his eyes. I took a deep breath and then involuntarily bit my bottom lip. Jade’s lips were so close to mine. I could feel his breath on my face. I knew what was coming and my eyes slowly closed.

Ding! The oven sounded and I was both relieved and disappointed at the same time.

“Grub time!” I said a little too cheerfully. “Let’s eat!”

Sitting at the island in my kitchen eating pizza with Jade was nothing I had fabricated in my mind but here we were, doing just that. For most of the meal, I was cracking up. Jade kept me laughing with little silly, if not corny jokes. I just adored the way his brown eyes would light up when he laughed. It was particularly wonderful to have laughter in this home again and I had Jade to thank for it. When I looked at the clock on the stove, it said 1:30. Most nights, or should I say mornings, I would be fast asleep but tonight, all thoughts of sleep were out of my head.

“If it’s ok with you, I think I’d like to take a shower,” Jade said as we finished rinsing the plates and utensils we had used and loading them into the dishwasher.

“Ok,” I answered. “Put your clothes on the face basin and I will come and get them and pop them into the washing machine for you. You remember where the bathroom is, right?”

“Yeah, thanks,” Jade replied.

I watched as Jade walked away from me and I took the opportunity to admire his long limbs and torso. His tush was just the cutest! I wonder how it would feel in my hands? I mused. I smiled and decided that the first chance I got, I would squeeze them.

When I heard the shower running in the bathroom in the hallway, I went to knock on the door.

“Jade,” I said as I cautiously opened the door, “I’m coming in!”

“Ok,” he answered.

His clothes were where I told him to put them. I grabbed them and rushed from the bathroom, fearful that if I lingered even for a little I would strip and join him for a steamy shower. I closed the door behind me and then headed for the wash room. Jade’s scent was all over his clothes. I could not help but put his shirt to my nose and take several deep inhalations. I felt quite euphoric and a little turned on. I threw in the clothes, added the detergent and softener and started the machine. I threw in some of my clothes, hoping that Jade would not mind. I proceeded to fold some laundry I had left in a basket while singing one of my favourite Anita Baker songs. Halfway through, I smelt the freshness of a recent shower enter the room. I knew Jade was behind me so I stopped singing, becoming very self-conscious.

“You have such a beautiful voice,” Jade complimented me.

“Thank you but I don’t know whose voice you heard,” I said giggling and blushing.

“Aw come on,” Jade said. “You are a very good singer.”

“If you say so,” I replied.

I turned around to grin at him and an audible gasp escaped my lips. My dreams came very close but the real thing was even more fantastic. His bare chest was not too muscular but it did have the right amount of definition. I could see the beginnings of great pectoral muscles and I so longed to run my hands over them. His chest was void of hair but he did have that trail of hair from his abdomen that escaped into the dark blue towel he had wrapped around his waist. My eyes had followed the trail of hair and lingered, I thought, a little too long at what I imagine would be under that towel. Jade exuded this type of sexiness and manliness that made it hard to think straight. I don’t know what the hell I was doing or thinking. Here he was, going through a rough time, and here I was, lusting after him. And to think I’m a thirty-eight year old woman getting hot and bothered over my eighteen year old student! I just had to get a grip!

I turned back around, sure that Jade had seen me staring. I felt when he came up behind me and held me by the shoulder and then ran his hands down my arm. I felt a tiny tremor move through my body. He felt so darn good against my body that I just wanted to push my derriere out to feel what was under that towel. Jade leaned in and smelled my hair.

“You smell so good,” Jade murmured as he brushed aside my hair and planted a kiss at the place where my neck met my shoulder and I moaned involuntarily.

“Jade, please,” I heard myself saying.

“Please what?” he asked softly.

“Please stop,” I said, totally shocking myself. “I’m your teacher and you’re my student and I do not want to spoil that.”

“I don’t think you mean that,” Jade said.

At that moment, the washing machine beeped, indicating that the cycle was complete. I moved away from Jade to remove the clothes and load them into the dryer. That done, I turned around and faced Jade who had come to stand behind me.

“Let me ease your mind a little. You deserve some amount of happiness. I promise you will not regret this,” Jade said gently as he cupped my face in his hands and I felt my stupid resolve weakening.

I wanted his lips on mine so badly. My eyes travelled to his lips and loitered there, taking in its fullness, its cherry-like colour, its moistness, its tempting allure. I licked my lips, feeling them getting dry with nervousness. My heart was thudding as I put my arms around his neck and then placed my fingers into his hair. Touching him like this was making me so horny. Here was Jade, the one whom my soul loved, who wanted to make love with me. My body was humming and I could not deny that I wanted him with all that was within me. I did not want to deny myself this chance to have him in my bed instead of in my dreams. I would just have to deal with what comes after.