“Are you that embarrassed?” He asked. His laughter had now turned into a gentle chuckle.

I pursed my lips in silence. Determined not to respond.

“In that case,” Mr. Cross said with a hint of amusement. “I suppose it cannot be helped.”

And then, out of nowhere, I was met with a soft and warm sensation on my lips. My initial shock was quickly replaced with confusion and disbelief when I opened my eyes and realised that Mr. Cross, my substitute teacher, was kissing me. 

Our mouths were merely pressed against each other. I was completely caught off guard and could not help but release a shocked gasp. Yet, before I could comprehend the events unfolding, Mr. Cross seized the opportunity and invaded my mouth with his powerful tongue. This was not what I had anticipated.

As my thoughts raced and my mind whirled, I could not help but notice the physical reactions my body was experiencing. My stomach was tense. My brain was in a state of chaos, and I knew that my nipples were visibly erect beneath my shirt. The aching sensations coursing through them were a clear indication of their yearning for contact. 

A primal urge escaped my lips in the form of a helpless moan. I had gone too many days without indulging in the pleasures of self-gratification, and the simple kiss from Mr. Cross only intensified my built-up longing.

Just as quickly as our kiss started, Mr. Cross pulled away, looking at me with a mix of desire and something else I could not quite place at the moment.

"Your eyes have finally opened,” he acknowledged.

It was obvious that his tone had changed. Was he affected by our kiss?

His eyes were like an eagle. The hawk had locked in its prey.

“Miss Evans let's go. We cannot stay in this position. We are getting unneeded attention.”

"Where shall we go, Mr. Cross?" I asked nervously.

"Shall we have the conversation I mentioned earlier?" He kindly assisted me in getting up. “Did you hurt yourself?” Mr. Cross took my backpack from my shoulders while he examined me. 

"I am fine," I reassured him, my nerves in chaos. My thoughts were jumbled and uncertain.  I cleared my throat and said. “We should find a bar, or somewhere we can talk.”

"You have had a long day," he said firmly. "Why don't you join me at my home?" His tone of voice conveyed a sense of authority, leaving no space for debate.

"Mr. Cross..." I called out to him.

“Right this way, Miss Evans.” He held the car door open for me.

I narrowed my eyes as I took in the sight of Mr. Cross standing next to an expensive-looking car. I mean, seriously? How could a mere substitute teacher afford something like that with their tiny salary? It just did not add up. But then again, who was I to judge? Maybe he had rich parents?

"Dear me!" I exclaimed in my mind. "What am I getting myself into?"

As I entered the car, I found myself sitting next to Mr. Cross. Despite my attempts to create distance between us and sit at the far end, he insisted on pulling me closer to him. His dominating presence filled the space between us. It was clear that he was not willing to let me keep my distance.

“I am heading back home, Charles," Mr. Cross announced.

Without hesitation. The car swerved off the edge of the road. In the direction of his home. 

It was highly unlikely that anyone would not have a million questions running through their mind in a situation like this. However, I was keenly aware that blurting them out in the heat of the moment would not be the most tactful approach. Therefore, I made a deliberate and calculated decision to keep my thoughts to myself. At least for the time being.

I took advantage of the peaceful moment to gather my thoughts. I wanted to be mentally prepared for whatever Mr. Cross had to say. I needed to enter the upcoming conversation with a clear mind. Wise move, right?  However. I was just way too curious for my own good. I could not stop myself from trying to figure out what he wanted to talk about. It was like a burning itch in the back of my mind. Yet, I came up empty-handed. Could not he just spit it out and save me the torture? I was all for a good mystery, but not when it came to a damn conversation. 

On the flip side, the car driving was alright. I had never been in a situation like this before, so I did not have anything to compare it to. But hey, at least I did not feel like tearing my hair out or anything. So overall, it was tolerable.

“Miss Evans.” He spoke with a perfectly modulated tone that immediately drew my focus.

“Yes..." I answered after a brief pause.

He grasped my hand firmly and interlocked our fingers, then said. "Never mind." A faint smile graced his handsome face. 

My pulse quickened. I could not pinpoint whether it was from anxiousness or my infatuation with him. 

My readers, could you all believe that little old me was going to Mr. Cross's house? I wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. But I had got to admit, I was also a little excited to see what awaited me inside.