Page 112 of The Flirty Forward

Bri pats my back. “It’s okay; it’s for a good cause.”

I ask Sebastian about it later that night on the phone, but he’s not sure what they’re going to have us do. He tells me not to worry about it as well, which is basically like telling me to worry.He’s away for a series of away games, so I’m not going to get to see him until the game Friday night.

The day drags on Friday. I wonder who’s ready for the weekend more—my students or me. I finish my class before lunch a few minutes early and send them on their way. “Thanks, Miss Winston,” Dante says with a smile on his way out the door.

“You’re welcome.” I can’t help but return his smile. He's come such a long way. I return to my desk and pull up my email. I need to just return two quick emails before I head to lunch.

“Knock, knock.”

My head lifts, and I turn in surprise to see my most favorite person in the whole wide world enter my classroom. “Sebastian!” I walk over to him...okay, I run, and he swallows me in a huge hug.

“Hey Beautiful.” Then his lips are on mine. I sigh; it’s been too long. He pulls me closer, deepening the kiss before pulling away. “Man, I missed you,” he says in a low voice.

“I missed you too.” I lean against his chest, breathing him in. Neither one of us moves for at least a full minute.

He strokes my back. “You hungry? I brought lunch.”

I lean back to look up at him. “I am hungry but not for lunch.”

His eyes darken, and his eyes run the length of me. “I’m ravenous.” He steps towards me, and I take a small step backward, enjoying his attention. I keep stepping back, and he keeps stalking forward. I bump into my desk, and he catches my arm to steady me. He leans close, and I close my eyes when he kisses me softly on the side of my neck. “You have no idea how much I missed you,” he whispers as he kisses close to my ear.

“I missed you so much too,” I breathe out. He unbuttons my blazer and curves his hand around my back, under my jacket. My body heats up, and my heart races.

“Stephanie, Baby, are you ready for lunch?” A voice shatters the silence.

Sebastian’s entire body stiffens, and I gasp, pulling away from him. Sebastian whirls around. “Who the--” I put my hand on his back to steady myself. “Who are you?” he demands.

I blink, trying to come out of the haze that Sebastian put me in. “Rob?” I question. “What are you doing?”

He puts his hands up. “It wasn’t my idea; don’t kill me.”

Laughter precedes Brielle as she comes into the room. “Oh my word. That was so funny.” She wipes her eyes while Sebastian turns to look at me, confusion on his face. “Sorry, Guys. That was all me.”

“Yeah, she told me to do it; so don’t kill me, please.” Rob’s deadpan tone makes me glance up at Sebastian. He's currently throwing off killer vibes. I put my arm through his as Rob puts his hands up in surrender. “I’m leaving now; you owe me, Bri.”

She’s still laughing. “Yeah,” she manages to get out. “Next week.”

Rob looks apologetically at me. “She promised me she’d bring me lunch for a week.” He shrugs. “I’m a bachelor, living off mac and cheese. I had to do it.”

I finally crack a smile. “It’s okay, Rob.”

“No, it’s not,” Sebastian mutters. I run my hand over his back. My intent was to soothe him, but when I feel his muscles, it reminds me what it was like minutes ago to be held by him. And just like that, my mind’s on vacation again.

“Whenever you’re done feeling him up, you can text me what time you want to leave tonight,” Brielle says with a laugh, and I yank my hand back. We almost always drive to the games together now.

“She can feel me up anytime she wants,” Sebastian says in practically a growl.

Brielle grins again. “Okay. I’m leaving. Feel away.” She leaves the classroom and closes the door behind her.

I turn to Sebastian, who’s still scowling. “Hey, it’s okay. It was just a joke.”

He turns towards me so suddenly, it startles me. “Nobody gets to call youBabybut me.” Then his lips are on mine, aggressive and hungry for a moment before he gentles the kiss. When he pulls back, I stare up at him in a daze. “Come on. I have food for you in the car.” He tugs me towards the door.

I glance at my watch. “I only have about fifteen minutes until my next class.”

“That’s plenty of time.” He doesn’t say anything else as we walk through the building and out to his car. When we settle in his Corvette, I turn to face him while he digs food out of a bag. “I got you soup and a sandwich.” He hands them to me. “And here’s a coffee and a water. I wasn’t sure what you’d be in the mood for.” He doesn’t look at me the entire time he says this.

“Hey, Sebastian.” When he doesn’t look at me, I put my hand on top of his. “Will you look at me?” He finally faces me. I study his face. “Are you okay? It was just a joke,” I say gently. “Bri put him up to it. I promise there is nothing between Rob and me; there never has been and there never will be. He learned his lesson when he went after Bri.”

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