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The only thing worse than my mom finding out I’m dating Carlotta James would behermom finding out. Both of them would be horrified, I’m sure.
I never told my mom that I was the one responsible for my dad’s banishment–that I had told Carlotta about him stealing from the brewery. It was in a moment of anger. My dad had kicked me around before she arrived at our place,and then he embarrassed me in front of her, mocking me for needing a tutor. He called me slow, as I recall.
Carlotta defended me, correcting him. She told him I was perfectly bright, and my grades had improved greatly over the past few months.
Realizing my dad was going to be a dick to her for correcting him, I tugged her out the door, pretending that we needed a book from the library for that night’s homework.
She bought me a hamburger at the New Moon diner. I was grumpy, wanting to act out. So I threw my dad under the bus and told her about him stealing from the pack by pocketing money from parking lot fees at the brewery.
“Asher?” my mom prompts when I hesitate.
My mom and I never talked about it, but she knows Carlotta’s mom is on the council. She probably put it together who ratted my dad out.
“I don’t know, Mom. I’m not sure it’s gonna work out with this girl.”
My mom’s forehead wrinkles. “You’re spending every night with this girl,” mom points out. “It seems serious to me. Do her parents know?”
Do her parents know that she’s screwing one of her students? Uh, that would be a big no.
“No. Not yet. Like I say, mom, I don’t know if it’s gonna work out. It’s all kind of new.”
My mom throws me a skeptical look but doesn’t say anything else.
My phone buzzes with another text from Lotta.
Bring your homework, and I will help you with it.
Damn. That offer should not be so hotto me, but it rekindles that prepubescent obsession I had with her when she was my tutor. Something in my body responds as if I’m still thirteen.
I unplug the laptop and tuck it under my arm before I head out the back door. Outside, I pause, realizing my mom might be brainstorming all the houses within walking distance to our place with she-wolves my age.
Oh well. Considering she just made it clear she’s been tracking my behavior, she probably already noted that I’m leaving by the back door on foot every night.
I drop into the shadows and follow the wash up to Lotta’s casita. I find the door open. Inside, Lotta’s lit candles and has two glasses of lemon water sitting at the breakfast bar that serves as her table.
Something weird happens to my heart–a double thud, or a bounce. Something unnerving.
“Wow. Hey.” I clear my throat because it’s suddenly constricted. I walk over to where she’s sitting and cradle her face, bending down to kiss her softly.
Her lips move against mine.
I’m not sure what happens for her, but I’m suddenly awake.Alive.Back on this planet. I’m not sure where I’ve been until now, but it wasn’t here. I wasn’t this present. I wasn’t standing looking at the most beautiful she-wolf on the planet, drinking in her scent, reveling in the fact that she was waiting for me, with candles lit and drinks poured, ready to help me with the most mundane but necessary work.
And that…feels likelove.
Which nearly drops me to the floor.
To think that Lotta might care for me makes my heart thud like I’m in the middle of a football game.
When I break the kiss, her gaze is soft. She pulls out thebar stool beside her and pats it. “Let’s get that paper done. What’s the assignment?”
I slide into the seat beside her. It feels both as natural as breathing and like an out-of-body experience at the same time. Like I’ve always belonged beside this beautiful female. Like things have always been this easy between us. Like our destiny is assured.
I pluck her from her seat and lift her onto my lap. Her laugh is low and husky as I pull her hair to the side to kiss the side of her neck.
“Homework first.” She attempts to use her teacher voice on me.
My dick lengthens against her soft ass. I find her classroom authority so fucking hot right now. In fact, now that I’m over hating her, I can admit what a brilliant teacher she is. Her enthusiasm for her subject shines through every lecture. Every assignment. She loves art, and she wants her students to love it as deeply and madly as she does.
