Distraction: The Distraction Trilogy #1 (29 page)

She’s being extremely good about this. Did she feel anything for me at all? “Well, I’m glad we’re in agreement.”

“Me too.” She blows out a breath of relief. “I thought this would go a lot worse.”

“Me too.” I still can’t believe how well it’s going. “We’re good?”

“Yeah. I mean why would I want to be tied down? I’m about to enter a university where the dating pool is everybody.”

My jaw hardens. “Yep. The dating pool is definitely… substantial.”

“And I won’t have to travel back so much.” She runs her hands through her hair, suddenly not looking okay, but she doesn’t look upset either. “It’s the perfect situation. This is perfect. By the time I go, you’ll be here and I’ll be there and it won’t even matter.” That doesn’t make much sense. “Because it’s not like even when I do go to university we can suddenly be open and honest with everyone.” Her voice gets higher and her words get faster. “And who wants that? Who wants a relationship where they sneak around?”

“Yeah…”

“So thank you, for… I don’t know… setting me free or something.” Now she definitely looks upset. “It was fun while it lasted, but I suppose it’s for the best because your dad and… well I’m not exactly available ever and…” My heart sinks when her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “I’m just… I’m going to go.”

“Elle…”

“No, don’t.” She raises her arm so I can’t grab it to stop her. “Don’t do that right now.”

“You’ll be okay,” I try, but her solemn eyes suddenly blaze with a fury I’ve not seen from her. “Fuck you, Isaac!” I blink in shock. What the hell do I say to that?

“Elle.”

“No, don’t…” She places her hand against the door as the other grips the handle, ready to pull it down. “I’m just going to say this once. If I walk out of this door, if I go… I will not be coming back. No amount of words, kisses and cute gifts will bring me back.”

That kind of finality really hits home. I ignore the stab of my heart and nod.

“I’m serious; if you’re doing this to be some kind of shining knight and you still let me leave, I won’t forgive you.” Her swollen eyes come to mine. “I won’t come back, not now, not in two years, not ever.”

The sorrowful quiver in her voice breaks my heart. “Don’t you want this?”

She looks at me angrily. “No! Why would I want this? I love spending time with you. I thought I had another five months at least.”

“But if it’s going to end, wouldn’t it be easier to end it now?”

Now she’s looking at me like I’m stupid. Maybe I am. “Everybody who dates knows there’s a chance it won’t work two weeks, three months, six years from then, so they enjoy it while they can and decide to deal with that heartbreak when it comes. What’s the point in ending it now as opposed to five months later?” Her hand flies to her mouth. “Is there someone else? Do you want to date somebody your own age?”

“No, of course not. I just want what’s best for you and what’s best for me.”

“And what’s best for me is ending something I love because it’s going to end anyway?”

Love? “Something you love?”

“You know what I mean. I enjoy spending time with you. I enjoy sleeping with you and cleaning up after your slob self. If I didn’t enjoy it, I would have ended it sooner and so would you. We’re taking a huge risk… you are taking a huge risk. So now you just, what? Decide to end it because you think it’s best?”

“I thought…”

“Well don’t think. Don’t ever think. That was the agreement. We weren’t supposed to think about everything else. Our relationship is separate. Those were your words, not mine!” She turns the lock on the door and slaps her hand against my chest. “If you think I can’t handle it then that’s my decision. That’s not yours to make. We’re partners, we’re equal.”

“I just don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then take back your break up and take me out on Sunday like you promised.”

I lean back against the wall and rub my face with my hands. “I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because…” Give me a moment to think.

“Because why?”

“I just… I don’t…”

“Isaac, you swore we wouldn’t do this unless it’s what we definitely wanted. Is this definitely what you want? Do you want me to leave and never come back? Don’t I mean anything to you?”

Is she stupid? “You mean everything to me.” I say this a little louder and more forcefully than I intended. We both stop still. “Maybe we should think about this. Sleep on it.”

“I mean everything to you?” Her words are breathy and I instantly regret that outburst.

“I only want what’s best for you.”

She moves her hand from my chest to my neck, before digging her fingers into my hair. “You’re what’s best for me.”

“I’m your teacher.”

“I don’t care.” She steps closer and my hands go to her hips. “I don’t care. I never did.”

I groan when her teeth nip on the skin of my neck. She’s trying to distract me.

Eloise

I touch my tongue to his skin, tasting the bitter bite of his aftershave as well as the flavour that is all him. His hands tighten on my hips as I rub myself against him, making sure my hip and thigh grinds against the perfect spot.

I forget where we are. I forget why we’re here. I forget the risks and the wrongs.

We just connect, like usual, in a hazy blur of lust. Our bodies mould together as our tongues merge and massage, pushing against one another.

My hands loosen his tie as his slide under my skirt and cup my arse brutally but oh so brilliantly.

I only break our kiss to breathe and then, once my lungs are filled, I untuck his shirt and feel every inch of the skin beneath.

There are windows all around; anybody could walk past and see. He could lose his job. I could ruin my reputation, but I don’t care.

The panic of losing him right now hurts and scares me way more.

“I need you,” I say. “Just for a little bit longer.”

He grunts his agreement as my hand slides into his trousers. The awkward angle doesn’t affect my ability to grab him tight and rub slowly as our bodies try to get closer. At this point that’s physically impossible, but I can’t help myself.

He rips my knickers to the side, forcing the material to tear on one side. I feel his fingers there, teasing, playing and stroking as his other hand lifts me, making me hook my legs around him. I don’t hesitate. Not even the cold bite of the table makes me stop tugging the belt from his trousers and pulling his solid length free.

He groans loud and long when he sinks inside, his hips level with mine. “Give me your neck.”

I flip my hair to the side and shut my eyes as his teeth and lips explore the curve of my neck. It tingles, badly, but it’s not bad, it’s amazing.

I moan, I can’t stop myself. He pushes deeper inside until his groin is against my own. I love this. I love the feeling. I love how it drives me crazy and makes me tingle.

I think I love him.

“Mouth,” he orders and I give him my mouth. “You feel so good, Elle. You’re fucking heaven.”

I squeal when I’m flipped and pushed forward onto the desk until my breasts and arms are splayed across the numerous books and papers that litter the wooden surface. Pencils and sheets tumble to the ground when he slams into me from behind, reaching deeper than he’s ever been. We’ve never done it in this position until now and I can’t imagine why.

His fingers tease my folds as he pushes inside and it’s all too much. It’s painful, but in a good way. It burns, it aches, it throbs and every inch of me explodes.

He pulls me up by my hair. It doesn’t hurt, not even when he forces my back to arch and clings to my neck with his teeth. His plunges and thrusts are feral. He’s never been so brutal and god it turns me on.

I don’t want to stop, but I’m desperate to release. I’m desperate to topple over the edge, particularly when his hand grips my breast over my shirt and squeezes, not hard, but not soft either.

“I’m going to…” I let out a breathy moan as the pleasure keeps building up. “It’s… I’m…”

His fingers move faster, circling and rubbing in the best way.

I finally clench and pulse, my orgasm spreading through my body, gaining more and more power the faster and harder he pushes. My breathing stops. I can’t moan; I can’t scream or shout or make a noise. All I feel is him and the burning.

The second I sag is the second he pulls out from my core, dropping me on the table before spilling himself with a cry into a piece of tissue.

Oh shit. No condom. I didn’t even think of that.

He sees the concern in my eye as I straighten up. “It’s okay,” he assures me, tossing the tissue into the bin and pulling his trousers back up as I straighten my own clothes. “I didn’t do it inside.”

That’s not what I’m worried about. I’m not even ovulating, so I know if he pulled out then it’s not possible. It’s infections and diseases I’m worried about. I’ve never had sex without a condom and I know I’m clean. I was checked last year with Hayley when she slept with Riley and the condom broke.

Suddenly I realise I don’t know a thing about Isaac. I don’t know who he’s slept with, how many or even… I just don’t know anything about that side of him. I’m not sure I want to know either.

“That was so dangerous,” Isaac says, breathing out a sharp breath. He checks his watch and curses. “We need to go. The cleaner comes in soon.”

I fluff up my hair and grab my bag off the ground before unlocking the door. “Do you think anyone saw?”

“I hope not.” He checks the windows before pressing his lips to mine. “I’ll see you Sunday?”

“Don’t just say that because we just had sex. That’s not fair on me.”

His fingers slide under the seam of my top. “I’m not just saying that. We’ll both think about it over the next couple of weeks. Congratulations on Cambridge.” He kisses me again and looks out of the door before letting me out. “This was careless.” His voice is quiet and his eyes scan the area nervously as he locks the door behind me. “This can’t happen again here.”

I nod. “Agreed. I’m terrified right now.”

He sighs and takes a large step away from me. “Me too. Go. Be at mine for ten on Sunday.”

I want to skip from the school but I’m too achy, so I settle for a slow walk instead with a huge smile on my face.

I just had sex with my teacher in his classroom. There’s something so fucking right about that wrong. I just hope we didn’t push it.

I’m sat in my room planning my Paris trip. The sky is getting dark and my mum is cooking something special. It smells awesome.

My phone lights up with a text from Isaac. I grin when I see it, but that grin soon fades.

Isaac
:
Don’t come tonight, I’m having a few drinks with Diplock, Hart and Chaney. I’m not sure how late I’ll be.

Isaac
:
P.S. Today was amazing. I think we’re in the clear. If somebody had seen us we’d have heard by now.

I close my laptop and stare at the first text he sent.

Eloise
:
Good, I’m glad we’re in the clear. Have fun. :-)

Okay so maybe I’m a little jealous that he gets to drink and hang out with people in town and I don’t. If I were a few years older and not his student, I’d be sat there with him, drinking and laughing with his friends.

I hate this. I need to distract myself.

“Dinner’s ready!” Mum shouts and suddenly I’m not feeling so hungry anymore.

I am suddenly feeling very thirsty though.

Isaac

I laugh at Stuart and drain my glass. That third beer is going to my head. It’s been too long since I let myself drink.

“Oh great, looks like teen fun club has arrived.” Katherine sighs and everybody looks at the door. Three people I don’t recognise walk in, followed by three people I do.

“Do you want to go?” Chaney asks quietly.

I close my eyes for a second, praying I saw wrong, praying she’s not actually here when I know she is. I’m just hoping she has a twin I don’t know about.

“Hi Miss!” Hayley calls over, waving frantically.

Eloise smiles our way before turning her eyes onto me; her smile twists into a smirk. Fucking hell. Katherine waves politely.

“Nah,” I say to Chaney. No point in leaving now.

I guess she owed me one. I just hope she doesn’t make a habit of checking up on me. I don’t blame her after today. I think she genuinely thought I was leaving her for somebody else. How wrong she was.

Jesus Christ she looks fucking beautiful tonight.

Eloise

“Will you please tell me where we’re going?” I ask as the car drives down a long, winding dirt road. We left town at least forty minutes ago and I don’t have a clue where we are.

Isaac takes a swig from my bottle of apple juice, even though he has his own drink. I snatch it away. “Mine.”

“I bought it.” He smirks so I know he’s joking, but I still throw a pound coin at him anyway. “It was one twenty.”

“I charged you twenty for the bit you drank.” I joke and he chuckles in response, his eyes on the road. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” That’s what you’ve been saying for the past hour, arsehole!

“Is it safe from recognition?”

“We’ll shave our heads just to be sure,” he remarks, his tone sarcastic.

“And you wonder why you’re still single? I bet you just used to sweep the ladies off their feet.”

He flicks my nose. “I’m single? So… I can sleep with other people?”

“Umm…”

“I don’t feel single. I’m sure there’s a ball and chain in here somewhere.” He looks directly at me, his smile smug. “Found her.”

“If this is about Friday, you’ve done the same to me.”

He slows the car and turns down another dirt road. “You were jealous. I made you jealous.”

“I was not jealous.”

“It’s horrible, isn’t it? Now you know how I feel when I have to watch you walking around the school with that arsehole and the rest of your friends.” His eyes darken as they always do when he talks about Garrett. “What did you see in him anyway?”

“I think I just found mine too.” I gasp jokingly, looking directly at him.

“Huh?”

“My ball and chain. Stop talking about Garrett; it only sours your mood.”

“Stop hanging around with him then.”

Sigh… “Are we there yet?”

“You’re worse than a child.”

I quirk a brow at him. “And you don’t know one end of a broom from the other.”

“It’s a double sided ornament.” He pulls over and I immediately notice a small café in the distance. There’s also a large sign advertising strawberry picking.

“It’s winter.”

“We’re not going picking, you muppet.” He climbs from the car and waits for me to do the same before taking my hand in his. We both stare at our interlocked fingers before looking around us. It’s totally clear. There’s nobody here, save for a few people sat outside of the random café. “It’s strange…”

“Yeah,” I agree, but can’t stop myself from smiling. “It’s nice.”

“Come on.” He leads me to the café and pushes open the door. Nobody looks at us like what we’re doing is wrong. Nobody cares. They all smile and nod politely. “Hungry?”

“Starving and cold. You’re not taking care of me properly.” The café looks smaller on the inside than it does on the outside, but it has enough space for the counter and a few tables. We take the one in the far corner, the one directly beside the heater. “Latte and one of those scone things with strawberry jam. Oh and, seeing as you’re paying, get me chocolate too.”

He rolls his eyes and bows slightly. “Yes ma’am. Is there a preference on which chocolate?”

“Surprise me. Let’s see if you’ve paid attention these past few months.”

He bows again, winks at me and strolls over to the till.

We’re out in public for the first time ever. This is strange. Definitely nice, but definitely strange. I really like it. I wish we could do it more often.

I stare out of the window, loving how cute the pink and white curtains are. The window looks out across the field where thousands of strawberry bushes sit waiting to grow the pretty red fruit. I hope we get to come back here when they’re in season. I’m not a fan of strawberries but I’ve never picked them before. It looks like it could be fun.

A paper cup filled with steaming latte is placed before me and then a bag is emptied and I’m speechless as two of every kind of chocolate that the café sells lands on the table.

Isaac sits, smiling as though very proud of himself. “I bet I got your favourite in there somewhere.”

I burst out with laughter because he’s right; he did. Twice.

“Twix? Really?” He looks disgusted when I peel open the wrapper and dip the chocolate into my drink before sucking on the melted layer. His throat bobs with a gulp and his eyes darken. “Okay, I can see the fun in that.” He then picks up a Mars Bar. “Do that again but with this one this time.”

I throw it at him, my eyes narrowing. I can’t talk yet. The caramel from the bar of chocolate is stuck in my front teeth. Gross but so tasty.

“I want to kiss you.” His foot nudges mine under the table.

“Here?” I cover my mouth with my hand, still trying to rid my teeth fully of the caramel.

Nodding, he slides his chair around to mine and strokes my cheek with the back of his hand. His eyes hold mine. “Do I ever tell you how beautiful you are?”

“Usually when I’m naked.”

He grins again, looking smug. “Yeah.” And then his mouth is on mine. He tastes of sweetness and coffee and him. I hum, tasting the chocolate on his lips with the tip of my tongue before sucking his lower lip into my mouth. He does the same to me, his hand on the side of my thigh, pulling me as close as is decent in public.

“Do you think this will always be this exciting?” I ask without thinking when he pulls away. He’s still close enough to place his arm around my shoulders.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean like…” Ugh, how do I explain what I mean? “One day it won’t be considered wrong, like in four years when I come home from University. If we’re both single, I want to kiss you in the middle of town where everyone can see.”

His nose nuzzles against my neck. It sends sparks straight through my body that settle in my groin. “I’ll be extremely surprised if you are single in five years.”

“I don’t know how I’ll move onto somebody else after this. I know our relationship is stressful, but it’s also not.” I close my eyes when he rests his forehead against my temple. “We just connect so easily, in every single way. We just get each other. You get me. What if I don’t ever find that again?”

“Then I’ll kiss you in the middle of town in front of everybody.” He kisses my jaw and turns back to the table. “You probably won’t even find me attractive by then. I’ll be old and hideous and you’ll still be young and stunning, with your gorgeous red hair and amazing eyes. I won’t stand a chance. You’ll look at me as nothing more than the guy you slept with once upon a time.”

My hand connects with his chest. “You’re an idiot.”

“I’m honest.”

“You’re not as arrogant as I thought. Secretly I think you’re very insecure.”

“Only when it comes to you it seems. You make me feel young and remind me daily that I’m not anymore.”

Eye roll. “Please. You’re like twenty nine and you don’t even look older than twenty five, apart from when you forget to shave and then you look like a very sexy twenty six. Look at your dad - he’s ageing handsomely. You’ll be like him. Like George Clooney or Richard Gere. You’ll age like a boss.”

His laughter is loud and booming. “Like a boss?”

“You’ll own it.”

It gets louder and even more booming. “You’re such a teenager sometimes.”

“What’s your excuse?”

Isaac

When I drop her off near her street after dark, a cold feeling settles over me. We won’t be able to do that again for a while. I had such a great day.

Elle is so open. She talks freely about how she feels about everything. She’s not scared to share. I wish I could tell her how much she means to me but I wouldn’t know how to begin.

I drive around town for a while with no destination in mind.

Her words from this morning ring through my mind.

In five years she wants us to kiss in the centre of town.

I wonder if she’ll feel the same five years from now. I doubt it, but here’s hoping. I wouldn’t mind it, not at all.

We just broke up for Christmas and I won’t deny I’m relieved to have the next two weeks off. My dad thinks I followed in his and my mum’s footsteps by becoming a teacher. In reality I just liked the fact it has more holidays than any other job. I do love being a teacher though, even if the pay leaves much to be desired.

I have yet to get Elle a Christmas present, even though she already left hers for me under the small tree she set up for me in my living room. Apparently I’m Scrooge, but I didn’t see the point in decorating when I’m spending the holiday at my parents’ anyway.

I consider getting her another charm for her bracelet, but it doesn’t feel like it’s enough. I can’t just get her one tiny gift. I have to get her something else too.

It’s when I pass a quirky little store on the high street that I see exactly what I’m going to get her.

Once that’s done, I order her the perfect charm online and pray that it gets here on time.

*****

“This has to be the lamest excuse for wrapping I’ve ever seen,” Elle comments, looking giddy as she shakes her gifts beneath my tree.

“I couldn’t be bothered.” I admit and snatch the gifts away. “Keep shaking them so violently and they’ll turn to dust.” When she’s calmed, I hand them back. “Will you just open them already?”

She does so, tearing into the larger one first. She stares at the black object with focused eyes before placing it on her head. It’s a French Beret and it suits her quite well. After wiggling it around into the correct position, without even looking at me, she picks up her next gift and tears through the paper.

I snort, lying stretched out on a blanket on my living room floor, my head propped up on my hand. I watch her eyes light up when she reveals the small dark blue gift box and I watch them tear up when she pulls out the tiny white gold charm, shaped into a ball and chain.

Her eyes mist as she connects it to the bracelet that never leaves her left wrist.

It’s her words that push the air from my lungs and shock me into total silence, words that she’s never said and words I wish I’d never heard.

“I love you.” She doesn’t look at me as she says them. She stares at the bracelet. “I know I shouldn’t, but I do.”

“Teenagers fall in love easily and, when they do, they fall in love hard.” I respond stupidly but she doesn’t seem fazed. “It’ll stop.”

“And if it doesn’t?” Now she looks at me, the beret still on her head, her pretty eyes sparkling with the love she claims to feel. “What if it doesn’t? How will I leave you now?”

I sigh and sit up, opening my arms for her. I don’t know what to say. I know this has gone too far. I know this is so much more dangerous than it was before, but I can’t bring myself to stop it any more than I could stop myself from starting it. “Can I open mine now?”

She holds me tight for a second longer and passes me my gift. It’s a large, neatly wrapped box. I have no idea what it could be, so I tear through the paper, finally revealing a… printer?

Giggling, she flips the lid open revealing another box. “Is this going to go on for a while?”

“Stop being Scrooge.” She helps me lift the second box out and bounces on the spot while I open it. This box is plain. It reveals no secrets of what’s within.

I lift that lid and pull out a ton of newspaper before finding a third and final gift. It feels like a DVD, but I don’t think it is. It doesn’t rattle like a DVD.

“Hurry up!” She urges, still bouncing with excitement.

I open the case and pull out the booklet within. It has a picture of the Eiffel Tower on the front, surrounded by glittering lights. I open it, my mind doing somersaults along with my heart.

I stare at the single ticket, my mouth dry and my mind blank.

“It’s for the first weekend of August. Hayley’s parents go to France every year, but she’s coming with me this time.” I wait for her to continue and watch as she taps the date on the ticket. “But for that weekend she’s at her parent’s cabin. They want some time with her, which is understandable, so I booked us three nights and days in Paris. I didn’t book any activities because I’ll have probably done a lot of random stuff by then and I wasn’t sure what you’d want to do.”

I choke on my next breath. “You want me to meet you in Paris?”

“It’s only for a weekend. And no, my Dad didn’t pay. I used the money I’ve been saving all year to pay for it, but don’t worry. I have enough left over for my trip. I made sure.”

I drop the ticket and the case on the ground and push her back onto the floor. My lips slant over hers as every good feeling I’ve ever felt races through me at once. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to react. All I know is this, my body, how to use it and how to show her how much I appreciate her with it.

“Do you like it? Is it silly? I’m not even sure if you have a passport.” She mutters as I kiss my way down her stomach, unfastening her jeans as I go.