"Shy, are you?" His voice was laced with playful amusement, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Your dad asked me to help you out, said you might need a little extra guidance."
I crossed my arms, feigning nonchalance. "I don't need a tutor." He chuckled, the sound low and husky.
"Oh, I think you do." His gaze roamed over me, lingering on my bare legs and tousled hair. "But I'll stay anyway. For the excitement." His words dripped with innuendo, his eyes glinting with a knowing light. I felt my face flush, my heart racing with a mix of annoyance and curiosity. "Excitement?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, you know... for the thrill." He grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Now, aren't you going to get ready for school?" I cursed under my breath, realizing I was running dangerously late.
As I stepped into the shower, his whispered promise echoed in my mind, sending shivers down my spine. How did he have this effect on me?! And why did my dad let him into our home without my consent?! The thought sent my mind racing, and I suddenly felt a surge of panic. What if he was going to be living with me?! No, no, no! I couldn't bear the thought. I quickly finished my shower, dried off, and got dressed in record time. As I rushed downstairs, he greeted me with a smirk. 'Breakfast is ready.' I narrowed my eyes, my suspicions running wild. "How do I know you're not trying to kill me?" His response was laced with sarcasm. "I wouldn't dare, you don't seem like the fun type." Our banter was heated, our words hanging in the air like a challenge. But when he called my name, "Jess," it was like a velvet caress, sweet and smoky, with a hint of bitterness. I felt my resolve crumbling, my composure slipping. "What?" I tried to sound nonchalant, but my voice betrayed me. "Have some food before you leave," he said, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
He pulled out a chair for me, his gesture a silent command. I hesitated, my heart racing, before pulling out a chair for myself and sitting down. He raised his hands in mock surrender, his eyes glinting with amusement, and turned back to the stove. The aroma of rich chocolate wafted through the air, tantalizing my senses. He strode back to me, his long legs eating up the distance, and placed the steaming cup in front of me. "Hurry up, school starts in 40 minutes." I raised an eyebrow, my voice laced with skepticism. "Forty minutes? That's an eternity. I'd like to eat in peace." He leaned in, his voice low and husky. "I have my orders, Jess. I'm to deliver you to school early every day, no exceptions." My eyes widened, my mind racing with the implications. "Are you serious?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
I ate in silence, my eyes drifting towards him every so often. He was engrossed in his phone, oblivious to my gaze. But when he raised his arm to adjust his shirt, his muscles flexed, and I couldn't help but stare. My eyes traced the contours of his body, lingering on the bulge in his pants. It was impressive, and I felt my face flush with embarrassment. "My eyes are up here," he said, his voice low and husky, catching me off guard. I quickly looked up, trying to play it cool. "I was looking at the plate behind you," I lied, my voice barely above a whisper. "You were?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. 'Yes," I replied, trying to sound convincing. But I knew I'd been caught red-handed, and my heart raced with excitement. I was stuck in a car with a hunk of a man, but surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I thought. He rolled up the windows, cranked up the AC, and I found myself drifting off to sleep. I jolted awake as he took a sharp turn, my heart racing. We arrived at school, and he parked in the lot, getting out to open my door. I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest as he waited for me to exit. He's making it ridiculously hard for me to hate him. I got out, and Rebecca pounced, eager for gossip. I playfully rolled my eyes and headed towards the school entrance, Rebecca by my side, begging for info. But then, I heard the footsteps behind me. I turned to face him, my voice firm.
"Thanks for the ride, chauffeur," I said, opening the car door.
"Anytime, princess," he replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "But don't think you're getting rid of me that easily."
I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
He just smiled and said, "You'll find out soon enough."
I rolled my eyes and started to walk away, but he called out, "Hey, Jess?"
I turned back to him. "Yeah?"
"Welcome to my class." He winked at me, and I felt a flutter in my chest.
Rebecca, who was watching us with interest, asked, "Wait, what's going on here?"
I tried to play it cool. "Just a little surprise, Becca. Don't worry about it."
But she was not convinced. "There's something fishy going on here, Jess. And I'm going to get to the bottom of it."
I quickened my pace, Rebecca and he kept up with me. This was not good. Not good at all.
I couldn't understand why my dad was suddenly inserting himself into my life after all these years. He'd abandoned me when I was just 10, chasing some secret dream that he never bothered to share with me. I'd barely seen him since, except for those occasional notes on special occasions, professing his love and regret. Yet, he couldn't even be bothered to attend my mom's funeral. The woman he claimed to adore, the one who gave up everything for him. It was all so hypocritical. And now, he was sending me a 'bodyguard'? I didn't need some hulking stranger watching over me. I was capable of taking care of myself.