Stacey's POV:
My heart was threatening to burst out of my chest. I looked down at the black undies that I stupidly left there. I knew I forgot something. You didn’t think that the one thing you forgot was your undies?? “I’m going to need you to take your seat, Mr. Baker,” I finally found the words, my shaking voice blatantly showing, and that seemed to amuse him. “I know you remember last night. I mean, it’s going to be hard for you to forget considering how much you loved my dick in your mouth.” I found myself swallowing whatever it was that was in my mouth, flashbacks appearing in my head. “That’s a good girl.” He grabbed his bag and headed to his seat, and that's when I realized the entire class's attention was on us, and most importantly, the box containing my undies was still on the desk. “Fuck!” Quick, do something. “Well, thank you so much for finding my scarf, Mr. Baker. I really appreciate it.” I forced a smile on my face while I quickly put the box with my undies in my bag. His eyes bore into mine, and you could see him struggling to contain a laugh. “No problem, I’m sure you’re going to need it.” He winked. My face instantly turned red, shooting him a deadly stare. He is trying to get a rise out of you!! ….. Okay, okay, just breathe, Stacey. Don’t let him get to you; just finish the lecture and try to avoid eye contact with him. Easy, right?…. Wrong!! “So class, can anyone remind us what was discussed in the last class?” One of the students, whom I recognize as Eric, my top student, raised his hand. “Oh good, Eric, please remind the class what we discussed in our last class.” I could sense Noah staring at me, making me feel more and more uncomfortable. I slightly turned to meet his gaze. Shitty mistake He looked calm and precise, like a freaking panther in the jungle about to pounce on his prey. And you were the prey. “Was that correct ?” Eric’s voice broke me out of my trance, averting my gaze and quickly facing him. “I’m sorry, what?” I got so distracted by Noah that I didn’t even hear what Eric was saying. What the fuck is this boy doing to me? “I said we spoke about the essay on volcanic eruptions around the world and the active ones.” Eric repeated. “Oh yes, of course, thank you, Eric; you can sit down.” He took back his seat. “Now what do we say makes a volcano erupt or suddenly become active?” I looked around the class, but only one hand was up. Not him. Anyone but him. “Anyone else?” Please? I saw Eric attempting to bring his hands up, but Noah shot him a deadly look. He quickly dropped his hands, fixing his glasses. I took a deep breath, accepting my defeat. “Yes, Mr. Baker,” Noah stood up, a smile spread across his face. “Well, a volcano remains dormant, stuck in one place without moving or having any eruption whatsoever until something comes along, giving it a reason to erupt.” His voice was low and husky, and he maintained eye contact with me, waiting for my answer, but honestly, I was stunned and impressed. Were you more surprised that the answer was right or impressed that he managed to make a question based on volcanic eruptions sexy? “That's correct, Mr. Baker, but what might that be?” My question rewarded me with a stunned look on his face, but he quickly covered that up with a smirk. “What do you mean?” He asked, his eyes never leaving mine. “You mentioned a reason for the eruption? What might that be ?” Why are you condoning this!!??? And a better question is, why do you like it? I leaned over the table awaiting his answer. I could see his body tense up when I leaned over the table, and for some reason that gave me a little bit of satisfaction. Giving him a taste of his own medicine ought to set him straight. “Climate change,” he answered quickly. “Take your seat, Mr. Baker.” I turned to the board, not giving him another look as I continued the lecture. The day finally ended, and I couldn’t be happier. Noah was called to the gym by his coach earlier, and that gave me so much relief. I was packing some files when my phone buzzed. I looked at the screen to see it was a text from Chloe. ‘meet me at the courthouse in 10min.’ I quickly shot back a reply. “On my way” I dreaded what was going to happen, but whatever it is, I am not losing my daughter! I grabbed my bag and made my way out of the school, heading to the parking lot, when I saw him. So close! Noah was leaning against the rail like he belonged there, like he hadn’t spent the past few hours trying to distract me in class. I looked away fast, my heart beating against my ribs like it knew something I didn’t want to admit. I kept my head low and made for the parking lot, keys in hand, bag slung tight over my shoulder. Just get to the car. Just go. Maybe if you moved fast enough, he’d get the message. But of course, he didn’t. “Stacey, wait.?” He's still calling you by your first name!? His voice hit me like a flashback—dark room, warm skin, his mouth against mine , my fingers clutching his di… No, no, no, not the time; just keep moving. I didn’t stop till I reached the car and yanked the door open, heart in my throat, heat creeping under my skin. “I just want to talk,” he said, appearing in front of me. He moved faster than I thought he would. He rested one hand on my car door, stopping it from closing . His eyes found mine, and that same look from that night was still there: hungry, searching, like he already knew how my body would react just from him standing this close. “I can’t stop thinking about that night,” he said, voice low. “I’m sorry, Mr. Baker, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I retorted. “I can’t just pretend it didn’t happen. I want more; I want you, Stacey.” God, he really said it. I clenched my jaw, trying not to let the memory come up—his hands, his mouth, the way he made me forget everything else for just a few hours. But that was all it was ever supposed to be. Just one night. One mistake. “Look, Mr. Baker, I don’t know what you’re talking about, and even if I did, I would really appreciate it if you would stop mentioning it, please.” My expression turned serious. “It’s Mrs. Smith to you.” His face was stunned as he slowly let go of the door. “Your mouth might be telling me something, but your body is certainly telling me something different, and you can only deny it for so long…. Mrs. Smith” “Please, Noah, stay away from me. Just leave me alone.” I pleaded because there was nothing left to do now. “Is that what you really want?” He said, moving closer. Close enough to be intoxicated by his scent… Oh, fuck that scent just… Fuck no! “You’re crazy,” I said, forcing the words out through the ache in my chest. I slammed the door in his face and drove out of the lot before I could lose my nerve. I didn’t look back. I couldn’t. Because if I did… I might’ve stopped. Just how the fuck did you get yourself into this awful, awful mess; you just had to go fuck your student… The eligible men in the world weren’t enough, and worst of all, he’s just 20.Stacey’s POV:The roar of the stadium was thunderous, echoing off the high ceilings and pulsing through the bleachers like a living heartbeat. Even from the upper tier, I could feel it vibrating in my chest, the electric buzz of adrenaline, tension, and pride.But I wasn’t listening to the noise.I was watching him.Noah Blake.Number 7.Tall. Focused. Commanding.He stood at the edge of the court, bouncing the ball once, twice, then handing it off to the ref. His face was all sharp lines and steel. No trace of the boy who kissed me with trembling fingers that night in the hospital hallway. No hint of the softness he showed when he whispered he wanted me by his side for this very moment.He was all athlete now. All fire and hunger.And he was magnificent.Around me, the whispers still lingered.“That’s her, yeah, the teacher.”“Ugh, I can’t believe she showed up.”“Shameless.”“She’s literally cheering for him? Like, get a grip.”I blocked them out.Let them talk.Let them gossip and
Stacey’s POV: The mirror caught my reflection as I slid in the last gold hoop earring. My lips were glossy, cheeks softly blushed, and the tight, crimson blouse I wore gave a confident illusion I was far from feeling. Chloe clapped from behind, holding my coat in one hand and a makeup brush like a wand in the other. “Damn, girl. If hotness was a sport, you’d be the one playing interstate,” she teased, tossing the coat over my shoulders. I laughed, smoothing my blouse. “It’s Noah’s big day. I need to look my best.” Chloe raised her brow. “Noah’s big day, but I feel like you’re the one scoring tonight.” I threw a pillow at her, and she ducked, still laughing. Everything felt light. Normal. Good. Until the buzz came. My phone lit up with a ping. A message. Nothing out of the ordinary. But something in my gut shifted when I saw the preview: “You’re disgusting!!” My fingers froze in midair. “What is it?” Chloe asked, noticing the sudden change in my expression. I didn’
Stacey’s POV:The week leading up to the interstate game moved in a blur of adrenaline and whispered prayers.Noah's injury had finally healed completely. The limp that once accompanied every step was gone, replaced by a fierce determination that shimmered in his eyes every time he walked into practice.That Monday, he sent me a video of himself sprinting full-court, finishing with a perfect layup. My heart soared watching it. He looked strong again. Free. Hungry.We'd built this secret world together, one made of quiet evenings, stolen kisses, and hidden smiles, but this? This was his world. The court. The noise. The roar of the crowd. And now, he was ready to reclaim it.Every evening that week, he'd train till sweat soaked through his shirt. He'd call me after, sometimes too tired to say much beyond, "I'm coming back. I can feel it."I believed him.How could I not?Even when he was broken, he was extraordinary. But now? Now he was unstoppable.He didn’t just train with his body. H
Tessa's POV:I walked out of the café with a strange ache in my chest. Not the kind that came from heartbreak, but the kind that followed a long-overdue closure. Liam had always been a chapter I kept open out of pity or nostalgia, but sitting across from him that afternoon, watching him insist that he could win me back, I knew it was over and had been for a while.His words lingered as I crossed the street, the city humming around me. “I’m going to keep trying.”I should have felt flattered. Touched, even. But I didn’t. I just felt tired. And ready. Ready to move forward.The next morning, I found myself back on campus, hiding behind my coffee cup and pretending I was more composed than I felt. My lectures flew by in a blur, the same way clouds roll past a window when your mind is somewhere else entirely.And my mind was definitely somewhere else.I hadn’t forgotten the other conversation I needed to have. The one with Michael.After my last class, I saw him from the hallway, standing
Stacey’s POV:It had been a long day.The kind of day that wrapped itself around your shoulders like a weighted blanket. Endless emails, back-to-back lectures, and the constant juggling of motherhood and secrecy. By the time I stepped into the house, the smell of lavender bath soap lingered in the hallway; Chloe must've bathed Tessa already.“Hey,” she called from the kitchen. “She’s busy in her room with coloring books.”I dropped my bag with a sigh and kicked off my shoes. My feet throbbed.“You’re a miracle,” I murmured.She grinned. “You say that every Thursday and Friday and every time.”“Because it’s true.”I went to see Tessa. She sat on the rug with all the seriousness she could muster while coloring what seems to be an animal of some sort.“Mommy!" She shrieked when she saw me at the doorway. She ran to me with one big smile, and I scooped her into a big hug, inhaling the soft smell of her soap.“How's my baby?" I asked as we moved into her room. The butterfly stickers on the
Stacey’s POV:We didn’t count the days anymore.They just passed like scenes in a quiet, golden film, melting into each other, each moment more delicate than the last. Three weeks could feel like three lifetimes when you were hiding love inside hallway glances and whispered goodbyes.And somehow… that made it all more intoxicating.Noah and I had slipped into a rhythm, a secret one, known only to the floorboards of his room and the shadows cast by his lamp at dusk.On my free evenings or days off, I slipped into something softer than being a professor. Something private. I’d make sure Tessa was with Chloe or had everything she needed for a few hours. Then, I’d drive over to Noah’s neighborhood and park a block away, nerves fluttering like the first time every single time.He’d open the window for me like always, arms outstretched like clockwork, like I was his favorite part of the day.We’d talk. Or sit in silence. Sometimes we’d lie side by side on his bed, fingers brushing, music pl