Secrets and Seduction: A Dark Boarding School Romance (Preston Academy Book 1)
Secrets and Seduction: Chapter 16

Several days had passed, in which I had barely heard from Mr. Preston. He had canceled the tutoring sessions and in class, he had either bullied or ignored me. Not a single day went by where he hadn’t thrown mean remarks at me.

Although the others were also not shielded from his questionable teaching methods, none of them felt his wrath as much as I did. Well, maybe Noah did too.

“Put this on,” Leilah handed me one of her tops and I took it with wide eyes.

It was off-shoulder and made of silk, had a corsage effect and was flared at the sleeves. The washed out jeans fit loosely and didn’t cut into my skin.

My friend had been dying to get me into some of her high heels, but I had declined politely. First, her feet were smaller than mine and second, I would freeze my toes off. Boots would do.

I hadn’t dressed up in a while, and since I had promised Noah a while ago that we would head downtown today, I finally had an occasion.

“Noah will love it.” I rolled my eyes, had explained to her dozens of times that this date was purely amicable.

We were just two classmates going to a bar after school, nothing else, and I was sure Noah felt the same way. I hadn’t missed the way he looked at some girls and guys, so his courting didn’t have to be on the priority list.

My roommate gave me a dismissive hand gesture and sat down next to Caleb, who was just lying in her bed staring into his tablet while he put his arm around her waist.

I went into the bathroom and changed my clothes, applied makeup, and straightened my hair for the first time in months. I liked the curls better, but every now and then I needed a change, and I wasn’t ready to cut it yet, even though it was already way too long and knotted at the back of my head.

After a few sprays of perfume and a close look in the mirror, I stepped out. Leilah gestured for me to turn around and I followed her command.

“We need to capture this moment. My baby is leaving the nest.” She theatrically wiped a tear from her face, and I rolled my eyes.

“The baby will have a fit soon if it doesn’t get something to eat. Better hurry.” I squeezed in between the couple and fixed my hair.

“Pull that top down a little, Avery,” she said impatiently, and I gave her a dirty look. Certainly not. It was already showing too much. “Buzzkill.”

She took a few pictures and my cheeks tensed up. Caleb had already stopped looking at the camera and turned his attention to the tablet.

“I think we got it,” I muttered and stood up, but my friend paid no more attention to me. Instead, she looked at the pictures, analyzing every inch and then picking out the best one.

I still had some time before I would meet Noah downstairs and we would ride his motorcycle to the next bigger city. It’s going to be a nice evening, I kept telling myself.

While Leilah quite vocally discussed with herself, which was the best of all, I played my music, the headphones still from my professor.

I was caught up in the song when suddenly a notification noise disturbed my peace. Annoyed, I opened the message, only to see that it came from unknown.

UNKNOWN:

Where do you think you’re going?

Irritated, I looked at the message. It took me a while to figure out what he meant. The photos.

AVERY JAMES:

Are you a stalker or something?

I was tired of his games. Sometimes he was as cold as Antarctica and then he burned me out.

It didn’t take long for him to reply.

UNKNOWN:

Answer my question.

I exhaled in annoyance.

AVERY JAMES:

On a date.

Not that my non-existent love life was any of his business, but I couldn’t help but rub it in.

UNKNOWN:

With whom?

I considered whether to tell him the truth. He would probably find out one way or another, but why not annoy him a little? After all, he had great pleasure in doing it to me.

AVERY JAMES:

What do you care?

It’s none of your business, professor.

UNKNOWN:

Oh, it sure is.

Especially if you’re one of my students.

The one I like the least but still.

His student? We had crossed hundreds of lines. Lines that could ruin his career, and yet he trivialized everything that had happened.

AVERY JAMES:

The least?

Sounded quite different when you whispered my name in your bed over and over again.

UNKNOWN:

Don’t flatter yourself.

Besides, whoever that is, he isn’t good enough for you.

Like he knew who was good enough for me.

AVERY JAMES:

He is a gentleman.

UNKNOWN:

And that’s the problem.

You don’t like gentlemen, Avery.

He acted as if he had known me all my life and I hated that behavior. He didn’t know who I was, no, he had only seen a fraction of me.

I exhaled slowly and typed a response.

AVERY JAMES:

And what do I like, professor?

UNKNOWN:

You like danger. You like being fucked like a whore but worshipped like a goddess.

I stared at the display in disbelief, shocked by his sudden change of tone. Mr. Preston was causing me more and more whiplash with each conversation we had.

I wanted to respond something mean, wanted to tell him to piss off, and yet I found myself imagining what it would feel like to lie under him while he was thrusting into me.

AVERY JAMES:

Fucked like a whore by you?

UNKNOWN:

Exactly.

If I could, I would take you on my desk so everyone could see that you’re off limits.

Especially your little friend.

I allowed myself to indulge in these words, in my forbidden thoughts, in his threats that would never lead to anything. He played with me, had his fun in confusing me, and I was tired of it.

It was my turn to mess with him.

AVERY JAMES:

And if I want him to touch me?

UNKNOWN:

Then I hope you think of me when he fucks you.

AVERY JAMES:

If you’re a good boy, I let you watch. I bet you’re hard just by thinking of me, imagining it was you who moves inside me.

I hoped that had left enough impression.

UNKNOWN:

Fuck, Avery.

Stop it.

Bingo. He was all worked up.

AVERY JAMES:

Are you hard right now, professor?

UNKNOWN:

Maybe. You can come and see for yourself.

AVERY JAMES:

Can’t, I have a date in a few minutes. Bye.

With a big grin on my face, I left the chat and packed my bag.

I had taken control, had a hold on Mr. Preston—at least for a few sentences.

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