First, I want you all to know how much fun today was for me. Aflame is currently ranked #20 In the US Kindle Store with over 100 reviews. That’s an amazing amount of support you’ve shown.

Thank you for giving Bully a chance and seeing this series through. I’m a very lucky, and I hope I never forget that.

I also know it was a little bittersweet. Endings are usually hard, especially when most of you have lived with these characters for nearly two years.

So, if you’re interested, here’s a sneak peek of Misconduct to give you something to look forward to. It releases December 1st!!

Scene
Tyler Marek (parent) and Easton Bradbury (teacher) are having a conference with the principal. During the meeting, Principal Shaw is called out of the office to handle a matter, leaving Easton and Tyler alone.

***

Easton

The door clicked shut behind me, and I couldn’t ignore the feeling of Marek’s large frame next to me—his stiffness and silence telling me he was just as annoyed as I was. I hoped he wouldn’t talk, but the sound of the air conditioning circulating throughout the room only accentuated the deafening silence.

And if he did say anything that rubbed me the wrong way, I couldn’t predict how I would react. I had little control on my temper with my superior in the room, for crying out loud.

Now, with him gone…

I held my hands in my lap. He stayed motionless.

I looked off out the window. He inhaled a thick breath through his nose.

I checked the cleanliness of my nails, feigning boredom, while heat spread over my face down my neck, and I tried to convince myself that it wasn’t his eyes raking down my body.

“You do realize,” he started, bringing me out of my thoughts. “That you don’t have a union to protect you, right?”

I clenched the binder in my lap and stared ahead, his threat and edged voice not getting by me.

Yes, I was aware.

Most private school teachers were hired and fired at will, and administrators liked to have that freedom. Hence, no benefit of unions to protect us like the public school teachers enjoyed.

“And even then you still can’t stop yourself from mouthing off,” he commented.

A small smile spread over my lips, but I stopped it before he noticed.

“Is that what this is about?” I turned, keeping my voice even. “You can’t manage me?”

He narrowed his stone eyes, his black eyebrows pinching together over what looked like smooth skin.

“This is about my son,” he clarified.

“And this is my job,” I threw back. “I know what I’m doing, and I care very much about your son.”

His eyebrow shot up, and I quickly added, “About all of my students, of course.”

What was his problem anyway? My class didn’t carry unreasonable expectations. I’d thoroughly reviewed my intentions with the administrators and the parents. Most agreed, once I’d explained my plans and the reasoning behind them, and any naysayers quickly came around. Not only was Marek ignorant, but he was late to the game.

“You’re incredible,” I mumbled.

I saw his face turn toward me out of the corner of my eye. “I would watch my step if I were you.”

I twisted my head away, closing my eyes and inhaling a deep breath. He was enjoying this.

In his head, we weren’t equals, and he thought that he had me right where he wanted me. Right underneath him, so to speak. His inferior. Arrogant and ignorant, not even the slightest bit interested in treating me with the respect I’d earned, given my education and hard work.

I liked control, and I loved being in charge, but had I told my doctor how to do his job when he’d ordered me off my ankle for six weeks when I was seventeen? No, I’d deferred to those who knew what they were talking about, and if I had questions, I asked.

Politely.

I folded my lips between my teeth, trying to keep my big mouth shut. This had always been a problem. It had pretty much killed my tennis career, because I couldn’t maintain perspective and distance myself from criticism when I thought I’d been wronged.

Kill ‘em with kindness, my father had said. Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends? Abraham Lincoln had said.

But even though I understood the wisdom of those words, I’d never been able to reign it in. If I’d had something to say, I said it.

My chest rose and feel quickly, and I gritted my teeth.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake,” he laughed. “Spit it out, then. Go ahead.”

I shot up, out of my chair, and glared down at him. “You went over my head,” I burst out, not hesitating. “You’re not interested in communicating with me as Christian’s teacher. You wanted to humiliate me in front of my superior,” I charged.

He cocked his head, watching me as his jaw flexed.

“If you had a concern,” I went on, “then you should’ve come to me, and if that failed, then go to Shaw. You didn’t sign any of the documents I sent home, and you haven’t accepted any invitations into the social media groups for parents and students,” I pointed out, “proving that you have no interest in Christian’s education. This is a farce and a waste of my time.”

“And have you contacted me?” he shot up, standing within an inch of me and looking down. “When I didn’t sign the papers or join the groups, or when he failed the last unit test,” he bared his teeth, growling out every syllable, “Did you email or call me to discuss my son’s education?”

“It’s not my responsibility to chase you down!” I fought.

“Yeah, it kind of is,” he retorted. “Parent communication is part of your job, so let’s talk about why you’re communicating regularly with Christian’s friends’ parents but not with me.”

“Are you serious?” I nearly laughed, dropping the binder on the chair. “We’re not playing some childish “who’s going to call first?” game. This isn’t high school!”

“Then stop acting like a brat,” he ordered, his minty breath falling across my face. “You know nothing about my interest in my son.”

“Interest in your son?” This time my lips spread wide in a smile as I looked up at him. “Don’t make me laugh. Does he even know your name?”

His eyes flared, and then zoned in, turning dark.

My throat tightened, and I couldn’t swallow. I’d definitely gone too far.

I could hear the heavy breaths pouring in through his nose and back out, and I wasn’t sure what he would do if I’d tried to back away. Not that I felt threatened—physically anyway—but I suddenly felt like I needed space.

His body was flush with mine, and his scent made my eyelids flutter.

His eyes narrowed on me and then fell to my mouth. I turned my head quickly, my lungs suddenly aching for air.

Damn.

“Okay, sorry about that.” Shaw burst into the office, and Marek and I pulled apart, turning away from each other while the principal twisted around to close the door.

I smoothed my hand down my blouse and leaned down, picking up the binder of lesson plans.

Shaw walked around us, and I glanced at Marek to see him with his arms crossed over his chest and glaring ahead.

“While Mrs. Vincent practically runs this school,” Shaw went on, amusement in his voice, “some things require my signature. So where were we?”

“Edward,” Marek interrupted, buttoning his Armani jacket and offering a tight smile. “Unfortunately I have a meeting to get to,” he told him. “Ms. Bradbury and I have talked, and she’s agreed to adjust her lesson plans to make accommodations for Christian.”

Excuse me?!

I started to twist my head to shoot him a look, but I stopped, correcting myself. Instead, I glued my teeth together and lifted my chin, refusing to look at him.

I would not be adjusting my lesson plans.

“Oh, wonderful.” Shaw smiled, looking relieved. “Thank you, Ms. Bradbury for compromising. I love it when things work out so easily.”

I curled one corner of my lips, deciding it was best to let the issue lie. What Shaw didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him, and Marek would most likely zone out of his parenting responsibilities for another few weeks before I would have to deal with him again.

“Ms. Bradbury.” Marek turned, holding out a hand for me to shake.

I met his eyes, noticing how one was not as wide as the other, giving it a sinister look as it pierced me.

Two things could be assumed about Marek.

He expected to get everything he wanted. And he thought he just had.

Idiot.

***
Coming December 1, 2015!
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For the readers that wanted a glimpse of Madoc…

TATE

“All of you knew he was coming home and no one told me,” I pointed out. “I’m not mad, but I’m not indulging whatever scheme you’ve worked out. I’m a grownup.”

He pinched his eyebrows together and dropped my back pack. “Puh-lease,” he grumbled.

And the next thing I knew he grabbed me, hooked an arm round my neck—putting me in a headlock—and scrubbed my scalp hard with his knuckles.

“Madoc!” I screamed, planting one hand against his back and one against his bicep as I tried to pull my head out of his hold. “You are not giving me a noogie!”

“Noogie?” he argued. “No, grownups don’t give noogies. And we’re grownups, right?” He carried on, his assault burning my scalp.

“Madoc!” I growled, my voice deep and labored with the short breaths. “Let me go!” I stomped my foot, finally twisting out of his hold.

#bestfriendsforever 🙂

Thank you for 19,000 Facebook Likes!

This scene takes place when Jared and Tate are still together, between Rival and Falling Away. Jared and Tate have begun their second year of college.

Theater Anniversary Scene

Jared held my hand, pulling me briskly down the sidewalk toward the ticket window. I pried my fingers out of his, nearly laughing at his urgency. What had gotten into him?

He’d been quiet since picking me up tonight, and every time I looked at him, it was like he was lost in thought.

And loving everything he was thinking.

He stopped at the window, narrowing his eyes up at the marquee. “Uh, two for…um…” He licked his lips, looking confused. “Cinderella, I guess.”

“Jared!” I burst out, trying not to laugh.

He looked at me, blinking, and then shook his head as if coming to his senses. “Shit! No.” He looked back to the cashier. “No, I mean Furious 7.”

My chest shook with laughter, and I watched him rub the back of his neck, looking nervous.

“Babe, what’s gotten into you?” I asked. “You seem almost excited, and you’re not a big fan of movies, so what’s up?”

“I like movies,” he retorted, leading me for the doors.

“Jared,” I scolded as he opened the theater door for me, and I walked in. “You barely have the attention span to get through the trailers before you’re itching to move around.”

“I’m fine.” He followed behind, and I felt his hand on my behind before he leaned into my ear, whispering, “You’re just killing me in that skirt, is all.”

“Well, I didn’t have to wear it,” I pointed out. “It’s chilly, after all.”

He’d asked me to wear my pleated, black miniskirt, but he hadn’t just asked. No, he’d done the whole lean-into-me-bite-my-bottom-lip-and-make-my-clit-throb-like-it-was-on-its-own-damn-rollercoaster thing. And I’d melted. As usual.

He slipped an arm around my waist as we walked toward the concession stand. “And yet you gave into my special request,” he mused.

“It’s our anniversary,” I stated.

He leaned in, whispering, “And you’d do anything for me today, right?”

I smiled to myself, wondering why he was acting so playful. That wasn’t usually Jared’s style.

I crossed my arms over my chest and stopped, turning to stand in front of him. “You asked me to promise, and I did,” I maintained. “My present to you is that I am in your hands today,” I repeated his request, but then added, “As long as it’s not a threesome. With another woman, I mean. It can be another guy. You, me, and another guy,” I clarified, “but not another woman.”

His eyebrow shot up, and I glued my teeth together to keep from laughing.

I didn’t think it would make Jared as uncomfortable seeing another man touch me as it would for him to be naked in front of another guy. I had a hard time not busting up at the image of his disgusted face and a big, fat “Hell no!” before he’d grab me and leave the room.

I barely had time to recover from the amusement of teasing him before he grabbed my hand and pulled me past the concession stands.

“Wait,” I cried out. “I want snacks!”

But he wasn’t listening. He walked quickly across the lobby and straight into the men’s bathroom, carrying me in tow.

“Jared!” I whisper-yelled. “I can’t be in here.”

He dove into one of the stalls, swinging me in behind him and slamming the door shut, locking it.

I breathed hard, feeling the skin on my chest heat up, and not sure if it was from the near jog we’d just done or the fear of being caught.

What the hell was he doing?

I sucked in a ragged breath. “Jare—”

But he cut me off, bringing a hand down over my mouth and pinning me up against the wall of the stall.

I stared at him wide-eyed, remembering a time not so long ago he had me pinned up against some lockers.

Only this time I didn’t feel threatened.

His rich, woodsy scent fell over me, and I looked up at him looking down on me, a hint of a smile on his face.

He removed his hand, taking a finger and placing it over his lips, signaling me to be quiet.

“Trust me,” he whispered.

And I stilled, suddenly feeling his hands slide under my skirt and his fingers hook my panties, pulling them down.

“Jar—”

But he brought his lips down on mine, shutting me up.

“Relax,” he breathed against my lips. “It’s not what you think. I got you a present.”

A present? What the…?

He’d already given me a pair of earrings, making me feel guilty for promising not to give him something, but he got me something else? Something that required me to take off my underwear?
He knelt down on one knee and slid my panties down my legs and waited for me to step out of them.

He stuffed them into his jacket pocket, and then reached into his other pocket and pulled out a small box. I dropped my head, narrowing my eyes in curiosity as he opened it up and plucked out what appeared to be another set of panties. These were black and smaller, and I wondered what the hell was going on.

The other pair I had on were red and lacy. Very sexy. Why remove them to replace them with another pair and here of all places?

He didn’t look at me. Only held them up and let me step into them, one Chuck clad foot after another. My skin tingled as the fabric snaked up my thighs, and Jared stood to raise them higher.

He darted out his thumb, brushing it against the sensitive skin between my legs, before pulling the panties up all the way.

I relaxed, brushing my skirt down to make sure the hem hadn’t gotten caught anywhere.

It was a thong, and I felt the wedge of the material between my skin. They weren’t particularly comfortable, and it seemed like something was different. More weight, maybe?

“Jared,” I whispered as low as possible, hearing another stall door open and close. “What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry.” He grinned. “I’m not into public sex. Well, not this public anyway,” he added. “Let’s go see a movie.”

What?

He pulled me out the door, and I forgot everything as we dashed out of the men’s restroom, my only concern in not being seen.

He gripped my hand, and I practically had to jog to keep up.

“But why did you change my—”

“You promised,” he reminded me as if cutting off my argument.

Yes, I promised! But what the hell was going on?!

And that’s when I noticed something.

I narrowed my eyes, gluing my thighs together and rubbing slightly.

“Jared, I feel something.”

He pulled me into him, pinning our bodies together. “You’re damn right you do,” he teased, referring to growing appendage in his jeans.

Yeah, that’s not what I meant.

“Jared,” I growled through my teeth.

“Let’s get snacks,” he chirped. “You want butter on the popcorn?”

I arched an eyebrow, but he only smirked and turned to the cashier.

“Large popcorn with butter and a large cherry coke,” he ordered for us and then turned to me. “Why don’t you get some napkins and straws?”

I shot him a look, telling him where he could stick his damn straws, but he just shook his head, laughing quietly.

“I love you.” His voice was thick with amusement. “But you promised.”

I rolled my eyes, not sure what he had planned, but I knew he was having fun.

So be it.

Turning around, I headed for the condiment stand and gathered some straws and napkins.

“Tate, is that you?”

I turned around, seeing Ben Jamison come up next to me, carrying a soda.

I smiled, surprised at seeing him after more than a year since high school.

“Hey, Ben. It’s been a long time,” I commented, taking in his new look. “How are you?”

“I’m good.” He nodded lazily, grabbing a straw. “You?”

“Good.”

He’d kept the same style over time, preppy and clean-cut, but his hair was more manicured and his clothes fit him better. He’d grown up and filled out, looking a lot like Madoc actually.

“I thought you went to UMass,” I inquired. “What are you doing home?”

“Sister’s wedding.” He winced, and I almost laughed. “And you’re in Chicago, right?” he asked.

I nodded, opening my mouth to answer, but then I halted, stopping dead in my tracks.

My skin started tingling and vibrating from whatever was in the underwear Jared had put on me.

My eyes rounded as the skin of my clit began pulsing and swirls of pleasure swarmed in my stomach at whatever was throbbing inside the underwear.

“Tate?”

I looked up, seeing Ben staring at me.

I gritted my teeth together, letting my eyes slowly drift over to Jared who was shooting me a cocky-ass grin as he paid for the food.

Son of a bitch.

There was a fucking vibrator in the panties.

And he had the remote.

I blinked, inhaling a breath. “Yeah.” I looked at Ben. “Yeah, Jared and I share an apartment in Chicago, but we come home pretty often on the weekends.”

“Cool.”

I licked my lips, my breath suddenly quickening. “Have you seen any—” The pulsing grew more rapid, and I jerked forward slightly, stopping a groan from escaping, “Ah, anyone since you’ve been….uh…back?” I asked, blinking long and hard.

But Ben pinched his eyebrows together. “Are you okay?”

“Mmm hmm,” I nodded, and I could feel the blush of embarrassment covering my face.

Fucking Jared.

“I have to go,” I shot out, quickly grabbing more napkins I didn’t need. “See you later,” I called over my shoulder.

“Yeah,” he answered, sounding confused. “See you later.”

I met Jared as he turned around, food in hand.

“Turn it off,” I ordered, the vibrator already making me wet.

“What?” He feigned ignorance.

“You got panties with a vibrator?” I grabbed the soda from him and led us into the theater, letting him hand off our tickets. “Are you serious?!” I asked.

“Are you having fun?” he shot back, his eyes raking up and down my body as we walked to our seats.

“I’m taking them off.”

He sat down, letting out a pleased sigh. “And then you’ll be commando in a miniskirt,” he pointed out. “Even better.”

I glared at him and planted my ass in the chair, the vibrating between my legs getting very annoying.

I quickly reached up my skirt, hooked the panties with my finger, and pulled them away from my skin, resting them more against my thigh.

I heard his snort.

“Adjust it all you want.” His tone dripped with cockiness. “You’ll still feel it.”

“Why do you want to do this?” I asked, sounding more like pleading.

His face evened out, turning serious as he looked ahead at the first trailer playing.

“Because I want to watch you,” he said matter-of-factly.

Watch me?

And then it dawned.

He wanted to watch me. Watch me orgasm.

I leaned in, whispering, “But why couldn’t we have done this at home?” I asked.

“Because you never want to do it.” He turned his head, meeting my eyes again.

I pinched my eyebrows together. “Do what?”

“Touch yourself for me.”

My eyes fell, and I slowly leaned back in my chair, remembering the times he’d asked me to do that.

Yeah, he’d asked me. But I guess I never noticed how much he wanted it. Why did he want to see me do that so much?

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do it for him. I was just embarrassed. It takes a long time, and I really didn’t like the idea of someone staring at me while I masturbated.

I had no reason not to be comfortable around him, but I still felt silly about it.

“I will,” I assured him thoughtfully, peering over and seeing the lights from the screen dance across his eyes. “Eventually.”

I let my eyes drift close, feeling the vibrations becoming harder to ignore. They weren’t on my clit anymore, but my body still heated.

I licked my dry lips, looking over at him. “Why do you want to watch me do that, anyway?”

He rested his head against the headrest and turned to meet my eyes. “When you come, Tate,” he whispered, “it’s like the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

His brown eyes were so loving and intense, I wanted to give him what he wanted. I wanted to please him, but I didn’t really like the idea of doing things in public. Not after the video in high school.

But I knew that, with Jared, this was for him. It had nothing to do with other people, and he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. Not like that.

His sexy eyes fell down my body as he spoke, “The vibrations are making the skin on your thigh tingle right now,” he whispered, leaning in, “but sooner or later, whether you like it or not, the pulsing will sink deeper, down to your bone.” His hand reached out to graze my inner thigh.

The muscles in my leg tensed.

“Then it’ll travel upward,” he caressed my skin higher and higher, “like someone is massaging you with a feather from the inside.”

I could feel butterflies between my legs, and the tornado low in my belly began to spin.

“A blush will spread across your face,” he taunted, “and your skin will glow from the heat.”

I let my head fall back, squirming my ass lower to get the vibrator back in place again as I closed my eyes.

“That all happens when I’m inside you. Now I want to watch it as it happens to you,” he said in a husky voice.

“Your breathing will start to change, getting shallower, and your eyes will close,” he teased, “because your body likes what it feels and it’s taking you over, Tate.”

Yes.

The pulse between my legs throbbed harder and harder, and I hated that he was doing this.

I wanted him now. Not the damn vibrator.

“You’ll try to suppress a moan coming up your throat from your stomach,” he predicted, “and all of a sudden you’ll be so wet. You’ll let your body fall back, and your back will arch, and you’ll want more.” He gripped the inside of my thigh, his breath falling across my face.

“You’re ready to beg for it, because you have no control.” He darted out and caught my lobe between his teeth. “And then you’ll hold your breath, like you always do as you’re about to come,” he taunted. “I fucking know how your body works by now.”

And then I did it. I arched my back, and I sucked in air, because I needed his hands all over me. I was ready to beg for it.

“I’ll bet you’re so wet,” he whispered. “I want to watch you come.”

And he pulled out the remote, turning up the volume.

I gasped, feeling the pulsing turn wild.

Shit.

People came to sit down in front of us, and I looked at Jared, fear making my heart beat faster.

“Not here,” I begged, glancing around me nervously.

The theater wasn’t packed, and there was no one in our row or behind us, but there were people around.

“Jared, please,” I breathed, my orgasm building and the need driving me insane.

I wanted to be straddling him, my forehead glued to his, as I grinded myself home.

Fuck!

“Oh, God,” I whimpered, biting my bottom lip to stifle the cry.

But Jared took me over.

He grabbed me under the arms and hauled me over to his lap, reverse cowgirl, both of us facing the screen.

“Tate,” he breathed out, nibbling my neck. “Don’t be shy with me.”

His hand slipped under my loose, white blouse, snaking under my bra to cup my breasts.

“Fucking come, baby,” he growled low in my ear. “I want to hear your breaths and feel every shake.”

I leaned back, burying my face in his neck as I inhaled short, fast breaths as he wrapped his arms around me waist like a steel band and held me tight.

I ground my ass against him, riding the vibrator harder and harder. The friction of his jeans on my skin would leave a burn, no doubt, but it felt fucking awesome.

“Jared,” I gasped. “Jared, I love you.”

And then I stopped breathing, feeling the orgasm crest, and I held my breath as I ground and jerked against him, riding it out and burying my cry in his neck.

My body shook and my chest rose and fell finally, taking in air as the pleasure spread down my thighs and up through my chest.

Oh, God.

The moans and cries I normally let out spread throughout my body instead, having no other place to escape, and my whole body spasmed with it.

“Jesus Christ,” he cursed in my ear, holding me as the orgasm shook through my body. “I love you, Tate.

I dropped my head back against his shoulder, exhausted and spent.

I twisted my head, taking his lips in mine for who knows how long. The trailers played out, and the movie started, and I just kissed him, feeling like there would never be anything more I’d want from life.

This is all I’d ever wanted to do. Just love Jared Trent.

I finally pulled back, gasping for breath, and smiled.

“That was fun,” I said, sounding happy. “When do I get to watch you?”