Madeline felt a heat at her crotch. Damien’s fingers, slowly inching up her thighs, left a trail of fire along her skin. Until, finally, he brushed against her panties. His thumb circled her clitoris and sent delicious shivers all over her body.

But as time went on and the next song played, as she was on the verge of climax, she found herself feeling awful.

What was she doing? Her, a woman who’d been happily married, allowing her own student to service her like this.

She had no idea how things had come to this. Damien had always felt like a good younger brother if anything. Helpful, thoughtful, erudite. But that first massage had changed things. When she found the voucher in her bag later on, she’d been tempted.

The second time had come in a surprising fashion. She’d been stretching during lunch. The empty classroom, where she usually took her meals, was quiet. She didn’t even notice him come in until his hands were at her back and that delightful pressure relieved her tension again, just like the time before.

Since then, she’d given in to temptation more and more. Not just at school, but even outside. There was a cafe she’d recently come to frequent. Meeting him there by coincidence, they began to banter as usual. Her legs were dying from a day of standing at the board. And so he reached under the table, brought her seat closer, and kneaded.

After that, she abused the voucher every chance she got. And each time she allowed him his way, a wonderful sense of warmth and comfort would blossom. Once, a few students even caught them. There was nothing too wrong with what they were doing, she’d thought, but word spread and that was another reason her husband had been angry with her. She simply wasn’t sure if he was only angry because she made him look bad.

Whatever the case was there, it couldn’t be denied that she started to get accustomed to Damien’s touch. Somewhat, maybe she even craved it. Perhaps that’s why there was no sense of rejection this time, either.

But she knew, logically, it was wrong. He’d always seemed like such an innocent child. With perhaps a bit of a dark spot in his past that made her hesitant to take advantage of his kindness.

So why did he seem so different now? There was no trace of the boy she’d come to know, but in his stead was a man full of raw, sexual energy that was entirely infectious. Every little gesture seemed sensual and designed for sin.

Had he always been so tall? So strong? She couldn’t help but notice the thickness of his forearm. Much more developed compared to her husband’s.

The youth just seemed so sturdy. It was intensely attractive.

Even so, the guilt she felt towards her husband wouldn’t abate. What may be even worse was the thought that she’d been the one to cause this change in Damien.

Had she been the one who’d tempted him? Were all those times she’d accepted his hands a misread signal? Her nice words, her obvious favor towards him?

She couldn’t get the thought out of her head. She felt like a sinful woman.

Other thoughts swirled in her mind, too. “I’m going to teach you about all the pleasures in the world.” Where had he learned to talk like that?

And who had taught him how to touch a woman like this? This slow, smoldering technique that made her want to beg.

But those thoughts were secondary.

As the guilt continued to build, as the clarity that came from orgasm fully settled, she turned her face away just as he was about to kiss her.

“No.” She shuddered. “Stop.”

“Are you sure about that?” The youth brought up his wet fingers for her to see. “This says something different.”

Madeline closed her eyes, not able to look at the evidence of her infidelity. “This didn’t happen. Understand? Something like this...no more.” She told him with some vehemence. Then he turned quiet.

And when next she gazed upon him, all expression had gone. She could see the emotions wither. There was soon just a dull lifelessness to his eyes that she’d never seen before. And it pained her to see it.

But he just calmly wiped himself with a handkerchief, not even bothering to look at her, and said, “They always say ‘no more’ until they want me again.” He smiled. “I’m really tired of hearing it.” The youth stood. “You enjoy yourself tonight, Mrs. Everic.”

His sudden words left her confused and panicked. She couldn’t just let him leave, not like this. It was dangerous. Somehow she could just feel it. That she shouldn’t let him leave, that something would go wrong if she did.

And so before she even knew what she was doing, she’d moved to grab him. “Wait-”

He threw her arm off roughly. “Don’t touch me!” The boy snarled. Madeline reacted like she’d been struck and winced. There was a very real anger in his voice, a hurt, that scared her and Madeline couldn’t stop herself from shaking from the force of it.

Damien caught himself. “My apologies, Miss.” He bowed, then continued on his way.

She wanted to chase him, but didn’t. And that’s how she knew she’d failed him.

***

“I’m sort of surprised,” Bea spoke up as they wandered down the halls. “I didn’t think you’d actually stop. You probably could’ve just kept it up and she’d give in.”

Damien tsked. “Yeah, and then she’d just regret doing it the next day. A woman like that you have to take your time with. I’m not just looking to get my dick wet, you know? I’m in the market for a wife, even if I have to steal one. Which means I can’t just get her body, I need to have her everything.”

“Heart and soul?” The woman raised a brow.

“Heart and soul.” The youth nodded.

“Well, I’m sure it’ll work out.” She yawned. “That husband of her’s is a real fop. I saw the guy overhearing one of his students talk about how they’d love to bang her, and he just ignored it. Like what kinda husband does that?” She shook her head. “Anyway, watching you is like reading a romance novel. This “dark, tragic past” feel you’re going for really sells it! She must be a mess right now, you shutting her out like that. I mean did you look at your face? Hell, even I wanted to hug you and I can usually see through your bullshit.” She stopped, unsure. “It is all just bullshit, right?”

Bea gazed at him intently. Like she said, normally she could always tell when he was acting. But there was a point where she wasn’t certain. And that bugged her.

Damien shrugged. “I was molested as a child.”

The words hit her like a punch to the face. “You’re kidding. You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

The boy’s lips curved upwards. “Obviously.” He chuckled, “It didn’t stop with my childhood.”

But Bea couldn’t laugh. She just felt very uncomfortable. “That’s not funny.”

“Wasn’t funny when my mother passed me around to her friends, either.” He said mildly. “But hey, at least they were pretty.” He went on with a grin.

Bea knew he was joking. Of course he was.

But there was something unnatural in his eye that made her stomach churn. She didn’t like it. “You’re one seriously fucked up guy, my dude.” She attempted levity, the only language the boy knew.

“The most interesting people usually are.” He turned a corner. “But fictional backstories aside, let’s stick around for a while and find Vee. I know she was excited about this, too. Must be wondering where I got off to.” He gave a true smile just then. “That cute little shrub.”

At any other time Bea would be ecstatic to talk about her favorite green-haired loli and his obvious growing affection for her, but Damien’s words just now left her more morose than she’d care to admit.

Because honestly?

She still couldn’t tell if he was lying or not.