her tiptoes and slung her arms around my neck. She pressed her mouth to mine in an entirely school-inappropriate kiss, her lips almost frantic. Her tongue slipped in to wrap around mine when I would’ve spoken, and I let out a sound that was half groan and half growl.
I might be frustrated that she was trying to distract me through sensuous means, but my cock had no issue with the circumstances.
Still, I gripped her upper arms and gently drew her away from me as footsteps sounded behind me.
In a different world, it would’ve been a fellow teacher or maybe the custodian. But that would’ve been too easy.
“Mr. Beck, this is not a club of ill repute.” She stopped beside us and fixed us with a stern expression. “Kindly take your physical consortium out of this building at once.”
Physical consortium? That was a new usage. Leave it to Sister.
“It’s my fault. I’m sorry.” Luna jumped away from me as if my touch had scalded her skin. “I’ll leave.”
She rushed down the hall before I had time to make sense of what happened. What the hell?
Sister sniffed. “I’ve received reports about you before, Mr. Beck.”
I bristled, staring after Luna. I had to figure out what was going on with her, but what could I do? This was my boss.
Heaven help me.
“What kind of reports?”
“That you’re a consummate flirt. Which is fine in its place.”
“Is that so?”
“Some of our single parents find a friendly smile puts them at ease.”
I crossed my arms. “And makes them open their wallet?”
She didn’t blink. “But displays such as what I witnessed, when children are still running these halls—”
“Most of the children are gone. In any case, I’m sure most of them have seen a kiss before and not fallen over in shock.”
“Their parents are one thing,” she said stiffly. “But you’re not in a committed—”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Luna and I are extremely committed. We aren’t seeing other people. There’s no other woman on this planet I would rather be with than her.”
At the clatter at the end of the hall, I turned my head. I wasn’t at all surprised Luna had returned. But she didn’t seem overjoyed at what I’d said. In fact, she looked…tormented.
“Can we have a moment alone?” Her voice sounded raw.
Sister glanced between us before slowly shaking her head. “Not on school grounds is all I ask, Caleb.” Her tone softened. “I’m not an ogre. I do understand young love.”
I expected a denial to leap from my lips. Even if she was my boss, love wasn’t a word I allowed to be tossed around casually in regards to me. I was always brutally honest with the women I dated—or with anyone else who made assumptions about the nature of a relationship I was in. No matter what.
But with Luna, I didn’t want to argue. I didn’t want to dismiss the possibility. And not because she was listening either.
I fucking loved her and I didn’t care who knew.
Even her.
“You’re better than me then, since I’ve never been in love before.” I swallowed hard while Luna stared at me as if she was temporarily struck mute. Ocean eyes wide, mouth trembling open. “But I’m absolutely in love with Luna.”
Sister sighed. Unless I was mistaken, the sound was slightly wistful. “Then as Beyonce said, you better put a ring on it.” It was my turn to stare as she swished down the hall in the opposite direction from Luna.
I headed toward my girl as she turned away and bowed her head. For a terrifying second, I thought she was crying, but when I reached her and gripped her shoulder to shift her toward me, she was laughing.