DrawnTogether

Wendi
Zwaduk

Graig Case wants to teach history and coach baseball. Plain
and simple. But nothing in his life has been simple. He’s also got a secret. He
loves to watch the sexy woman across the courtyard dance. He’d love for his
fantasy girl to be his best friend, but fantasy and reality don’t always mix.

Tessa Martin has given up on love. She’s played second
fiddle most of her life. Guys like hanging out with her. But being one of the
guys doesn’t keep her warm at night. Still, she indulges in her one
treat—dancing naked at night for Graig. No emotions involved means no one gets
hurt.

Except when they end up working in the same school, in the
same hallway. Then all bets are off.

Inside Scoop:
This lucky hero gets to take control
when his new girl encourages him to spank her.

A
Romantica®
contemporary erotic romance
from Ellora’s Cave

Artists do it dirty.

He loved the poster on her wall. Such an odd item for the
bedroom wall of an adult woman, but then again, he liked it, so maybe he was
just as odd. Didn’t really matter. Once the woman caught him watching her,
well, the game would be over.

Graig settled back into the easy chair he’d moved into his
bedroom. He checked his watch once more. Eleven o’clock. Just about time for
her to come into her bedroom.

He shouldn’t watch her. Shouldn’t be turned-on by the sway
of her hips as she shimmied out of her jeans. But damn. She moved as if she
knew he was there.

The light flicked on, bathing the room across the courtyard
in warmth. Thank God they both lived on the top floor with balconies blocking
the view to the apartments below. Any lower and everyone else would be able to
see her. Blood pounded in his veins and heat flooded his body. Any moment now.
The woman stepped into frame. She unwound the elastic from her hair and tossed
her dark tresses over her shoulder. He swore the scent of strawberry floated to
him. Her perfume? The scent of her shampoo? Probably his mind playing tricks on
him, but he didn’t care. He licked his lips. Just to grab hold of the silky
locks and bury his face in them…

She looked so damn familiar, but he’d never ventured across
the courtyard to get a better look. She reminded him of the minx from the
school. Tessa didn’t strike him as the type to dance in front of an open
window. She came across so stiff and proper, not at all like the vibrant babe
he loved to watch. Maybe if she peeled back the layers surrounding her and
lived a little. Maybe. God, he wanted her to be Tessa. The resemblance was
uncanny.

The woman turned her back to him and rolled her shoulders.
Graig rubbed his flattened palm across his torso. His nipples beaded. From his
touch or the vision of her? Both worked for him. She rested her hands on her
hips, drawing his attention to her ass. A nice, plush bottom, perfect for
slapping during sex and sinful when she danced.

He prayed she’d turn on her stereo. Sometimes he caught
faint snippets of her selections. He wanted the music to accompany her dance.
She seemed so much freer and more natural when the music played, as though she
forgot all her cares. God, he’d come in his hand just from watching her move to
whatever sensual beat she blasted from her stereo.

She snapped her fingers and left the frame of the window.
Graig shot forward in his seat. Oh hell no, this wasn’t allowed to be over so soon.
His heart raced.
I am too attached to this mystery woman, but damn.
He
closed his eyes.
I’m not done.

Graig gripped the arms of the chair, ready to vacate his
bedroom. Without her on display, going to bed wasn’t in the cards. He watched
the window.

Tingles shot from his toes to his brain to his cock. She was
naked.

“Whoa,” he whispered. Full breasts bounced with her every
step. Pink-tinged nipples pointed to him. A thin thatch of curls protected her
pussy. His lips parted and he gasped for air. For the first time since he’d
started watching her, she stared in his direction. Could she see him? She
cupped her breasts, giving her nipples a squeeze. Had to be Tessa or her damn
twin. Did she have a twin? Not that he knew of. He couldn’t help wanting the fantasy
girl to be the woman he craved—to be Tessa.

“Come on, Tessa. Show me everything.” Graig relinquished his
grasp on the arms of the chair and caressed his cock through the barrier of his
pajama pants. Her body swayed to whatever music played in her room. Although he
couldn’t clearly see her face, he recognized her actions. Not looking at him at
all. She threw her hands in the air and tilted her head back.

She’d been singing along to the song, not intentionally
enticing him. He unbuttoned his pants and wrapped his fingers around his dick.
She turned him on, all right. Holy hell. His balls constricted. He hadn’t even
begun to stroke and sure as shit it felt like he’d go off in a second.

Footsteps thumped on the carpet behind him. Footsteps? Oh
fuck. Graig stuffed his aching cock back into his pants and sat up.

“Graig? Why are you sitting in the dark?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and
forefinger. Fuck. Lila. “The better question is what you’re doing here.” He
moved to stand, but froze when she turned on the light. “We split and you gave
me back your key.”

Lila batted her thick lashes and peered at him. “I’m
visiting you, lover.”

“You told me you wanted Javier.” Graig moved his hands over
his aching cock. The pajama pants cut into his flesh and goddamn it hurt.

“Meh.” She strode across the room, climbed onto his lap and
threw her arms around his neck. She ground against him, mons to groin. “Oh
baby, feels like you missed me. Let’s get this out and put him to good use.”

“No.”

“What’cha watchin’?”

“Nothing you’d want to see.” Crap. He sounded so…guilty.

She gave him a shove and peeked over her shoulder. “You were
watching that girl across the courtyard weren’t you?” Her violet eyes narrowed
and she slid off his lap. “Again? She’s like watching a beached whale, all
sickly pale skin and flab. Should I go over there and tell her you’re watching
her? Bet she’d love to know some perv lives across the courtyard.”

“Don’t talk about her like that. You don’t know her. And you
don’t know me.” Fuck. Knowing Lila when she got angry, she’d go around telling
anyone who would listen about what he did. Just what he needed—the wrong person
to hear about him playing the voyeur. “Just, let it drop.”

“I won’t. I mean, she’s hideous.” Lila slapped him out of
the way and leaned out his open window. “You are an ugly woman.” She whipped
around and faced him. “Shut your fucking blinds and focus on the woman who
really loves you.”

“Thanks for the warning. I’ll shut them.” Instead of waiting
for the woman’s response, Graig stood up and crossed the room to where she
stood to block his view. He grabbed Lila’s arm. “Get out and eat something.
You’re a damned twig. It’s not healthy-looking.” He hustled her through his
apartment to the hallway door. “You told me you were done with me. Couldn’t
take my crazy teacher hours or my commitment to the job and the baseball team.
So stay away.”

“But I like you,” she said in a childlike squeak. “And you
need me. Besides, the school wants fine upstanding teachers. I’ll make you fine
and upstanding.”

“Just go.” Graig shut the door and engaged the deadbolt. He
forked his fingers into his hair. Probably a good night for the chain as well.
He slipped the chain into place and shook his head. He hadn’t given her the
damn key to his apartment—not since he got new locks. Time to get the locks
changed. Again. This time he wanted her gone for good. He’d had enough of her
bullshit. Would she stoop to telling the school about him watching his fantasy
girl? Nah, Lila was clever, but not downright evil. He sprinted through the
apartment. Was his mystery woman still there dancing or had she been spooked by
Lila’s act of misplaced jealousy and manipulation?

He stared into the darkness. Nothing. Just blackened windows
and a darkened room.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Maybe he’d see her the next night.

* * * * *

Tessa Martin placed her bag on her shoulder and pressed the
button on her fob to lock her Jeep. Another year and another chance to engage
the teenagers of Valley City High in the joy of art.

“You have to go
in
the building on in-service day.
Not stare at it.”

Tessa snorted and glanced over her shoulder. She knew the
male voice. Graig Case. Boys junior varsity baseball coach, subbing until a
permanent gig as a history teacher in the district opened up. She leaned on the
fender of her Jeep and folded her arms. “You do realize you don’t have to be
here for in-service, right?” Without giving him time to answer, she strolled
away from him. “Nah, you’re begging them for a job and sucking up. Have you
heard anything about the transfer to McKinley? I hadn’t heard anything before
we all left for summer break. Are they still considering you?”

Graig snorted. He’d donned a pair of worn jeans and a
short-sleeve pullover in the perfect shade of charcoal to bring out the
icy-blue of his eyes. The soft fabric of his shirt molded to his body like a
second skin, giving her a tantalizing view of his muscles. “Don’t have to suck
up to anyone.” He shrugged. “Not yet. They hired me here three days ago for
Richard’s position. The transfer is dead unless Valley decides they only want
me for a year. But even then, I’ll probably lobby to stick around.” He slipped
into step next to her, his one stride accounting for two of hers. “I even get a
room this year, not a closet mislabeled as a workroom.”

“I see.” She smothered the smile. He came across as a jock
most of the time, but whenever she was around, he acted different. As if the
jock wasn’t really who he was. “Then let’s see which hallway you’re in.”

“Yours.”

She stopped mid-stride. Hers? “I’m in the performing arts
wing with the band and the choir. How in the name of Mike did you end up with
us?”

“There’s an odd number of history teachers this year, so
being the low man on the totem pole, I got the odd placement.” He gave her a
nudge. “Don’t tell me you’re upset. Who else would I bug when I get totally
flustered? One day I might be able to talk you out of those god-awful
turtlenecks and horrid khaki pants. Get you into something softer. Slinkier.
Something that shows your collarbone.”

Tessa rolled her eyes. “Don’t try to talk me out of my
clothes. I’m not one of those women you pick up down at the bar.” She waved her
hand, ushering him into the performing arts wing. No, she danced for him at
night when she couldn’t hear him reject her. She shook her head to clear her
thoughts. “Staff meeting starts in fifteen, so I’ll come find you then.”

“Tessa?”

She shivered but didn’t turn around. His voice flowed down
her spine. Damn he was too much of a distraction.

“This is a good place for me. You won’t regret it.”

“I’ve got nothing to regret. We’ve got kids to teach. Where
we happen to be is up to the principals—no matter what you say.” Tessa yanked
her classroom door open. The scent of disinfectant, the tang of floor polish,
and the chalkiness of the tempera paint mixed in the air. She took a deep
breath to calm her frayed nerves. Wherever Graig Case went, her damn libido
seemed to follow. Who cared if he had inky-black hair thick enough to run her
fingers through and a smile guaranteed to light up a room? It didn’t hurt he
filled out the baseball jersey perfectly, all long legs and lanky arms. She
wondered what it would feel like to be held in those arms and feel the scruff
on his cheeks abrading her own.

Behind her, the door squeaked.

“Case, I’m telling you…” When she turned around, instead of
Graig, Adam Pallas took up the doorway. “Adam. I’m sorry.”

“You look like someone took away your birthday.” Adam
stalked toward her in three strides. His dark eyes blazed and a lock of his
blond hair slipped over his brow. “Case got under your skin?”

“I was just thinking,” she lied.

“I’ve got it.” His whole demeanor changed. A sparkle lit his
eyes and the same old boyish grin spread across his lips. “You’re finally going
on that date I’ve been asking you for since I started here.”

“Adam.”

“And that’s another no.” His shoulders sank, but the glimmer
in his eye didn’t. “Five years. You’ve got a streak going.” He winked. “See you
in the cafeteria.”

She sagged against the drawing table. Crud. Adam hadn’t
given up in five years. She probably owed him, if for nothing other than his
sheer determination. He’d treat whomever he hooked up with well. Too bad she
wasn’t really interested.

Tessa glanced at the boxes piled in the corner. Paint,
brushes, colored pencils and other supplies that needed putting away. If she
didn’t get going, she’d be there all day putting the various media where it
belonged.

She stood and smoothed her T-shirt. “It gets my mind off
men.”

Fifteen bottles of red tempera and twenty-six dozen charcoal
pencils later, Tessa finally stood. “One box down, seventeen to go.”

Footsteps clomped on the concrete floor behind her. “Ms.
Martin. The meeting is about to start. Care to grace us with your presence?”

She whirled around. Damn. Her brother-in-law, who happened to
be the assistant principal, waited for her. “Dennis. I got busy putting
supplies away.” She brushed the dust off her hands and closed the box. “I’ll be
there in a moment.”

Dennis rocked on his feet. “Just because you’re family
doesn’t mean you can get out of commitments.”

“Are you always in vice principal mode or do you revert into
human sometimes?” She fisted her hands on her hips. “Human might be a nice
change for you.”

“Being administration means being harsh.” Dennis snorted.
“What’s your deal? Pallas? He’s harmless. Might be a nice date.”

She ignored Dennis’ urging to date Adam. As if Dennis
thought he could tell her whom to hook up with. She sighed. “Are the history
numbers really odd? Come on. Richard wasn’t in my hallway last year. And we’ve
never had someone who wasn’t one of the arts down here.”

“Ah, you’re upset about Case. I figured you’d be thrilled.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Yes, he’s the odd man out. Pallas is in the vacant
classroom in the English arts wing. Carey moved to the science pod, leaving
Case as a misfit. Consider yourself the ringleader of the misfit hall.”

“No thanks.”

“He requested your hallway. Practically crashed down my door
begging for this hallway.” Dennis nodded to the door. “Go. He’s not leaving and
neither are you. The assignments are set and right now the misfits are
leaderless. Gretsch and Terry aren’t interested in being department chair.
You’re it. Care to take the helm?”