Chapter 26: Chapter 26

LEXI

Daniel Jackson was dressed handsomely in a dark suit with no tie. His intimidating eyes bore into her, and her heartbeat increased so much that she found it difficult to breathe.

“Mr. Jackson, hi,” Professor Calvin greeted formally.

Daniel entered the room and shook hands with him. “I was just checking up on my investment,” he said in a businesslike tone, though he only looked at Lexi.

~Since when is this school an investment?~

~How have I never seen him here before now?~

~God, he looks yummy.~ ~His hair is an inch longer since the last time I saw him…~

~Why did I notice that? He is truly my weakness.~

While Lexi struggled to maintain composure, a few of her classmates brazenly whistled their approval. She scowled at them.

“Class,” Professor Calvin began, “this is Daniel Jackson, a benefactor of our school. He’s the reason we are getting a new science testing lab, a new computer room, and a new girl’s bathroom in the west wing.” The professor sounded like he was Daniel Jackson’s biggest fan, maybe even a righteous cheerleader.

~Join the line professor. He has countless cheerleaders.~

“Hi, Mr. Jackson,” the class responded in unison.

“We were just about to hear Ms. Fox’s essay. She’s been slacking in my class lately, and this essay is mandatory. You are more than welcome to stay and determine her fate.”

Lexi wanted to shrink to the size of an ant and crawl into a hole for the rest of her life. Tears brewed in her eyes.

She silently prayed, ~Ground, open up and swallow me now, please. No girl wants her crush hearing negative things about her. This is so embarrassing.~

Instead, she heard Daniel defend her.

“Maybe she had a good reason; we’ve all had bad days. I’ve been slacking off at work lately too. She doesn’t seem like the type to be lazy; I’m sure her determination to succeed will return as soon as her mind becomes clear.”

Professor Douchebag looked shocked.

“But if it’s okay with Ms. Fox, I’d love to stay,” Daniel added.

Though she could not bring herself to look directly at him, Lexi sensed his smile. She sensed it by the way her cheeks burned. It gave her courage.

Professor Calvin gestured for Daniel to sit in his chair, just three feet from where Lexi stood. She could see the leg of his pants in her peripheral vision.

“Ms. Fox,” the professor began with a hint of annoyance, “tell us what your essay is about and then begin.”

Lexi took a deep breath.

~Here goes nothing...~

“At first, I didn’t know what to write about,” she said. “Every time I tried, I came up blank. Most of you had strong political or philosophical essays, etc., but mine isn’t like that. It’s about me and my fears.”

Lexi paused to let out a breath.

“I’m afraid of so many things it’s impossible to list them all. Spiders, snakes, rabbits, rats, cats, planes, the ocean, using a toilet in the dark…” A few classmates chuckled. “I could probably get over each one of those fears eventually, but the thing that scares me the most is love.”

Lexi closed her eyes and took a few seconds to calm herself. Reading something so personal wasn’t easy.

She opened her eyes.

“I can deal with being alone because when I was a child, my mother just didn’t care. I can deal with being homeless because when I was a teenager, I was tossed from foster home to foster home. I can deal with almost any kind of physical or emotional pain you can think of because I have endured the words and actions of perverted men. But my one true fear is love. It’s the one thing that I know I can’t handle.

“Maybe I think I don’t deserve it; maybe I want it more than anything; maybe I just know that if I ever fall in love with someone and it doesn’t work out, the heartbreak will be too much for me to get over. I’m afraid of feeling something for someone, knowing that they will never feel anything for me in return.

Folding her paper, Lexi finished, “My roommate says there’s nothing to fear but fear itself…but what do I do when my fear is love?”

Everyone was silent. It was so quiet that she could’ve sworn everyone could hear her heart beating.

“Ms. Fox, take a seat,” Professor Calvin said with a half-smile.

Lexi hurried back to her chair, avoiding eye contact with Daniel and everyone else. As soon as she felt the hard seat on her soft buns, their eyes met.

~Crap!~

“So, what do you think, Mr. Jackson?” Professor Calvin asked.

“She was amazing,” Daniel replied with his eyes still locked on Lexi’s.

If she blushed any harder, her skin would look like a ripe strawberry.

Satisfied that his benefactor was pleased, Professor Calvin moved on. “Okay, class. Let’s get started on today’s lesson.”

Daniel got up to leave, but before he reached the door, he spoke again. “Ms. Fox.”

Lexi stared at him, her eyes making a desperate request. ~Don’t do this, Daniel. Not here…not now.~

“Can I speak to you outside, please?” It sounded more like a statement than a question.

Daniel walked out without waiting for a reply. When the professor gave her a look of silent agreement, Lexi followed him.

She looked down at her outfit: another sundress from Ross, gladiator sandals, no jewelry. Her hair was in a low ponytail.

~Why am I checking myself?~ ~He’s seen me at my best and worst; this should hardly compare to either.~

When Lexi closed the classroom door, Daniel spoke first. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she whispered.

“I missed you,” he confessed.

Lexi rolled her eyes.

“You don’t believe me?” She rolled her eyes again. “I really do miss you, Draya.”

“What did you miss about me?” Lexi asked, hoping to trap Daniel in a lie.

He stepped closer, pinning her to the wall.

~Fuck! Dumb question.~

“This”—in a flash, his lips found hers—”and this”—Lexi moaned as Daniel’s lips moved to her neck—”and this.”

When he ran his hand up the length of her thigh and gently massaged her ~there~, her brain exploded.

~Hmm.~

~Stop!~

~No, don’t stop!~

~YES, STOP! We’re in a public place, for crying out loud. My school, of all places…in the middle of the day.~

~Oh my god, he’s kissing me again.~

Lexi couldn’t get her thoughts to stay on the same page.

Daniel pulled back a bit to look into her eyes. “I really mean it… I missed you.” He towered over her, and his hard body still trapped hers against the wall, but this time, she saw the sincerity in his eyes.

“Why did you call me yesterday and hang up?” Lexi asked. She couldn’t possibly make it past this day without an explanation.

Daniel gently stroked her cheek and kissed the tip of her nose. He moved his other hand from under her dress and placed it on her waist.

“I was about to fly to California to see my dad, and the connection was bad. I decided to just see you in person, not tell you that I missed you over the phone.” He tenderly kissed the side of her lips. “I missed you,” he said for the third time.

Daniel lowered his lips to meet Lexi’s again, but this time, it was different. This time, she grabbed hold of his hair and kissed him back with so much need that he groaned. Her nipples grew hard.

The sound of lips smacking and heavy breathing filled the hallway. Lexi was sure everyone in the classroom could hear exactly what they were doing, but she didn’t care.

When Daniel’s tongue entered her mouth, her body reacted. She felt the heat of passion—and wetness between her thighs.

After sucking and kissing and melting into each other for a few minutes, Lexi finally cupped Daniel’s face with both hands and looked into his eyes. Breathlessly, she pressed her forehead against his and whispered, “I missed you too.”

Daniel held Lexi tightly and exhaled over her shoulder. She felt the tension leaving his body as her own frustration melted into happiness. For the first time in a long time, they both relaxed.

Lexi’s heart felt…full. Her mind was at ease.

After another minute, she leaned against the sturdy wall to prevent her body from melting into the concrete floor. She watched Daniel unbutton his jacket and hand-press wrinkles out of his shirt. He ran his fingers through his ruffled hair to move it back into place.

When he raised his head to look into her eyes, he was smiling. “Let’s go to dinner tonight,” he said casually.

Lexi raised an eyebrow, suddenly self-conscious about her plain outfit. “Dinner? Um…maybe I’ll cook you something instead.” Her heart raced so loudly she could barely hear her own thoughts.

Looking like he wanted to pull her back into his arms, Daniel casually pushed both hands into his pocket. “Besides chefs at restaurants and my mother, no one has ever cooked for me.”

Lexi smiled. “Is there any dish you don’t like? I already know about your shrimp allergy. Is there anything else I should stay away from?”

He was quiet for over a minute. “I’m sure I’ll love whatever you offer me.” Then, because he was Daniel Jackson, he added, “Even if it’s you on the menu, I’ll eat everything.” As he said it, he let his gaze travel from the nipples poking through her sundress downward.

Lexi blushed deeply. Speechless, she waved like a nervous clown and sauntered back into the classroom.