...Leigh stared at the words and tried to figure out exactly what they meant. The bold strokes rolled across the paper in homage to her, thanking her for the friendship they’d once had.

The kind of woman I’d want for myself.

Why did it feel like Dan was staking a claim on her? Why did she want him to? Her body ached for possession. To be swept off her feet and laid out for loving. Fingers and lips seeking out those places longing for attention. Holding her captive and…

Leigh gulped down her wine and shoved away from the table to get a third glass. Something, anything to deaden the ache in her pussy. She would not make herself come thinking of Dan Jefferson. She was a kid. Her former lawn boy. What would his parents say? What would the world say?

She forced the image of Danny the teenager into her head. Again, it refused to stay. It was Dan the man who usurped him every time. Dan with the sharp brown eyes. Dan with broad shoulders and strong arms a woman could cling to. Dan with those big hands, long fingers that zipped across the paper with ease. Leigh could easily imagine how they’d feel stripping her naked and roaming over her body. She could imagine it too well.

Leigh wandered back to the table and stared down at the paper. The kind of woman I’d want for myself. She snickered at her foolishness. It was rather like saying I want a woman just like my mom. The whole essay was rather innocent now that she looked at it objectively. Dan was thanking her, or was going to. Nothing wrong there. She was the one making something out of nothing at all simply because she’d gotten the juice-churning hots for the man before she realized who he was.

Now that she’d put things into proper perspective, she could bring herself under control. Thank God, she had the wall of student-teacher to shore up her resolve. He was no different that Lois, or Blondie, or any other person she’d taught. Her professionalism would keep her in line. They could re-establish a friendship within those parameters. Perhaps even have a laugh down the line over her rampaging hormones.

Very bad idea.

True, better to leave it untouched. Besides, he’d do this class and move on to the next. Their paths were likely never to cross again. Odd how the thought make her sad.

“Too much wine.” She poured glass number three back into the bottle. It was late and she had an American Lit class in the morning.

She stacked the papers, put them in her English Comp folder, then returned the wine to the refrigerator and washed the glass. She’d showered and dressed for bed shortly after she’d gotten home that night—a delaying tactic while she’d pondered Dan’s work. All her stewing made her feel a little silly in retrospect. At least she’d learned the lesson on her own and not made a fool of herself in public.

Of course he’d want to do a little catching up. It was the polite thing to do, especially considering how she’d apparently influenced his life. Leigh could tell him how his show of support had strengthened her. It wasn’t exactly fraternization, just old friends getting together. Why not over ice cream? They’d had their best talks over lemonade or ice cream.

She crawled beneath the cool, crisp sheets, turned off the light…and wondered if Dan was thinking about her tonight. Had he looked at her and judged her old? Laughed at himself for building this image in his mind only to have reality crush it? Or did he stroke his cock in the shower while dreaming of sinking it into her body?

Leigh shivered at the image and placed herself in the scene. Rubbing suds over his shoulders and chest. Lathering it through the hair around his dick. Listening to his mounting groans as he thrust his erection into her hands, clutched her head and urged her to her knees to suck him. Turned her around to take her deep and hard while his fingers circled her clit. Another shiver rattled her bones.

God, he was handsome! Tendrils of want curled at the base of her spine, then around her clit in a chokehold.