The Good Student

By Stacey Espino

Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?

Kaya's tired of playing the good girl. All it got her was a broken heart and nothing to show for it. When she transfers to a new university, she's instantly attracted to her philosophy teacher. He's older, wiser, and his position promises security and commitment.

Getting the hard-bodied Mr. Taylor to notice her isn't so easy. He's determined to keep professional and ignore all her attempts at flirting. But as time passes Kaya realizes there is more between them than just intense sexual chemistry. When her teacher finally takes a chance on her, all bets are off.

Kaya and Hayden embark on a passionate love affair that heals both their hearts and turns up the heat. When Hayden's dominant side appears in the bedroom, Kaya can't get enough. Nothing could be better—if only their love wasn't forbidden.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Dec 19, 2011
• ISBN: 9781927368268

Stacey Espino

Stacey Espino is an international bestselling author, residing in beautiful northern Canada. She loves writing erotic romance that will have you squirming in your seat. From hardcore cowboys to alpha shifters, and everything in between, she has you covered.​Stacey also co-writes with author Sam Crescent.If you prefer alternative romance, check out Stacey's gay stories as Winona Wilder.Make sure to join Stacey and Sam's Playroom for contests, updates, and giveaways!https://www.facebook.com/groups/295030114286077/

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Published by Evernight Publishing at Smashwords

http://www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2011 Stacey Espino

ISBN: 978-1-927368-26-8

Cover Artist: LF Designs

Editor: Marie Buttineau

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

Dedicated to those who have the courage to live their fantasy.

THE GOOD STUDENT

Stacey Espino

Copyright © 2011

Chapter One

There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.

--Mark Twain

Cynthia sipped on her Margarita. Forget about Eric. He’s a jerk.

I know he’s a jerk, but forgetting isn’t so easy. You’d understand if you just wasted eight months of your life. Kaya tried to enjoy the night out with her best friend. She really did. Playing normal when her heart was broken to pieces and she felt like a disposable piece of shit, wasn’t so easy.

Call it a lesson learned and move on.

Kaya scoffed and fiddled with the paper umbrella in her drink. I’ll bet he’s after Brandy already. In fact, I’ll bet he celebrated the day I told him about the transfer.

Stop. Obsessing. Who cares what he does. He’s ancient history. Cynthia was normally an excellent distraction, but not when the wounds were this fresh.

Kaya was registered to start classes at Cynthia’s university on Monday morning. After much consideration, she had decided to make the switch for second semester. Her scholarship money had run out, and she couldn’t afford the tuition at her previous Ivy League school. Unfortunately not all her credits were transferrable, which would set her back another year. She was forced to change schools and lost her boyfriend of eight months in a single week. Even though it was only a ten minute difference in driving time from the old university to the new one, Eric insisted he couldn’t handle a long distance relationship.

Kaya had reduced herself to begging.

Looking back, she realized how pathetic and desperate she must have appeared. She had always been the invisible girl. The shy one. The boring one. When Eric had first asked her out on a date, she thought he was joking. He starred on the football team and all the girls wanted a piece of him. Eric was the perfect catch—young, blond, and muscled. It mystified Kaya why he bothered with her in the first place.

When he'd called it quits, she thought her whole world would collapse in around her. She measured her value by being Eric Coldwater’s girlfriend. Now she questioned everything, and she felt worthless and small. It didn’t help that Eric made a point of telling her that she had no passion, and he needed a little more excitement in his life on their last day together.

I mean if he thought I was boring…fine. Why lie and blame it on the transfer?

Ugh. Stop. Look around you, Kaya. There are plenty of eligible bachelors here and the university is busting from all the testosterone. He’s not the only guy in the world, and I say good riddens if he couldn’t commit.

Kaya sighed, downed her drink, and then slammed the glass back on the table. She had to put the breakup behind her. The past week it seemed all she did was lie in bed and listen to sad loves songs on her iPod. She cried, then went numb, then cried some more. She had opened herself up to Eric, something she never did lightly. When he took back his love, she mourned his loss, his listening ear, and the feeling of belonging. She lost more than a boyfriend. She lost her sense of self. Kaya wondered how much of what they shared was real. If he truly was the friend she thought, he would never have been able to walk away from her so easily.

Cynthia finally broke Kaya’s self destructive cycle by insisting she go out with her for the night.

"After eight months I thought things were serious. I thought he was the one."

I told you not to get too attached to him. I know his type. You should feel accomplished for keeping him as long as you did.

I’m thrilled. Honored actually. Kaya rolled her eyes and slumped forward over her knees.

Cut it out. Look at those two. Cynthia nudged her and pointed out two guys leaning against the bar, staring in their direction. The entire bar was dark, only the strobe lights offering minimal lighting.

What’s the point? Why pour my heart and soul into another guy just to have him dump me. I don’t think I can ever trust a man again. I thought what I had with Eric was real and look how that turned out.

Cynthia shrugged and chugged the last of her drink. It’s a gamble. They continued to people-watch. Why did everyone have to look so damn happy when she felt like a gooey mess on the inside?

What more could I have done? I loved him and did everything he asked of me.

Sorry, are we talking about Eric again? Seriously? I’ve already told you, it wasn’t you, it was him. He’s a no-good playboy.

So why waste his time on me at all? He knew what he was getting into when he asked me out? I’m not exactly the cheerleader type.

I don’t know, Kaya. Maybe it was the lure of the unknown. He never dated a good girl. Maybe he thought you were repressed on the outside and wild in the bedroom. Guys have some pretty fucked up fantasies.

That’s all they want isn’t it? A good fuck and then they’re on their way again. Guess I’m boring in the sack. She exhaled an unsteady breath. He called me needy and passionless.

He’s an asshole.

I’m really sick of trying to be what men want. I thought guys only settled down with good girls. Well, now I’m alone so my theory is way flawed.

So be a bad girl for a change.

Kaya chuckled. Then I’ll be able to keep them for a full eight minutes. I’m telling you, you can’t win with men. They only have one thing on their brains.

Kaya’s parents were missionaries. They never expected to have a child of their own. Kaya was the classic surprise pregnancy when they were working out of South Africa. When they came to the United States, Kaya was already a year behind when she started high school. Her parents settled down for her benefit, but as soon as she graduated they were travelling as a family unit overseas for charity work.

There was an eye opening moment when Kaya realized she didn’t want to follow in her parents’ footsteps. She wanted an education in America. A normal life with roots. Kaya knew they’d return home with her if she told them her feelings, but she would never ask it of them. Their dream, since she was a child, was to move to Addis Ababa and work in the orphanages. They recently accepted an offer to join a huge project and Kaya wouldn’t take that away from them. But it was their dream, not hers.

So she was on her own, after four years of nomad living. She roomed in Cynthia’s house and went to university on scholarship money. Until recently. With her money dried up and no more scholarship funds, she had to transfer universities and get a job making donuts at night. Not exactly what she planned for herself at twenty six, but she had a plan for the future. A plan not going her way lately.

Just stop thinking about that prick and concentrate on school. Be yourself and the right guy will come along when you’re not expecting it, said Cynthia, fluffing up her hair for her two-man audience.

Kaya could tell her friend was getting bored with her pity trip. They did come out to have fun and get her mind off of Eric. Her youth slipped passed her so