5

BRICE

This girl is playing peek-a-boo with me over the pages of her book. I wonder what's going through her head. She hasn't flipped a page since opening it. I would know because I'm feeling out of sorts and have been trying, not to so successfully might I add, to concentrate on doing something productive other than watching her.

I find that its useless. I'm used to studying in the private library of Eagles Row which is exclusive to the prefects it houses. Call it one of the perks of leadership at Milton.

I want to take her somewhere we can relax - away from the prying eyes of others.

After tinkering on her phone for a bit, she softly excuses herself pushing her chair back and disappearing behind a shelf.

I would take her back to Eagles Row but I don't think a house full of boys would help in putting her at ease. Not to mention what the gents would think and even worse, say. Sometimes boys gossip more than girls and I don't need that getting back to Hailey.

Speaking of which... I shoot her a text.

Won't b able 2 see u for this morn's sesh.

An idea comes to mind. The more I think it over the more appealing it becomes.

My phone vibrates. It's probably Hailey.

But you were on the way a few minutes ago ☹

Want me to meet you instead?

Nah don't worry abt it. Just biz I need 2 handle.

There's a lodge my dad's club owns that's about 20 minutes out. He reserves its use for members or when he can make it out here to watch one of my sporting events.

The members comprise of the good men who are rich enough and sensible enough to send their kids to Milton. Men that have made it into his business circle and his special little club.

The other parents of Milton either lodge in town or don't stay long enough and drive over to one of the hotels in the next city.

If I'm lucky the staff are out and about in town but knowing my dumb luck, there are one or two milling around. They're hired year-round acting as spies for my father in this community. The best gossip always comes from the help.

I stand and look for Soleil. This bird has me chasing her down and I wont get anywhere with her on school grounds. It will be easier to read and engage her once we shed the roles we're currently playing: Me the jock; She the nerd.

I stand behind her and press myself into her back, taking hold of her waist.

"Soleil?"

"Yeah?" Her voice is barely above a whisper.

"Will you go out with me?"

She's got to know this is a date. I've got to woo her. The Frenchman in me wants to give her romance but time is not on our side. We have 2 periods today and 2 months left in the year.

My phone buzzes. It's probably Hailey.

I squeeze her waist in anxiety willing her to say yes.

"You said you were free for the next 2 periods."

"Yeah," she nods her head, the strands tickling my nose. It smells like wildflowers.

"Want to go for a drive? Get some fresh air."

She turns around and looks up at me for a beat. "Sure. Yes. Why not."

She gives me this cute half smile and shrugs her shoulder nonchalantly. Based on the gesture, I don't think she expects much from me so I'm going to surprise her. I take her hand and lead us back to our table.

"I need to fetch my keys back in my room. Meet you out front?"

She nods her nod in agreement and I quickly pack my bag. I can see a few girls at the table across from ours looking over and whispering.

Here we go.

I need to get a move on and get us out of here.

I set a quick pace out of the library and practically sprint back to Eagles Row which is 3 buildings over. I allow myself to catch my breath when I'm folded into my car. It's a Jeep Wrangler Sport edition I got for Christmas. I drove it up for my senior year from Balito and will probably have it shipped back down and catch a flight to Plett for vac. I've had a whole lot of mischief with and made memories in this bad boy.

I pull up to the library and get out to open the day for Soleil. I take her bag for her, strap her in, and close her door before putting her bag in the back. I peel off heading for the estate exit closest to the lodge which is south of the school's property.

I roll the window down and greet the security, Mr Mbuyi.

"Chief! How you doing?"

"Good and you Mr Brice?" He's always in a jolly mood.

"I'm great just heading down the road to check on the manor. I should be back in under 2 hours. This is my tutor, Soleil Spellman. If anyone asks, you know where to find me."

"Alright, alright!" He waves a hand and opens the gate letting us out.

"Thanks Chief!" I shake his hand with a hundy for his troubles.

I manoeuvre the Jeep over the off-road terrain onto the freeway and then gun it probably breaking the speed limit. I plan to cut the 20 minute drive down to 12.

I look over at Soleil who's staring at me with a wide grid and open the sun roof.

"Is this enough fresh air?" I ask her teasingly as the wind whips around us.

"My hair will be a mess at the end of this!" she squeals.

She takes her shoes off and stands on the seat sticking out of the sunroof.

I'm now eye level with her crotch and slide my gaze over the exposed skin of her brown thighs.

Her legs are toned and shapely. She's thick where I'm used to slim. I turn on the radio and catch Prime Circle's She Always Gets What She Wants. You'll find me at a party chilling to hip hop and bobbing to house but in my down time I like to rock out.

Her subtle scent floats over to my nose. She smells like cocoa butter and flowers.

I'm tempted to run my hand up her leg and slip my fingers into her pleasure centre. This girl dares me to be wild. One minute I want to love on her and the next I want to fuck her.

When I see the post indicating the lodge up ahead, I listen to the devil's whisper and slide my hands underneath her skirt and up her leg.

She quickly drops back to the seat before I make it to the apex.

"Are you alright?" I tease.

She shoots me an incredulous look. "Really!?"

"I couldn't resist." I shrug, coming to a halt in front of the wrought iron gates. I lean over and give her pouty mouth a quick peck. Her face morphs from annoyance to shock. I open my window and punch in the pin.

"Welcome to Maverick Manor."

I park my car in the driveway and jump out to open Soleil's door. No valet service. We're off to a good start.

It'll be easier to chat her up if its just the two of us. I don't need people running around after me like I'm an invalid.

We walk up the steps and I open the wooden double doors, steering her past the foyer through the west wing hall to the kitchen.

"Are you hungry?" I ask already planning a dish or two but wanting to gage her interest.

"I could eat."

"Good. What are you in the mood for?" I direct her to the black marble island and make my way to the pantry. The chef's not in - score.

"Hmmm pancakes with syrup! And French toast! And hot chocolate! Oooo do you have croissants or muffins?" she sounds as excited as a kid in an ice-cream parlour.

"That's a lot of carbs," I think out loud considering my macros.

She blushes looking embarrassed. "Sorry-"

"It's not that I mind. I'm just used to women who seem to survive on coffee or fruit for breakfast. Don't worry about it. I guess I could carbo load early."

I'm not supposed to be carbo loading at all but I want to indulge her. She always gets what she needs and more... the lyrics of Prime Circle echo in my mind.

I get started on her hot chocolate to whet her appetite, afterwards pulling the ingredients for the pancake batter from various cupboards. I work and she sits in a comfortable silence.

"Do you need help?" she asks after taking a few sips of her drink.

"Non mon cher. Not in the kitchen. But... I do need help with something else."

"What?"

The cup stops an inch from those full lips I have the desire to have wrapped around me.

"I want you to tutor me."

"Ah! So that's what you meant when we were leaving the school grounds."

"I feel that we can be of help to one another."

"Go on."

She looks sceptical and I would be too. This is supposed to be a date. I want to monopolise her time but can't risk her turning me down if I ask. So I do the next best thing. I buy it.

"I'm willing to pay you 500 an hour."

She rolls her eyes but half-way through catches herself and refocuses on the high-rise ceiling and the fittings around us.

"This place is spectacular. What is this, a family home?"

"Something like that."

The club is like a family - a fucked up family. I don't want to get into it.

Her silence is killing me. This girl makes me nervous. I don't want to come across too eager so I give her time. I open the wine fridge and pull out a bottle of Le Roux from the family vineyard, adding the contents to my OJ.

"R500 probably means nothing to you. Make it $300 and I'll know you're not wasting either of our time."

"Done. We'll make it official and sign on it after breakfast."

She nods her head and continues sipping on her hot chocolate. I find some frozen croissants and choc chip muffins in the freezer and pop them in the oven.When all is done, I spread her requests before her like an offering to a goddess and take the seat next to hers.

I spend the next 15 minutes hearing her moan about how good the food is. I've never seen a woman sexualise food. They ones I eat with tend to avoid it like a plague. I'm so turned on I have a tent problem. I clear my stack of pancakes and wolf down a chocolate muffin thinking about muffing her.

"I need your help in Math, Physics, and Chemistry," I voice forcing my thoughts out of the gutter.

"Okay, what were your grades on them during prelims?"

"60, 55, and 65 respectively."

She looks over at me with widened eyes. Her cheeks are full as she chews on another mouthful.

"What?"

I hope she doesn't think I'm a moron. I just didn't have the time to study being an athlete and sports captain. I'm doing well in art and my business subjects though.

"That's not bad... " she doesn't sound convincing. "What do you want to raise your grades to?"

"70 across the board."

I'm not looking for miracles. Maybe with Math.

"Okay." She nods her head more enthusiastically this time taking another bite. Her portions are sizeable but she's taking her time like a lady. "That's practical - achievable. We can spend 2 hours a week on each."

6 hours a week is not enough time.

"I was thinking 4."

"What?"

"4 hours per subject. I want 2 sessions per subject per week. We can count a session as 2 hours."

"Okay so $300 dollars per session. Which comes to $1800?" She asks me uncertainly.

I raise my brow in surprise. "Why does that sound like a question? You're the one whos supposed to be the math wiz."

"No, technically Charlondra's a savant in math but yeah, 2 sessions for 3 subjects at $300 per session comes to $1800 per week."

I didn't expect to be shelling out an extra $1800 per week on tutoring but I can swing it.

"Let's settle on $1500 per week," I counter.

My dad taught me to always negotiate. The person on the other end of the table will respect you the more for it. She's also pushing her luck with these rates but I cant think of anything I would say no to if Soleil asked.

She always gets what she wants...

She thinks about it for a second and then nods her head.

"Okay. Alright. Send me your exam timetable and I'll take a look at mine. We can take it from there."

I stick out my hand and she slides her delicate one in mine. We shake on it in agreement. I give it a firm squeeze before bringing the back of her hand to my lips for a kiss. I hold her brown eyes in my own.

I have her.

12 hours of her week now belong exclusively to me.

♡

04/07/2022

I was in the Uber on Sunday when Prime Circle started playing. What a jam! It always catches me in the feels ❤

Are you feeling Brice and Soleil? 😚

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