Tempting Teacher – The Pierce Family Read Online Crystal Kaswell

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, Taboo Tags Authors: Crystal Kaswell Advertisement

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"A Pierce through and through."

"I don't think Simon will high-five me for it."

"Does Simon high-five?"

"You know what I mean."

"I do. But, uh, Opal… it's really obvious."

"It is?"

"Between the blush and the way you're staring at Max… if you don't have a better story—"

"Would you believe a crush?"

"Maybe."

"Would Simon?"

"He's your brother."

"It's not… I'm the one who pursued him."

"I'm not judging."

"At all?"

She shakes her head. "I worry. You're like my kid sister."

"You hate your sister."

"I don't hate her. We disagree about our parents."

"Still—"

"You're like my kid sister I adore. Is that better?"

"Yes. Thanks."

She smiles. "You sound like Liam now."

"He's my half-brother."

Her smile widens.

"Is it that obvious?"

"It's obvious there's something."

"Will you tell Liam it's only a crush?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Absolutely. And if Liam asked me to keep a secret from you, I'd honor that too."

"Has he?"

She mimes zipping her lips.

"It's Liam. He doesn't have secrets."

She doesn't agree, but she doesn't press it either. "What happened with your professor?"

"Max? Well… you swear you won't tell anyone?"

"I swear."

I tell her everything.

When we're done, Briar is as red as I am. And as sure we need to keep this from my brother. "You can't tell Simon."

"I know."

"The crush is plausible. He's handsome."

"Isn't he?"

She smiles. "And he seems smart. Stoic."

"Not your type?"

"Apparently." Her smile widens. "You really like him, huh?"

"It's casual."

"But you do?"

"I do."

"And you have been working together," she says. "It's not a lie."

Right. We've been working together for weeks. On a personal project. That's plenty of cause for blushing. "You think Simon will believe that?"

"I think you can play that you don't get it because you're a guy card."

"And when has Simon ever had a crush on an authority figure?"

"Have you actually asked?"

"Ew."

"Maybe there was a sexy math teacher."

"Why math?"

"A sexy English teacher."

"EWWW!"

She laughs. "Liam is right. You're too easy."

"Liam is right. You're as cruel as you are beautiful."

"Thank you?"

"I'm sure he means it as a compliment."

"Do you?"

I motion eh.

She laughs again. "Are you ready to face him?"

"Which him?"

"The room?"

No, but I can't hide in here forever. "As long as you'll back me up."

"Of course." She nods. "And my bra hook was broken. That's the emergency."

"Got it."

She takes a deep breath and marches back to the table.

I follow her with considerably less confidence.

Of course, only Liam pays Briar any attention. He flirts with his fiancée the way he normally does.

Simon and Max focus on me.

"All fixed," I say.

"Your Thai Iced Tea." Simon motions to the bright orange drink on the table. Well, the untouched one. He also has a Thai iced tea. "No dairy, all coconut. I checked."

"Thanks," I say.

"The food should be out soon," he says.

"Is that your excuse for an attitude today?" Liam asks Simon.

"What attitude?" Simon shrugs, effortless and unmoved.

For a split second, Liam frowns. The troublemaker can take any reaction except no reaction. But he's also a Pierce through and through. He doesn't give up easily. He turns his frown upside down.

I sit and smooth my jeans. "Don't mind Liam. He's difficult." Shit. They said they were friends. "Extra difficult around Simon."

"So I see." Max stays calm.

"How do you know Liam?" Simon asks.

"Work," Max says.

"Really?" Simon raises a brow. "I don't remember Pierce looking into Paytron."

"My life doesn't revolve around Pierce," Liam says, though it's not totally true. He's the CFO, and he's engaged to his former assistant. "It was for Bri. I was looking for a mentor for her. Someone who wouldn't bore her to death the way you would."

"You didn't tell me," Briar plays along.

"It's supposed to be a surprise," Liam says. "But Max here—"

"All artist, no business." Max draws a doodle in the air.

"I don't believe that," Simon says.

"I've learned over the years. But Raul was the one who knew business. My late partner," Max says.

Liam shoots Simon a way to kill the mood look.

Simon doesn't react.

"Is that how you came to teach Opal's class?" Simon asks.

Max nods. "I promised him I'd fill in if something happened. I'm sure it sounds ridiculous—"

"No, I understand," Simon says. "I made my late brother a promise and felt compelled to follow through, even though he…" He lets out a soft, sad laugh. "That's how I ended up with Vanessa, actually."

"Oh?" Max raises a brow. It's different than the way Simon does it. It's all Max.

"I shouldn't tell that story in front of Opal," Simon says.

"We can go." I motion to Briar. "We can take the food to Liam's place." And pretend this never happened, maybe.

"It is a bit hypocritical," Briar says. "If you'd tell the story in front of Liam or Adam. Unless… sorry, you don't want to hear it, do you?"

"Does it matter if I want to hear it?" I don't. Not usually. But Vanessa is the only topic that will actually distract Simon. "The three of you"—I point to Briar and Liam, then to Simon—"are sex-crazed perverts."

Briar smiles knowingly.

Liam too. "Oh yeah? I'm a sex crazed pervert? And you—"

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