Perfecting the Odds by Brenna St. Clare Page B

swagger, the man ambled down the center aisle and his title of Greek god nearly tripled in intensity. The audience seemed to turn as one, looking so much like a school of fish that under normal conditions, she would have laughed. In fact, if she were to snap a picture of this moment, the caption would read, “The prodigious Michael Finn wrapped everyone around his sexy fingers.”
    But before Karis could catch her breath, he prowled up right behind her, canopying his heat over her body. She shivered as his warm breath teased the hairs on her neck. She tried her best to suck in air and not look like a desperate fool in the process. She searched the hundreds of eyes gawking. All eyes were on him and then, lord have mercy, her. Her heart sounded like it was beating somewhere outside herself. 
    Through gritted teeth, she managed, “Why?”
    He glanced down at her royal blue tailored blouse, grinning all white teeth and crinkly eyes. “So modest today, Mrs. Bennett? And, glasses, too? God damn , you have to be the hottest teacher I’ve ever seen,” he whispered, fluttering his lips against her cheek. She looked down at her blouse as her traitorous nipples visibly pebbled right through her lace bra to her silk blouse. That’s it. She was officially dying of both embarrassment and sexual deprivation.
    “Cold? ” he asked. Her eyes immediately widened. Please, someone pull the fire alarm . 
    “ Michael, please don’t do this.” Her plea ended as a sultry gasp. Grrr-eat.
    “Yes,” he whispered.
    “Yes?”
    “I can see them .” He inhaled deeply. “And smell your sweetness from here. I can help you with that.”
    She gasped and fisted the railing harder. “ Oh god, Michael, please be quiet. You’re going to get me--”
    “Off?”
    “Fired, you arrogant ass,” she hissed, and he chuckled.
    “ Go on darling, they’re waiting for you.” He smiled that I-know-you-want-me and I-want-you smile, and it shot straight through her—a Karis-calibrated missile. Her legs unstable, she gripped the railing even harder. And then, in an attempt to alleviate some of the awkwardness coursing through the room, the sexy bastard turned from her and gave the audience a Colgate smile with a small wave. Karis swore she heard every female in the room whimper.
    Harnessing some control, s he turned and rolled her eyes at him. He shrugged. As if he didn’t frickin’ know his effect on females and probably most males! He prodded her toward stage with a concealed pat to her ass, and she glared back at him. She cleared her throat and with a cheesy fake grin made her way to the podium. He followed, filling his empty seat.
    “Woo hoooo, Mrs. Bennett,” bellowed through the crowd of teenagers and faculty.
    “ It’s always nice to be appreciated, Mr. O’Brien,” Karis responded immediately, prompting laughter from the crowd and the sexy nuisance behind her. She knew her students well, every last one of them. After adjusting the microphone, she palmed the podium with two hands.  She looked over her shoulder briefly, narrowed her eyes, willing Michael to read her mind. Leave. Please. Impervious to her desperation, he smirked and lifted his chin. Deep breath, Karis. Out of sight; out of mind. Let’s get this shit show going.
    “Thank you for the kind introduction, Mrs. Winston.” Her voice wavered. She had spoken in public often, but damn if Michael’s presence changed everything. She never cared what others thought, but a compulsory need to impress him took over everything she thought she was. With one more steadying breath, she continued. “I think all of you will be pleased with the group of speakers we’ve arranged for you today.” The audience clapped along with her. She could feel his eyes washing over her and she swore she could smell that musky combination of coconut and him. Feeling like a cat in heat, she shifted and fidgeted, breaking all the public speaking rules she had hammered into her students’ heads. Collecting