Emmaline stared up at Mr Conroy and imagined what it might be like to be married to such a man. She wasn't the only girl; every girl who was old enough to have a crush had a crush on Mr Conroy. He'd only been teaching in Piedmont for two years and every girl in his class had been devastated by his beauty.
Emmaline wished she were a little taller, a little more lush, and had long, straight, sleek hair like Diana's hair, or a body like Claire's. He'd never looked once at her unless he was teaching her something.
To be fair, he never looked at any of the girls at all. He did his job and went home and that was all.
He was known for it.
Sighing, she stretched in her seat and thought about Thursday and then the weekend. Thursday was Valentine's Day and there was a dance at the town hall on Saturday. She knew she wasn't the only girl imagining what it would be like to show up on the arm of Mr Conroy.
With his beautiful jet-black curls, striking blue eyes, and soft, elegant hands. Not like the farm boys in class, or any of the town boys even. They were all so big and oafish and dull in comparison to the refined teacher.
Sighing again and stretching as she stared at him reading at his desk, she was mortified when his eyes lifted and met hers in disapproval. Even his scowl was beautiful!
"Is there an issue, Miss Emmaline?" he asked in his no-nonsense, clipped way. "Do you need the privy?"
"No! No, sir, sorry. I was just a bit restless. I'll finish the chapter!" she promised, looking back down at her book as the other students all sniggered.
"You know the rules about disrupting silent reading," he spoke coldly. "You will stay after school today."
"Yes, Sir," she sighed, both loving and hating the extra time she would get to spend with him. She didn't want him upset with her!
She got a few frosty looks as class let out, especially from Jemima who had announced to everyone on more than one occasion that she fully intended to get Mr Conroy to ask her to marry him by the time school ended in a couple of months.
Still, Emmaline wasn't worried. He always chose someone to stay after to be lectured and this was the first time it was her. She was usually a model student in the hopes he would notice her for that.
She sat up straight and still as the others filed to the coat hall and left.
Mr Conroy sat in his seat, writing in a notebook as the others left, having already dismissed them.
As soon as the front door closed and the entire one-room schoolhouse was quiet, he finally looked up from his desk and looked around. Getting up, he only glanced at Emmaline before going and checking the coat hall.
He came back, looking over Emmaline with a cool and calculating look, his eyes taking all of her in.
"Come to my desk," he commanded.
Emmaline went rigid, a bit terrified. He gave swats at his desk!
Still, she stood and followed him to his desk, knowing it would be worse if she balked.
She didn't deserve swats, though!
He sat down in his chair and faced her, confusing her since he had to stand to give swats. It seemed he likely wasn't going to hit her, probably just make her write on the chalkboard.
"You're about to graduate, aren't you, Emmy?" he asked almost gently.
"Yes, sir," she agreed quickly, blushing as he looked her over again.
"You turned eighteen already, as I recall. Your friends all said so back before Yule. Yes?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. I've noted you do not have a young man courting you. Donovan Prastille has made mention of you several times, but never approached you."
She wasn't sure if that was a question, so she stayed quiet. Donovan had boasted to others that he meant to ask her to the Valentine's dance only yesterday. He knew she wasn't interested in a farm boy, especially not a giant clod like Donovan.
"Do you return his interest?" he asked when she remained quiet.
"No, sir!"
"And yet, you do have an interest in a man?" he asked almost mockingly.
Emmaline blushed to her ears, her face burning.
"Come closer," he commanded, then put hands on her waist and pulled her up into his lap when she moved close enough.
Emmaline was thrilled as she looked up at him in surprise, his hands on her waist as he held her close.
"Have you longed for this, Emmy?" he asked lightly.
"I... sir... I have. You're so very lovely!" she breathed, horrifying herself with the words that spilled out.
He chuckled, then leaned in closer as he stroked a curl off of her face. "You're lovely as well, little Emmy! I have seen you. Watched you watching me and I have grown very fond of you! Incredibly fond, indeed. I have wondered when I leave here after school has ended and I can go and teach at the college... if I might bring someone with me. A wife. Would that suit you, little Emmy? To go back with me as my wife? See Lucana?"
"I would like it so very much!" she breathed, stunned and delighted. Surely she was dreaming!
"As would I," he smirked, then pulled her in closer to him and leaned in, pressing his lips to hers.
A kiss!
He had kissed her!
Emmaline's lips parted as she looked up at him in awe and he smiled before leaning in to kiss her again, then again.
When his hand slid up her waist to her breast, she twisted away and moved his hand back down. She was sure it had been an accident, he hadn't known she was turned that way!
"Do not fear a bit of touching," he scolded lightly, kissing her again and again as he moved his hand back to her breast. "I have longed for you, and you me! If our intent is marriage, then this is not only fine, it is good and right, isn't it? I need to be sure you're the one, don't I?"
Emmaline hesitated in pushing his hand away again, unsure about this.
"Don't turn from me," he went on, and she realized she had turned her whole body away from him.
She didn't like this.
Pulling her close, he kissed her again and she let him, but this felt off to her now and she was more afraid than she was excited.
His other hand pulled her skirt up until his warm hand was on her bare thigh and sliding up.
"Don't!" she told him, trying to slide off of his lap. "I don't want this!"
"Don't be coy," he admonished with a laugh. "Of course you do! You want to be the one, don't you? Now be good and quiet for me, behave so I know to choose you and not Jemima or Diana. They were obedient and quiet like good young ladies. You be good for me too and be quiet for me. This is our secret," he told her as his fingers tugged at her underclothes.
"No! No, I don't want this! Let me go! Let me down, NOW! Or I will tell my papa!"
Mr Conroy snarled as he yanked her in close, clutching her to him as he held her still. "You will NOT! Do you know what happens when a girl is spoiled, Emmy? Her father disowns her and she is cast out! Be still! Stay still, I am not going to fuck you, prude that you are! You shouldn't offer what you don't want to give with your sighs and daydreaming looks! We both know you have imagined me this way! All of you have, you've all admitted it!"
"Let me go!" Emmaline pleaded as he unfastened his pants behind her and held her close with his other arm. "Please!"
"Just remain still and silent!" he commanded, holding her close as he began stroking his manhood behind her. "Let me have at least this! I could have had another stay and she would have behaved for me! Kissed it and taken it into her mouth, stroked it with her hands, or even opened her legs for me! I should have known you weren't as good as the others! Oh... I do like how you feel, Emmaline! How slight you are and how good you feel in my arms! This isn't so much, is it? It's a small thing to do for me and I do enjoy it so much! Oh... be still now for me... very still and good, I am so close!" he panted into her hair as she went rigid and sobbed brokenly as he stroked himself right against her hip. "I like your looks more than Diana and Claire both! And I imagine you are so much more clever with your perfect lips than Jemima once you learn to use them as I like! Oh... gods! And I bet your special place has been aching for me to fill it, so small and in need of me! It will be sublime when I take you to our marriage bed! Emmy, I am so close! Tell me how much you adore me!" he commanded, sounding strained as his hand stroked faster and harder.
Emmaline only sobbed, shaking her head and wishing she'd never caught his eye.
Grunting, then letting out a long groan, he finally relaxed but still didn't let her down. Leaning back in his chair as he tried to catch his breath, he pulled her to lay back against him.
"Emmy, that was quite lovely! Next time I expect you to be more involved and less of a baby, though! You're a woman and you need to act like one! That was a bit ridiculous! If you truly want to be considered as a viable bride in the future, then you will..."
"I don't!" she interrupted quickly. "I want nothing from you! I didn't like that and you're nothing like I imagined! Let me go!"
"Settle down, little Emmaline," he soothed her. "Calm down. Don't you know what it's like for a man and woman in love? How they treat each other and the acts they perform for each other? Would it please you if I showed you some things you might enjoy as well?"
"No! Please let me go home!"
"First we must speak," he told her grumpily as he yanked her in close again and held her tightly. "You must promise me that this is our secret. I will only consider you as a wife if I know you can be discreet, do you understand? Promise me you'll not mention our... forays to anyone."
"I won't! I swear! Please let me go!"
"Soon enough. Settle yourself a bit for me, please. Relax and allow me to hold you for a moment and simply enjoy you. I do love your curls, Emmy!"
"My name is Emmaline! I do not wish you to be familiar with me!"
