Free Thrasher by K.S. Smith Page A

that.”
    He laughed, amused at my statement.
    “But, if for some insane reason, they lost their mind for a split second and acted like that, I would hope that their teacher would use her best judgment and do what she felt to be right.”
    “So you wouldn’t want to know about it?” he probed.
    I shook my head. “If they were younger, I’d definitely want to know, but those were all of my seniors, good students. Most of them are getting ready to turn eighteen and head off to college in a few short months. Things like this are going to happen, and my hope is that I have made a big enough impact in their life that when I ask them to do something, they do it. I could go into school on Monday, tell the principal, and call all their parents, but what good would that do for any of them? I don’t condone what they did. It was reckless and dangerous, but I don’t think they should be lined up before the firing squad on their first offense. Now you can bet your sweet ass I will rat all of them out if I catch them again, because now they’ve been warned, and they should know better.”
    I could tell by the look on his face that he didn’t necessarily agree with me, but that was how he was. Duke was by the book with everything he did, everything except me. With me, it was like he did his best to relax and not take things so seriously.
    Still reeling from his question regarding our children, I figured I’d try to keep him on the subject. “So, do you want to have children one day?”
    He stretched his arms and locked his fingers behind his head, his taut muscles flexing. “One day, not any time soon though.”
    Butterflies began to flutter in my stomach, and I tried my best to hide the smile that was forcing itself onto my face. “How many?” I continued.
    Duke inhaled and let out a big breath of air. “Seven or eight, maybe more.”
    My hands flew to my mouth, trying to hide the horror on my face. “Eight kids!” I shouted, utterly shocked by his answer.
    His lips curled up, and he reached over to me and forced my body up against his. His arm slung tightly around my hip. “I’m kidding. I’d never be able to handle eight kids, at least I don’t think I would. I guess I’ll have to see if that day ever comes. I was an only child, so I never got to experience what siblings were like until I joined the Marine Corps and instantly had tons of brothers. I think it’d be more fun having someone to grow up with, so maybe two or three kids. I guess that’ll be up to my future wife.”
    I pushed up on my knees, hopped on top of Duke’s lap, and straddled him. “Well, if I happen to be your future wife, then those numbers sound perfect to me. I loved having an older brother growing up, and I definitely want my children to have siblings. It just makes life more fun. Besides, it’s like having an instant friend who will always be there for you.”
    Duke nodded. “Unless they don’t get along. Then it’s a natural-born enemy.”
    I nodded my head and leaned in to kiss his lips. His sweet breath caressed my face before I demanded his lips give me their undivided attention. His strong hands gripped hard at my hips, pulling my body closer against him, molding us together as one. Duke tugged at my bottom lip with his teeth, and a slight moan escaped from deep within. My body was sensitive to his every touch and well aware of what was about to happen next as my insides began to tighten in anticipation.
    I reached for the buckle of Duke’s pants when the sound of the front door swung open. “Hello! Anyone home?” A familiar yell came from within the foyer, and I jumped off Duke’s lap. “Oh my gosh, it’s my brother. Hurry, get up. He will kill you if he sees us in here like this.”
    Duke pointed to his pants. “And what exactly do you want me to do with this?” he asked, trying to adjust his hard on.
    I cupped my mouth to keep my laugh from bubbling out and shoved him toward the patio. “Go outside. I’ll distract