Free Fringe Benefits by Sandy James

home?”
    “I should be ‘deaf to pleading and excuses. Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase.’ ”
    It was his turn to laugh as he got to his feet. “What if I told you that women who quote Shakespeare make me hot?”
    “I’ll have to reconsider letting you have my basement.”
    “Then women who quote Shakespeare no longer make me hot.”
    “Good.” Dani glanced around her basement. “So you’ll take it?”
    “Oh, yeah,” Nate replied.
    *   *   *
    Although Dani was happy, she was also terrified. “I haven’t even told you the rent yet.”
    “Can’t be any worse than the long-term place. Trust me, this is a huge step up in my world.” His smile slowly bowed to a frown, but the spark of humor remained in his eyes. “There’s only one problem that I see.”
    How easy it would be to become accustomed to the way he loved to tease her. “Problem? Hmmm…” She deliberately waited a few moments. “Sorry. I can’t think of a single problem… besides having to use the upstairs kitchen from time to time.”
    “It’s not that.”
    Although she would probably regret asking, she did anyway. “Then what’s the problem?”
    Nate grabbed her wrist and tugged her toward him hard enough she ran right into his chest. He slipped his arms around her waist, giving her little choice on what to do with her arms—either shove him away with them or loop them around his neck.
    Dani chose the latter.
    “The problem is”—he kissed her nose—“I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”
    Before she could say a word, his mouth was on hers.
    She’d almost forgotten how wonderful his lips felt pressed against hers, how much those lips could make fire shoot through every limb. And when his tongue tickled the seam of her lips, she stopped thinking and tried to just… feel.
    Her heart hammered a rough beat as her tongue rubbed against his. No man had ever made her so hot so quickly. Her breasts tingled as her nipples tightened, and her core throbbed with want.
    The kiss ended only long enough for her to catch a breath. At least her pride was saved since Nate panted for air as well. Then his mouth was on hers again, his tongue probing and teasing and raising her desire to a fever pitch.
    Dani couldn’t stop a soft moan when he slid his hands down to cup her backside and pulled her pelvis hard against his, letting her feel his erection.
    Nate kissed his way across her cheek and traced the ridges of her ear with his tongue before burying his lips against the sensitive skin of her neck. Each little nip and soothing lick sent her head whirling.
    “I want you, Dani,” he whispered, his voice ragged and full of need.
    Good sense came back in a flood that felt like being dunked in cold water. “Stop.”
    Easing back, he knit his brows and stared down at her. “What’s wrong?”
    “J-just stop.” She put her hands against his chest and pushed.
    He only resisted for a heartbeat or two before releasing her. “I don’t understand.”
    With trembling legs, Dani made her way to the stairs. “We can’t do this again, Nate.”
    “Are you saying you don’t want me?”
    She let out a sad little snort. “Of course I want you.”
    “And you know I want you. So what’s the problem?”
    “Problem? Try
problems
.”
    “You’re still stuck on the you’re-my-boss crap?”
    “It’s not crap!” Fisting her hands to keep from shouting, she tried to explain her tumbling emotions. “I
am
your boss. I’d think that growing up with a teacher would’ve ingrained the teaching hierarchy in you.”
    He shrugged. “Department head really isn’t that big a deal. You know it, and I know it. I sure didn’t see any rules about teachers being forbidden from dating other teachers. Aren’t there even some married couples teaching at Douglas?”
    He had her there. “There are. And you’re right; there’s no rule against it. But there is common sense. You’re new, Nate. The first two years are probationary. You don’t want