A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)(18)

The irrational irritation and heat she’d apparently quelled with her hypothesizing and promise to try reared instantly when their eyes locked for a split second.

[page]Clearing her throat, Kat made her way to her desk. “I’m glad we’re all here. Today we’re going to start our poetry study, which we will do for the next week before we start our Shakespeare play.”


Kat rested her backside against her desk, her skin tingling. She’d seen Carter’s reaction to the poem she’d distributed, and had managed to stay quiet by biting her lip so hard she nearly drew blood. She focused on getting her words out and not on the desire she had to pull a face, stick her tongue out, or perform some other equally inappropriate gesture.

Jesus—mature, much?

She took a deep breath. “I’d like to start by asking what you all know about poetry.”

The room remained silent. Riley perused the ceiling as he always did, as though the answer was written there, while Jason and Corey looked at her like she’d grown three additional heads. Sam kept his eyes on the desk in front of him, happy to keep quiet after the fiasco of yesterday’s session. He hated confrontations.

Jason slowly raised his hand, meeting Kat’s eyes with trepidation. “They can rhyme?”

“They can, absolutely,” she answered with a smile. “Just like the poem we’ll be studying, but that’s not always the case.”

“They’re always about pansy-ass shit like love,” Riley complained from his seat.

“That is true in some cases, Riley, but not in this one,” Kat replied with a shake of her head. “Would I do that to you?” Riley chuckled.

The undeniable sound of Carter mumbling something into the back of his hand had Kat’s head swiveling in his direction. “I’m sorry, Carter, I didn’t catch that.”

He dropped his hands to the desk and shot her a daggered stare.

“We have a very simple rule in this classroom,” Kat added when the silence continued. “You have something to say, you say it. Okay?” The smile she gave was sugary sweet.

“Or else what?”

Kat cocked her head to the side, studying him. He was undeniably attractive, hiding a rage that simmered beneath his skin.

“Or else you can leave. It’s that simple.” Kat moved closer, speaking quietly. “I’ve told you before. This is my classroom. My rules. You do as you’re asked.” Kat lifted the left corner of her mouth in her own derisive grin. “Not too basic for you, is it?”

“Basic,” Corey muttered behind his hand.

Before Kat could say anything else, Carter slammed his hand down hard enough to split the wood of the desk and shoved his chair back with such force it clattered into the desk behind it. Furious silence blanketed the room.

“Something f*cking funny?” he growled down at Corey before shooting a glare at Officer West, who’d moved from his position by the door. “Care to share?” Carter continued, taking a step toward his prey. “I don’t appreciate being left out of a joke.”

Kat was spellbound.

She moved slowly. “Carter, calm down.”

Carter ignored her, bending at the waist to eyeball a wary-looking Corey. “Are you laughing at me?”

“Come on now, Carter,” Officer West murmured while throwing a worried glance in Kat’s direction.

“Carter, sit down,” Kat urged, hiding the panic in her voice with firmness and authority. “There’s no need for this. Cool it.”

“Yeah, man,” Corey continued. “Cool it.”