“Six fucking a.m.,Beautiful Young Teacher ” she rasped, her voice gruff and thick with sleep. Maybe a blazer, too, for good measure.”

She rolled her eyes, stabbing her chicken harder than needed, but the smirk lingered, a quiet amusement softening her edge. He pressed again, her biceps and chest flexing, his abs tightening as he powered through ten reps. He lifted the t-shirt higher, revealing the full expanse of her toned abdomen–hard ridges of muscle carved from years of discipline, a faint sheen of sweat still glistening on her skin.