At 16, Stacy Evans dropped out of high school in the hopes of moving on with his life. But four years later, he's stuck in an abusive relationship with Lamar, a "friend with benefits," and works long hours at a dead-end job just to get by.<br><br>Then his mother enrolls him in a program to earn his GED. There he meets Darian, a woodshop teacher who is everything Stacy's friends are not -- smart, successful ... and who seems to take a personal interest in helping Stacy turn his life around. The two develop a rapport that keeps Stacy after school just to spend extra time with him. In intimate moments alone, they grow closer than just student and teacher.<br><br>On the right track for once, Stacy has a chance to choose between his troublesome past and a promising future with Darian. But his jealous friends won't let him go so easily.

Stepping Up to the Plate

“Woodshop?” When Stacy nodded, Ange tapped the dresser’s middle drawer with his fist, and the front of the drawer fell heavily to the floor. “Maybe you can fix this for me, then. It’s been broke forever.”


“I don’t know anything yet,” Stacy cautioned. “Class doesn’t even start until Monday.”


NowAnge took a step towards him, leaving the drawer front where it landed at his feet. “Will you fix it when you know how?” he asked, his voice low between them.


Stacy laughed. “And you thought my come-on lines were bad,” he teased. Reaching out a hand, he touched Ange’s stomach again, and this time his friend let his fingers ease into his waistband and beneath the hem of his tank top. Ange’s foot bumped Stacy’s, then he was laying him back to the bed, his lips kissing over Stacy’s bare chest. As his teeth closed over one hard nipple, Stacy hissed in delight. “Less talk, more sex,” he sighed, tugging Ange’s tank top up in his haste to get it out from between them.


Chapter 28