No.
Embracing her, pinning her arms to her sides, he kissed her wet cheek and unclasped the back of her bra.
No! I mean it! She squirmed, but he hugged her hard against him.
Whats the matter with you? he asked. She heard no anger in his voice. He sounded confused, even hurt.
Its just not right. Youre a teacher.
Youve been trying your best to seduce me. Well, Im only human. Youve won. Youve got me.
She struggled in his embrace, but he held her fast.
Theres no reason to be frightened. Just calm down.
Lane stopped struggling.
Thats better. Thats much better. He relaxed his hold. His hands roamed gently over her bare back. Doesnt this feel good?
I guess so.
Youre a very lucky young lady, he said. They allwant me. You know that, dont you? His hands slid lower. They rubbed her buttocks. Every female in that school has the hots for me. But only a lucky few actually getme.
I want to go home, Lane said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. Please.
Ill take you home. He found the button at the hip of her skirt. He opened it and slid the zipper down.
No!
Ill take you home as soon as weve finished.
The skirt dropped around her feet. He slipped his hands inside the seat of her panties. His fingers kneaded her rump.
Mr. Kramer, dont.
Its Hal. Remember?
He peeled the panties down around her thighs.
Damn it! She shoved him.
He stumbled backward and dropped onto a cushion. Sprawled there, he said, Youre a real disappointment, Lane.
She bent over. The bra fell away from her breasts, its straps sliding down her arms. She tugged her panties up. Bending lower, the bra drifting down to her wrists, she reached for her skirt. Before she could lift it, Hal stretched out a leg and pinned the skirt to the deck. Take your foot off.
His leg jerked back. The skirt, hooked by his heel, tugged sharply at Lanes boots. Her feet skidded. With a gasp she lurched up straight and waved her arms, flinging her bra through the darkness. Just as she found her balance, Kramer ducked, grabbed the skirt with both hands and yanked it toward him.
Her feet flew out from under her.
No! she cried out as she fell.
The edge of a cushion caught her across the rump. Her back slapped the cool surface. She jammed her hands down and pushed herself up.
Kramer stepped between her knees. He grabbed her throat and shoved her down against the pad. With his other hand he punched her just below the sternum.
Pain blasted through Lanes body. Her breath whooshed out. She wheezed, trying to suck in more, but her lungs didnt seem to work. Nothing seemed to work. She felt as if her body had exploded apart from the center.
Kramer let go of her throat.
She tried to lift her head but couldnt.
Youll be okay in a minute, Kramer said, his voice faint through the roaring in her ears. I hit you in the solar plexus. Its a nerve ganglion, in case youre not up on your physiology. Somewhat the equivalent of a man catching one in the nuts. Im sorry you made me do that to you.
Lane realized the agony was fading and she could breathe, taking small, painful gulps of air.
But Ill do worse, he said, if you give me any more trouble.
She felt one of her boots come off. Then the other. Kramers hands moved slowly up her legs.
Well have a long, wonderful relationship, though. In spite of this rather shaky beginning. Youll see.
She felt his mouth against the crotch of her panties. She felt his lips and teeth, his squirming tongue. Then his mouth went away. He ripped apart each side of her panties and tugged the remnants of fabric out from under her rump.
This is what you wanted, he whispered. She heard a tremor in his voice. This is what we both want.
Youre home, he said. Safe and sound. And it isnt even all that terribly late.
His words seemed to come from far away.
Look at me.
Lane turned her head. Vaguely, she realized that Kramer was smiling.
You had a wonderful time, didnt you? I know I did. Well do it again, wont we? Maybe Monday or Tuesday. Well work out where and when later. And youll be there. Wont you?
She managed to nod.
I didnt hear that.
Yes, she murmured. Ill be there.
And youll never tell a living soul about our little party, will you?
No.
And what happens if you do?
The razor.
Thats right. Kramer patted the pocket of his slacks. And who gets the razor?
My parents. And me.
Very good. Youre an excellent student. Now, go on inside your house. Your folks are probably waiting up for you, so youd better look lively. Youd better put on a good show. If I so much as suspect that youve betrayed me, you know whatll happen.
I know.
And dont think the cops can save you. They cant. Even if they take me in, Ill be out. You know what bail is.
I know.
And you know whatll happen when I get out.
I know.
Okay. Good night, now, darling.
She concentrated on her hand, and watched it pull the door lever. The door swung away from her shoulder. She felt a cool wind.
Sweet dreams, Kramer said.
Then she was standing on the curb, watching Kramers car until it disappeared around the corner. She turned slowly until she was facing the house. Its porch light was on.
How can I pretend?..
She took careful steps toward the house. She felt as if Kramer had shoved a thick branch deep inside her, a branch of embers that any quick motion would set ablaze.
Theyll know somethings wrong, she thought.
Ill say I got my period.
At the front door she halted under the light and looked down at herself. Her skirt was crooked. She straightened it. She supposed she looked as if nothing had happened. As long as they couldnt see under the skirt.
Kramer had kept her panties.
A souvenir of our first date, hed said.
What am I going to do?
She tried to focus her mind.
All that matters right now, she told herself, is getting past Mom and Dad. I cant let them suspect.
She found her keys, unlocked the door, and stepped slowly over the threshold.
The television was on.
Dad lay on the sofa, snoring.
Mom wasnt in the room.
Thank God.
Silently, Lane shut the door. She crept past the sofa, out of the living room and into the hallway. Is that you, honey? Mom called. Her voice sounded groggy, as if shed been asleep.
Yeah. Fixing a smile on her face, she stepped to the doorway of the master bedroom. Her mother was propped up in bed, an open book resting on her lap.
How was the play?
Pretty good.
Did you go somewhere after?
Yeah. Mr. Kramer took us all out for pizza.
Oh, that was awfully nice of him. Mom yawned, patted her mouth, and squinted at Lane. Are you feeling all right?
Ive got a miserable headache. And cramps.
Oh, Im sorry. Hope it didnt ruin your time.
She shrugged. Ill be okay after Ive had a shower and some aspirin.
Whats your father doing?
Snoozing on the sofa.
He overindulged.
Yeah. He was upset about Petes accident.
Whatever. I think Ill just let him stay there.
Okay. Night, Mom.
Sleep tight.
Lane went to her bedroom. When she came out with her robe, light no longer spilled into the hallway from her parents room.
In the bathroom she turned on the light and locked the door. She took off her clothes. Sitting on the toilet, she removed the tampon.
Dont want you ruining your nice skirt, Kramer had said before pushing it into her.