You cannot compromise

You give a silent sigh, knowing that your next words will likely ruin any chance you might have to work together with this striking woman.

"The students will be informed that we will be following the Code of Conduct given to them." You tell her, without any attempt to sugarcoat your words. "If, as you say the young ladies in our institution behave as they should, then it will not matter. But if they don't, I intend to enforce the rules as they are written." At first, the only indication you have that Ms. Naylor hears your words is a tightening of her lips a the whitening of the knuckles of her fists. After three deep breaths she speaks, and with her opening salvo you know you are in for a rough ride,

"You are a throwback to the dark ages Mr. Hawkfeather." Her eyes flash in anger, "a crude savage warrior with no regard for the advancement of time, nor research that shows a definitive link between corporal punishment and low self esteem." She stops your attempt to defend yourself with a swiftly raised hand. "Your life Mr. Hawkfeather, has been that of a soldier immersed in conflict, bloodshed and destruction, and I appreciate the sacrifices that you have made for our country. However, the Pink Rose is a haven from the evils of the outside world; you cannot expect me to stand by while you bring forceful **** into our school climate."

As much as you'd like to climb to your feet and tower above Ms. Naylor, reminding her of how petite and delicate she is compared to your six foot frame, you stay in your seat and keep your voice calm.

"I do not expect you to stand by, Ms. Naylor." You tell her as she starts pacing through her office, "that is precisely why I came to speak with you early in the morning. You and I have to come to an understanding about this matter before the faculty meeting tonight; I had hoped to talk this through rationally-"

"Don't you call me irrational Mr. Hawkfeather!" She whirls with the quickness of a cat, turning on you with undisguised fury. "I am the Headmistress of this institution and I have the respect and support of my faculty. It is not irrational to leave the errors of our past behind."

"I don't doubt that Ms. Naylor, but I've been assigned here for one year to bring discipline and order to this Academy." You pause for a second staring at your hands, "I'm sorry, Diana. I really am. I just don't see any way around following the rules as they are written."

"You are an infuriating man Mr. Hawkfeather." It is clear from her expression that she has not yet conceded this fight. "I will think over what you've said and let you know how we will proceed by early this afternoon. "Ms. Naylor stalks to the door to her bedroom looking as sleek and dangerous as a lioness, she pauses by the door before stepping through. "I'm sure you can find your way out." The door slides shut with a soft thud leaving you alone in the office.

As you walk past the couch where Ms. Naylor had been sitting, you see the corner of a paperback book sticking out from beneath a dislodged pillow. Curious to see if it the same book you saw on her bed last night, you lift the pillow the rest of the way. It is, you recognize the picture of the armoured knight and harem girl. The crusader wearing a white surcoat emblazoned with a red crosses holds the golden-skinned harem **** in his arms as she gazes up at him with unchecked desire.

You had seen that same look of unabashed desire on Sally's face once she had been claimed by you, as much as that had been a highlight of your day, having a freshly fucked Diana looking up at you with that same look in her eyes would be so much better.

The title, The Templar's Forbidden Temptation is written in flowing script across the front and for the first time in your life you find yourself interested in the characters in one of these novels. The blurb on the back outlines a storyline where a veteran Templar knight is assigned the task of delivering a Christian noblewoman, recently freed from a Saracen harem, back to her family's ancestral home in England. As a Templar, the knight is sworn to chastity and this only adds to the tension between the two...

With a wry smile you return the book to its spot under the pillow and quietly leave Ms. Naylor's private office. Maybe, just maybe, being a warrior in Diana's eyes was not quite as bad a thing as you feared.