Chapter 2

Two

Emberly

R osalee points a chip at me. "That sounds about right. You sass, but we've all heard the tantalizing and scandalous rumors about those two."

It is true and I personally know them all too well. While I cram for exams and work long shifts at the local bistro, I hear whispers about how two professors like to share their women.

But no one ever steps up to confirm.

Rosalee wags a finger in my direction and purses her lips. "I see your mind working. You're thinking about it, aren't you? All you have to do is work your sexy magic and you'll have both men falling for you for a little spring break fun." Rosalee shimmies her shoulders and pouts her perfectly painted lips Marilyn Monroe style.

I reach up and tap my chin with my index finger. "You think?" I half ask in a hushed tone, contemplating my options, as limited as they are at the moment.

Me sexy? Sure, the whole younger student and older professor taboo is not lost on me, but those fanciful illusions were better reserved for all the pages of Rosalee's romance books she likes to devour like fine chocolate and wine.

Give me a murder mystery any day and a long bubble bath. I guess what I'm trying to say is I live in reality.

Almost seemed laughable what people conjured up. I turn my head and raise my eyes to chance a quick glance in their direction. My chest tightens and my breath catches. My gaze locks with two men and the intensity can be felt across the entire pub as if they are standing in front of me.

Heated.

My body tingles and I can feel the private message in their gazes as my professors share a moment with me. I never knew such dark, piercing eyes could be so expressive.

My pure primal, feminine side stirs and I'm certain there's something deeper in how they look at me.

And then it's gone. The connection breaks and they return their eyes to their whiskey and notes.

I sense a presence come up beside me before a hand comes down on my bare shoulder and I tear my eyes away.

Instant irritation swells in me and I swat Thomas Cane's hand away from my shoulder and glower up at him, scooting out of his reach.

"Hey, Emberly. You up for a quick game of cat?"

"Find someone else to play your pussy games, Cane," I shoot back, not paying him any more attention than I have to. Thankfully he gets a clue and slinks back to his friends a few tables away.

I take a quick look at my watch as I signal for the check. "Hey, isn't your brother supposed to be here any minute?"

"Oh, shoot yeah." Rosalee sends me an apologetic smile and grabs my hands from across the table. In a low whisper, she asks, "Are you going to be okay?" I know she's referring to Cane.

I nod. "Yeah, I'm going to spend my spring break with my nose in the books. Have fun and hug your momma tight for me."

"Sure you don't wanna come? You know there's always room for you. The boys would love to see you again. Come on, the books can wait." By boys she means her older twin brothers who made breaking hearts into an Olympic sport. And, who also enjoyed a little harmless flirting with me every chance they find. I make it a habit of not giving them many opportunities. They are nice, but they just don't do it for me on any level.

I shake my head and motion her on. "Stop worrying. Come on, let's go. I'll walk you out."

Outside Maine's form of spring weather chills my skin, but I welcomed the crispness as it helps clear my clogged brain. Rosa's brothers pull up in the dark parking lot as we exit and as Rosa slips into the back seat, my friend takes my hand before I can close her door. In a low voice, she whispers with a wicked glint in her eye that tells me where her thoughts are.

"Remember what I said. You only live once. I'll see you soon, okay? Text me and I'll do the same. Hopefully, you'll have something exciting to share. Wait, do you want a ride back to the apartment? It's dark out and I don't think you should be out here."

"Nope. Now go. The walk will help clear my head of your bad influences. Besides, how many times do we walk home a week? I'll be fine."

Rose sighs. "Fine, have it your way." With a small laugh, my best friend is off with her family, leaving me to my thoughts.

I turn in the opposite direction toward our apartment. Before I get past the pub's parking lot, I'm brought up short when a heavy hand claps down hard on my bare shoulder again.

This is getting old. Fast.

"What the fuck?" Anger and surprise shoots a snarl out between my gnashed teeth as another hand wraps around my upper arm.

Though it's dark I angle my head back to see the disgusting snide smile of Cane pointed back at me.

I thrash against him and try to break his hold on me but it's no use. "Back the hell off, Thomas," I spit and tug my arm one more time, stumbling a few steps.

Righting myself, I put more distance between myself and the jock who smells one beer away from a full keg. "Get lost already. Don't you know when to fold your hand and walk away?" I sound more confident than I feel. And apparently, he didn't understand the English language. I stumble back and realize we're getting deeper into the dark parking lot and no other soul is out here.

The douche bag quarterback trails behind me as I do a hard left and try to make my way back to the pub. No way I'd try walking home alone now.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going? We have a date."

He's up against me now and has my arms in a death grip. Ironically, the same one that earned him a full football scholarship.

Through the reflection of a car window I catch a spark of something in Thomas' eyes. I guess being told no when you think you're king has a way of rubbing a bloated ego the wrong way.

He hisses out his anger, but I push toward the pub door.

Before I can get a few steps from him, I feel a steel band claim my arms and clamp down. One hard tug and he pins me against the cold, hard metal of a nearby truck.

"Stop being a dick tease and let me show you a good time. C'mon, baby, show a little appreciation. I could have anyone and I want you. Most girls would love to suck this. What's wrong with you?"

Thomas dry humps me, grabbing his bulge and squeezing. It takes several deep breaths to squash the bile that burns the back of my throat.

Good question. What is wrong with me? Why I am not screaming bloody murder or greeting his balls with my knee yet is what he should be asking. Maybe it was my upbringing or because of my upbringing I show more patience than the situation calls for.

That is about to change.

I shove my free hand out trying to push past him but he only tightens his hold on my other arm.

I narrow my eyes at Thomas and shove aside the fact that my cheeks burn as other students walk by unwilling to challenge the all-too-popular jock. I mean, how blind can they be? But no. God forbid they make him angry. "You need to grow a brain—I said no! Like a hundred damn times, get a fucking clue!" I shove at his chest but he only laughs menacingly.

Normally I don't take the violent route, but while he's laughing his hold slips. I cock back and strike, palm out just like Rosa's brother taught me back in high school.

A cool gust of air ruffles the fringes of my dress, causing me to shudder. Or it could have been the crack of the douche's nose breaking.

Either way Thomas falls back, stunned, but not for long. Holding his nose, he gives a humorless laugh. "You stupid little cock-tease! Strutting around in your skimpy fuck-me dresses and skirts all the time," he growls. "You want me to hike that hem up and drive my dick in and teach that pussy what a real man is. Come on, I like a little fight in my women. Gimme what I want." Knuckles crack against my cheek and while caught off guard, he snakes an arm around my waist and drags me against him.

Boys like Thomas don't scare me. They only serve to piss me off. How many times have I had to fight off my mother's beaus? Too many times. Something a little girl should never have to deal with but my mother was too blind or too uncaring to notice the bruises on my arms. No one ever touched me, though. I always found a way to protect myself. Tonight is no different.

I raise a knee and land that sucker right where it does the most damage.

If the broken nose didn't open his ears, I know he's hearing me now.

"I fucking said no, perv. Now get the hell away from me." I seethe with rage and growl out my every last word loud enough for everyone passing to draw up short.

Good. Let them watch.

Pain seizes his arrogant expression and contorts the little pretty boy face of his, and I feel oddly satisfied, knowing he is clutching his junk for all the wrong reasons. As he hunches over at my feet, I take a couple of heartbeats to watch the blood drain from his face.

Across the way I notice his buddies making their way toward us.

The heel of my flats crunches in the loose gravel as I turn to walk away, leaving Thomas trying to stand.

I take no more than three steps before I hear it. A whoosh and a heavy thud. Beside me the truck rocks and for a second I think the big badass jock has passed out from the broken nose or pain of having his balls shoved into his stomach, but no such luck.

No, the scene that plays out in front of me is so much better.