Chapter 3

3

The musty scent of old books wafted through the air as Adrianna entered the lecture hall. Her gaze settled on Professor Hanks, who was arranging a stack of papers at the front podium with his large, dexterous hands.

A familiar thrill raced through her at the sight of him in his crisp white button-down and charcoal slacks that accentuated his lean figure. How she longed to loosen that top button.

Adrianna shook her head, trying to dispel the inappropriate thoughts, and took a seat in the front row. As the other students filed in, she opened her copy of King Lear and lost herself in the poetic tragedy of Shakespeare's words.

"Afternoon, class." Professor Hanks's smooth baritone shattered her concentration. She glanced up to find his steel-blue eyes peering out from behind a pair of wire-rimmed glasses, gazing at her. Heat crept into her cheeks as she dropped her gaze.

"For your assignment, you'll be working in pairs to analyze one of Shakespeare's plays in depth." A collective groan rose from the students. "Now, now. No complaining. I've already assigned partners, so listen up."

He began listing off names, and Adrianna prayed she wouldn't be paired with—

"Adrianna Rose and Thomas Anderson."

Her heart sank. Not him. Anyone but the insufferable flirt who had been hounding her since last week. She risked a glance at Tommy, who winked and shot her a grin that did nothing to ease the dread pooling in her stomach.

Adrianna trudged to the library after class, dragging her feet as she went. The thought of working closely with Tommy for the next few weeks made her stomach churn. Still, she couldn't deny the thrill that shot through her when Professor Hanks spoke her name, his lips caressing each syllable like a lover's whisper.

She shook her head again, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. As much as she dreaded this assignment, she couldn't bear the thought of disappointing Professor Hanks. She would work with Tommy if she had to—but that didn't mean she had to enjoy it.

Adrianna spotted Tommy at a table near the back of the library, his feet propped up as he thumbed through a copy of King Lear. With a sigh, she tightened her grip on her book bag and made her way over to him.

"Fancy meeting you here," he drawled, dropping his feet to the floor as she approached. He stood up and pulled out a chair for her. "Come to work on our little project, I hope?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Adrianna sat down and began unpacking her books. "Let's just get this over with."

"There's no need to be so hostile, sweetheart." Tommy reached out to pat her arm, but she jerked away. "We're partners now. We should try to get along."

Adrianna gritted her teeth. "We're classmates assigned to the same group project. Let's not make this any more unpleasant than it has to be."

"As you wish." Tommy held up his hands in surrender, though his lips twitched into a smirk. "All business it is."

She did not know what had come over this "barely legal age to drink" young man from hitting on her and not giving up. She was closer to his mom's age, and it made her sick.

Adrianna steeled herself as she opened her copy of the play, determined to get through this assignment without strangling her insufferable partner—no matter what it took.

Adrianna tried to focus on the text in front of her, but her thoughts kept drifting to Professor Hanks. She imagined the intensity of his gaze fixed upon her, those brilliant blue eyes peering into her very soul. Her heart raced as she pictured his hands gliding up her thighs, his fingers hooking into the waistband of her panties.

She squeezed her eyes shut, heat flooding her cheeks. This was neither the time nor the place for such thoughts. But try as she might, she couldn't banish the fantasy of Professor Hanks spreading her legs wide and lowering his mouth to her aching core.

"Adrianna?"

She startled, eyes flying open to find Tommy peering at her curiously. "Hmm?"

"I asked if you had any thoughts on Act II, Scene 1." He arched a brow. "But you seemed a million miles away."

Adrianna cleared her throat, her face burning with embarrassment. "My apologies. I was distracted for a moment." She tried to still her racing pulse, mortified that Tommy might have guessed where her thoughts had wandered.

"No need to apologize." A smug little smile curved his lips. "I have that effect on women."

Adrianna bit back a scathing retort, reminding herself that she needed to remain professional. But if Tommy didn't stop with his ridiculous posturing, she might just strangle him after all.

"Shall we continue?" she asked through gritted teeth. The sooner they finished this assignment, the sooner she could escape her infuriating partner's presence.

"By all means." Tommy leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "I'm all ears."

Adrianna took a deep breath and steadied her fraying nerves.

After being stuck in the library for three hours, Adrianna tossed and turned as visions of Professor Hanks danced behind her closed lids. She imagined herself walking into his office after class, wearing nothing underneath her short skirt but a pair of lacy thigh-high stockings.

"I was hoping we could discuss my grades, Professor," she would purr, perching on the edge of his desk.

He would stare at her, eyes darkening with lust. "Is that so, Miss Rose?"

She pictured him coming up behind her, his hands sliding over her bare thighs as he pressed against her back. "I think we should thoroughly go over all your...assets and liabilities."

Adrianna bit her lip, warmth pooling low in her belly. She knew these fantasies were inappropriate, that she should stop thinking of Professor Hanks in such a way. But she couldn't help herself. The man was temptation personified, from his piercing blue eyes to his sensual mouth to the lean, powerful body she glimpsed beneath his tailored suits.

With a groan, she turned onto her side and curled into a ball, berating herself for her lack of control. She was in danger of turning into a cliché, a silly crush on her professor.

If she didn't get a grip soon, she might do something she regretted.

* * *

The next day, Adrianna slipped into the back of the classroom just as Professor Hanks strolled to the front, looking impossibly handsome in a charcoal gray suit. She avoided meeting his gaze, her face flushing as she recalled her wanton fantasies from the night before.

Throughout the lecture, she struggled to pay attention, her thoughts wandering to forbidden places. The sound of his voice, low and sensual, stirred her blood. She imagined what it might be like to run her hands over his broad shoulders, to feel the strength in his arms as he pulled her close...

She bit the inside of her cheek, the burst of pain bringing her back to herself. When she glanced up, she caught Professor Hanks looking at her, his eyes dark with an emotion she couldn't quite decipher. Her heart stuttered, and she looked away, a tumult of longing and panic swirling inside her.

By the end of class, her nerves were frayed, her body thrumming with a need she refused to acknowledge. As her classmates filed out around her, she lingered.

"Miss Rose, do you have a moment?"

She glanced up to find him watching her with a small, knowing smile, as if he could sense her inner turmoil. Heat flooded her face for the hundredth time. How had she gotten herself into this mess?

"Of course," she said, cursing the breathless quality of her voice.

He arched a brow, then chuckled. "No need to be so formal.."

She stared at him, her heart in her throat. This was dangerous ground they were treading, a line she knew they shouldn't cross.

"Come to my office," he said. "I know you aren't liking your partner for this project. We can discuss it then."