Chapter 7

7

Mickey straightened his tie and cleared his throat, glancing up at the clock. His students would be pouring through the doors any moment, eager to dive into the world of D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love.

He tried to push aside thoughts of Adrianna, but it was no use. Her image lingered. He shook his head, rubbing the tension gathering at the base of his neck.

The door creaked open and his heart leapt. But it was only Tom, one of his more enthusiastic students, lugging an oversized backpack.

"Morning, Professor Hanks!" Tom said.

Mickey forced a smile. "Good morning, Tom."

As Tom took his usual seat in the front row, more students trickled in. But still no Adrianna. Mickey glanced at the clock again, irritation flickering through his chest. Where was she?

Just as he was about to start the lecture, the door burst open. Adrianna rushed in, cheeks flushed. Every eye in the room swung to her, drawn by the staccato click of her heels.

Mickey's throat tightened. She was wearing that crimson dress again, the one that clung to her curves like a second skin. His gaze snagged on the deep V of cleavage and for a moment, his mind went blank.

She was stunning, but he growled, knowing he wouldn't be the only man staring at her in this room. After last night, he couldn't stop thinking about her and wondering what was going to happen next. Is she trying to kill me ?

Adrianna slid into a seat toward the back, crossing one leg over the other. Mickey tore his eyes away, scrambling to find his place in his notes.

"Sorry for being late," she purred, loud enough for everyone to hear.

A ripple of laughter moved through the classroom. Mickey cleared his throat again, face burning. "Yes, well, let's begin, shall we?"

But as he spoke, all he could see was Adrianna, a splash of red in the back, smiling at him like the cat who caught the canary. His words faded as unwanted images flashed through his mind — Adrianna whispering his name, Adrianna's hands moving over his body, Adrianna melting against him as he—

"Professor Hanks?"

He blinked, realizing several students were staring at him. "My apologies," he said, a bit too sharply. "Where was I?"

Tom raised his hand. "You were just about to discuss the significance of Ursula and Birkin's first encounter by the river."

"Yes, of course." Mickey rubbed his temple, trying to calm the riot of feelings churning inside. But it was no use. Adrianna had won this round. His concentration was shattered, blown to bits by the glimpse of her crimson dress and the smoldering look in her eyes.

Mickey struggled to focus on the lesson plan in front of him, avoiding Adrianna's gaze as she settled into her seat at the back of the room. But out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help noticing the way her dress rode up her thighs as she crossed one leg over the other.

His mouth went dry, and he fumbled over his words, losing his train of thought. The image of Adrianna's bare skin burned into his mind, igniting a fire in his veins that threatened to consume him whole.

He cleared his throat, acutely aware of the bemused expressions of his students gazing up at him. But when he dared to glance in Adrianna's direction, the knowing look in her eyes told him she was fully aware of the effect she was having on him.

Mickey swallowed hard, heat creeping up the back of his neck. In that moment, he questioned how he was going to make it through the rest of the lecture without embarrassing himself.

As he continued with the lesson, he kept his eyes glued to his notes, avoiding looking in Adrianna's direction. But it was no use. Her presence filled the room, surrounding him, intoxicating him until he was dizzy with desire.

When the end of the class period arrived, Mickey breathed an audible sigh of relief. His students filed out of the room, chatting amongst themselves, unaware of the torment their professor had endured.

All except for Adrianna. She lingered behind, waiting until the last student had left before sauntering up to the front of the room. Mickey's heart hammered in his chest, arousal and panic warring inside him as she stopped before his desk.

"Did I distract you today, Professor?" Adrianna purred, a smug smile curving her lips.

Mickey swallowed hard, his mouth as dry as parchment. "I don't know what you mean," he said.

Adrianna leaned forward, providing him with an ample view down the front of her dress. "I think you do," she whispered.

A groan rumbled in Mickey's chest as he clenched his hands into fists. The urge to reach for her threatening to overwhelm his self-control.

Adrianna laughed, the sound like velvet against his skin. "Until next time, Professor."

With a toss of her curls, she sashayed out of the room, leaving Mickey alone with his forbidden thoughts.

Mickey dragged a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath. How was he supposed to survive another day of Adrianna's torment? Her flirtatious behavior was pushing him to the brink of madness. He couldn't think of anything but her.

Instead of standing in the empty lecture hall, he figured it would be best to head back to his office and try to get some grading done.

Mickey sat at his desk, staring blindly at the stack of papers in front of him. But his mind was elsewhere, filled with visions of Adrianna that made it impossible to concentrate.

The memory of her lips, soft and seeking against his, haunted him. The feel of her body in his arms, curves that fit him perfectly. The scent of her skin and hair, floral and intoxicating.

He wanted her with an ache that went bone deep. Wanted to peel away that scrap of fabric she called a dress and discover the secrets beneath. Wanted to make her sigh his name again and again.

With a groan, Mickey raked his hands through his hair. This was madness. He was her professor, for God's sake. Taking advantage of his position and seducing a student was completely unethical.

But when it came to Adrianna, he seemed to lose all reason and control. She had awakened a hunger in him that refused to be denied. A hunger that was becoming increasingly difficult to resist.

Mickey remained torn between duty and desire, his inner battle reflected in the restless prowl of his steps. Adrianna had slipped under his defenses, exposing a vulnerability he'd thought long buried.

With her, he wanted to be more than a professor. He wanted to be a man, passionate and free. And yet, he couldn't ignore the fact that she was his student. No matter how much he might wish otherwise, that barrier would always remain.

Sighing, Mickey came to a stop by the window and gazed unseeingly at the shadows gathering in the quad below. The war within him was far from over. But when it came to Adrianna, he was afraid the battle might already be lost.