Chapter Twelve

Ursin Miller

A week passed since Anya dropped the bomb on me, and my obsession only grew. Each day I went into the lecture was absolute hell because she was the only one I could see and shouldn't. But I looked for her, I sought her out in the auditorium, stopping to face her immediately. And I regretted I made her walk away from me that night.

I couldn't take her virginity. I wasn't a good guy. I couldn't be if I was partaking in this thing with Anya. And the whole week we'd not been alone, I started to wonder if she wanted a good guy at all. Maybe I was exactly her type. She'd only known bad men, despite having gotten away from her father. But wasn't I on the opposite side of the same coin?

I didn't know anymore.

I put away bad guys, but my thoughts and own actions weren't righteous. I wasn't a monk. I wasn't a believer in anything but justice at any cost. And that meant sometimes lying when it served a greater purpose.

It was the end of the third week of lecture, and I stood at the podium. I'd just given midterm exams. No one had finished yet, but the class was nearly over.

"Time check, students. You have five minutes to complete your test." I scanned the massive room and locked eyes with Anya. But there was nothing there. No acknowledgement of what we did in my home. No sadness of what could have been. Did she care at all? I glanced away. This wasn't the time to break down. "Don't forget, I will drop your lowest grade. I hope that gives some of you solace who are bombing this session. You know who you are."

I stepped away from the podium and waited for the bell to ring, which seemed like for fucking ever. I stood then and took exams as students handed them to me on their way out of the auditorium.

I made comments to students as they walked past, but my gaze was on Anya, who had been near the end of the line. She spoke to Reggie, a smile on her lips. I frowned. Was it wrong I didn't want her to smile at another man, a boy? God, this was fucked. I looked away.

I missed her.

Would she offer herself to me again? Would we make something out of this forbidden atrocity we had going? One thing I knew, I wanted to devour her, and control her for long after this summer session. For longer than she may expect. Or want.

I wanted her to be mine again.

"Thank you for offering to drop our lowest grade, Mr. Miller," she said in a tight voice once she was in front of me. The idea was hers. It was a fair compromise, one with precedence at the university. This was all negotiated before we became nothing.

"Yeah, really, Teach," Reggie chimed in and I could have murdered him for even speaking to me after making my Anya smile.

I clenched my jaw. "I have you in my schedule for an office meeting in a few minutes, Anya."

Her gaze narrowed, shifting to Reggie, who had an incredulous look on his face, as if I were supposed to acknowledge him. Her nostrils flared just the tiniest bit. "Oh, do I?"

"Yes." I issued the clipped response.

Her jaw clenched. "What were we supposed to talk about?"

Damn you, Minx. She was going to make me pay for not accepting her gift. That meant one thing. There was still a chance.

"Your grade."

Her cheeks blushed dark red, and only I knew she was angry. Little Miss Sunshine raged inside. Good. She needed to feel her rage.

"Right." She nodded and looked back to Reggie. To him, she said, "Coffee next week, then?"

Reggie sighed, clearly disappointed. "Okay. Monday." He handed me his test and walked toward the exit.

We were alone then, Anya and I, in the auditorium. No words were said for several beats. And I noticed her outfit. The same denim shorts and top she'd worn to my house. Not the same panties, I was sure. I'd ripped those clean off her.

"You won't have coffee with him." My voice was low, and even then, I risked it all to say my peace. "Ever."

Anya's breathing increased, and she handed me her test paper. "You can't tell me what to do."

"Meet me in my office. Now."

I was going insane and being completely irresponsible. How could my whole life ride on this one small woman? This beautiful fixation I wanted to cherish?

Anya stood back, incredulous. "Fine, but then you will leave me alone."

Anya left the auditorium, and I still couldn't take in a full breath. This power she had over me was breaking me down, piece by piece.

Just after the noon hour, I arrived at my office. She was on the floor cross-legged against my closed office door, her shirt creased just so I could see she didn't wear a bra either.

Fucking tease. She didn't want me to leave her alone. The opposite, in fact.

"Get up," I demanded.

Anya jumped, startled, looking up from her cell phone. She stood and ran her hands down the front of her shirt, maybe to smooth out the wrinkles. Maybe to wrinkle my restraint.

She stood behind me while I slid the key in the doorknob and unlocked it. Her heat wrapped around my neck, my throat. I stepped inside my office, boiling in my blazer. She eased in, slow and intentional, passing me and the doorframe, pausing to brush her pinky finger against the back of my hand.

Fucking hell. She wanted to play. Well, so did I.

I closed the door and locked it.