She gives a small, almost bashful smile."Thanks.I think he is too."
I step out of the shadows then, pretending like I just rounded the corner by accident.Her eyes flick to me, widen slightly.The guy nods and walks off without another word.
Our eyes meet across the hallway, and something shifts in her expression.
I nod once, slowly, and keep walking.
Inside, I'm anything but calm.The way she handled that makes me want her even more.Not just her body but her heart.
Chapter 24
Gage
Iwalkovertoher,stopping beside her desk, close enough that she has to tilt her head back to meet my eyes."Stand up."
She rises slowly, the desk chair scraping softly against the floor.In the dim lighting, her skin looks golden, and I can see the rapid rise and fall of her chest.
"Come to the front of the room."
Her heels click against the hardwood as she walks to where I'm standing.I can smell her perfume, something light and floral that I've been thinking about all day.
"Turn around.Face the board."
She obeys, presenting her back to me.I step closer, close enough that my chest almost touches her shoulders.
"Put your hands flat against the whiteboard."
Her palms press against the dark surface, arms extended.The position arches her back slightly, and I have to clench my fists to keep from touching her immediately.
"You disrupted my entire lecture today," I say, my voice low and controlled.
"I did?"There's a tremor in her voice, not fear, but anticipation.
"Every time you shifted in your seat.Every time you tucked your hair behind your ear."I lean closer, my breath warming her neck."Every time you bit your lip while considering a point."
Her fingers flex against the whiteboard."I wasn't trying to distract you."
"Intention doesn't matter.Effect does."I brush my fingertips along her spine, feeling her shiver beneath the light touch."And the effect was that I couldn't think straight."
I step closer until my body presses against hers, trapping her between me and the board.My hands slide down her arms to her wrists, squeezing gently.
"What should we do about that, Skye?"
She pushes back against me slightly, testing."Whatever you think is appropriate, Professor."
Her words send heat straight through me.I slide my hands from her wrists to her hips, holding her firmly against me.
"What I think is appropriate," I murmur against her ear, "is making sure you understand exactly what your behavior does to me."
I press my hips forward, letting her feel how hard I am.She gasps, her head falling back against my shoulder.
"Feel that?"My voice is rough now, the careful control slipping."That's what I had to deal with for an entire class, while trying to teach."
Her breathing turns shallow."I can feel it."
"Good."I slide one hand up to cup her throat, thumb tracing over the mark I left there."Everyone could see this today.Did you know that?"
She nods slightly.The movement restricted by my grip.