But as she lies in bed, she dreams of tortured green eyes, smooth hands, and silky lips across her skin. Jahlani’s lips part, and her stomach sinks as Roman’s words make an appearance for the hundredth time tonight.
Got it.
And then his hand is slipping in between her thighs, parting them gently, his flesh hot on hers, his mouth moving against her skin as he rasps her name and she moans his?—
She sits up suddenly—on the edge—and groans in frustration, wiping a hand down her face. She bites her lip, wanting so desperately to break her own rule. When the light on the clock alerts her to the fact that she’s only rested for two hours, she folds herself back onto the bed. She fluffs the pillows, adjusts her silk wrap, flexes her hands. Feeling heat creep up her skin, she throws the covers aside before lying flat on her back.
After another few restless minutes, she resorts to a tried-and-true method: counting sheep. Twenty-two is all she manages before the need settles in again. The ache sweeps through her body, thepressurefestering in her core.
Got it.
This time, the scenery changes. This time, they’re in a hallway and he’s letting his bag fall to the ground, peeling her cardigan from her shoulders before pressing his tongue against the column of her throat, her collarbone. He’s pushing and pulling. Licking and sucking. Traveling across her skin, exploring areas that she didn’t even know could make herfeelanythingbefore he turns so that his back is against the wall and she’s threading her hands in his hair. Reciprocating. Moving in time with him.
Then they’re sliding down, her knees landing outside of his thighs as he explores her mouth, the curve of her ass as he draws her hips to press down against him.
Jahlani’s eyes snap open, and she swings her legs over the bed. She takes several deep breaths before moving to the bathroom to grab some melatonin capsules.
As she closes the cabinet, she catches sight of her flushed skin and feverish eyes. She draws a hand to the corner of her mouth that he touched, dragging her finger in the same path, causing shivers to course through. Squeezing her eyes shut, she flips the tap on before throwing the pills back and drinking.
Moving back slowly, Jahlani falls back against her sheets. As sleep begins to take her under, she wonders distressingly if he’s thinking about her the same way she’s thinking about him.
And it’s the lie that she feeds herself, that he isn’t, which puts her mind to rest.
“Hey, Professor Jackson, I’m having trouble figuring out?—”
Jahlani comes to a halt, hand on the doorknob of his office. Because Evangeline is there. Striking, powerful,could ruin your life with a few sentencesDr. Evangeline Hunt is there—and she’scrying.
In Jackson’s arms.
“Jahlani,” Dr. Hunt starts, trying and failing to untangle her limbs from a seemingly reluctant Jackson.
Jahlani’s eyes widen as she takes a step back.
“I am … so sorry. I should’ve knocked.”
Evangeline waves her off, giving a tight smile. “No, you’re fine.”
“Yes, you should have,” says Professor Jackson, eyes remaining on Evangeline.
Feeling uncomfortable, because she had very clearly interrupted something, Jahlani starts to walk back out the door. Back into a world where she didn’t wonder if Hunt and Jackson screwed each other on his desk.
“I’ll come back later.”
“Sounds like a great idea,” says Professor Jackson at the same time that Evangeline says, “No, you stay, I’ll go.”
Jahlani blinks, unsure of what to do. She feels like a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar, and now her parents are fighting over how to punish her.
Jackson’s eyes narrow as he steps toward her. His voice is low. Different. “Evangeline, we need to.”
Jahlani turns away, a flush rising through at the intimacy of the moment.
Evangeline waves him away, stooping to grab her purse.
“We’ll talk later, John.” She turns to face Jahlani, giving her a pleasant smile. Her eyes are puffy and the bags that she’s packing under her face look dark and sullen. She looks destroyed.
She squeezes Jahlani’s arm as she passes by her. “Don’t let him work you too hard,” she whispers before slipping out the door.
For several beats, Jahlani and Jackson just stand in the room.
