“Oh.” I shift uncomfortably on my feet. “Thanks. I guess.”
“I’ll admit I had some selfish motivations as well. I was curious if you learned anything from this paper.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah. Gilgamesh was a dick.”
He chuckles and nods. “So what made him change?”
“His friendship with Enkidu.”
“Right. He loved Enkidu and then lost him. It’s a testament that even one person has the ability to create change.”
Of course he would find a way to turn even this into a lesson.Damn teachers. But I’m still not sure I understand exactly what he’s getting at. He clearly thinks I’m the one who was in the wrong since he decided to punishme. Who’s supposed to change who?
“Some people can’t change,” I tell him, crossing my arms.
“No, they can’t.” He stands and rounds his desk, leaning back against the front of it. “There are some people whoarebeyond redemption, but not everybody is. We can’t hope to change everyone.”
“Like tyrants?” I ask, raising a brow at him.
He grins like he knows it’s him I’m referring to. “Or bullies.”
I know he can’t be talking about Pierce sinceI’mthe one he hates, but I’mnotthe fucking bully. I open my mouth to say exactly that when there’s a knock at the door.
“Isaac, do you have a moment?”
I recognize the voice, but I can’t place it.
“Shit.” Professor Kendall pinches the bridge of his nose before glancing between me and the door. “It’s after hours. You shouldn’t be here.”
I don’t really see what the big deal is since I was just turning in a paper, but I don’t get the chance to say so before he’s grabbing my arm and hauling me around his desk. I get the feeling there’s more to it by the subtle flash of panic in his eyes.
“What the hell?” I try to yank my arm away, but his grip is tight. “Let go.”
“Be quiet.” There’s another knock, and he calls out, “Just a moment!”
“What are you doing?” I keep struggling, and I’m sure the heat I feel racing through me is just from the exertion. “Get off.”
He shoves me until I’m standing in front of his chair. “Under the desk.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
His hold on my arm tightens, and his gaze hardens. “Down.”
I drop to my knees as if something in my brain just clicks, wanting to obey that deep, menacing, single-worded command.
Maneuvering into the tight spot under his desk is difficult and uncomfortable, and I realize it’s more than because of the confined space. My jeans have become a confined space too, the fabric pulled taut over my growing erection.
This asshole just manhandled me and told me to get on the ground, and I’m getting fucking hard. What the hell is wrong with me?
As he sits in his chair and peers down at me, Ireallyhope he can’t tell.
“Stay there and be quiet.”
I swallow hard, and I’m pretty sure he noticesthat.
He rolls his chair forward, his knees nearly bumping into me, forcing me to press back against the inner wall. I swear he’d be able to feel the heat coming off of me if he were to touch me again.
“Come in.”
