I rolled my eyes. “Sorry to disappoint, but there are none. He walked me home; I was cold, and he offered his hoodie. That’s it.” She pouted, and my lips twitched as I held back a smile. This girl. “I spent the night in my own bed, which isright next to yoursif you recall.”
“Ugh, I know.” She settled back in her seat. “I was hoping something happened before I got back. A little smoochy time? No?
She sounded so hopeful. What was it about college guys that made hooking up with them so necessary? Did they have an extra appendage I wasn’t aware of? A unique skill set? Was I really missing out if nothing happened with my pushy savior last night? I thought back to how commanding he was. Someone was obviously used to getting his way, but so was I.
Living my life in obscurity, I wasn’t used to people paying me much attention, and that afforded me a different type of freedom. I went where I wanted, when I wanted, without having to worry about anything but keeping my magick contained and staying off the supernatural radar. Kai trying to tell me what to do, on more than one occasion now, was annoying but…intriguing.
He was in a constant state of pissed off whenever he was around me. At least, that’s what it seemed like, but he also flirted with me last night. I wasn’t so naive that I didn’t recognize his offer to mess around as more than just banter. He’d have had me out of that skirt in seconds if I was willing. I snorted when I thought about it; him trying to command me out of my clothes. It was ridiculous, offensive, it was…kind of hot, actually.
I was saved from the embarrassment of my own imaginationby the professor arriving. He strolled to the front of the class and set his cup of coffee on the podium.
“Welcome to Organismal Biology 102.” His smooth baritone carried easily to even the highest row. “I’m Dr. Carver, and we will be spending quite a bit of time together this semester. Three days a week, for an hour and a half, we will navigate the complexities of ecology and physiology. We will dig into organismal structure and functional genomics. By the end of this course, you will be far more familiar with the causes and consequences of mating and migration systems, immunological defenses, and even knowledge of swim bladders and feathers that will surprise you.”
I sat up straighter and clutched my pen to keep it from rolling off the small desk. This is what I was here for. Finally, after two years of useless humanities and math courses, I was about to learn the real stuff. Subjects that would bring me a step closer to my dream job. The subject material wouldn’t be easy, but it was definitely doable. Having a genuine interest in it helped, I was sure.
“Many of you are here because this is a required course for your degree. Those pursuing the sciences or conservation, those interested in our illustrious Marine Biology Department, as well as those seeking acceptance to the Veterinary Medicine Program, to name but a few.”
Rani and I glanced at one another, our excitement barely contained. We were going to rock this semester. The sound of a door opening interrupted Dr. Carver, and he looked over, then waved to whoever it was that entered.
“Since this course is so popular, and your class is not my only one this semester, I’ve enlisted the help of my TA. All of your questions, projects, and assignments will be filtered through him. As such, you will find his office hours and emaillisted on the syllabus instead of my own. If anything arises that he can’t handle, he will forward it to me.”
I didn’t have to glance down at my printed syllabus to know who the TA was. That telltale tug in the center of my chest told me all I needed before Kai appeared out of the corner of my eye. He casually sauntered up beside the professor, hands in his pockets and that signature half-smile on his face that I’d recognize anywhere.
The fluorescent lights in the room caused the faint scar near his eye to stand out, and it lent him a haunting look as he scanned the room. The professor continued to make his introductions, but I couldn’t hear them over my racing heart. Kai wasn’t supposed to be here. I wasn’t supposed to have to see him again, ever. Gods, I was just imagining him commanding me to take my clothes off. Being forced to interact with him twice in one day was enough to mess with my head, and now I was going to have to do it three times a week?
His eyes appeared more green than blue today, almost aquamarine as they stared at me. Like he knew my thoughts, the corner of his mouth curled in a sensual smile that sent heat zinging down my spine. I crossed and uncrossed my legs, shifting in my seat from the unfamiliar feeling coursing through me. This was more than attraction. That domineering asshole was turning me on, with just a look.
“Why is Kai staring at you like that?” Rani whispered, her head only slightly turned toward me, like she too was ensnared by the intensity that was our new TA.
“He’s not,” I replied because I refused to believe it. I refused to acknowledge whatever was happening right now.
“Oh, he definitely is,” she purred, and I elbowed her to stop before he heard.
How he saw me among the crowd of students was a mystery. We weren’t even in the front row. The professor droned on abouthis expectations for the next few months while Kai practically undressed me with his eyes. I conspicuously checked to see if anyone else had noticed, but my classmates were too busy jotting down in their calendars and listening to the key dates for assignments and tests. Things I should be listening to but was too distracted to focus on.
Tired of the unfamiliar feelings taking over, I fearlessly returned Kai’s stare, determined to make him be the one to look away. I failed. Spectacularly. His gaze was filled with molten hunger as he dipped his chin ever so slightly. I lifted a brow, and his stare flicked to the front of the hoodie, then back up at me. What was he–oh my gods, the hoodie. I was wearing his hoodie!
My face heated, and I gave in, ducking my head to hide from that knowing smirk. It wasn’t a big deal, I told myself. It was just a piece of clothing; a soft, borrowed, piece of clothing that should be somewhere on my floor right now, ready to be returned to its owner, rather than being worn. Again—or still—because I had yet to take it off. Fuck.
“Today will be an easy class, and you will be released early after you finish the test,” Dr. Carver caught my attention with that nugget of information.
Test? We hadn’t cracked open a textbook or discussed a single slide. What could he possibly test us on? The panicked murmurs circling the room told me I wasn’t the only one distressed at the thought.
“Don’t worry,” he chuckled, oblivious to the high blood pressure he caused in half of us. “This is a placement test and won’t count toward your final grade. It's only meant to challenge your current knowledge of the subject material and see whether you’re ready to take on the intensity of this course.”
It helped knowing this grade wouldn’t count against me, but I was still nervous. Kai walked up the stairs, handing out a stackof papers to the head of each row. As the tests were handed out, the professor left us with one final requirement.
“Please turn your test in to Mr. Winmore on your way out. Lastly, on the table beside him is a sign-up form. Each student is responsible for choosing a time that works best with their schedules and must meet with Mr. Winmore to go over their grade from this test. He will point out your strengths and weaknesses and be able to set you up with helpful study materials and groups to get you through the semester. There are no excuses—if you fail it will be because you didn’t try.”
The test was in another language, or I had suddenly forgotten how to read. Letters swirled and blurred as I tried to read the question for the fifth time. Half the class already finished, and I was stuck here, my mind going in a million different directions. I filled in the little bubble, erased it, then filled it in again. I skimmed my fingers through my hair, and the sleeve of the hoodie brushed my cheek in a waft of citrus.
Peeking at the table by the side doors, Kai was already grading while sporting a pair of dark-framed glasses. When had he put those on?Focus, Eryn.I turned back to the last page of the test and tried to just get through it. Calming down was easier said than done when I knew that finishing meant I’d have to approach the subject of my distraction.
He hadn’t looked at me in over an hour—not that I was counting—but the thought of drawing his attention again sent the never-ending throbbing in my chest into overdrive. I needed to get it over with. Turn in the test, say nothing about the hoodie, and get the hell out of here. With a sigh, I packed up and awkwardly squeezed past the others in my row who were still working.
I slowly approached the table, my fingers gently shaking. Seriously. What the hell was wrong with me? He was just a guy. Hot as hell with a smile that did things to my insides, but he washuman. I could crush him like a fly with barely a thought if I really wanted to. My mental pep talk carried me the rest of the way, and I practically threw my test into the pile and bolted for the doors.
“Not so fast,” Kai chided, without even looking. I froze across from him, one foot pointing at the exit for a quick getaway. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
