“I should take my own advice then.”
The rest of the cinnamon tea flushed my cheeks with its tender warmth. “Would you mind if I start the next class? I know we don’t have a plan or a schedule yet, but until we do, I want to be teaching it.”
“I…” He frowned, his Adam’s apple bobbing with a swallow. “I think it might be best if I did.”
“No way. Abnormal Psychology is my jam. I’ve been looking forward to this class all day.” I left my seat. When he didn’t get up or relax his face, I raised a brow. “Unless you think I can’t handle a senior class?”
“You know I don’t,” he said, rising to his feet. “You really need to stop using that defense mechanism every time you want something.”
I rolled my eyes, a sheepish smile sneaking up on me. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I…” He held my gaze in a way that took my breath away. “Please understand that I can’t help but to feel very protective of you.”
His words—and voice— toyed with my emotions. I felt on display under the intensity of his gaze. My tongue darted to lick my lips compulsively. So I turned to biting them and realized that this was also awkward. I was suddenly very aware of every single little gesture I was making, and my thumbnail didn’t survive my attack.
The pain yanked me out Joshua’s trance, bringing me back to reality. “Because of…my face?”
His lips twitched. “Of course. What else?”
Yeah, what else? So wake up, Belle. Wake the fuck up.The only reason behind his interest in me was that I reminded him of someone else.
I plastered the best fake smile I could muster. “Is there something particularly dangerous about the next class?”
Here came that wince again. There was something troubling this man more than he was sharing, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. It was understandable he wouldn’t spill his guts to a stranger he’d just met. But I had a bad feeling about whatever he was hiding. As if…it had something to do with me, Belle, and not just an old trauma.
“No,” he said in surrender. “I only thought you might want to slow down, take it easy on your first day.”
I shook my head, frustration dulling my senses. “Well, I don’t. But thank you for your concern.” I started out of the food court.
He followed in silence until we reached 402B. It was a classroom, much smaller than the auditorium. Reluctantly, he took a seat, asking me with his eyes if I would change my mind.
I ignored him and tried to ignore the feelings that were punching my guts now. The students piled into the class, and I watched with growing interest, the negativity sifting away bit by bit.
This, standing up here, was all I needed for life to be good again. I didn’t need a man. I didn’t need to slow down. I didn’t need to break my nails. I needed to teach. I had to teach.
When I thought everyone was there, I started to speak. But then I saw two more students walk in.
My heart skipped a beat then hammered against my ribs. My skin went ice cold then searing hot. I felt like I was going to pass out, like I was dying and my whole life was flashing before my eyes.
Or so I hoped.
Shoot. Me. Now.
Please.
It was them. Alec and his twin. The man—BOY—I fucked against a wall and his twin brother who watched. Right here in my classroom. As my students. Staring right through me.
Sick to my stomach, I wanted to bolt, to run outside that door they had just come through, screaming at the top of my lungs a big fat FUCK. But my feet were glued to the floor.
No amount of fingernails or classes was enough to take away the deep shit I was in.
CHAPTER 11
ALEC
Stupid! Stupid! What was I thinking?
I grumbled at myself as I stormed out of the campus with Kayden, following Belle’s scent.
