Page 2

Night and day.

That's how she made me feel. Like day is night, and night is day. Like my whole world had flipped upside down, fate had pointed its middle finger at me in glee.

"Umm...I'm sorry I'm late. It's my first day, and they made me sign some stuff. I also got a little lost."

It took a moment for me to register what she was saying before my mind clicked into place. She stood there peering up at me with flushed cheeks and a small self-conscious smile. I realized that I was standing there gaping at her like an idiot.

Fuck. Get it together, man.

She crushed her books closer to her chest and twisted her lips in the awkward silence.

I felt myself harden beneath my jeans, and I thanked the stars that I was still behind my high desk.

"Name," I growled out.

She flinched, and I cursed myself for scaring her. The command sounded rough to my ears, but I was desperate to know her name.

Desperate to know anything about her.

If only to assuage that she was not a mirage I'd created in my mind.

"Please. Name." I tried to soften my tone, but it still sounded like a Neanderthal grunting.

"Lucy." She licked her lips as her eyes stared into my soul.

Lucy.

Jesus. Did she feel it, too?

This unexplainable pull that had me tethered to her at the first sound of her voice?

"Last name."

Her brow furrowed, and I'm sure she wondered why her goddamn teacher was barking out commands like a drill sergeant.

"Thomas."

Lucy Drake sounded better.

"And how old are you, Lucy Thomas?" Her name sounded like a prayer on my tongue. But I was also holding my breath, mentally praying while I waited for her answer.

God, please be legal. I will throw this table out the window if she's too young.

I was prepared to throw my career and life away for this girl. But even I had my limits on what acts were morally acceptable.

I watched her eyes bounce around the room in confusion. I also noticed a few boys eyeing her up and down like she was fresh meat. The rest of the class watched our exchange with rapt attention.

I didn't blame them. I was no better. But I didn't give a fuck. I would rip their eyes out of their head if they didn't stop looking at what was mine.

"Eighteen," she finally confirmed.

My breath whooshed out of me in stark satisfaction.

I would've waited. Of course, I would've. But I would've let her know in no uncertain terms that she was mine once midnight ticked over.

Knowing she was of age caused pre-come to leak onto my boxer briefs, and I shifted in discomfort. I was overcome with the need to mark her.

"Take a seat."