Page 30 of A Cock and Bull Story

“Like you don’t already know it is,” I deadpan right back.

She sighs.

“Raincheck?” I lie.

Professor Yardley gives me a piercing look.

“Only someone with your skills could offer a rain cheque, like their muff were a hot commodity.”

“Well, considering the range and mastery of all my skills. . .” I drawl out teasingly. “Good-bye, Professor.”

“See yousoon, Miss Harper,” she reminds.

I might be in more danger of being attacked by this woman than a man who can turn into a tiger. I give her a wan smile and beat a hasty retreat. The war has just begun with that one. Poor Professor Yardley got a taste of what Belle Harper’s tongue can do.

And once you go me, that’s all you’ll fucking crave. . . I need a better rhyme to describe how awesome my sex skills are.

But that’s a battle for another day. I have bigger worries right now—like why my beaver didn’t break the damn and flood my panties when that guy winked at me, or why the dean seemed intrigued with me as a person, not a sexual object to be used for his dirtiest fantasies.

Things aren’t adding up in my world.

I whip out my phone as I dash back to my apartment.

It’s time to call an emergency meeting of the S.A.

“Hey, little Yank, you having a party again? And by party, I mean—”

“Yes, I know what you mean. Orgy, right?” I supply drily for my neighbor from across the hall as I unlock my apartment door. “Not today, Greg,” I sigh. “It's not even 11:00 in the morning. What would even give you that idea?”

Dumb question.

When has a party at my place nevernotturned into an orgy?

“Because there's six people inside your apartment.”

His words bring me up short.

“They're six people in my apartment already? How do they get here so quickly? Erm, well, right,” I say to Greg, realizing I’m talking mostly to myself. “Uh, we'll just try to keep it down.”

My neighbor smirks—there's zero point in convincing the guy that there's not going to be any sexual activity. I just give Greg a little wave and open my door. Or try to—it’s locked.I put in the key and go into the room.

Sure enough, there sits everyone from S.A.

“How did you all get into my apartment?” I cry in astonishment.

Theo tips his head toward my wall.

“Through the window, love.”

What is it with these guys and them using my window?

Jude walks over and takes my hand leading me to my couch.

“What's wrong? You said it was an emergency—is everything all right?” he prompts.

I open my mouth to speak and, then, shut it, unsure how to express my emotions,

“I. . . I went to meet Professor Yardley and Dean Hardwick was there with a couple other men,” I begin. “I got a really strange vibe from him—the dean, that is.”