Page 7 of Devil's Kiss
“Not much, really. I don’t see what history has to do with the degree I’m actually aiming for, but it was either this or physics, and I figured I was less likely to fall asleep in this one. So there’s that.”
Jordan’s lips pressed together at the sarcastic response just as the guy’s friend let out a disbelieving laugh. He slid his eyes to the blond in time to see him whack the huge thigh of the smartass standing beside him, and Jordan could feel his face flushing with annoyance.
No wonder he has a black eye. He thinks he’s hot shit. Karma,youare one fickle bitch.
As if the guy knew he’d pissed him off, the side of He-Man’s mouth quirked, and Jordan could feel the heat from his irritation bubbling under the surface.
“As for what I want to get out of it? A passing grade so I don’t have to retake the class seems like a good goal right this second.”
“Derek!”
And now I have a name…
“Derek, is it?” Jordan asked, and when Derek nodded once, he continued. “I, too, hope you pass this class, though for reasons I’m sure differ from your own. Why don’t you take a seat before you land on a shitlist beyond mine, which you have successfully taken the number one spot on within”—he glanced at the clock on the wall then back to his student—“ten minutes of being in my class.”
Deciding he needed to move on and have this exchange be over, Jordan turned his back on Derek and let his eyes rove over the other students watching with a mixture of incredulity and mirth on their faces.
For the rest of the class he didn’t call on Derek Pearson—yes, he soon learned his last name—but Jordan felt his gaze on him every time he spoke.
It wasn’t the scowl from earlier, or the curious interest of a student. No, it was something much more dangerous. Something he’d never been able to resist in the past. It was something that was going to make teaching this class much more difficult than he ever could’ve anticipated.
That look was bold and daring, it was in your face, and somehow Jordan knew he’d just met his “challenge.”
Chapter 3
WHEN THE HOUR was over and class was let out, Derek shoved his sunglasses back on and got to his feet, more than ready to leave. But Finn was taking his sweet-ass time packing his notebook and pens away, so it allowed him a moment to look at the man now standing behind the podium.
It hadn’t escaped his notice that Devaney had been keeping a close eye on him throughout the rest of the class. The guy was trying to be cool about it, but Derek had been watching him with such a tenacious stare of his own, and each time their eyes met, Devaney paused for a second as though he lost his train of thought.
Oh yeah,he’d definitely gotten under this guy’s skin, and Derek was slightly stunned by how much that discovery pleased him.
The professor was unlike anyone he’d ever met. His exuberant attitude had remained as he went into detail about what they’d be studying this semester, and it seemed as if the guy’s excitement grew with every word out of his mouth. It was contagious, and the class had responded with interest.
He, on the other hand had responded with the hard-on he was currently trying to calm the hell down.
“You ready to head out?” Finn asked, breaking his concentration. Derek looked back at his friend, who was getting to his feet and slinging his backpack over his shoulder.
“Sure, let’s go.” He went to step forward, and when Finn didn’t move, Derek spotted his somber expression.
Oh God, here we go…
“You’re going to tell me what happened this morning, right?”
Running a hand through his hair, Derek sighed. “Just the same old shit that always happens, Danny boy. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Come on, Derek. This is me you’re talking to. He hasn’t done that for a long-ass time.”
“Yeah, well, guess he got lucky this morning. Didn’t he?”
“What the fuck happened?”
Derek ground his teeth together and shot a glance over his shoulder to the front of the room. This time, he saw that Devaney was once again focused on them where they lingered.
“Do you think we could have this little heart-to-heart away from strangers’ ears?”
Finn’s eyes drifted past him to the inquisitive ones watching them. “Yeah, okay. Let’s go.”
They headed for the aisle and then down the stairs toward the front door, then Derek heard a soft cough. Finn stopped first and Derek halted behind him, clutching the strap of his bag.