Page 9 of Devil's Kiss

“I just—” Jordan stopped himself right there and got to his feet so he could get some much-needed power in this exchange.How utterly ridiculous,he scolded himself.Do not act unsure for one second.You’re the adult here. Don’t forget that.

“I thought you were wearing your sunglasses as a sign of disrespect to me.”

Without missing a beat, Derek got to his feet also. Jordan didn’t dare move away, even as he had to crane his head up to meet where the guy’s eyes would be.

“Why would you think that? I don’t even know you.”

“Well, your attitude was less than…than…” As Derek stood there waiting for him to finish, Jordan’s words trailed off and his eyes narrowed.Hang on one damn minute, how did this turn into my issue?They were supposed to be talking about Derek, and there was no way on God’s green earth he was about to admit any insecurities to this guy. One of his students. He was fucking fabulous and he wasn’t about to letDerekbelieve he’d had any effect on him. So instead of finishing his thought, Jordan held up a hand and shook it in aforget itkind of way. “How about we agree that we got off on the wrong foot, and move forward from here.”

Derek cocked his head to the side and then removed his sunglasses. His eye looked swollen and painful, and Jordan was alarmed by how much he wanted to reach up and gently run his fingers down the side of his face to make sure he was okay. But really, as if this guy needed coddling.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Jordan asked, taken off guard by Derek’s easy acquiescence.

“Yeah. It is what it is. Whatever. Is there anything else?”

Jordan wanted to offer his ear should Derek need someone to talk to.But at the same time he wasn’t one hundred percent convinced it was his good intentions and not his cock doing the offering, and for that reason all he said was, “No. That’ll be all.”

Derek picked up his bag and as he walked to the door Jordan spun away and shut his eyes, trying to calm himself.

Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh. My.God. Talk about a first-day impression.

“Oh, and Professor Devaney…” Derek’s voice had him slowly pivoting to see him standing at the door—all six foot whatever-he-was of him.

“Yes, Derek?”

“I just want you to know, I respect who you are, very much.”

And with that ambiguous comment, Derek Pearson left his classroom.

DEREK CAUGHT UPwith Finn just outside the History building, where he sat on one of the stairs waiting for him.Damn it, he’d been hoping that moment inside would be the last he’d have to talk about his craptastic morning, but it appeared his torture wasn’t over just yet.

As soon as Derek stopped beside his friend, Finn was on his feet and looking at him with expectation in his eyes, and Derek knew the quicker he got this over with, the sooner he’d be able to forget it ever happened.

“Okay, Danny boy. Let’s have it,” he said as they walked down the stairs. He dug in his front pocket for his pack of Marlboros. “Ask what you want, I’ll answer. Then we won’t talk about this again. Deal?”

“Deal.”

They headed along the path across the lawn toward the east building, and he didn’t even bother to ask where they were going. He was too busy inside his head trying to work out a way to phrase his next words so Finn wouldn’t feel any guilt over them.

He took a cigarette between his lips and lit up, taking a drag to try and calm his frayed nerves. He really didn’t want to get into this, but Finn had other ideas.

“When did it happen?”

One thing that could be said about Daniel Finley was his directness. Derek didn’t know any other person as blunt as the guy walking beside him, and if Finn wanted something he would, in the end, always get it. That would make him a helluva lawyer one day, even as it made him a giant pain in the ass today.

“This morning.”

“Fuck, Derek.”

When several passersby turned their way, Derek scrubbed an agitated hand over his chin. “Would you keep your voice down?”

“Sorry, but damn it. How are you even here? Your face must be killing you.”

“Yeah, it hurts like a bitch.”

“Let me take you to the ER.”