Page 34 of Revere

It’s why I rarely date at all. And when I do,datewould still be too strong a word. The longest relationship I’ve had in the past decade was a month, and I rarely saw her. It’s one thing to fuck. It’s another to want to bring a woman into my life, knowing how that turned out the one time I tried.

And yet, I can’t stop thinking about Patience with her angelic blonde hair and judgmental golden eyes.

I’ve never touched a student.

Never been tempted.

Untilher.

I find myself circling. Provoking her in class just to hear what her sharp tongue has to say. I’ve never met anyone with so much fire. So many walls. So many secrets. Her defenses rival my own, and all it does is make me want to tear them down and figure out what she’s hiding beneath them.

She shouldn’t trust me, but I want her to.

I’m curious to see what it would take to get her to hand herself over, body and soul. To watch her edges soften. To see her submit.

My pulse thunders and my fists clench. The more I’m around her, the more I lose sight of my mission. It’s shifting, changing. I need to bleed this girl from my veins.

“Professor?” Sophia reaches for my arm, and I pull away, snapping out of my thoughts.

Her fingers barely graze my forearm, and I have the sudden urge to scrape my skin off. It’s been a long time since I’ve invited someone’s touch—longer since I’ve hungered for it. And even if the urge has been rattling through me lately, it’s not Sophia my body is craving.

“I think we’re done for the day.” I lean back in my chair, putting more distance between us.

Sophia frowns. “I thought we were going to review the second-draft outlines for the class’s research papers.”

“That can wait until tomorrow.”

She opens her mouth to speak, but the door to my office swings open, cutting her off.

Patience steps into the room, her back perfectly straight and her hands at her sides. She forces her chin up, narrowing her golden eyes.

Her fire incinerates every thought. Erases all my good intentions.

If I’m being honest, it erases the bad ones as well, which is even more dangerous. She’s lighting my life up in flames.

“You gave me a B?” Patience’s fingers clench.

It’s the only hint at her frustration when it’s clear she wants to remain composed. My gaze drops to those hands. To her delicate wrists that I’d like to bind. Lithe limbs I’d like to twist and bend until this girl finally learns what it means to submit to someone.

I’ve never had thoughts like this about a student.Anyone,for that matter.

Patience Lancaster breaks my fucking composure.

“Have you heard of knocking?” Sophia glares.

Patience scans my office for the first time since storming in, tearing her attention away from me.

I hate it. I want those eyes on me at all times.

Her gaze snaps to Sophia, who was about to stand, but is now comfortably reclining beside my desk in some immature, territorial act of war against Patience.

I’ve had enough.

“Leave us, Sophia.”

“But—”

My eyes narrow, and she swallows hard, pushing to stand. She gathers her things, offering a venomous glare to Patience as she pushes past. But Patience’s face doesn’t so much as twitch or falter. She keeps perfectly composed as Sophia closes the door a little too hard behind her.