Page 15 of Teacher's Pet

Fuck off, Landon.

I subtly leaned my chair away. A snort came from behind me, but I didn’t turn around. The last thing I wanted was for Mr. Thorne to think I was messing around with these little boys.

Why would I? There was a much better prize right in front of me.

He glanced my way, just for a split second. I caught it and gave him a small smile and a wave.

Keeping it cute, today.

He frowned a bit but then quickly turned back to the board.

I hope he doesn't think I was a walking mood swing.

I’d been a bit…under the weather when we met yesterday, literally. I was drenched! And my father always put me in a bad mood; just being around him brought so many bad memories.

Devon's stupid reminder of the incident didn't help.

I knew I would feel better after going to sleep, and I did, though I woke up mortified thatthatwas the sexy professor's first impression of me.

Everything about yesterday was a disaster I wanted to rewrite. I shouted at him in the elevator, then called him a sick freak in his own classroom. Ugh, totally don't want to ever relive that day.

But he forgave me so quickly and even gave me a ride home, so surely there's no bad blood.

I barely knew him, but I liked that about him, his patience. Though it does make him vulnerable. If he ever gave the wrong kind of student a ride home, someone unhinged, they could latch onto him in a second.

He smiled at the class. “I hope everyone did their reading, as outlined in the syllabus.”

Groans rose from around the room. I barely noticed them. I couldn’t stop staring at those dark eyes against his warm olive skin and dark brown hair.

The gift that keeps on giving.

He picked up a piece of chalk, writing his name on the board. His hand dwarfed the stick of chalk completely.

Jesus. I could still feel the memory of his gloves on my hands, how they’d swallowed me whole.

Notebooks appeared around me as he began discussing the rise of categorizing dissociative personalities and the historical figures behind advancements in theoretical psychology.

“Any questions?”

A brunette across the room raised her hand. “Yeah… do you do tutoring?” Her tone was blatantly inappropriate. That was our professor! Have some decorum.

I felt irritation spike as he smiled politely. “No, but I have a TA. If you’re ever confused on a topic, I can gladly send him your way.”

Too nice.

I leaned back, studying him in his element. Calm. Confident. Completely at ease.

I leaned forward again, resting my chin in my hands.

From his white teeth to the strength in his arms, he was—

“No wonder you rejected me,” Landon’s voice cut in.

I shot him a look. “What? What does that mean?”

He snorted. “Seriously?”

I kept my face neutral.