Page 60 of The Naughty Professor

“Mostly naked,” she said, lips twitching.“Grinding on strangers like rent was due.”

“That’s called confidence, darling.”

“That’s called public indecency!”

I grinned.“Funny.The crowd loved it.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t,” she said—then burst into a laugh.“Okay, fine, maybe I watched it a few times.”

“Girl, you and Ron were enjoying the hell out of my video during class.You sure you weren’t just admiring the craftsmanship?”

“You don’t even make eye contact at faculty mixers,” she said between giggles.“And suddenly you’re the gay Elvis of Badlands?”

“Oh, don’t be jealous,” I teased, stepping closer until she bumped into the lab table.“You wanted proof the serum worked.Exhibit A.”I threw in a set of jazz hands worthy of a curtain call.

Her gaze darted to the syringe.“You weren’t supposed to inject prototypes!We have to monitor your vitals!”

“Boring.”

“Necessary!”

“Necessary is a construct.”

“You’re literally a walking talking science experiment.”

“And yet, I’ve never felt more human.”

She groaned.“This version of you needs a warning label.”

“Flammable,” I said.“Or maybe ‘Handle with Care?’”

“More like ‘Run for Cover.’”

I caught my reflection in the window.I didn’t look different—same face, same body—but the posture was new.Felix always looked like he was apologizing for taking up space.Jax didn’t apologize for anything.

Behind me, Juniper’s tone softened.“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“Do you feel dizzy?”

“I feel alive.”

She made a face.“I hate this.”

“You love this.”

She sighed.“Maybe a little.”

Then the phone buzzed.

“Don’t answer that,” she warned.“You need rest.Data collection—”

Too late.I pressed speaker.“Talk to me.”

“Jax, baby!”a man’s voice boomed.“It’s Randy from Badlands!You got a sec?”

I grinned.“For you, sugar?Always.”