Page 12 of Wicked Ends (Hellions of Hade Harbor #4)

I dreaded approaching Marcus’ group and attempted to shove the paper on the edge of his desk so I could make my escape. However, his hand snapped out and held the paper in the air before I even saw him move, effectively trapping me.

“Ms. Moore, I didn’t quite understand the assignment. Can you explain it to me?”

His voice was low and amused. He was enjoying this.

“It’s all on the sheet,” I muttered, letting the paper go so Marcus was the only one holding it.

He raised an eyebrow at me, but I walked away, trying my best to remain composed.

The rest of the class, the students worked together, and I supervised. By the time I’d dismissed the class, I’d nearly gotten my face back to a regular hue.

“We will finish this next time!” I called.

The students bolted from their seats, stuffing their books in their bags. I moved away, reluctant to meet Marcus’ eyes. I didn’t want him coming over to speak to me and making the other students suspicious.

I cleaned the whiteboard and waited for the sounds of student hustle and bustle to fade. The door slammed closed, echoing through the room, and I sagged against the desk. Jesus. What a morning.

Thankfully, I had a free period now, so I could freak out privately. I turned around and froze.

The door had shut, but there was still one student left.

Marcus leaned against the wooden door, his arms crossed over his impressive chest.

“My, my, birthday girl, you pop up in the most interesting places,” he said quietly.

My heart leapt into my mouth. I gripped onto the edge of my desk and raised my chin, trying my best not to let him see how unsettled I was.

“I-I don’t know what to say in my defense, except that behind the bar, you looked a hell of a lot older.

I’m sorry—so sorry… If you want to tell the dean, I understand.

If you want to change classes, I understand,” I rambled.

The words had been swirling around my head the entire class, and now, they dumped out on the floor all around us.

Marcus pushed off the door and walked toward me. His eyes narrowed as he assessed my jumbled words.

“Sorry?” he repeated, closing in on me. He strode right up to me, closer than I’d expected him to. I had nowhere to go as he rounded my desk and crowded me back against the lectern.

“What are you apologizing for, just so we’re on the same page?” he said.

“For…” I took a deep breath, “taking advantage of you. You’re young?—”

“I’m twenty. I’ll be twenty-one in a few weeks,” he interrupted.

I opened my mouth to ask how he was so old, seeing as it was a freshman class, and he seemed to read my mind.

“When your dad goes to prison and you become a ward of the state for a while before your brother can get you out, it sets your academic timelines off a little.”

I had no response for that. I stared at him. He was even more beautiful in the morning light flooding through the windows.

Beautiful? Fuck. What was I thinking?

“Regardless. The power dynamic, it’s not right. I would never have—I should never have,” I spluttered in an attempt to articulate the awful, guilty recriminations swirling in my head.

“What? Turned off that you fucked some lowlife with a dad inside? Regretting lowering your standards for the night? Is that why you ran away in the cold light of day?”

I gaped at him, shocked by his tight words. There was so much to unpack under his clipped, guarded tone.

“No. I’d never think anything like that. I shouldn’t have?—”

“Shouldn’t have what? Fucked me? Let me eat your pussy? Gripped my fingers so damn tight with your cunt you could have snapped them off?” he asked, totally unfazed by the filth coming from his mouth.

I’d never heard dirty talk like that in real life, and this guy could say it utterly shamelessly.

He raised a dark eyebrow at me. “Try it, and I won’t accept it.

I’m not a fucking kid, and you didn’t take advantage of anyone.

You weren’t leaving that bar without my cum leaking from your cunt.

That was my decision, got it? You think you have power over me?

You think I’m intimidated by your authority? ”

It was laughable when he put it like that. Heat filled my cheeks. I couldn’t stand it. I dropped his gaze and looked away. His fingers landed on my chin, and he tugged my face back up, so I was forced to meet his eyes.

“But you can apologize to me for something,” he said.

“What?”

“Apologize for sneaking out of my bed, while I was still asleep, without leaving me so much as your number or your real fucking name.” He broke off on an incredulous chuckle. “You’ll be the first, and last woman to do that.”

“Right, because you’ve never had a one-night stand leave before morning?”

“Leave, sure, because I’ve made them. I didn’t tell you to leave. I didn’t allow you to leave, so you should have been there when I woke up.”

The balls on this guy were something else. I pulled my face from his grip and pushed him back. He barely swayed.

“Look, Mr. Bailey, I’m your teacher, I’m older than you?—”

“Barely,” he added.

“Older is more than birthdays,” I told him harshly. “I’m older than you in terms of life experience.”

He laughed. The fucker laughed. He was so ridiculously hot, standing there and laughing at me, I wanted to slap him. I wanted to stomp on his far-too-big feet. I wanted him to realize the gravity of what had happened.

“What’s so funny?” I snapped.

“Just the fact that you think I’m some blushing, innocent, naive teen who you need to protect.

” His smile faded, and he cocked his head, his dark eyes drilling into mine.

“You have no idea the things I’ve seen or done.

The life I’ve lived isn’t for the weakhearted.

You don’t need to worry about me, Professor. Worry about yourself.”

Tension gathered in my gut at those words. I nodded. “You’re right. I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. The other night was a mistake, and one I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life.”

Annoyance gathered on Marcus’ brow as I spoke.

“I took advantage of you?—”

He scoffed darkly. “Give me a fucking break. You were the one drinking, not me.”

“Like I said, mistakes were made,” I cut in and took another step back from him. “If you want to report me to the dean, I understand. If you want me to resign, say the word.”

He watched me. I smoothed my hair back and straightened up.

“Now, I need to prepare for my next class, and you have places to be, I’m sure.”

A dark amusement twisted Marcus’ lips. “So, I’m dismissed, Professor Moore, is that it? You’re done with me for the second time in as many days?”

I nodded jerkily. “If you aren’t going to take my transgression further, then I suggest we don’t interact more than we absolutely have to. It’ll be uncomfortable and awkward?—”

“We wouldn’t want that,” he said.

There was a darkness to his tone that didn’t bode well, but I had very few choices left to me at this point.

We stared at each other for a long, blistering moment, and then Marcus chuckled and started toward the door. He swung his heavy bag with a hockey stick over one shoulder.

Relief hit me like a ton of bricks. He was going. He was listening to me. Sure, maybe he was going to the dean to complain, but I didn’t think he was.

He stopped at the door before opening it.

“And if I want to make a fuss, if I feel taken advantage of… what are you going to do about it?” he called down to me.

I swallowed a knot in my throat and forced my head high. I made the mistake; I’d take responsibility.

“Resign, transfer, leave town—whatever makes you feel better. Whatever you want.” I met his gaze unwaveringly.

His dark eyes crinkled, and a shadow of a grin touched his lips. He nodded.

“Good to know, Professor. I’m going to hold you to that. Sit tight, and I’ll let you know what I want to do with you.”

“You mean what you want me to do?”

He smirked. “Sure.”

Then he left, leaving that axe hanging over my head.