Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
“Go ahead,” he hisses. “Tell whoever. I’m a tenured, respected professor in a top financial institution. And you’re a dirty little slut, just like Amy Sanders.”
He shrugs and moves away, gesturing to the door.
“So go ahead, Tempest. Spread your bullshit to anyone you want and see if they listen. But let’s get one thing straight: we both know you need to pass this class to go to Harvard, but here’s something else I’m going to share with you.”
He grins wickedly, his eyes narrowing at me.
“You’re not going to pass this class unless you do everything I say.” His smile stretches wide, his teeth flashing evilly. “Is that understood?”
I want to cry. I want to scream. Instead, I’m just frozen to the spot, the nausea creeping up inside of me.
“So, soon, Tempest,” he hisses. “I will take what I want. Now get the fuck out of my classroom.”
I’m barely aware of moving past him and opening the door, until I”m running down the halls, the tears streaming down my face.
12
Christian
She’s not by my Range Rover after class. I frown, going to check my phone, until I realize I’ve left it back in my office. I circle through the school on the way back, finding it mostly empty except for a couple of professors still packing up. Mrs. Hinds, the Chemistry professor wishes me a good evening, and a scowling, perpetually pissed looking Professor Hershman mumbles something that vaguely sounds like a goodnight to me as he brushes past me to the parking lot.
But no Tempest.
Finally, I circle back to my office for the phone. Ms. Vitney is already gone for the day, and the lights off. I frown, wondering where the hell my angel is, when I swing my office door wide, and suddenly stop short.
Because there she is, sitting against the edge of my desk.
“Hi,” she says quietly.
“Hey.”
I close the door behind me, crossing my arms over my chest and watching her.
“Sorry I didn’t meet you,” she says quietly. “I just, I mean, it’s just that—”
I think I know where this is going. This is her doubt. This is her questioning how sincere I am, and suddenly wondering if I really am just a dirty old man putting his hands on one of his eighteen-year-old students.
These are all sentiments I’m going to squash right here and right now.
“You think this is just fun and games for me,” I say quietly.
Tempest looks up at me, her eyes red and her bottom lip caught between her teeth.
“Is it?” she whispers, and the look on her face is so damn fragile it almost breaks me.
“No,” I growl. I move right to her, and she gasps as I scoop her into my arms. I kiss her with everything I have, searing my love into her lips with mine until she’s melting against me.
Love.
Because that’s exactly what I feel for her. It is physical, and it is blind lust, but it’s all of that and so much more than I’ve ever felt before, for anyone or anything.
“This is so much more than just that,” I growl, holding her tight. “I want all of you — you and you alone. Not just your body, but all of you.” I kiss her again, cupping her cheeks in my hand and pouring my soul into her.
“Let me tell you something, Princess. In case no one’s ever told you this, you are fucking incredible. You’re perfect, and gorgeous, and so damn sweet and innocent.”
She bites her lip, her cheeks turning pink.
“Well, not so much anymore,” she says, blushing. “Innocent, that is.”
I grin. “Still innocent, trust me. After the shit I’ve seen in this world, you’re the pureness I’ve been looking for. You’re the goodness I need.”
She melts into me, burying her face in my chest and holding me tight.
“I want that too, Christian, but what about what people—”
“Fuck what people think, or what they say,” I growl.
“What about your job?”
I shake my head. “We’ll figure it out. All I know is, you’re everything I’ve always wanted, and I’m sure as fuck never letting you go.”
“Please don’t,” she whispers, kissing me.
“Was this all why you didn’t meet me? Is this what you were worried about?”
She swallows, and her eyes give it away.
“There’s something else,” I say icily, seeing the truth there in her face.
She shakes her head, suddenly looking scared.
“Tell me whats going on, angel.”
“It’s nothing,” she sighs, looking away. “It’s just…”
“Tell me.”
“Professor Hershman, he…”
Every muscle in my body tenses, and my eyes narrow.
“What about Hershman?” I hiss.
“Not me,” she whispers, her eyes lowering and her shoulders slumping.
“Please tell me, Princess.”
She does. She tells me about Amy, and what she knows that piece of human trash Hershman did to her. And by the time she’s done, every single piece of me wants to murder the son of a bitch with my bare hands. I realize I’m tensed up completely, every muscle in my body clenched tight and my teeth painfully grinding together as the growl rumbles in my throat.