Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Mairi shook her head anxiously. “No, no, I—-” She couldn’t help tossing a look at the rest of the class, wondering if they had heard what the other student said.
Leon frowned. His little professor was cute when she was worried, but he didn’t like it when another person was the reason behind it. Turning around, he gave his friend a look of mock regret. “You’ve got it the other way around, amico.” Winking at Mairi, he said with a wicked smile, “I’m the one who’s head over heels over our little teacher. Right, Ms. Yay?”
This time, his voice rang clearly throughout the class. Hearing it, everyone broke into laughter and some even cheered.
After writing his name on the list, she pushed the sheet towards him on the desk. “Please sign here,” she muttered ungraciously.
Instead of simply signing it, Leon actually went around the desk to stand next to her, making Mairi gasp and the class laugh. The guys at the back whistled catcalls.
This time, Leon’s proximity made her a thousand times more uncomfortable than earlier. The urge to run away increased, and she could feel her face getting hotter.
A student, Mairi reminded herself desperately. He was just a student, and she was a teacher. She should be the one with an upper hand in this!
As Leon bent his head down and signed the sheet, he murmured, “No need to say thanks, Ms. Yay.”
“Excuse me?” Mairi was incredulous.
Laying the pen down, he looked at her under his lashes, and with him so close she began to realize a few more things. He might be several years younger than she was, but he wasn’t really a boy.
There was nothing boyish and everything imposing about Leon’s height, build, and most especially at the way he looked at her. Good God, he almost looked like he was ready to pounce on her!
She stumbled a step back at the thought, not realizing she was already at the edge of the platform. She flailed and tottered, but before she could fall, Leon was there to catch her, snatching Mairi from the edge.
When her body slammed against his, the class only had one reaction.
Ooooooooh.
“See,” he whispered, his breath fanning her ear, making the side of her face tingle. “If I hadn’t done this, they wouldn’t have warmed up to you.”
He let her go after that, leaving Mairi staring after him in stunned realization. He had done all that...for her?
Her gaze flew to the rest of the class, and by now they were all smiling, in a way she knew she’d never have made them do if it was up to her alone.
When Leon reclaimed his seat, he winked at her from the back. “Go on, Ms. Yay. I’ll make certain everyone’s all ears for you.”
Hoots and giggles erupted from the other students, and it all went downhill – or uphill, depending on how one looked at it – from there.
When Mairi started the roll call and the first student raised her hand, Leon said, “Don’t call her that.”
The girl frowned. “Don’t call her ‘Professor’?”
Leon shook his head with a frown. “Not that. I mean, call her Professor Arlotta,” he suggested. “Because she’ll soon be mine.”
The class once again exploded in laughter, drowning out Mairi’s gasp. She opened and closed her mouth several times, unsure of how to handle this. Give Leon the evil eye? She doubted it would work. Reprimand the class? They really weren’t the ones in the wrong.
In the end, all she could do was bear with everyone’s constant teasing.
When class ended, Mairi was all smiles when she said goodbye to the class. But it was just as clear to Leon she was also exhausted. When he started after her, it was as if some kind of sixth sense informed her of his intentions. Mairi’s head jerked up, and when their eyes met, dismay flitted over her face.
Mairi hurriedly gathered her things, practically dumping everything in her bag in one go. Hell bent on leaving before Leon could get to her, Mairi walked as fast as she could, heading towards the back doors of the school.
It was where she had promised to meet Damen, and the first thing she saw, basking under the afternoon sunlight?
Damen was still in his business suit, elegant, handsome, and exuding both power and sex appeal. Flawlessly and intensely male, he drew gazes and caused jaws to drop and steps to falter without doing anything.
Leaning against Damen, ruining her father’s ruthless image, was Nala, sleeping peacefully, secured in the floral carrier strapped to her husband’s chest.
She wanted to laugh and cry at the picture the two presented. Oh, Nala, if you only knew what you’re doing to your dad.
When Mairi started running towards him, Damen knew right away something was wrong. She wasn’t crying when she reached him, but her smile wobbled and her eyes couldn’t quite meet his. She tiptoed to kiss Nala on the head.