Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
“Right, yes, okay,” she babbles, that pink blush staining her skin distracting me even more. “I just wanted to say sorry, again, for earlier.”
I smile. “It’s really no problem,” I assure her. “Though you don’t have to run into me, literally, to get my attention, you know.”
Her blush darkens, and my heartbeat picks up. “It won’t happen again,” she says, smiling back at me. “I didn’t know you were a professor now.”
I nod. “Yeah, started the career path as soon as I graduated,” I say, shrugging like it’s no big deal despite the fact that I worked my ass off for it. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do, though I’m still working on personal projects on the side.”
“Personal projects, huh?” she asks, raising a brow. “Will you be showing your work in class?”
“Ah,” I say, clearing my throat. “No. My current project isn’t…appropriate for the classroom.” I shouldn’t even be talking about it. I’m working with an artist I met at an exhibition years ago, doing photography and film in collaboration for their newest show. The theme is sensual to say the least. Though, I’ve not started my work yet, only planned what I’d like to do.
Instead of putting her off, Emma looks even more intrigued. She leans in, so close I can smell the vanilla scent of her perfume. My mouth waters.
There’s a gleam in her eyes as she says, “Oh, really? And why is that?”
I glance towards the door, checking we’re definitely alone. “It’s a collaboration with an artist for their next show. And their work is excellent but…” I trail off, wondering how to word it, “focused on the more…carnal…aspects of human nature.”
I can’t help the way my eyes flick down, lingering on her lips before trailing down her body, as I speak. God, she’s stunning.
She’s your student! I try to remind myself. My student! But it’s hard to care when she’s standing so close, looking at me like that.
“Oh,” she breathes. “That sounds like a fun project to be involved in. Can I see your pieces?”
“I haven’t actually started them yet,” I admit. “I’ve got a plan just…”
“No spark?” she says, finishing my sentence.
I nod. “Something like that. Need to wait for the inspiration to strike, I guess.”
“I get that,” she nods, smiling sweetly.
We both jump as the lecture hall door opens, the next class beginning to trail in. Emma adjusts her bag on her shoulder, glancing back to me.
“Well, I hope you find a muse for it soon,” she says, lingering for a moment longer before she turns and leaves.
I watch her go, one singular thought blaring loud in my mind.
I think I just have.
3
EMMA
Itry to focus on my work and put all thoughts of Professor Hotty out of my mind, I really do…but…
God, it’s impossible.
I only have Oliver’s class twice a week, and in the days between I feel like I’m having withdrawals. All the feelings I had for him before have come flooding back but doubly as strong, and I feel like a teenager with her first crush all over again.
I replay the conversations we’ve had over and over again in my head. The way his eyes flashed, looking me up and down, the way his lips formed the word “carnal,” the way his shirt hugged his muscles, it’s all the stuff of fantasies. And God, the fantasies my brain has come up with…
For someone who’s never even had sex before, my brain has come up with a million dirty fantasies. I imagine his voice growling my name, his hands on me, the scent of his cologne in my nose as he…
“Earth to Emma?”
I jolt, nearly dropping my phone. I’d forgotten it was even in my hand, and my face heats as I make eye contact with Isabel on video call again. I’d gotten so lost in my thoughts I can’t even remember what conversation we were having.
“Sorry,” I rush to say, apologizing to my best friend as my cheeks turn bright red.
“What were you just thinking about?” Isabel says, suspicion written all over her face.
“Uh, nothing,” I lie. Her eyebrows raise and she pins me with a look that tells me she doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. “Just someone I used to know…he’s a professor here now.”
Isabel’s face lights up. “Oh my God, tell me everything!!” she squeals.
It feels good to tell her about Oliver and about how crazy I feel being so pulled to him. She’s visibly excited the whole time I’m talking, and I’m about to tell her not to get her hopes up when Oliver walks right in front of me, heading in the direction of the library.
My breath catches, and I’m grateful my phone’s hiding my face and I was finished talking because being caught gushing about him might have been enough for me to quit and change my name and move countries.