AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Probably that,” I murmured, distracted for a moment as my attention caught on a flash of wavy brown hair and long legs disappearing around a corner.
My heart thudded in my chest.
No. I couldn’t think about him. I refused to think about him. Of course, it was likely that I’d spot him on or around campus, but I hoped it would only ever be at a distance.
My thoughts drifted in the one direction I hadn’t wanted them to go. Again. Neither Gage nor Stuart had recognised him at the club, so it was unlikely he was studying one of the business or technology subjects. With over two hundred and thirty courses on offer at the university, though, that barely narrowed it down.
I hated this urge to discover more. He’d been appearing in my thoughts with increased frequency ever since he’d come into my office, and enough was enough.
Squaring my shoulders, I firmly pushed JJ out of my mind. Suddenly, a drink sounded like a great idea.
I turned to Gage. “Forget the ale. I’m in the mood for shots.”
His brows flew up as he stared at me. “Who are you, and what have you done with Dr. Wilder?”
“Maybe I decided you’re right. I do need a better work-life balance.” It had nothing to do with the need to rid my mind of blue eyes, soft lips, and a perfectly sculpted body… Fuck. The sooner he left my mind, the better.
“You definitely do, but possibly not on a school night.” As Gage pushed open the door to the pub, we were hit by a wall of noise, immediately surrounded by people who seemed as if they were having the time of their lives. He took a look around us, nodded once, and then grabbed my arm, dragging me into the fray. “On second thoughts, you need to loosen up, and who knows when you’ll be in this kind of mood again. Let’s do it.”
5
This was a part of campus I’d never ventured onto before and never had any reason to. Before now.
Sipping from my takeaway coffee cup, the bitter liquid burning my throat as I swallowed, I stepped inside the performing arts building.
What was I doing here? If anyone saw me… The likelihood of any of these students recognising me was hopefully minimal, but there was still a chance, and there would be faculty members who would certainly know who I was. It still didn’t deter me, though, my footsteps echoing across the tiled floor as I made my way through the building, bypassing the theatre, and followed the signs to the dance studios.
Joshua James Everett. Studying for a Bachelor of Arts in dance. Twenty years old.
I knew those facts, thanks to my slightly unethical use of the student records system a few nights ago, home alone and not thinking straight after one too many ill-advised shots with Gage at The George. Now that I had his name, I also had his email address, which was publicly available to both students and faculty members if one knew the name of the student or staff member. I’d also used my staff privileges to obtain a copy of the current timetable for second-year students studying his degree, and while I couldn’t quite believe I’d gone so far in my drunken state, I was yet to feel any real form of regret—other than the regret that accompanied a painful hangover. That in itself was worrying. I did, however, feel shock at myself that I’d let myself get to the point of employing stalking tactics with a student who was ten years younger than I was.
It was irresponsible. It was a blatant abuse of power. It was wrong.
But still, I continued forwards.
When I reached dance studio 2, I stopped, composing myself, and then glanced through the large windows that opened into the hallway.
I saw him straight away. My breath caught in my throat, and my traitorous cock stirred in my trousers at the sight of him. He was alone, sensually curving his body backwards in front of the long wall of mirrors. Dressed simply in a pair of black dance tights, with his feet bare and his beautiful, sculpted torso exposed, his hair damp and skin glistening with exertion, he took my breath away. I’d never had such a visceral reaction to anyone before, man or woman, and yet this student that was far too young and wrong for me had completely stolen my attention from the moment I’d first laid eyes on him. But regardless, I shouldn’t be here. He was pure sunshine, and I was jaded, angry, uptight… All those things that people said behind my back and to my face were true. Even if those facts weren’t true, he was still out of my reach, both with his age and his status as a student here. I couldn’t allow myself to get close to him. I couldn’t allow myself to dull his sparkle.
No, instead, I’d stand outside the studio and watch him from afar like the stalker I was turning out to be.
“Excuse me! Are you here for JJ? I mean, hi, can I help you with anything?”
My head shot around to see a petite blonde eyeing me with interest, her hands on her hips.
“No. I’m just…” Caught off guard, I held up my coffee cup as if it would substitute for words I didn’t have.
“Aww, you brought him coffee! That’s so sweet! He’ll appreciate that, what with his caffeine addiction.” Before I knew what was happening, slim fingers had wrapped around my wrist, and I was being pulled towards the door to the dance studio. Still in shock, I allowed myself to go, my brain frozen and unable to process what was happening.
“JJ!” the girl boomed in a voice far too loud for such a petite person.
“Alyssa! There’s no need to shout.” JJ’s lips curved up, but his smile was instantly wiped away when he spotted me standing next to her. His mouth dropped open in shock, a furrow appearing between his brows. Fuck. This was terrible.
“He brought you coffee.” The girl dropped her grip on my wrist, bounding over to JJ and throwing her arms around him. “Isn’t that sweet?”
His gaze darted back to mine as he returned her hug. “Sweet,” he repeated slowly, a question in his eyes. “Hey, Aly, can you find Leo? I think he’s in studio 4. We need to work on our group choreo.”
She nodded, releasing him, and danced away, the door closing behind her.
