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"As much as I enjoy this shameless flirting, it needs to stop. Of all people, you should know this better than anyone."
It's my turn to look smug because, if this conversation has revealed anything to me, it's that he knows that misbehavior is imminent, and right now, the thought of crossing the line in the sand is driving me fucking crazy day and night. We stare at each other in a silent challenge.
"Au revoir."
“Is that our signature sign off now?” He rolls his eyes. I shrug with a smile tugging at my lips.
“Sure, DeLuca. We’ll stop the shameless flirting, but come up with a secret handshake, too, while we’re at it.” When I back away from the table, I trip over someone's backpack. I teeter slightly, and DeLuca hurries out of his chair to catch me. I recover, already out of his grip. If I'm reading his outreached arm and the disappointed expression on his face right, he's a little sad about it.
That knowledge adds a slight pep to my step and I retreat to fresh air, praying that there's enough oxygen to replace the breath DeLuca just stole from me.
Chapter Five
Tomas
Iregrettablytearmyeyes away from Olivia’s quick escape. As usual, her ass is perfect in today’s outfit, making it hard to look away. She’s perfectly put together from head-to-toe. Does she ever have a day where she doesn’t look like a perfectly curated wet dream? Is there ever a time where she can keep her smart ass mouth in check? I can certainly think of something to keep it disciplined.
I’m immersed in the fantasy of losing myself in her mouth, much like her insinuation a short time ago, when the chair next to me drags obnoxiously across the floor.
“You hitting that, Professor?” Nathan asks with a furrowed brow as he helps himself to the seat across from me. I'm even annoyed at the fact that the chair is undoubtedly still warm from her and he gets to savor a bit of her body heat.
I recoil, although my first inclination is to say, ‘fuck off, she’s mine’. “No, Nathan. I can assure you I do not form those types of relationships with students.”
He gives an arrogant smile. “Ahh, my mistake. I guess you’ve changed, then.”
I attempt to keep my composure as my rage threatens to boil over. “You have no idea what happened.”
He nods. “Sure. I gotta give it to you, though, man. That whole blackmailing story with the recording? Genius. Great cover-up.”
My fist grips the coffee cup so tightly I crush it. “What are you getting at, Mr. Bryne? You’re insinuating an awful lot right now. Is there something you actually want from me?”
“Just assurance that you’ll keep my grade up. I have a lot riding on the football season. I need to get scouted.”
My stomach further sours. “I’ve never given anyone an unearned grade, Mr. Bryne, and despite your notoriety, I’m not about to start now. I’m not in the habit of indulging nepotism,” I say before abruptly standing to leave.
“Whatever you say. Oh, and stay away from Miss Hamilton. She’s mine,” he says through a flat glare.
“Does she know that?” I seethe across the table.
“Does she need to?” He has the audacity to look bored, and it takes everything I have not to murder him on the spot.
“Yes, Nathan. She’s a human-being, not a piece of goddamn property.”
His eyes flicker with realization, making me feel uneasy. Have I given away too much? Should I tell James? His only response is a small shrug, and I turn on my heel to head to my office. I tear through the halls like a storm blowing in on a sunny day. Shutting the door behind me, I sit and stare at my desk, still reeling from the surreal day I’m having.
“Fuck.” The desk rattles at the impact from my fist. I need to get the fuck out of here.
I find my gym bag, throwing on some basketball shorts and a t-shirt before heading down the hall to the faculty gym. Between the lust and rage, I need to ease some stress.
The gym is peaceful, albeit stifling hot, as I climb on a treadmill. Grabbing my headphones, I pick a playlist and set a brisk four mile per hour pace as a warm-up. I try to concentrate on my breathing.
Wiping the sweat forming on my brow, I finally say fuck it and toss my shirt to the ground before breaking into a solid run. It feels so good on my head, my legs, my tense body, already giving me some peace from the perpetual torture Olivia has been putting me through. The fact Nathan has some knowledge of the most humiliating experience of my life, and at least has some semblance of knowledge of the weird dance Olivia and I have been doing the past few weeks, does not sit well at all. There has to be a way to be okay around her. I have no fucking idea how to achieve that.
My steps waver when I look to my left and find a stock-still Olivia staring at me in leggings and a strappy tank top that leaves less to the imagination than she has worn thus far. She regards me like I’m the oncoming traffic and she’s a deer, frozen, lost in the headlights. Her eyes brazenly roam over my muscles–from my shoulders, to my biceps, my pectoral muscles, my abs, and then they dip below to my waist. I turn my attention back to straight ahead of me to stop myself from falling and to forget about the blooming arousal under her obvious gaze.
I count the breaths in my head, willing myself to focus. Increasing the speed, I pick a punishing pace, giving my mind and body no other choice. Disciplining myself into silence might be the only way Olivia and I come out of this unscathed. I turn my head to the right and see Olivia has chosen a treadmill three down the row from me. Her pace is a little less strenuous than mine, but her skin glistens and her face is red from the exertion. I wonder if she’s having the same problem I am. Maybe she’s all in with reckless abandon, although I suspect she’s too intelligent for that.
I look over, and Olivia increases her speed significantly, running with wild abandon. She’s concentrated–fast and poised. How someone can look this fucking good exercising is beyond me. I up my speed to meet hers. She gives me a sly smile with narrowed eyes and breaks into a sprint. I pick up my pace again and have to taper it down after three minutes. She lets out a satisfied breath and I go back to getting lost in my head.
