Page 90 of Heartless Sinner

“You’ve already crossed that line.” He tipped his chin toward the couch. “We did a hell of a lot more than kiss. Right there. Remember?”

I twisted against his grip, trying to wrench one hand free. “That was before I found out you had a wife and kids. Now that I do? I’d rather die. Enjoy whatever circle of hell is reserved for cheating husbands.”

He tightened his grip on my wrists. “And here I thought that you were mature for your age.”

“I’m not.” I struggled against his hold. “Now leave me the hell alone.”

He lowered his head to my neck and sucked at my skin. Slowly, his grip loosened on my wrists.

“Get off me.”

When he didn’t, I wrenched one hand free, buried it in his curls, and pulled hard.

“Ouch! Fuck!” He grabbed my wrist in a bruising grip, trying to pry my fingers loose, and I shoved my shoulder forward.

I only pulled harder, and when I had the right angle, drove my knee straight between his legs.

“Fuck!” he cried out.

I let go of his hair, and he doubled over, clutching himself as he dropped to his knees.

“Stay the fuck away from me.” I backed toward the door as he groaned behind me. “Go home to your wife before I tell her everything.”

I bolted from his office so fast that my platform loafers nearly came off. I didn’t stop until I reached my dorm, my legs shaking like I’d sprinted across campus and not just the building.

I trudged toward my bed and collapsed face-first onto the pillow Brooks had slept on. For some insane reason, his scent comforted me.

I lay there, humming “No Scrubs” for ten minutes, breathing in Brooks’s scent, mixed with the body wash I’d used to clean him up.

A month ago, I’d emailed Professor Sinclair for help with a paper. He replied within minutes and invited me to his office.

We’d talked about the assignment for maybe five minutes before he offered me a glass of wine from the bottle he kept hidden in his desk. After a few drinks, he kissed me, then more. One mistake turned into several.

It ended when his phone rang while I was getting dressed.

Wife calling flashed on the screen over a picture of him and his family at Disney World. I threw up in the trash can beside his desk.

I’d ended things that day, but I still couldn’t stop thinking about his wife. I’d made plenty of bad decisions in my life. Being a home-wrecker would never be one. That was karma you couldn’t even sage away.

I reached for my box of sage, only to find it empty.

“Damn it!” I slammed the box shut and shoved it back onto the shelf.

I need to get out of here.

I grabbed my phone and texted Adelina.

Me: Done with my meeting. Where are you? Want to hang out?

She answered within seconds.

Adelina: Devil’s Lair.

Adelina: Get your ass over here.

Adelina: We have … and chicken wings, but there’s no emoji for that.

Adelina: Oh! And ranch!