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The door didn’t squeak as it opened, another way in which this place was different from the real thing. The clear sounds of the wind rustling through the crisp fall leaves and the distant calls of birds came into focus and faded as the door closed them out again.
She stared at the rules she had read and reread, swallowing convulsively to ready herself for however he might begin the scene. Perhaps he would come in angry, spank her first and ask questions later. Maybe he would want to banter a bit, ease into the role of disgruntled student.
His heavy footfalls didn’t shake the floor, but they echoed through the quiet room. When she looked up, her heart stopped. Those smoky gray eyes stared at her, and his full, sensual lips parted in surprise. He stared at her long enough for her to realize that he hadn’t expected to see her there. Then his broad shoulders sagged the slightest amount, and that was all the confirmation she needed.
This joke was too cruel.
Yanking open the drawer, she struggled to maintain her composure. She grabbed her keys and headed to the door, brushing past him as she rounded the corner. He watched her go, his mouth opened, but she didn’t stay to hear what he had to say. Screw her clothes. Good thing she’d left her suitcase in the car. She unlocked her door, using the key because her Malibu predated keyless entry. Just as she reached for the handle to open it up, he lodged his hand against the frame, holding the door closed. She jerked as hard as she could, but it was useless.
“Move, damn it.”
“No. Mia, talk to me.”
A harsh wind whipped against them, battering her with the scent of fabric softener and aftershave mixed with Kaelen’s distinct maleness. She didn’t want to talk to him. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted to climb up his solid frame, wrap her legs around his narrow hips, and grind her mound against his cock.
“I did. I told you to move. Damn it.”
His other arm came down on her other side, caging her between his hot body and the coolness of her car. Not one for cold, she gravitated to the heat. When she bumped into his chest, she yelped and whirled around.
“That’s not talking. That’s ordering. You’re not here to give orders. You’re here to take them.” His soft tone didn’t hide the firmness of his authority.
So much heat crept up her neck and suffused her face that she knew she’d passed pink and gone straight to red. Of course he knew the details of her fantasy. How utterly embarrassing. How completely pathetic.
She ducked under his arm and went around to the passenger side. Sliding across the console would get her to the driver’s seat just as well. Except for the fact Kaelen followed her to the other side, it was a solid escape plan.
Wasting no time, he put his hands on the door, caging her once again. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We must both have the same fantasy.”
She closed her eyes and let the sound of his voice wash through her system. Way deep down, she wanted to give in, but her better sense took over. “If you think I’m going to go back in there with you so you can take out all your anger on me, you’re mistaken. I’m not stupid.”
And she desperately didn’t want anyone to find out about this. Not only was he likely mad about his paper, he now had this debacle to lay at her feet. She didn’t think he was the vindictive type, but this was the kind of story that inevitably made the rounds, if only because it was so improbable.
His body trembled. “I’m not angry with you. I’d never do anything to you that you didn’t want. You set down very specific guidelines that I agreed to before Oasis would let me come here.”
Leaning forward, she shrank against the car. “Like hell you’re not mad. I refused to take your paper. You’ll fail the class without it.”
“My desire to turn your little ass pink has nothing to do with your refusal to take my paper. Yeah, it sucks, but it’s between me and Brindley. It doesn't involve you at all.” He moved closer, tightening her cage. Power and strength vibrated from him, and he hadn’t touched her yet. “Please don’t walk away. It’s one day where we both get to live out our deepest fantasy.”
The images and feelings generated by her fantasies paled in comparison to coming this close to being with him. But this fantasy was supposed to include a look-alike she would never have to see again. Though she really didn’t think he had it in him to hurt her, she held fast to her decision. “You can’t have expected to find me here. It’s going to be awkward enough when we get back to school. We don’t have to add fuel to the fire.”
He nestled his forehead against her shoulder. “For fuck’s sake, Mia. When I described the woman I wanted to see here today, I modeled her after you. I did everything but request you by name. You must have done the same thing with me. I thought it was odd how closely your parameters matched me, but now I see why. You want me as much as I want you. God, I'm so glad I won that gift certificate at work and not someone else. It's like it was meant to be.”
