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We pull into the parking lot with minutes to spare before class starts. Dimitri escorts me inside with his hand pressed possessively against my lower back.
We enter the lecture hall together, quickly taking seats near the back. Martha comes rushing in just as the professor walks in. She gives me a quizzical look as she sits on my other side.
I avoid her questioning gaze, hyper-aware of Dimitri sitting close beside me.
"What the hell?" she whisper-yells into my ears. The lecturer walks in before I can answer.
"I am sorry to have to announce," he says gravely, "that another student was found dead this morning near the campus’ cafeteria. The police reported the same MO as the other two victims of the campus killer.”
A collective gasp sweeps through the hall. My chest seized with anxiety as the professor broke the news.
"Given the circumstances, the school has decided to end this semester earlier. Your first test will be held next week.”
Stunned murmuring breaks out around us. Three murders on campus in less than a week?
Dimitri leans over, breath tickling my ear. “Don’t worry, printsessa, I’ll keep you safe.” His hand settles on my leg under the desk, squeezing reassuringly. How can he possibly keep me safe when he’s in danger himself. Or is he?
I’m trying to pay attention to the professor, but it’s hard to focus with Dimitri’s hand creeping further up my thigh. His touch makes my skin tingle, sending little shocks of pleasure through me that I try to ignore.
The lecture hall door opens and Ivan strides in, scanning the room intently until his gaze lands on us. His face is grim as he walks over to where we sit.
Leaning down, Ivan murmurs something in Dimitri’s ear that makes him frown. Dimitri nods towards me, and Ivan’s eyes flicker to my face briefly before he turns and takes an empty seat behind Martha.
Martha immediately turns around to Ivan, angling her body towards him with a flirtatious smile.
“Hey there, I’m Martha. What’s your name?” She asks brightly. Ivan just grunts in response, slouching down in his seat.
“Not much of a talker, huh? That’s okay, I can chat enough for both of us,” Martha continues cheerfully. Ivan pointedly looks away from her, jaw clenched.
“So, you go to school here too? I’ve only seen you once before. I don’t forget a face like yours,” she says playfully.
Ivan finally turns to look at her, one eyebrow raised. “Do you ever stop talking?” he asks bluntly.
Martha just laughs, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Nope, talking is one of my greatest talents,” she retorts, then lowers her voice as she leans into him, “you should see what else my mouth is very talented at,” she adds with a wink.
“Well, I prefer silence,” he grunts back.
Meanwhile, Dimitri’s hand still rests high on my thigh, his thumb making lazy circles driving me crazy. I shift in my seat, pressing my legs together. Dimitri notices my squirming and leans in close.
“Getting worked up?” he murmurs in my ear. I shiver at the feeling of his warm breath on my skin.
“Stop it,” I hiss back at him, trying to angle my body away. Dimitri just chuckles softly, giving my thigh a firm squeeze.
“You can pretend all you want, but I know how much you enjoy my touch,” he whispers. I feel my face flush. I’m saved from responding by the professor dismissing the class early.
As everyone starts packing up their things, Dimitri stands abruptly. “Let’s go,” he says curtly to Ivan. He turns back to me and pecks my lips. “See you later baby.” Martha pouts at their sudden departure.
“Damn, Ivan is a tough nut to crack,” she sighs dramatically. Before I can respond, she reaches over and pinches my arm. Hard.
“Ow!” I yelp, pulling my arm away and rubbing the sore spot. “What was that for?”
Martha fixes me with an intense stare, her green eyes narrowed. “Don’t play dumb, I know something happened between you and the tall, dark and dangerous bad boy back there.” She jerks her chin in the direction Dimitri left. “Spill. Now.”
I hesitate, biting my lip. I’m not entirely ready to talk about last night yet; my feelings are still jumbled. But Martha is my best friend; I know I can trust her.
“I slept with Dimitri last night,” I confess quietly, not meeting her eyes.
“You WHAT?” Martha shrieks, loud enough to draw stares from the few students still milling around the lecture hall. She reaches over and pinches me again, hard.
