Page 38 of Give In
Stalking me, like I was his prey.
I wasn’t scared, and yet my heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through my veins. Acting on instinct and the unfamiliar rush, I retreated until my back hit the door.
But he kept coming, stopping only when his body was a breath away from mine. His palms went to the door at either side of my shoulders, his arms caging me. “To never have to see me again?”
“Yes?” I breathed, his close proximity messing with my head. “Isn’t that what you want?”
“No. And I’m not signing the form.”
Steeling my spine and voice, I met his intense gaze. “I can still drop the class. Or transfer.”
“Try it,” he warned, low and gravelly.
“What’s that mean?”
“Exactly what I said. Try to drop my class or transfer schools and see what happens.”
Frustration filled me, making me shake. “Okay, what’sthatmean?”
“Take my word for it.”
“Fuck your word.”
Professor Caine’s eyes darkened, the midnight blue bordering on black. His clipped words were low and controlled as he asked, “What’d I warn you about the attitude, Miss Wilder?”
“Whatever. I’m gone.”
I shifted to the side, expecting him to move out of my way.
He didn’t.
Quick as a blink, his body was tight to mine. His forearms were flat to the door, and his back must’ve been bent because his eyes were even with mine. I’d have thought he’d be less imposing if he weren’t towering over me.
I’d have been wrong.
Eyes wide, I froze.
In shock, yes. But also because if I moved, the tightness in my lower belly could loosen. The thrumming of my nerve endings could dull.
The feeling of finally being alive could fade, leaving me as I’d always been. Existing, but not living.
There was so much sizzle and crackle from just the feel of him, it was a wonder I didn’t burst into flames.
With his large body so close to mine, I couldfeelthe rumble of his low spoken words when he asked, “What’d I say about threatening to leave, Eden?” Taking a small step back, he stood to his full height and glanced at his watch as though something big and major and intense hadn’t just happened. “I believe you have Political Theory starting soon. You don’t want to be late, I’ve heard that professor can be a real dick.”
As soon as I had space, I turned and opened the door before rushing from the room like it was on fire.
Only it wasn’t the room that was burning.
“Hey, you okay?” Brooks asked as I slammed into my seat a few minutes later.
“Just running late,” I lied.
I wasn’t sure how I was. My thoughts were whirling, and I couldn’t seem to grasp even one.
“What’re you up—” Brooks started just as Professor Caine began his lecture.
“In conjunction with your papers, I thought we’d spend some time talking about differing governments and how varied they truly are. Like laws. How do the people who make them come into power? Liz?”
