James was beside me in a second. He grabbed my arm. "Penny, get in the car now."
"Is that how this started? Him telling you what to do? Did he force you..."
James put his hand in front of the video camera lens that was in our faces.
"Penny." His voice was stern.
"He didn't force me to do anything. Haven't any of you been in love? James is kind, and caring, and wonderful."
"He cheated on his wife in order to be with you."
"He didn't. Stop standing out here harassing us and go do your job. You're just spreading rumors. This isn't news!"
"We don't have any other comments at this time," James said and stepped in front of me.
Why was he being like this? Why wouldn't he stand up for himself? I climbed back into the car. Everyone else at this school was an asshole. Girls were lying to get As. The dean was just accepting crappy detectives' opinions in order to sweep this whole mess under the rug. And these reporters had chosen us to harass? This was ridiculous.
James slammed the door when he got back in the car and laid his hand down on the horn. The reporters didn't back away until he started to slowly move the car forward. He didn't say anything as he pulled into the parking garage. But I could tell he was mad. His hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. He pulled into his parking spot and got out of the car. I had to chase him to the elevator doors that had already opened.
"James, I'm sorry. But this needs to stop. They can't stay out there forever."
He shook his head and hit a button on the elevator. The elevator came to an abrupt stop. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"It doesn't make any sense that they're out there. They're being relentless."
"And you just made it worse. I specifically asked you not to talk to them."
"James. Doesn't it make you mad? Why won't you defend yourself?"
"I know you've had a bad day. But I'm trying very hard to remain calm right now. I need to know that you'll listen to me when I ask you not to do something."
"If you won't defend yourself, I'll defend you. Everyone at this school already hates me. I don't care anymore."
"What you just did is going to make it worse. Not better. That's going to be all over the news tonight."
"Good. I want everyone to know that you're not a bad person. It sucks walking around campus hearing people say bad things about me. But I can deal with that. What I can't handle is people saying bad things about you."
"And I can't stand that you have to hear bad things about you. I'm used to getting my way. I don't know how to fix this. I never expected this to happen." He leaned against one of the walls in the elevator.
"I know. You're used to being in control. And I'm infuriating." I shrugged.
He gave me an exasperated laugh. "I can't think straight when I'm with you. I'm so unbelievably mad at you right now. But all I want to do is fuck you in this elevator."
I swallowed hard. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too." He looked down for a second and then back up at me. "If you think it will help, I'll talk to them. It might help around campus."
"Not if you're going to take all the blame."
He closed the distance between us in the elevator, pressing my back against the cold steel. "You really are infuriating." He leaned down and kissed me hard, sending shivers of desire through my whole body. I didn't like when he was mad at me. But I liked this. I liked that it made him want me in a different way.
My fingers slipped beneath the back of his hoodie and up his muscular back.
He grabbed my hands and pushed them against the side of the elevator. "There are cameras in here. And Rob is waiting for us upstairs. I had the front desk let him up."
"Okay."
"To be continued?" He ran the tip of his nose down the length of mine.
