“Really? I didn’t think I had an accent. Not like you and English people.”
“I didn’t think I had an accent, either.” He laughed. “Though I do sound slightly English. People who know me can hear the Romerian in my voice as well.”
“Romerius?” I questioned, slightly confused.
“The country I come from is called Romerius.”
“Oh, I’ve—”
“Never heard of it,” Sebastian said, finishing my sentence. “Don’t worry. No one else has heard of it, either.”
“Sorry.”
“Oh, don’t be. The people of Romerius are happy to be unknown. The people of Monaco envy us slightly.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Because they are inundated with tourists now.”
“But doesn’t tourism bring you money?”
“Money is so crass.” Sebastian made a face and I laughed inside. Only someone with money would think that needing money was crass.
I thought back to my student loans and other bills and knew that I wouldn’t turn up my nose at any job or endeavor that was going to bring me money. But then I suppose that was why I was working for his brother. If I had money, there was no way I would stay at a job that made me compromise my own feelings—no matter how hot I thought the guy was.
I changed the subject. “So did you do the homework?”
“Of course. Do you think I want the wrath of my brother?”
“I guess not.” A chill ran through me at his words. I had nearly forgotten that Sebastian and Xavier were brothers.
“What painting did you choose?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
“No fair.” He shook his head. “Tell me.”
“Nope.”
“Tell me.” He grinned and reached over to tickle me.
“No!” I squealed as his fingers reached under my arms and tickled me. “Stop.” I giggled as he continued and I tried to pull away. My hair fell in front of my eyes, and Sebastian gently pushed it away.
“You have beautiful eyes, Lola.” He smiled gently and my heart skipped a beat. Was he flirting with me?
“Good morning, class.” Xavier walked into the room, his voice booming. I looked up at him, and he was glaring at me. “I do hope that people remember this is a classroom, a place we come to learn, and not a brothel, a place you go to pick up a whore.”
He stared right at me, and I gasped, shocked at his words and the cold look in his eyes. What was his problem? Was he upset because I’d left him with a hard-on in his house? What had he expected to happen this morning?
“Looks like big bro’s in a great mood again this morning,” Sebastian sighed. “He needs to just get laid or something.”
“He’s single, right?” I mumbled, trying to pretend like I didn’t care.
“Well—” Sebastian started and then stopped as Xavier stared at us again.
“Today, class, we will all be sharing our favorite paintings. I hope everyone has come prepared to discuss their favorite painting.” Xavier’s voice was harsh, and I could tell that he was staring at me in anger.
“My favorite painting is Sunflowers by Van Gogh,” I whispered to Sebastian, avoiding Xavier’s stare.
“That’s so funny. That’s my favorite painting as well.” Sebastian grinned at me. “I guess we must be soul mates.”
“Haha.” I laughed and smiled at him widely. Take that, Xavier, I thought to myself.
“If the two of you are done, can we continue with the class?” Xavier glared up at us. “And, Lola, I need to speak to you after class.”
“Yes, sir.” I tried not to roll my eyes.
“Sorry.” Sebastian made a face, and I shrugged.
“It’s fine. He hates me.”
“He probably wants to tell you that you have bad taste in paintings.”
“Sebastian.” Xavier’s voice was loud, and the class went quiet. “Please have some respect for the rest of the class and keep quiet.”
“Yes, Professor Van Romerius.” He rolled his eyes and then looked at the front of the class. “Who told me to take a class where my brother was the professor?” he whispered, and then we both sat back and listened to the other students talk about their favorite paintings before class ended.
***
“Sebastian, I need to talk to Lola privately.” Xavier stared down at his younger brother as we made our way out of the room at the end of class.
I couldn’t stop myself from comparing them. They were both incredibly handsome, though there was something darker and more masculine about Xavier. He had more of a presence about him. I supposed it was what made him a man and Sebastian a boy. I shivered as I stared at his hands as he pointed them towards the door. I was reminded of his fingers on my skin, and I wanted to reach over and grab ahold of them. Something about Xavier brought out a primal urge in me that I couldn’t resist. If he told me to bend over the desk and pull my pants down, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to say no.