When I reach the door located at the end of the wide, ruthlessly clean hallway, Veda surprises me by stepping out from behind a row of lockers. We’re alone in the hall, but I’m more aware than ever of our age difference, mostly because she’s holding a text book and a ‘Vote Shannon for Class Prez’ banner hangs just beyond her shoulder. It does nothing to eliminate the gnawing desire to back her up against one of the lockers and wrap her legs around my waist. Especially because she looks relieved to see me—happy, even—and her welcoming behavior sends blood rushing in my veins.
“You came,” she whispers. “I wasn’t sure.”
“If I make you a promise, Veda, I will always follow through.”
Her eyes take on a glassy quality as she drifts forward, like she’s being transported on a cloud. Heaven’s premier angel. “I thought I would go in with you.” She gives a small shrug and I get a nose full of bubble gum scent. “I want to hear from Professor Talvert what I need to improve on.”
Once again, I encounter the niggling feeling that she’s got an ulterior motive, but how can that be when she looks so innocent? She’s rubbing one foot against the other, chewing on that bottom lip and giving me ideas. Am I too cynical for my own good or is my guilt leading me to see things that aren’t there?
Like you’ve taken me?
Her words during the thunderstorm infiltrate my mind, but I don’t want to hear them right now. Not when she’s looking up at me with blatant hero worship and I’m moments from learning more about her as a person. Even if the information will be coming from a third party—her professor—I’m still desperate to learn what makes her tick. Just until I can get inside her head.
“If you want to be in this conference, angel, then you will be. Simple as that.”
Veda’s gaze widens a fraction, then she steps forward, running her fingers down my red, silk tie. “You get whatever you want, don’t you, Ramsey?”
“Perhaps,” I answer, unable to look away as she wets her lips. “I’m glad for it, too. It enables me to give you whatever you want.”
“I don’t want to go back to class afterward,” she says, tightening the knot around my throat. “If you take me to the office with you, I promise not to be distracting.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t possibly keep,” I rasp, ready to call the whole damn thing off and take her home. Maybe that’s exactly what she wants. To drive me so out of my mind, I lose all sense of responsibility. Or hell, my sanity. Standing in the hallway of a high school, I’m halfway to losing it already. “I think you’re enjoying leading me around by the dick, Veda, but you need to know one thing.” I take hold of her wrist and apply the barest amount of pressure. “I’m letting you.”
The answering flash of defiance in her eyes stiffens my cock, makes my palm itch to connect with her sweet bottom. “Shall we go in?” She says, sweetly.
Without looking, I reach out and push open the door, inclining my head so she’ll precede me. I follow behind her into the spacious classroom and it takes me exactly three seconds to ascertain why Veda wanted me at this meeting. Oh yes. I might have won the battle out in the hallway, but she just took a huge step toward winning the war.
Sitting at the head of the class is Veda’s professor—Talvert, if I recall—a man in his early-forties, wearing thick-rimmed glasses and a beard. He’s watching her approach the way a lion greets a gazelle. If he dropped to all fours and started salivating down his chin, it couldn’t be more obvious he’s developed an interest in Veda that goes far beyond the teacher-student relationship. And the whimsical look she throws over her shoulder tells me she’s aware of that fact—probably even delighted with it—if only because she knows I’m halfway to crazy just knowing she’s been in this man’s presence day in and day out. I’d like to murder him with my bare hands and we haven’t even exchanged a single word. Yet.
My saving grace here is I have the ability to keep an impassive expression, no matter the circumstances, so Talvert has no idea he’s just lost his job. Neither does Veda, however, and the scales are already too imbalanced between her and me, so this meeting must go on, whether I like it or not.
Keeping my features schooled, I extend a hand to Talvert and wait for his feeble mind to catch up. Yes, you weren’t expecting me, were you, fucker? But I’m here now and your fun is over. “Sorry,” he says, “I was expecting Mr. Rose. Veda’s father.”
“Mr. Rose has been taken abroad indefinitely for his job.” I release his hand and step back, unbuttoning my suit jacket to sit down. “My name is Ramsey Beckett and I’m here in his place. Begin whenever you’re ready.”