Page 103 of When Hearts Collide

“Professor Anderson, you in there?” an older masculine voice asks.

Our breathing is loud against our ears, my heart threatening to give out behind my rib cage as my gaze flies to him.

Ryland’s eyes are grim as he slowly grinds his erection on me, fanning the flames of my lust while panic tries to interrupt the party.

Digging my nails into his back, I whisper urgently, “Let me down, Ryland. Someone is looking for you. We can’t get caught.”

Shit. I shouldn’t have tempted him publicly. What if he loses everything because of me?

I claw at his arms, my eyes widening, pleading with him to let me down. He can’t get in trouble because of me.

Instead of answering, he dips his sweat-covered forehead toward me, his voice deep and raspy in my ear as he says, “Perhaps they should catch me. Punish me for being a bad professor. For violating every ethical line there is. For trying to capture the beautiful lark in the skies.”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Anderson, you there?”

My legs flail against his body, my body still hovering above the ground. “Ryland, please. Don’t do this to yourself. If anything, this is my fault. I tempted you.”

The doorknob rattles next to me as cold panic sweeps through my body like an avalanche, dulling the embers of lust coursing inside me moments ago.

He renews his gyrations, his cock hitting harder against my clit, and I can feel the flames burgeoning once more as he grunts in my ear.

The sparks intensify and I bite my tongue to leash down the whimpers threatening to tear out of my throat.

“Let go, Ryland. P-Please,” I sob, my arms still clutching him as my legs try to touch the floor. It’s as if my body can’t decide if I want us to burn together or to save him from immolating himself. “You’ll protect me, right? You always do.”

He swallows, steps back, and lifts his head. His breathing is labored, and an aching anguish is reflected in his soulful eyes. With trembling fingers, he wipes my face, and I belatedly notice a panicked tear has slipped out onto my cheek.

“Always,” he rasps.

Ryland nudges me to the corner of the room and straightens up before adjusting himself. His pants are dark colored, masking the wet spot that’s no doubt there. He rakes in a deep breath and runs his long fingers through his hair before smoothing on his cold, apathetic expression again. He opens the door and steps outside.

“Sorry, I was on a call. The door was a bit stuck. I need to call maintenance to fix it.”

“No problem, I want to get your thoughts on this research I’m doing…”

Their voices soften as I hear their footsteps treading away from the classroom.

I sag against the door, my dress sticking to my sweaty body, my skin still feeling feverish and sensitive, and wholly unsatisfied. My heart twists as I remember the forlorn expression on his beautiful face moments ago, when he was prepared to give everything up, to get the punishment he thought he deserved, stopping only when I reminded him I may get into trouble.

Oh, Ryland.

Five minutes later, my phone buzzes.

Ryland

Eight o’clock tonight at Noire. Same outfit.

Chapter 40

It’s a storm tonight inside Noire.

That alone should’ve warned me of his mood.

High winds whip against the towering trees, rain falling in sheets from what must be sprinklers on the ceiling, plastering my wet dress to my body. An occasional squawk of a bird echoes in the space, followed by a screech of some other nocturnal animal. The skies are pitch black, with only a sliver of the moon in sight, the faint light blurred by the pelting rain.

A burst of lightning flashes across the sky, followed by a blast of thunder and I flinch as my boots trample on the sodden puddles in the ground a few feet away from the abandoned building.

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