Page 21 of Lessons in Sin

Lily was right, he is such a PILF.

‘What’s a PILF?’

‘Did I say that out loud?’ I giggle. ‘PILF - Professor I’d like to fuck.’

His eyebrows shoot to his hairline, the perfect picture of shock. ‘Is that what people are calling me?’

I shrug, the movement sending Noah’s jacket to the floor. ‘That’s a secret I can’t disclose.’ I grin teasingly at him, unable to stop myself from flirting but his eyes are no longer looking at me - they’re looking at Noah’s jacket that’s crumpled on the floor.

Leaning to pick it up, he holds it out to me, his eyes burning like coals in his socket. ‘This yours?’

Is he jealous?

I take the jacket and grin up at him, taunting him with my eyes. ‘It’s a … friends.’

His lips thin into a line as I grin up at him. ‘Come on.’ He starts walking away, heading towards an Audi parked across the street.

Instead of following, I cross my arms, stubborn as always and shout after him. ‘What do you care if I fuck other people or not?’

His whole-body freezes, and there’s a dangerous current of energy surrounding him that wasn’t there before. Turning, he looks me dead in the eye, his gaze challenging. ‘You fucked him, did you?’

‘Maybe. What’s it to you anyway? You’ve got miss fucking garter belts to suck your dick now.’

He stalks towards me, the lines of his shoulder tense and angry but I stand my ground. Leaning down, his head close enough that I can smell the mint on his breath, he whispers. ‘I told you I didn’t even go on a date with her so stop acting like a brat and tell me - Did. You. Fuck. Him.’

It’s not a question, it’s a command - a command that makes my entire body beg to surrender to that unbridled dominance in his gaze.

Gritting my teeth, I answer. ‘None of your fucking business.’

And then I’m flying, the world spinning upside down, my sky turned into a gravel floor covered in vomit and spilt drinks.

’Put me down, Tristan! I’m not a doll you can just throw around.’ I wriggle against him, thrashing and kicking my legs. The next thing I know I feel his hand slapping down onto my ass, the sting leaving a burning imprint on my skin.

‘Hey!’ I Scream, but again he ignores me. When we reach his car, he leans down and deposits me into it, securing my seatbelt in a matter of seconds. Sliding into the driver’s seat, he starts the car, the engine purring like a cat.

Pulling away from the sidewalk, he drives in silence. Pouting, I cross my arms and stare out of the window like a child having a tantrum.

’Scarlett, I haven’t fucked anyone since you.’

’Stop lying! She was all but humping you in your office, just because you didn’t enjoy the date doesn’t mean it didn’t end —‘

He cuts me off. ‘Scarlett, I didn’t go on a date with her at all. I just … All I could think about was you with him—’ He spat out the words as if the thought of Noah angered him. ‘And I acted like a stupid, irrational, jealous man. I cancelled with her the minute you left.’

‘I don’t understand.’ I breathe.

‘I saw you listening, at the door of my office, and I decided to use it to my advantage. Miss Trevor’s has been trying to ask me out since the day I got here so I played along in the moment.’ Realising a shaky breath, he continues. ‘I never intended on following through.’

Tears cloud my vision. ‘Noah is just a friend. I just played on it to make you jealous.’

‘I guess we’re a match made in heaven.’ He takes his eyes off the road to look at me, his eyes soft and open.

Both of us had acted foolishly, trying to make the other jealous in stupid moments of irrational anger. It had only been a few weeks, and already we were pulled back to one another. Could we really spend the rest of the year in each other’s presence, pretending to be nothing more than student and teacher?

Looking back to the road, he shakes his head. ‘Anyway, we both need sleep. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.’

As soon as he says it, I feel my mouth opening in a yawn. Sleepily I nod and rest my head against the car window, and not long after I feel myself drift off, the world, and my worries, fading to nothing as I dream of Tristan and what could and might still be.

Chapter 14

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