Page 1 of Study You

Chapter 1

Finn mindlessly stirred her coffee, gazing across the cafeteria where Gillian stood. How was it possible for one person to always look so good? Finn tried to look presentable most days—she believed that feeling positive in your clothes, in turn, made you feel positive within—but Gillian? It was obscene how perfect she looked every damn day.

Maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t seen Gillian in almost a month that had Finn feeling that way. The longing had been there, the craving to call Gillian up over the Christmas and New Year break, but she’d somehow managed to stop herself from doing so. Honestly, Finn could have done with something to occupy her time, to get her out of the house, but Gillian had made no attempt to strike up conversation with her in the weeks leading up to the Christmas break. In the weeks following their fiery office situation.

Finn knew where she stood now.

Gillian had used her again. It was quite simple.

But that had been beneficial to Finn without her realising it at the time. When she’d woken up on New Year’s Day alone—still living with her parents—Finn had decided that, for the first time in her life, she was going to get her shit into some kind of order. She didn’t quite know how that looked yet, but she was determined to have meaningful relationships with people. Sure, she wouldn’t dismiss the idea of enjoying women when it was possible, but whatever she’d had with Gillian had come to an end. That was self-explanatory, judging by their lack of contact.

Gillian had been the spark when it came to igniting the changes in Finn’s life. While she would never regret those moments with her, Finn knew it couldn’t continue. She also knew she was at a point where a routine…something meaningful in her life was a must. She was turning twenty-six next week, and right now, she had very little to show for those years on earth. Other than work and university, Finn hadn’t done anything remotely meaningful with her life.

As Finn sipped her coffee, trying to remain inconspicuous around campus, she saw Gillian cast her gaze across the room. And then it landed on her. Finn managed a tight smile before she lowered her eyes to the table. While she was planning to be on campus solely for her degree, she knew deep down that one look from Gillian would have her considering other things.

Open your laptop. She’s less likely to interrupt.

Finn pulled it from her satchel and powered it up. She was up to date with her assignments—she’d spent most of Christmas night working—but Gillian didn’t know that. Actually, nobody knew that. Finn wasn’t in the habit of telling anyone about the dreadful social life she had.

“Finn…hi.”

That voice. It instantly sent a shiver down Finn’s spine. She’d missed that voice, but she’d also learnt to detach from how she felt when she heard that voice. Almost.

She looked up and smiled. “Hi.”

“May I speak with you for a few minutes if you have the time?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

Gillian looked around and cleared her throat. “How about my office?”

Finn paused for a moment. She had no issues going to Gillian’s office, but she had to prepare herself for the possibility of one of two scenarios. One, Gillian expected something to take place in her office. Two, she’d come to the decision over the holidays that she couldn’t work with Finn in her classes anymore.

“Finn?”

“Y-yeah. Of course.” She closed her laptop and shot to her feet. Whatever the outcome, she’d deal with it as it happened.

As she rushed to gather her belongings, Finn knocked her coffee cup over, spilling the contents across the table. She fumbled, wiping it away with a napkin, and then glanced back up at Gillian. “Sorry. It’s been a long morning already. I’m a little bit spaced out.”

“Perfectly fine.” Gillian regarded Finn with one of her sultry smiles and turned to walk away.

Finn followed—of course she did—aware that she had to keep her eyes on the floor and not on Gillian’s arse. That wasn’t the easiest of tasks, not when she hadn’t come across this woman in a month. The thoughts had been there, the reminder of Gillian’s sweet pussy, but Finn had done well to hold back. If nothing else, it showed she was capable of keeping her hands to herself.

As they reached Gillian’s office and she unlocked the door, Finn steeled herself and took a breath. She really hoped they could continue sharing the same space. They were adults; it surely wasn’t hard. Only Finn knew just how hard it could be if they dared to continue what had already happened. Quite frankly, Finn would get on her knees if Gillian asked that of her—something she wouldn’t do for any other woman—because when it came down to the truth of it all, Gillian did something to Finn that she couldn’t explain.

“Come in.” Gillian held the door open as the lights flickered on. That familiar perfume reached Finn’s nose, her spine tingling, but she forced it down. If she gave herself a single second to think about being inside Gillian, she would have her bent over the desk in the next minute or two. “How was the Christmas break?”

Finn shoved her hands into the pockets of her ripped jeans. She was mindful not to have that ‘confident stance’ as Gillian had once called it. She didn’t want to be accused of seducing her lecturer again. “Yeah, it was okay. Quiet.”

“Sometimes quiet is best,” Gillian said, flashing that smile again.

She offered Finn a seat, but Finn declined.

“What did you want to see me about?” Finn hated getting straight to the point, but being back in this office brought back some of the most intense memories of her life. Memories she was close to re-enacting. It felt far too easy to just slip a hand up Gillian’s dress. “Just that I have stuff to do.”

“Right. I’m sorry.” Gillian waved a hand. “I just wanted to check in with you about the extension you asked for back in December.”

Finn frowned. “I…submitted the assignment before the two-week extended deadline.”

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