Page 8 of Degraded Terms

“Do you want me to leave now?”

“Well, I don’t want you to stay.”

I dip my chin and scurry out of the classroom, priding myself on not looking back.

Chapter 4

Ava

I’d becomean addict after just one hit. When I walked from class to class, I’d pull my phone out multiple times, swearing I felt the vibrations of a text with his demands.

Sometimes I woke up dreaming about the jingle of a notification, but like every other time, I’d be met with silence.

Asher hasn’t asked me for anything since our first class last week.

Maybe I had expectations of him taking full advantage of this arrangement, that there wouldn’t be a day that went by without him demanding something from me.

Maybe the thrill of his attention and the orgasm he forced out of me is hindering my brain, but he’s all I can think about.

Sighing, I try to focus back down on my laptop. I came to the library this evening instead of holing up in my dorm because I need the distraction. And to remove the temptation of the vibrator in my nightstand.

I’d selected my last few easy electives to balance out my schedule, knowing I may struggle with accounting again. But now I’m struggling with my other classes, unable to focus on anything else.

I look up, my neck tensing with the intuition of a presence watching me. His eyes bore into me from where he stands between two book stacks. My breath catches at the predatory look, as if he’s waiting for me to run.

Asher’s mouth twitches, and he tilts his head toward the line of rooms used for study groups, and then holds up two fingers.

Is he telling me to go to room two?

He turns around and heads down the aisle before I can stand and ask him. I shove my items into my bag and follow in his direction with my head down.

With the shutters pulled on the windows of room two, I slip through the door, barely opening it wide enough to let myself in.

He’s leaning on the opposite wall with crossed arms and nerves turn in my stomach. His gaze drags down my body, and I shiver.

“What are you working on?”

My fingers curl tighter around my bag. “Umm. A creative story for one of my electives.”

“A story about what?”

“A vampire who falls in love with a mortal.”

His eyebrows raise, a mocking smile pulling at his lips. “How original.”

I swallow, not wanting to correct him, but hating how small he makes me feel. “It’s not meant to be. Everyone is given the same prompt. It highlights the difference between plagiarism and inspiration.”

This time Asher nods once. “Clever, then. I’ve had a bad day and I want to do something, but I fear you will think it’s for your benefit.”

Heat builds in my core, even if I don’t understand what he wants. “What do you mean?”

“Take off your panties and lie on the table.”

My mouth dries out, but I drop my bag on the floor and follow his instructions. I try to keep my skirt tucked under my ass as I slide across the table, not wanting my bare cheeks to touch it.

His hand comes up to stop me before I move far onto it. Asher walks around the corner to stand before me and I flinch when his fingers caress my knee, pushing apart my legs.

Then his hand slides under and pushes my knees onto the table as I gasp. He moves my feet so I’m spread wider, baring my pussy to him. I hold my breath as he lowers to his knees, his eyes drifting to my center.

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