Page 42 of Divine Obsession

“Ugh… Paleontology. Kind of stupid–”

“Not at all. Dinosaurs, right? They’re pretty cool.”

“Yeah,” He exhaled a laugh in somewhat relief.

“You ever study in the campus library?” When he nodded, I continued. “We should study together.”

“For sure. Would love to.”

“Great.” I beamed, happy I’d just made my first friend at Columbia. “I’m usually there during lunchtime, or after hours.”

He smiled wider. “I’ll make sure to find you the next time I go.”

“It’s a date–”

“You’re in my seat.” A deep, pissed-off voice interrupted our conversation. Kyle looked up as a shadow overcame him, his face draining of color.

Turning in my seat, I found exactly who I knew I would.

Trevor stood behind me; his varsity jacket on, the number ‘one’ splayed across the side of his chest. Behind him, Zach and the rest of the basketball team; all in varsity jackets too, some with backward hats.

My nails dug into the cushion of the chair. “Are you kidding me? There’s like a hundred other seats–”

“It’s okay. I’ll go.” Kyle was already standing.

I got up too. “I’ll go with you.”

“No, thanks.” He replied quickly before glancing at Trevor and the basketball team.

Shocked, I stood there, watching Kyle hurry off and take a seat across the room, on the furthest possible seat. Though, I was slightly relieved when I saw him talking to the others around him.

“Not as stupid as he looks.” Trevor’s drawl brought me back.

I turned back to him. “What is wrong with you?”

“What is wrong withyou?” He retorted, stepping closer, and making me take a step back.

“Trevor.” Both he and I turned to look at Zach, who nodded towards the front of the lecture as he took a seat in the row above me. Everyone else on the team was already sat either in the rows above, below or across the small stairs’ aisle.

Facing the front, I saw the professor, his arms crossed and waiting for Trevor and me to sit down so he could begin the lecture. Everyone else in the class was silent and in their seats, watching us.

I immediately sat down, embarrassed.

Trevor was next, taking the seat next to me, on the outside of the row, near the aisle of the stairs.So relaxed, as if it was his birthright to delay the lecture. He didn’t even take the seat he made Kyle get up from.

As the professor began talking, Trevor man-spread into the seat, taking up excessive space.His knee grazing mine. His arm on the back of my chair.

Guess that happened when you were not only the heir to a multi-billion-dollar empire, but also amafia prince.

I knew a lot more about the real him now. And suddenly everything about him and his behavior made sense.

He was an arrogant, self-entitled, Machiavellian criminal.

Glancing to my other side, I eyed the empty seats left on my row. When the professor turned his back to the class in order to write on the board, I got up to move.

I only made it a couple of inches off my seat, before a strong arm forced me back down, causing me to fall into him with a soft thud.

Trevor’s arm, which had been on the back of my seat, was now wrapped around my waist, pressing me into him. Large muscles flexed around my soft middle. His rough palm slid lower, curling around my jeans-covered thigh andsqueezing, his fingers grazing the inside of it. Way too close to the weight settling between my legs.

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