Page 29 of Devilry

He doesn’t miss a beat. “You said yes, Elijah.”

“It’s Eli,” I say through gritted teeth.

“One day, you’re going to have to tell me why you hate your full name so much.” He steps closer. “But until then, you need to come to the History faculty offices tomorrow afternoon to meet the other students for the research project.”

I lower my eyes to avoid his scrutiny. “I don’t think I can.”

Fingers gently take hold of my chin and tip my head up. “Why did you agree if you didn’t want to do it?”

“It’s impossible to say no to you,” I regretfully confess.

“Words every man wants to hear.” With his hand still on me and his eyes locked on mine, he asks something unexpected. “Is that your boyfriend?”

“What?” He tilts his head to the door, and I realize he means Aiden. Taking hold of his wrist, I pull his hand away. “I don’t do boyfriends.”

“Girlfriends?”

Dismissing his inquisition, I set him straight. “I’m not here for a relationship. With anybody.”

“Does your friend know that?”

“What?”

“That guy who seems to be attached to your hip.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him if he’s jealous, but the question is inappropriate and in direct opposition to the distance I’m trying to put between us.

“He’s just a friend,” I tell him.

“Does he know that?”

I don’t know.

Interpreting my silence as a brush off, he leads the conversation back to what’s important. “This is King University, Elijah. It should be your only priority.”

“It is,” I reply firmly.

“And that’s why it would be stupid for you to turn down the research project.”

“It’s not the research project I was turning down.”

“It wasn’t?” he challenges.

“I can’t lose this scholarship.”

The crack in my voice causes a flash of guilt to cross his face. He reaches for me, but quickly thinks better of it. “Elijah.” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like that was a possibility. I would never…”

Instead of finishing the sentence he runs a hand over his face in frustration.

“Professor Hux—” I start.

He drops his hands at the sound of my voice. “It’s Cole.Youcan call me Cole.”

His name sends shivers down my spine. Like he’s giving me permission to cross the line. To want more. “I think it’s better if I go.”

“Wait.” He gestures to the front row of seats. “Can we just sit down for a second? I think I need to explain myself.”

A loud exhale leaves my mouth as I ignore the alarm bells blaring inside my head.

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