Page 109 of Teacher's Pet

He leans into Noah’s desk, watching me closely, like he’s trying to decipher something.

“Are you?” he counters.

The edge in his voice makes my pulse quicken.

“Not many students sit alone before class starts, waiting for their professor.”

“Right. Says the guy who just went through my professor’s things and still hasn’t told me who the hell he is.” I scoff, crossing my arms.

He smirks.

A slow, smoldering thing, one that’s more fire than warmth.

"Roman Briar."

My heart stops.

Fuck.

The Priest.

"Your wife is Mrs. Briar!" The words fly from my mouth before I can stop them, and for the first time since stepping into the room, Roman Briar actually looks intrigued.

"You have her class?"

"I do." I nod, studying him carefully. "I've got to admit, you're not quite what I expected. Are you the reason she shows up to class looking like she got pummeled some days?"

His smirk vanishes. A dark red flushes his cheeks, but his stance remains unfazed.

"I love my wife." His voice is steady, but the intensity behind it settles like lead in my stomach. "I won’t apologize for making her feel loved in the ways she wants."

Jesus.

Roman Briar, the man wrapped in tattoos and suspicion, standing here unapologetically admitting to wrecking his wife in ways that leave her marked for days.

I don’t know what’s more shocking, the fact that he said it so boldly or the fact that I somehow respect it.

But it doesn’t answer my real question.

"So, if you're Mrs. Briar's husband, why are you taking Mr. Ackerman's things?"

Roman takes a step closer, planting his hand on my desk, trying to intimidate me.

"I like to know who my wife is working with. Simple as that."

Still possibly insane.

"What has Noah-" My mouth snaps shut, panic flooding my system as soon as I realize my slip-up. "Mr. Ackerman done to make you so wary?"

Roman’s fingers drum against the desk, eyes flickering with something calculating.

"I suppose nothing." He shrugs, glancing at his watch. "But I don’t trust the university to do thorough background checks."

A long pause.

Too long.

Checking the door, he sighs.

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