Page 72 of Teacher's Pet

The space between us feels dangerous.

"I was about to go outside. I heard yelling."

His tone is steady, but his focus lingers on the tears flooding from my eyes.

Why the hell would he risk leaving his apartment?

"Megan’s gone," I hiss, my voice raw. "Just another aspect of my life I’ve gone and fucked up."

Collapsing onto his couch, my hands tangle into my hair, tugging, desperate for something to ground me.

"I should’ve known Walker or Cole would get to her." The sob rips from my throat before I can stop it. "I should’ve considered what would happen if I stayed in fucking Spokehaven."

Noah moves.

The weight of the couch shifts as he sinks down beside me, but he keeps his distance.

Careful.

Measured.

"What happened with Cole?" His voice is different now, almost as if he cares.

I sniff, blinking through the blur of tears, turning to face him.

"Doesn’t asking me that breach your little rule about human connection?" I snap, my tone cutting.

His jaw flexes as his hands clench.

"I only know how to deal with my emotional turmoil in one way." The admission is honest. "In most scenarios, I’d drag you back to that bedroom and give you something else to focus on."

A shiver rolls through me.

His gaze is unreadable, but not empty.

"I’m not a good person, Anastasia." His voice dips lower, like a confession, like a warning, "I like inflicting sexual pain on women. I like the power. The feeling of having a complete hold over someone in the most intimate setting is like a fucking drug to me."

A slow, sharp breath.

I meet his stare, the weight of his words settling deep in my chest.

"What’s different now?" My voice is barely above a whisper.

His fingers tighten into fists, his jaw clenching.

"Honestly?" He exhales, slow, deliberate. "My immediate reaction when I saw you crying was to give you a more pleasurable reason to streak that makeup."

Heat coils low in my stomach at the admission.

"So why didn’t you?"

The silence stretches.

Then, his voice drops to a whisper.

"Because I don’t want what’s happening between us to last only one night."

The room tilts.

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