Page 30 of The Forbidden Note

I dig my fingers into the edge of the desk. “If this is how you’ll be, don’t come back to my class.”

He laughs.

The freaking monsterlaughs.

My heart slams against my ribs and I realize that I’m in way over my head.

No wonder the other teachers duck when Zane and his brothers stalk through the hallway. No wonder crowds part to let them pass. No wonder they’re denied nothing—from the principal going down to the lunch ladies.

I forgot.

Or maybe they allowed me to pretend I was different.

Zane was softer with me.

Almost kind.

But there’s no kindness in his eyes now. No hint of affection.

It’s just pure darkness and twisted depravity.

“This little game of ours is getting old.” He narrows his eyes, a frightening chill beneath his words.

“Game? You think disrespecting me at every turn isfun?”

His eyebrows tighten. I feel his heat, his shattered restraint.

Every instinct tells me I should stop pushing, but I can’t. A part of me wants to fight, to scold him, to do everything I can to hide the way my body still aches for him. Still longs to be shattered to pieces again. To spin out in hot, lashes of pleasure like we did that night.

Ridiculous.

Despicable.

I hate him.

I can’t have him.

Damn. I shouldn’t evenwanthim.

“I’m not playing games with you, Zane.” Our harsh breaths mingling, I spit out. “I’m your teach—”

He surges forward, pinning me against the wall and grinding his jeans into my aching core. I flutter my hands over my mouth and push back a moan.

The friction of his big body against mine sends pleasure tearing through me like a storm.

Zane bends to my ear. Too dangerous. Too dark. “I haven’t been treating you like a teacher, Miss Jamieson. Not even close. But now, I think I’ll give you what you’re asking for.”

I should move. Shove him off.

But every instinct is being shoved down by a throbbing, visceral heat.

“You do whatIsay from now on.” His commanding fingers brush down my hip and tease a circle against the bone. “That’s how I treat my teachers at Redwood.” He slides his hands lower. “Especially the ones who forget their place.”

“Get off—”

His mouth rocks toward mine.

I brace myself for a rough, angry kiss, but he stops just short of meeting my lips. Eyes glittering like a crazed animal, he smirks.