Page 33 of Shattered & Returned

Another step. Now his body caged me against the wood, his heat searing through my clothes. My mouth went desert-dry even as liquid fire licked between my legs.

“You didn’t beg me to stop in Obsidian Wilds,” he murmured, lips brushing the shell of my ear. “What’s different now?”

“What’s different?”I stared at him incredulously. “You’re myprofessor!”

A slow, wicked smile. “Keen observation.”

“And you don’t see the problem?”

“Enlighten me, little flower.” His fingertip traced my collarbone.

My anger flared. He was toying with me.

I slapped his hand away. “Professor don’t fuck students!”

“I haven’t exactly fucked you,” he mused, that infuriating smirk playing on his sensual lips. “When I fuck you, you’ll do more than scream.”

Heat climbed my neck and face, surely painting me the same crimson as my hair.

Part of me waited for—wanted—some shred of remorse. An apology would let me forgive him, let us pretend that night in Obsidian Wilds never happened. No one else needed to know.

But the thought of never feeling his hands on me again carved something hollow inside my chest. What kind of fool craved the fire that would burn her? Mom’s warnings echoed: “Stay small, stay safe.”And here I stood, ash already on my tongue.

“You didn’t know I was a student then,” I tried. “Now that you do, you should apologize.”

“Apologize?” His eyebrow arched. “For what exactly?”

“You knowwhat.” My voice dropped to a low hiss. “You—a professor—had your mouth between my legs.”

“Did I?” he purred, his grin wolfish. “How naughty of me.” His fingers brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, deliberate as a caress. “I knew exactly who you were. New. Beautiful.” When his thumb grazed my jaw, the word came out rough with possession. “Mine.”

That simple touch sent sparks skittering down my spine. I forced myself to blink away the haze of lust, pressing my lips into a firm line.

“Is kidnapping part of your usual routine?” The words came out sharper than I intended. “How many ‘inexperienced’ students have you dragged here just to lure into the woods?”

A sudden, vicious jealousy twisted in my chest, hot enough that I swore my vision tinted red.

“Let’s see.” He held up both hands, lazily folding one finger down at a time.

I hadn’t even noticed his arm sliding around my waist until it was already there—warm, solid,right. Like it belonged. I’d scold him for it later. For now, my traitorous body relaxed into the embrace.

My gaze darted to the door. Still locked.

Only his index finger remained upright. “One,” he murmured, his breath warm against my temple. “In twenty years. Ask anyone about my reputation. See if you can find a single soul I’ve so much as glanced at in this wretched place.”

A rush of satisfaction flooded me, sweet and undeniable.

Why me?The question burned in my throat, but voicing it would mean admitting I cared.

His lips brushed my earlobe. “Still thinking about my tongue between your thighs and how I licked your lovely flesh?”

Heat flooded my cheeks, but my body clenched at the memory, at how good it felt when he kissed me down there.

“Craving another taste?”

“Youcan’tspeak to me like this,” I breathed.

A dark chuckle. “Can’t I?” His thumb traced my lower lip. “Tell me—when you touch yourself at night, do you imagine it’s my mouth or my cock?”

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