Page 32 of Shattered & Returned

He straightened abruptly, putting cold distance between us as he retreated to the dais.

“Class dismissed.”

The ordercrackedthrough the room like icy wind. No one dared to protest. Students scrambled, their hushed whispers clinging to the frost-laden air as they fled.

I rose on unsteady legs, collecting my scattered notebook.

“That was…” Sindy’s fingers brushed my sleeve, her eyes round with concern. “Bloom, whatwasthat? Are you okay?”

“Fine.” The lie scraped my tight throat. “Let’s go.”

“Miss Aurelius remains.” Ravencrux’s voice froze us both.

Sindy looked pale and worried.

“Go.” I nodded at her as I shoved down a flutter of anxiety in my chest. “I’ll find you after.”

The door clicked shut behind her. Silence followed.

Alone with the devil.

Chapter

Twelve

Bloom

The Devil’s Student

Professor Ravencrux lounged against the podium, all coiled power—the cut of his shirt straining over that warrior’s chest, his slacks hugging thighs that could probably break empires. This man, who radiated violence, commanded shadows and death power.

Our gazes clashed, mine defiant and his heated, as if I were his obsession or next sacrifice.

His carnal mouth, the one that had undone me with wicked pleasure, quirked at the corner. I remembered exactly how it felt dragging up my inner thigh, how it could ruin me with a single command.

No relationships between professors and students.

The rule screamed in my skull. Too late.Shit!I’d shattered it before I’d even stepped foot in a classroom.

I worried my bottom lip between my teeth, scrambling for defenses.Technically,he hadn’t fucked me—no penetration, just his devilish tongue working me open until I screamed. Not that semantics would save me if I was hauled to the headmistress’s office.

Ravencrux crooked a finger in a silent command. I planted my feet harder. Professor or not, he didn’t own me.

“Come here, little pale flower.”

“I’m notpale,” I snapped. Never mind that I was; but I refused to be reduced to some delicate thing. “And I’m nobody’s flower. Stop calling me that, or every bully in this school will pick on me.”

I puffed out my chest to make a point, then instantly regretted it when his gaze dropped to my breasts. Heat flooded my face, but I didn’t back down.

His chuckle was a silky threat. “You won’t come to me?” He pushed off the podium, all lethal grace. “Then I’ll come for you.”

The air between us crackled with tension and undeniable attraction. My retreat was cut short. The desk dug into my back, leaving me nowhere to flee.

“Stay back, Professor,” I warned, voice steadier than I felt.

He advanced anyway.

“Stop.” The word came out breathless. “You need to stop.”

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