Page 20 of Beautiful Nightmare
I shrug, then motion to where the professor is pulling up a syllabus on the screen at the front of the room.
“Asshole,” Lux huffs as she tears her gaze from me.
The bio prof gives us a wide smile and claps his hands together twice to get our attention. “I’m Professor Swift. Welcome to Biology 302. The seats you’re in now will be yours for the remainder of the semester. When you exit today, stop by the podium up front and jot your name down on the diagram of the classroom so I know who is seated where. It’s important you don’t move during the semester, as I do keep track of participation in the class using the chart. I wouldn’t want to inadvertently assign incorrect grades.” The professor pushes his glasses up on his nose. “We’ll also assign lab partners by seating. You’ll see each pair marked on the chart. Now, let’s begin by going over the syllabus for the class.”
I chuckle at my good fortune and tune out. I can read the syllabus later. Right now… I shift, widening my stance so that my knee ever so slightly brushes Lux’s. She flinches, and when I look at her from under my hooded gaze, she’s not paying attention to the prof either. Her concentration is solely on me and the way I continue to encroach on her space.
“Stop touching me.” Her eyes flick from her laptop screen to me. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m freaking her the fuck out. I can tell by the rigid set of her body and the way her fingers shake over her keyboard as she tries to take notes.
I say nothing, but I purposely reach into my bag, looking for a pen that I don’t actually need. Rummaging around, I make sure my arm comes into contact with her thigh.
She jerks away, but I swivel my head, fixated on the warm, smooth length of her leg. I’d like nothing more than to feel it under my palm—to squeeze and see what reaction I’d get out of her. As if she can hear my thoughts, she sucks in a ragged breath and tries to move further away, but there’s only so far she can go.
As the professor calls our attention to the section of information on the final exam and what it will cover, he pulls the syllabus up on a screen, pointing out several topics. It’s really too goddamn bad I’ll be more interested in fucking with Lux, because this course is going to be good, I can tell. Maybe I can manage both—kicking this class’s ass while I fuck with Lux’s head at the same time.
I right myself, pen in hand, but lean close to her, whispering, “If you scoot any further away from me, you’re going to fall off the fucking seat and attract a whole lot of attention.”
“I don’t care. I can’t believe we’re in the same class,” she huffs quietly. “And I see you still don’t know the meaning of the wordstop.”
Eyeing the way her face has gone pale, I balk. “What? You don’t want to sit next to me?”
“No. No, I don’t. Did you plan this or something? Tell me you’re here today to make my life a living hell and aren’t really enrolled in this class. Did you follow me?” Her gray eyes blaze, her fingers toying incessantly with a lock of hair. She can deny it all she wants, but she’s a bundle of nerves. Perfect.
Professor Swift’s gaze focuses on us for a second. “Is there a problem in the back? This is a rather rigorous class. We don’t have time for flirting.”
From the corner of my eye, I watch as her chest and face turn a delightful shade of pink. Lux stutters, “Um. N-no. No sir. I think—”
I clear my throat, interrupting. “Everything’s fine, sir. Lux is a bit confused about what’s on the exam. I’ll explain it to her.”
“That’s kind of you. Thank you.” He glances down at his laptop, going right back to droning on about what we should expect from him and the class.
From beside me, Lux’s huff of indignation is audible, and her hands are balled into fists on her desk.
I lean closer, under the guise of helping, which I know probably pisses her off even more. I whisper, “I can’t wait for all the time we’ll be spending together this semester. In class. Back at the dorm. You’re going to wish you never came here.”
“Shut up, Hawk. Leave me alone,” she grits quietly.
The air whooshes from my lungs. I can’t help but smirk as I scan her profile. I’ve been waiting to hear my name come out of her mouth and dreading it at the same time. “Not a chance, baby, not a chance. You’re mine now. And I’m going to make you pay for thinking you could go on living your life—” My jaw snaps shut as she eyes me curiously. Can’t have that. I stealthily put my hand directly on her thigh, distracting her from what I almost revealed.
Her breath stutters, her eyes locked on the movement of my hand, as I let it drift up her bare thigh until my pinkie finger meets the edge of her frayed shorts and slips underneath. Her skin is so fucking soft, and I find my gaze glued to what I’m doing, same as hers. My heart throbs an unsteady beat in my chest. No one is aware I’m touching Lux. And for whatever reason, she hasn’t so much as said a word. It’s like she’s mesmerized by my hand on her leg.
“Be sure to always check for assignments on Chalkboard. You can submit a lot of your work online. And last, if you miss a class, be sure to watch the recording of the lecture and work with your lab partner to catch up. That’s all for today.” Professor Swift smiles and pushes his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.
Faster than I can blink, Lux has shoved her things into her bag and bolted from her seat. She jogs down the stairs to the front of the room, darting among all of the other students who are exiting at a much slower pace. At the last second, she glances over her shoulder, her confused gray eyes staring up at me as I toss my things into my bag and stand to follow. It feels like that moment in time lasts forever. But then she’s gone. Away from me.
It’s okay, I want her to run. I’ll enjoy the chase. And damn, she’s moving fast, considering she’s sporting her flip-flops. When I get to the doorway of the lecture room, I see her take off like a shot, weaving through people in the main foyer of the building as quickly as her feet will carry her. Once she breaks free of the crowd and bursts through the door, she picks up her pace.
I shrug to myself. I’ve given her a head start. And now I’m going after her. If she thinks she can outrun me, she has another thing coming.
TWELVE
LUX
My heart beats so hard and fast my chest is being battered from the inside out. I’m winded after making a mad dash through the post-class crowd and decide to skirt around the side of the building out of sight, hoping to conceal myself. I dodge behind a tree, breathing hard.
I’d been so excited to begin my college career, dammit. Had encouraged myself to forget for a few minutes while I was on my way to class that there is a person on this campus who wants me out of here. Then I’d walked into the biology lecture to find Hawk watching me… well, like a hawk. It’d been hard to guess what he was thinking, but if I’m not mistaken, he’d been both pissed off and slightly amused at the same time. Contrary to what I’d asked him about being in the class just to mess with me, I think he really was surprised to see me, which probably accounted for the pissed off part. But the amusement, I’m sure he thinks this is just another chance to make my life hell.
I exhale harshly. And that fucker. He didn’t outright admit it, but he shut off the alarm I’d set. Almost made me late to class. There’s nothing quite like waking up fifteen minutes before the very first class of the semester and hardly having time to brush my teeth, much less shower or get anything to eat.
