Page 14 of Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven
Sullivan Locke.
It didn’t give away any personal information just his email and office hours. I had a hard time connecting the two men. The one who had zero reason to continue my charade, follow me home, or crawl into my bed, but did. Then there wasProfessor Locke.Rude and unforgiving.
I got a few lines down the syllabus when the door to the right of the chalk board opens.
Locke steps in, his phone to his ear. “That’s fine. I’ll see you tonight.”
His gaze moves to mine and his strides slow. He hangs up without even saying goodbye, then moves towards his desk. Wonder strikes me. Who was he talking to? Was it a woman? An irrational pang of jealously hits me and I shake my head, trying to steer my train of thought away from anything personal. It was one night. Nothing special. With that lie floating across my brain, I take a breath and unfold from the chair to start down the ramp. If I was going to be in his class for the next five months, I would prefer to be civil.
I clear my throat. “Locke.” I stop just beyond his desk.
He’s seated now. His head buried in what looks to be calendar.
“It’s Professor Locke. Can I help you, Ms. Cunningham?”
So that’s how he wants to play this?
“Sorry. I’m usually on a first name basis with guys who have been inside of me.”
His eyes fly up to mine, almost causing me to flinch back, but I lift my chin. Screw him. We’re both adults.
“Did you know?” He grits out the question.
The accusation in his voice has me beingpissed,flying right out the window. Now I’m enraged.
“Yeah, I knew. I logged onto the university website, stalked all the professors and picked you out of the line up. Set up the whole charade of being followed by some frat boys and then persuaded you to come up to my apartment so I could see what’s under those ridiculous dress pants.” I make a show of leaning over to look at his pants. “For the record, I prefer the black jeans.”
He pushes up from his chair, planting his hands on the desk. “You think this is funny?”
I tilt my head. “I think it’s amusing that you’re arrogant enough to think I targeted you or had any ulterior motive. What happened on the sidewalk was pure coincidence, and the aftermath…. well, I’m a woman with needs, Locke. Any man would have been able to get the job done, you were just convenient.” I shrug.
That last part is a complete lie, but I won’t give him the upper hand. Like he was some innocent participant.The victim.
I lean in slightly. “Don’t worry, Professor. It won’t happen again.”
His eyes settle on mine. Non wavering. “I’m not worried. It willneverhappen again.”
We both say the words, but the longer I stand here and the longer he looks at me, I get the feeling we both don’t believe it.Wrong or not.
A door slams from the top of the lecture hall, causing him to blink and push away from the desk.
“Anyway. That’s all I got,” I say as I watch his forearms flex when he cracks his knuckles.
Good job, Raven. Mature. Daddy would be proud.
He doesn’t respond, or acknowledge me further, so I finally spin around to return to my seat.
I’m halfway up the aisle when I hear his voice.
“Ms. Cunningham,” he rasps.
I meet his eyes over my shoulder.
“If you need to speak to me again regarding anything to this class. I prefer email.”
Asshole.
Chapter ten
