Page 34 of In Control

I take a long gulp of the cold water, letting the cool liquid run down my throat.

It does nothing to temper the scorching ideas burning in my mind’s eye, and my stomach rumbles.

Toast. I need toast.

I left Liam passed out on his bed. He’d roused slightly as I’d wiggled out of his embrace and climbed out of bed, but after some whispered dirty words, tempting me to climb back into bed, he’d rolled over and fallen asleep. I bet the man works 70-hour weeks. I’m going to let him sleep.

I’ll make my exit – as tempting as it is to chase Gabriel Manchetti down the hallway – but first, food.

I open all the cupboards again until I find a loaf of sliced bread. Pulling two from the centre, I start to search for a toaster.

As I do, the kitchen door opens a second time. I smile expecting Liam or Gabriel.

The face that greets me belongs to neither of those two men.

Yet, it’s a familiar face nonetheless.

I stare at him in shock, the pieces of bread slipping from my grasp.

Professor Cole.

As his gaze lands on me, his entire body jolts in shock and he stares at me open-mouthed for what feels like an eternity. Then his brows fall like thunder and he glares at me so hard I’m surprised my knees don’t shake.

“What the Hell are you doing here?” he snaps.

“What?” Me? What the hell ishedoing here?

“I said,” he snarls, “what the hell are you doing here, Sophia?”

My spine stiffens at his tone and I raise my chin in defiance. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He stares at me, blinking rapidly, like my question doesn’t compute.

“I live here.” He takes a menacing step towards me, all contained rage, the tendons in his neck straining. “As you are very aware. Don’t play the fool with me, sweetheart.”

Live here? He lives here? What the fuck?

“I …”

“What exactly did you think was going to happen here,” his gaze travels down my body and, like Gabriel’s had, lingers on my bare thighs, “turning up at my house half-naked? This infatuation you have with me has to end, Sophia.”

“Don’t flatter yourself!” I slam my glass of water on the counter, liquid spilling over the rim. “I’m not here for you.” He snorts, and I narrow my eyes at him, taking an angry pace towards him. “I didn’t even know you lived here.”

He grabs my upper arm, bringing his angry face close to mine. “Bullshit! You’re standing in my kitchen in just a t-shirt, Sophia. I can see your arse.”

I shake my arm, trying to free it from his grasp. There’s anger burning in his eyes, but there’s desire too, the two emotions battling one another.

“You’re so full of shit. You say you don’t want me and then you look at me like you want to devour me. I’m not stupid. I can see the truth. If you want to deny it, fine, but don’t think I won’t call your bullshit out.”

He glowers at me, his nostrils flaring. It’s so fucking hot. He’s so fucking hot, and I can feel my body melting in his grasp.

“Let go of me,” I hiss, matching his glare with my own. He needs to let go of me because if he doesn’t, I’m going to kiss him. I can’t help it. “I’m not here because of you.”

His eyes dart around my face as if he’s trying to determine if I’m lying. “Oh yeah? Then why are you here?”

“Liam,” I say.

He releases my arm like it singed his hand, stumbling a step away from me.

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