Page 34 of The Professor's Possession (Crystal River Billionaire Brothers)

I’m worried about Ava thinking I’m obsessed or something over the professor. I need to make a fast escape out of this hole I’m digging for myself.

“He’s my professor,” I quickly excuse. “And he wasn’t at class today, so I’m just curious what this mysterious man does and where he lives, that’s all.”

“Well, his place is on Byron Street, not far from here,” Ava says. “It isn’t hard to find – it is the nicest house on the street. You can immediately tell he’s a rich Penmayne even if he no longer lives at the family mansion.”

“Okay. Interesting.”

For the briefest of moments, I consider telling Ava about the professor asking me for a drink the other night, but then I consider the implications of that. She might even think I’m lying. Word might spread. If this man, clouded in the secrecy of his past, really is a billionaire, then I bet he has ways of asserting dark power over the girl who gossiped about him. I wouldn’t want the trouble at the very least.

“He’s pretty hot, though,” Ava adds. “Everyone is crazy about the family and the six sexy brothers. Well, there are actually seven of them, but one passed away a few years ago. A twin.Arthur,I think his name was.”

I shake my head. “What a family...”

“They’re scary people,” Ava mutters darkly. “The professor’s brother is a known criminal. Damon Penmayne. He operates a massive organization barely bordering on legal. Apparently, he owns half of New York or something. You better be careful around Spencer, even if he is just your English Lit professor. They’re the wrong crowd to get messed up with. I’d stay away as much as possible if I were you. I personally wouldn’t touch someone like Damon Penmayne with a twelve-yard jousting stick.”

“Spencer Penmayne is just my professor,” I reply. “There’s nothing to worry about when it comes to that guy. A man like him would never be interested in a girl like me.”

“I wasn’t talking about interested inthatway,” Ava says. She faces me, a twinkle in her eye as her mind starts to turn. “So, you’ve fantasized about him? Your professor?”

“No,” I try to protest.

“That’s so kinky, Olivia. A student-slash-professor fantasy? I never took you for being so dark. I love it.”

“No, it’s honestly nothing like that.”

I’m already blushing.

“Do you think about him calling you in for some private tutoring?” Ava asks cheekily. “A little private time where he tempts you?”

“No, I definitely do not.”

“I don’t blame you if you do, though,” Ava says, sighing. “That whole fantasy is so hot. Imagine a billionaire professor choosing you as his college-age mistress. Damn. That one gets me every time.”

I stand up, wanting to move on fast from this conversation before it gets any deeper. “I’m going to go to the library to studyandto maybe wash out my ears with soap after listening to you carry on with your perverted mind.”

Ava winks. “How about you don’t fantasize too much about your dark and mysterious professor and maybe spend some time on coursework while you’re there, Little Miss Deviant.”

“Shut up, Ava, and go finish your chocolate.”

16

OLIVIA

I attemptto buckle down and hit the books - to tackle my study head-on like a good little student - but now I am well aware of Professor Penmayne's address, courtesy of Ava, and this newfound awareness is gnawing away at me deep inside as I sit here in the campus library with my coursework spread out before me. All my concentration has completely gone out the window as I'm absurdly consumed by curiosity about my professor's place - what it might be like, and what insights it might offer into the enigmatic figure who resides within.

And so, with myself too deeply distracted and absolutely zero chance of getting any coursework done, I slam my textbook shut with a new resolve to find this damn place.

Unintentionally, the sound of the pages beating close reverberates around the library like a gunshot.Crap. I mutter out a feeble apology to the entire room and leave the building without a second look back, scurrying as fast as possible in sheer embarrassment.

I head straight home to my dorm room. I’m going to find this house and get it all out of my system. Just one peek at the place, that’s all I need. Just oneteeny tiny, completely innocentpeek.

However, I can't escape the sensation that I am utterly insane as I switch into my running attire.

Now who’s stalking who?

I put my headphones in. I put on some good running music and sprint out of the dorms, trying hard to not think about the insane thing I’m currently undertaking.

I’m going for a run, that’s it. A simple run. That’s all.

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