Page 26 of Until We Meet Again

"You know it isn't that," she says, looking away from me again, and all I want to do is wrap my arms around her.

"You need to allow me to be your teacher and nothing more. You have to forget everything else between us when we're in this room."

"I'm trying, Zane, but I can't just turn off how I feel as easily as you can." Her words penetrate me, and I move closer to her, my voice calm.

"How can you say that after what happened in the library?"

"Maybe that was enough for you."

"You couldn't be more wrong." I fix my gaze on her and watch as she stares at the floor. "Eyes on me, Tessa." The energy between us shifts as she lifts her gaze to mine, and just as I reach for her, I catch myself, pulling my hand back as if I were almost burned by the heat of her skin."I have to fight every natural urge in my body when I'm around you, and I'm trying really, fucking hard, but you have to work with me here. You have to stop fighting me every chance you get, or this will never work."

She sighs and runs her fingers through her hair, and I can only stand there feeling insanely jealous that it's not me with my hand wrapped around it. "You're right. I guess it's easier to try and hate you than to want you."

"If that's what it takes for me to help you, then hate me all you want, sweetheart, because I'm not going anywhere, and I will make sure you get the grades you've earned."

"I'm sorry. I know I'm coming across like a brat, but I'm not used to being in a situation like this." That one wordcauses my eyelids to briefly close, my jaw to clench, and a sudden surge of heat to course through my entire body. "What's wrong?" she asks, sensing my change in energy.

With my eyes fixed on hers, I reach out and gently run my fingers through her hair, wrapping it around my fist. As my hold on her ponytail gets tighter, I tilt her head back, bringing her full attention to me.

"You have no idea how badly I want to fuck the brat out of you, Tessa, so don't ever say that to me again."

Time slows as we share an unspoken connection, our eyes conveying everything our lips cannot say. The space between us begins to dissolve as the pull between us intensifies. However, just before we reach our breaking point, the classroom door flings open, shattering the fragile moment.

I quickly spin around, hoping that whoever it is hasn't witnessed something irreparable, and my eyes land on abrunette with a raised eyebrow, disapprovingly shaking her head at us.

"I could have been anyone."

"Nothing happened." As I glance between them, it dawns on me that she must be Tessa's roommate.

"If I didn't know about this, I would've assumed something was going on. You both need to be more careful or stay the hell away from each other," she bites out, hardly looking at me, her eyes locked on Tessa. "I'll wait for you outside."

Tessa picks up her bag and slings it over her shoulder as her friend exits the room and closes the door, signaling that whatever was going on before the interruption is over.

"I'll stop fighting you, Zane." I nod, watching as she turns her back and gracefully walks away.

As I sink into my chair, I can't help but loosen my tie, knowing how close that was.

I refuse to be the one to ruin her education.

Taking my phone out of my pocket, I check it and see I've missed a call from my brother. I call him back, and his voice instantly brings me a feeling of calm.

"Hey, were you teaching?"

"Yeah, I'm free now."

"Are you okay?"

"All good. I've just had a pretty stressful morning." I tell Callum, grateful he understands me enough not to press me further.

"So, I was thinking I might come and visit you if that's cool."

"Sure, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just miss my big brother and want to talk to you about something girl-related."

"You don't want dating advice from me. Besides, you've been with Zoe for long enough now that surely you don't need any help."

"You're still not ready to commit, huh?" He chuckles heartily through the phone, teasing me.

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