Page 242 of Small Town Firsts

“I... I’m supposed to have a meeting with Professor Ellison.”

“Which he so kindly left in my capable hands.”

I gulp. I’m pretty sure the only things his hands are capable of right now is strangling me.

“Stop wasting my time.” Sterling’s voice is a low growl that sends flutters of fear through my belly.

“Are you going to let me in?” I ask, sounding one-hundred percent braver than I feel.

Smirking, he steps back a fraction of an inch. If I want into that office, I’m going to have to press myself through the microscopic opening between him and the door.

Our chests brush as I cross the threshold. The hint of contact between us sends shivers down my spine.

Aware of his effect on me, Sterling laughs as he pulls the door closed behind us.

“To what do I owe thedispleasure of this visit, Miss Price?”

He remains standing, and so do I. He’s already taller than me, I’m not about to give him an ounce of additional power over me.

“I think you know.” My voice is flimsy, even to my own ears, but I pretend not to notice.

He nods thoughtfully. “I’m sure I do, but I think I want to hear you say it.”

Squaring my shoulders, I force my gaze up to his. “I would like to be transferred into a different section.”

Sterling rubs his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “That’s too bad.”

“Why?” I ask, even though the sinking feeling in my gut says I already know.

He’s not going to make this easy for me. It wouldn’t surprise me for him to outright refuse me, if only out of spite.

“All of the other classes are full.”

“All of them?” I ask in disbelief.

A dark grin tugs at the corners of his mouth. “Every. Single. One.”

“Then I’ll drop the class!” I shout, my voice far too loud for the small space.

He advances toward me, boxing me back until he has me caged against the wall. My chest expands and contracts rapidly. His uninvited nearness makes my pulse go haywire.

“Sure.” He leans his right forearm against the wall, dipping his face toward mine, so we’re eye to eye. “You could, but I wouldn’t advise it.”

“Why not?” I whisper.

Sterling brings his left hand up and trails his knuckles over my cheek.

Suddenly, I’m thankful the wall is at my back to support me, because his touch—as unwanted as it is—has my entire body off-kilter. Whether it’s the juxtaposition of the threat in his words and the softness of his touch, or simply fear, I’m not sure. Either way, I hate that a man as rotten as him can make me feel anything at all.

“You’re a psych major, right?” He pauses and I nod. “Then you need this class.”

“I can take it next semester.”

“No, I don’t think you can.”

“Why?” I want to stomp my feet at the injustice of this whole situation.

I’m the one who was wronged, in the most atrocious of ways, and yet I’m also the one being punished.

---