Page 8 of Wild Skies

He swims toward me, head held calmly above the river, powerful arms cutting through the water. And to an outside observer, he probably looks bored right now, his features carefully schooled—butIsee the way his jaw clenches when he glances at Tommy. I see the hard glint in his navy blue eyes.

He’s… the professor isjealous.

Because of me? Seriously?

This guy just spent three whole days pretending I don’t exist, and now he’s jealous of Tommy. I will never understand men.

“Hey, professor,” Tommy calls out, grinning as he flicks a few more beads of water at my face. “You trying to get Maren here to join in? Because it’s an impossible task so far.”

My lips press together, and I squint out at the locals lazing on the riverbank, chatting and joking together. The scent of grilling meat floats on the breeze, and someone’s plucking at a guitar. They’re not bad.

It’s a hot, sunny day in the mountains, and we saw more meteors last night. A cute guy from my class is flirting with me in the river, and even if I don’t like Tommy that way, it’s an ego boost. This should be a perfect moment, but as the professor reaches us, my stomach cramps with uncertainty.

Is he mad at me? Have I done something wrong?

No, a stern voice pipes up in the back of my mind.You haven’t done anything wrong. Don’t be a doormat, Maren.

My spine straightens.

“I need a word with Maren,” Professor Carter says in that low, smooth voice. He spares a crooked smile for Tommy, but the strain around his eyes is still there. “It’s about her class assignment.”

Tommy blinks and laughs. He waves an arm around the river, showering droplets that sparkle in the sunshine. “Really? Right now?”

Professor Carter nods. “Right now.” His tone turns rueful, and his broad shoulders shrug. “I’m getting old, Tommy. If I don’t talk to Maren about this now, I’ll forget all about it by dinnertime.”

Tommy laughs again, commiserating this time. “Shit. Well, I hope I never get old.”

Professor Carter frowns and cocks his head. “I rather hope you do.”

But Tommy has already gone, winking at me and splashing me one last time before turning and swimming back toward the knot of people playing with a football. They welcome him with cheers, one guy jumping on him and holding him under for afew seconds. When Tommy resurfaces, he spits river water in the guy’s face and cackles.

“It’s like the discovery channel,” I murmur, weirdly hypnotized by the sight of the other students messing around together. I’ve never been great with big groups of people, always having just a handful of close friends, and envy gnaws at my insides as I watch them all mess around and bond. How do they do it? They all make it look so easy.

Professor Carter is silent when I turn back to him, watching me from a foot away in the cold water. The gentle current breaks against his muscled chest, the water foaming and lapping at his smooth skin, while goosebumps stand out on his arms.

My belly swoops.

Suddenly, I am acutely aware that neither of us is wearing many clothes.

“Funny,” I say at last, my voice sounding kinda strangled, “I handed in my class assignment weeks ago. You already graded it.”

“Maren.” The professor moves toward me another step, like he can’t help it. Like he’s been drawn toward me magnetically, even when it means moving against the river current. “I saw you and Tommy.”

His navy eyes probe into me, staring right into my soul. If I didn’t know better, if I hadn’t just been ignored by this man for three days straight, I’d say he looks tortured.

I lift one shoulder, trying to act casual. Like I’m not completely rattled by having him so close and shirtless. Close enough to reach out and touch, and no one would see. “Saw us doing what?”

Another step closer. And this river is icy cold where it runs down off the mountains, but sudden heat spreads through my insides, making me want to pant and fan myself. I feel his heat too, warming the slow-moving water between us.

“Talking,” Professor Carter says. “Teasing. Flirting.”

He’s so freaking jealous right now, and it’s a sight to see. Our usually unflappable, put-together professor is unraveling at the seams, his jaw clenched and his eyes strained. His pulse is visible where it taps quickly beneath his jaw.

“Did you see that?” I tilt my head, grinning in the sunshine. “From both of us? Are you sure?”

“Maren.”

“Because really, I’m surprised you sawanything, what with how you’ve been ignoring me lately. I’m shocked you even deigned to look in my direction.” And now I’m still teasing, but it’s also true. The way this man shut me out over the last few days… it sucked. Ithurt.

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