Page 18 of Pretty Lethal
Ugh, what are the chances this time will be the one?
“Miss Harrison,” he purrs, and I want to rip his tongue out so I never have to hear him say my name like that again. I don’t know when I suddenly became a violent person. Perhaps it was while watching Mel systematically fuck with each of my men or when she tried to murder me, and I hit my head on the floor. Or perhaps while I watched Wilder fry her ass, or witnessed just how violated my life was when I saw that shrine in Mel’s bedroom. Whenever it was, it has lit a fire in me, and now I’m about ready to explode.
“Jacob. Class is over.” My words cut like a knife. Gone is the polite, professional tone I use with my students, and in its place is someone who refuses to take any more shit from entitled assholes like Jacob.
“I just wanted to ask how your break was. I missed seeing your pretty face.”
Dear Lord, give me the strength not to jam this pen through his eyeball.
“Jacob.” His name snaps off the end of my tongue as I stare him down with the most severe teacher expression I can muster. “That is inappropriate to say to a teacher. Now I have told you before that I am not interested. Your continuation down this path is making me uncomfortable and I would like for you to leave my classroom.”
Jacob stares at me for a moment before he slowly blinks. While I hope he’s finally taking in what I’m saying, the moment is creepy enough to make me believe he isn’t, which he confirms when an arrogant, cocky smirk lifts his lips.
He stalks toward me with all the stealth of a predator. “Miss Harrison,” he tuts. “I do love the chase, and your attempt to resist me only makes me want you more.”
Fucking hell, he’s as insane as Mel. What is it about me that’s attracting all these psychos? Maybe I need to switch perfumes or shower gels or something.
I back up a step, right before a shadow darkens my doorway. Flicking my gaze toward the movement, I let out a sigh of relief as Wilder growls, “What the fucking hell is going on in here?”
Jacob pauses, glancing over his shoulder. Seeming unfazed by Wilder’s presence, he simply shrugs his shoulders. “Miss H and I were just having a private conversation.”
Wilder watches him with narrowed eyes before flicking his gaze to me. He can most likely see how uncomfortable I am in Jacob’s presence. “Well, yourprivateconversation is over, and if you have any sense, you won’t initiate any others.”
“Who the fuck are you—”
Wilder takes a menacing step forward as he cracks his knuckles. “Finish that fucking sentence. I dare you.”
“Wilder,” I interject in an attempt to avoid an all-out brawl in my classroom. Turning to Jacob, I say, “You should go. Wilder’s right, I don’t want you staying behind after class anymore.”
Jacob glances between Wilder and me, brow furrowed and a calculated look in his eye that leaves me feeling unsettled. However, he must realize nothing good can come from him staying. So without another word, he storms out of the room.
“What the fuck do you meananymore? Has he been harassing you after class?”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle, Wilder.”
“Bull-fucking-shit. I saw your face when I walked in. You were scared of him, Em.”
I avoid having to look at Wilder by rounding my desk and starting to pack up my belongings. “I don’t want you getting into fights on my behalf. He’s on the football team. If you start something with him, it could cause problems for you.”
“Like I give a shit,” he continues to argue, stomping closer until I’m trapped between his towering frame and the desk. “You think I care what he or anyone else here thinks about me? All I care about is whatyouthink, and what sort of man would it make me if I stood back and let some shrivel-dicked asshole intimidate you?”
“Technically, in this situation,I’mthe adult. I’m the authority figure, not you, so I have to be the one to put him in his place.”
“His place is on the ground with my fist in his face, and I don’t care who the authority figure is.” He reaches out and wraps his fingers around my wrist, yanking me forward so I crash into his chest. “You’re my Angel, and I’ll happily beat the shit out of anyone who talks to you the way he just did.”
Tilting my head back, I bat my eyelashes at him. “My hero.”
He rolls his eyes. “You shouldn’t make light of this. I’ve half a mind to follow him and make sure he can never play another football game again.”
“Don’t even think about it, Wilder.” When he looks as though he’s going to ignore me, I plant my hands on either side of his cheeks and force him to stare at me. “I mean it, Wilder. Don’t. He’s not worth it.”
His face is still set in a hard line. “Nope, you’re going to have to try harder than that to distract me.”
He begins to pull away, and I surge forward in a moment of panic and press my lips to his. It catches him by surprise, his lips unmoving against mine for a second before I feel him relax beneath my hands. Instead of moving away, he pushes forward until my thighs press against the desk, my ass perched on the edge as his lips devour mine.
The heat from his anger transforms into something more carnal, and I find myself melting beneath him as his hands slide up my sides. “This is a far better distraction,” he says breathily before shifting to kiss along the column of my neck. “I hadn’t realized fucking a professor in her classroom was a fantasy of mine until right now.”
I release a breathy laugh. “We can’t have sex in here, Wilder.”
