Page 63 of Shadows of Nightshade
The audacity.
His usual demeanor was missing as he crossed his arms on the top of the desk and looked at me. It was strange to see him without his trademark insufferable expression, and if I was forced to guess at his thoughts, he might be worried. And maybe even a bit nervous.
But that was impossible.
“Miss Brosnan.” His voice sounded different. He raised his eyebrow as he carefully watched me. I was sure that in some people’s eyes, he might be considered attractive. But, in my opinion, he totally wasn’t. In fact, everything about him was the exact opposite, and I could never see things otherwise.
Even so, I couldn’t hide from the sudden caress of his voice. What was wrong with me? His voice was so smooth I could practically sense it gliding over my skin.
He was up to something, but I had no idea what. I was certain it had to do with fairy magic.
It was a disgusting feeling.
I clenched my teeth, biting back my urge to hiss in his face, as I fought back a shiver of horror. When I’d daydreamed of our confrontation, I made him cry with my harsh words. But now this moment was here, I couldn’t make a sound.
Why was I so much cooler in my imagination?
I wish I knew what to expect. I should have just looked for my own answers. Now I had no idea what was going on, and it was all Damen’s fault.
As far as I knew, Bryce would start smacking my wrists with a ruler or something.
I eyed the thick ruler lying across the desk. Why would a biology professor even need a ruler? Surely it was for punishment. It was very sturdy looking, and Bryce looked like a strong dude. Any wrist smacking was sure to be painful.
My life sucked.
Bryce leaned forward, hiding the object from my view. This didn’t settle my nerves, though, because now an even worse thing was in my sight—his face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I blinked, then shook my head, snapping myself out of my musings. The spell broke.
“You’re not yourself today,” he tapped his finger on the desk. “You’re not glaring at me as much as usual. It’s been lonely.”
“I’ve glared at you plenty!” I pointed at him as my resolve snapped. It was not my job to entertain him. “What do you want?You’ve finally gotten me alone, so now what are you plotting to do to me?”
Bryce lifted a well-shaped eyebrow as he eyed my pointed finger. But then, as his gaze followed the line of my wrist, toward my semi-bare shoulder, where my loose top had shifted in my dramatic movements, his humor vanished.
He sat forward and grabbed my wrist, and that movement was all it took for my bravado to vanish.
“Hey—” I protested.
“You’re right,” he interrupted. His voice was clear, but I could hardly hear him through the pounding in my ears. “I have been wanting to get you alone.”
“Wh-what?” I hadn’t planned on him confronting me in return.
Where was Damen?
“How did you get hurt?” Bryce asked. And even though he was holding me quite gently, I wasn’t strong enough to pull my arm away.
He didn’t seem to notice.
“Why haven’t you come to me?”
I didn’t want to go to him for anything.
Please stop touching me.
“L-let go!” Why was my voice shaking?
