Page 12 of Ruthless Temptation
I wring my fingers, trying to work out what this means. Professor Holmes and I have already crossed the line. Teachers and students don’t do what we just did, and if I want it to continue, I’ll have to keep it a secret and guard it with my life.
Out of every sexual experience I’ve ever had, I’ve never beenthatturned on before. There’s no denying I want him, and there’s nothing wrong with that. My life ends in a little more than a month. The least I can do is enjoy what’s left of it.
If I’m to end up in hell for the rest of my life, then I deserve this slice of heaven.
By the time I make it to my dorm, I’m resolved to do as Professor Holmes asks. I’m not sure what to call this thing between us, but it feels right to me—and that’s all I care about. It doesn’t matter that we don’t have a future.
We can just enjoy the now.
When I enter my dorm room, I find Cassidy plopped down on the sofa watching one of those trashy American reality TV shows. She’s got her hair in curlers and a face mask on. Lavender-infused smoke billows from the diffuser on her desk.
Her eyes light up when she sees me. She sets her sparkling water down on the coffee table, a small smile on her face.
“Where have you been?" she asks, looking me up and down. “I haven’t seen you this dolled up in a long time.”
“I went to beg Professor Holmes for the chance to submit my essay tomorrow,” I say. The best lie is always one with a little bit of the truth mixed in.
Cassidy titters. “Did the tits work?” She gestures to my bosom.
I look down at them, thankful that I at least wore a bra. If I didn’t, I’m certain she would be able to see just how “well” it went.
“He gave me the chance to do a make-up assignment,” I lie. “However, he told me something else.”
Slowly, I approach her.
“Yeah? What’s that?” she asks, taking a sip from her drink.
“He overheard you telling someone that I have a crush on him,” I fold my arms over my chest. Cassidy doesn’t seemstunned by my revelation. She stares back blankly at me. “I doubt Professor Holmes would lie about something like that.”
She shrugs, leaning back in the couch and adjusting her robe. “No, he wouldn’t. I did tell some of the Hemlock girls about your crush.”
Cassidy says it all so unemotionally that for a moment I wonder if I’m crazy for thinking she’s done something wrong.
“Why would you do that, Cass?” I ask, raising my voice. “I told you that shit in confidence. If I wanted everyone to know, I would have gotten it tattooed on my forehead!”
That makes her laugh. I glare at her.
“It’s not that big of a deal, T. Everyone has crushes. You’re not even the only one with a crush onhim.”
That intensifies my anger, and I find myself feeling a little jealous. Professor Holmes looks like he was chiseled by god himself, so I shouldn’t be surprised that other students find him attractive.
Does he have other favorite students, though? Does hepunishthem too?
I reign myself in before I go too deep into the rabbit hole. It shouldn’t matter to me, even if it is true. I’m leaving soon, and I’m already promised to someone else. Whatever it is we have is fleeting, and I should treat it that way.
I bring myself back to the issue at hand.
“It doesn’t matter, Cassidy! When I told you that, I didn’t want anyone else to know!” I shout. “Especially not him. Do you know how embarrassed I was when he told me?”
She’s still laughing like there’s something funny about what I’m saying. My patience is wearing thin, and I want to slap the smile off her face. If we were in a different place, I would.
“Really?” Cassidy says. “You were embarrassed, not happy?” She adjusts one of the rollers in her hair. “I figure you would use it as an opportunity to finally get him to fuck you, or something.”
My cheeks heat up. If looks could kill, Cassidy would be laying on the floor gasping for air.
“Cassidy, you are an absolute bitch!” I scream, storming over to my side of the room. “This just proves to me that I cannot fucking trust you with anything.”
She swats me away, obviously unfazed by how angry I am. “Calm down, Tara. You’re being dramatic.”
