Page 50 of Crown of Thorns
I pull back, pull myself out of my current state.
Louis gives me a delectable pout and rubs his knee over my crotch, making my dick twitch. “What did you see when you were there?”
“I told you. Disgust.”
“You’re so angry, Noah. And it's blinding you. What did you really see?”
“Masks. Cloaks. Sex.”
“And that’s disgusting?”
“I…yes.”
“Why?”
“That’s none of your business.” Louis cocks his head. I’m heaving, my mind putting back the recollections of that night like jumbo blocks. They keep on tumbling back into their chaos.Perhaps he’s right, and I can’t see past the appearances. Past my own fears.
“Think of something else, if you must, but I won’t participate in any other gatherings. But know that I won’t be bribed. I’m a professor who honours his work and integrity.”
Rounding the table, I sink into my chair, reclaiming the illusion of authority. Maybe I called Louis in, but settling behind my desk is my way of drawing the line, trying to remind both of us who’s supposed to be in control here.
Louis brushes a hand through his raven strands, then heads for the door, throwing a fist at my punching bag. “Do you also want one of those in your dorm?”
“What? No!”
“We’ll be exclusive, don’t worry. I know I have quite the reputation, but I haven’t been with anyone since that dinner.”
“No,” I say. My mouth clamps shut, the rest of my phrase forgotten. That’s…surprising. He hasn’t?
“Right?” He laughs, as if hearing my thoughts. “The one you saw that night is my favourite guy, but I cancelled all further appointments. What about you?”
“Me?” I lick my dry lips.
“Are you seeing anyone? Don’t look at me like I’ve grown three heads. I know that you’re a popular teacher whose visiting hours create quite the queue of students?—”
“Those have educational purposes,” I snarl, rage building at the audacity of his words.
“Sure, they always do, Professor.” He slowly stalks my way.
Fury propels me out of my chair before I even Régister the movement. I meet him halfway, my pulse thundering in my ears. “Why do you always do this?” My fist clenches his throat as I inwardly scramble for something to hold on to. There’s nothing. It all shatters around me, leaving me vulnerable and so alone in this mess of emotions. “You always bring out all the worst in me.Why do you always get right in my face and force me into being someone I don’t want to be?”
He swallows around my hand, and I groan. “Because you show me something real, Noah. Something raw. And then you shut it down, like you're afraid of what you feel. But I’m not.”
I look away, choking on my own self-loathing.
“Let go. Just once. Stop performing your virtue and let yourself be the man I know is buried underneath.”
I clear my throat, but it’s still so fucking dry. Louis is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a devil in disguise. Tall and strong, his clothes do nothing to hide the bulging muscles he has developed with as much work-out as he does.
Shifting us around, he walks backwards until he can plop down in my chair, forcing me to release his throat as he does so. He looks up, crossing his arms behind his head as he gives me a satisfied smirk.
“I think this is why you wanted to see me. To negotiate new terms.” His hand brushes over my inner thigh, making my legs tremble. He’s sitting right in front of me, waiting, facing my raging hard-on. My muscles are all tensed up. Fury licks at my insides.
“You know I didn’t. You might be so sure of yourself, but I’d like to remind you, once again, that I’m your professor. And your behaviour today in class was unacceptable.”
I clear my throat, trying to cool the burn in my chest. “But perhaps that’s not really what this is about, is it?”
“Please do share, Professor.” His grin is crooked, but his nostrils flare with unspoken tension. There’s a glint of apprehension in his eyes that wasn’t there before. It’s as if he knows what I’m about to reveal. Like he’s bracing for the real punishment.
