Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
I take her home after — to my home this time. I bring her to my bed, I lay her back, and I fucking worship every damn inch of her body, for hours. I take her every damn way I can, and when I’m sure there’s no way I can possibly go again, it’s her hot little mouth that brings me back to life and has me taking her once again.
I fall asleep with an angel in my arms, and I sleep harder than I have since I can remember.
13
Tempest
“And remember, those essays on Gettysburg are due Friday, no exceptions!”
I shiver, looking away and avoiding Professor Hershman’s eyes, as I have been all class. I hate him, and I want the world to know what he did to Amy and what he’s threatened to do to me. But I also just want this class to be over with, so I can get going and go to school in Boston.
And I wasn’t kidding — I really do want Christian to come with me. I know it’s silly and such a cliched thing to think for a first love, but I also don’t care. I might be young, but I know what I want, and what I want is him. I don’t know how we’d make it work, but when I get out of this town and away from Thornbull, I want him there with me.
And if getting there means I have to suffer through Hershman’s class for the rest of the year and pretend I don’t see the way he looks at me, then fine.
I’ll do it, if it means getting Christian.
The class starts to get up, everyone grabbing their things, when a voice stops me cold.
“Ms. Kensington.”
It’s Hershman, hissing out my name from behind me.
“Stay a minute. We need to go over your grades.”
I shiver, and part of me wants to just grab my bag and run. But then there’s that voice again, reminding me of what the prize is here. So I take a deep breath and stop myself, and instead, I turn and face Hershman.
“Yes?”
He sneers at me. “How about with a little respect, Tempest.”
My lips purse shut, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“I will have your respect, you little bitch,” he hisses, standing from his desk and stepping around it. He marches past me, and I watch with an icy horror sliding over me as he locks the door, draws the shade over the window, and shuts off the lights.
“Now,” he says maliciousuly, and every nerve in my body screams to run.
“I believe we discussed the various ways you’d be passing my class?”
He grins, and a nauseous feeling sinks into me.
“We’ll start with you pulling up that skirt and showing me what I want to see.”
I stare at him, my mouth open.
“Now, Ms. Kensington.”
I shake my head. “Not a chance.”
Hershman glares at me, his eyes narrowing as he steps closer. He reaches for me, but I step back. Anger clouds his face, and his teeth flash as he lunges for me.
I scream and turn, but he’s much faster than I think he is, and much stronger than he looks. I cry out as he grabs my wrist, spinning me and slamming me against the chalkboard.
“I’ve waited long enough to get a taste of the class tease, you little bitch.”
“You’re delusional,” I spit, muscles straining as I try and break free of his grasp.
“Don’t lie to me,” he chuckles. “I heard all about you taking Jonathan Price and Michael Sterling off behind the gym the other day.” He makes a tsking sound as he shakes his head, grinning at me. “What a dirty little whore you are.”
His words are like a poisoned knife, slashing into me and ruining all the perfect thoughts I’ve had in my head of Christian all day. The tears come hot and heavy, the sob wrenching from my chest as Hershman slams me against the wall.
“I swear, I’ll tell everyone what you did to Amy—”
The slap comes faster than I even know how to react to it. I gasp in shock, the sting from his hand searing across my cheek and making my eyes water.
“Go ahead,” he hisses. “Like I said, no one is going to believe a little troublemaker like you, especially when I tell them you’re making the whole thing up for attention. I’m a tenured professor. I have respect around this town. And you? You’re just a little slut.”
His eyes narrow at me, his teeth flashing.
“So be a good little slut—” His hand goes to his zipper, and I feel my blood freeze, before suddenly, I think of Christian.
Strong. Confident. Bold.
I realize right there that I really do love him, with everything I have. And I also realize that the man I love would never stop fighting, not ever.
And so I don’t. I won’t stop fighting, not against a sadistic asshole like Hershman, and I refuse to let this happen.