4. Anna
CHAPTER 4
Anna
I dashed down the sidewalk gasping for air, my breath hitched in my chest. I could see the hot air escaping my lips in small, frantic clouds. I was late. On my first day, I was late. A fresh wave of panic crawled through me, propelling me forward regardless of how my lungs protested.
Damn, I thought, whipping the door open to the building where my Chemistry 1313 class was being held. I checked my phone one last time, memorizing the room and floor number before shoving it into my pocket.
I was wheezing by the time I got up to the closed door on the third floor. My poor lungs were ready to collapse under the pressure. My heart raced in my chest from the double shot of coffee I had after I stupidly spilled the first one. I took a few deep breaths before taking the handle and turning it as quietly as possible.
The door creaked open with an ear splitting sound.
Because of course it did.
My grip grew slick with sweat as I gazed around the classroom. It was auditorium style with only a handful of students, making the space feel all the more immense. The room was dominated by a huge projected image, casting a bright glow over the space as it revealed the syllabus and class expectations. A comprehensive roadmap for the course ahead.
“As I was saying,” a deep voice broke the silence. The baritone sent shockwaves to my core. Like a foghorn in the night, a warning chill ran through me. “Lateness will not be tolerated.”
Standing behind the podium, stood the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen. His hair was the color of sand that was perfectly styled and longer on top. His blue eyes bore through me, bright even from this far away, they shined. His black-rimmed glasses were a perfect fit to his face. He was huge, well over six feet tall stacked with muscle. He commanded attention at the front of the class.
He donned a new shirt. One that didn’t have the hideous stain from the coffee I poured down his front. Of course, he’s the professor. Can I catch a freakin’ break?
His slender fingers slid the glasses down the bridge of his nose and set them on the podium as he studied me. “Are you going to take a seat?” His voice burned through my nervous system the way whiskey did.
My knees wobbled beneath me. I nodded stupidly and took the nearest seat in the very last row in the corner. Leave it to me to come in just as he was talking about his disdain for lateness.
His gaze watched me for a beat, almost like we were the only two people in the room, but the moment quickly ended as he returned to his lecture.
I wished more than anything that I could evaporate into thin air.
Paying attention proved to be impossible. I stole glances at the God of a man in the front of the class; each time we made eye contact, I tore my eyes away from him. He was in shape, really good shape. He’d changed into a black button-up and had the sleeves rolled up three quarters of the way, revealing a sliver of forearm. His fair skin was dusted with lighter blonde hair on his arm, lighter than what was on his head.
My mind wandered to what other body hair he was sporting.
His voice carried in the room as he spoke; aside from lateness, he also didn’t tolerate grades lower than a C, late work, unfinished work, and a laundry list of other things. Can’t wait to fail this class. The bitter words ricocheted in my mind as he finished his lecture.
“Next class,” he announced as papers shuffled and bags zipped all around me with students preparing to make their exit, “you will all be given a pretest of sorts. To see how you will fare in my class.”
Cool. I’m going to do poorly.
I glanced around at the dwindling class; it was mostly guys, which I expected, and most of the students were around my age or older. That was at least nice; at twenty four, I didn’t picture myself having much in common with fresh eighteen year olds.
The threat of tears crept up behind my eyes, which was stupid. I had no reason to cry. I threw my bag over my shoulder, preparing to leave, when the full-bodied voice laced with dominance called out.
“You,” I turned over my shoulder to the hottest professor I’d ever seen. Our eyes met, he held my gaze without wavering. “Come see me down here.”