Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
ELIJAH
EIGHTEEN AND A HALF YEARS AGO
“ Y ou’ve got to be kidding me, Professor Dunn?”
“What is it now, Miss Dawson?”
“Elijah Frazer, really? Why would you partner me and him together?”
I stand in the doorway and listen to her complain as our names are called. As usual, I’m a couple of minutes late as swim practice overran.
“Oh god, they’ve paired you with Goth Girl?” Darra’s voice appears beside me. “I feel for you.”
“What are you doing here, Darra?” I ask, not expecting to see her until later.
Her hand snakes up over my chest. I take it in mine to stop its progress. There’s a time and a place, but not outside lecture halls. She doesn’t take the hint, instead pressing herself against me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“I missed you this morning,” she purrs.
“I had training, you know that.”
“Well, you can make it up to me later. I woke up feeling horny, and you weren’t there.” She pulls my head down, placing her lips against my ear. “I had to use my toys, but it’s simply not the same. I’m still wet and incredibly frustrated,” she whispers, making my body harden at the thought.
Darra is the perfect girlfriend. She’s sexy, intelligent, and knows what she wants in life. She also isn’t afraid to go after it. Her family is wealthy, although not in the traditional sense. They’re what is called, in our circles, new money. Her father having made his fortune rather than inherited it. With Darra, I find I can be myself. She understands what it means to grow up in the limelight, and the expectations I have on me. She’s supportive of my swimming aspirations and of my plans for the future. She never puts pressure on me or asks for more than I’m willing to give.
“I’ll make it up to you later, gorgeous, I promise. Right now, I really have to attend this lecture.”
My words earn me a dazzling smile.
“It’s a good thing I caught you then,” she says. “I just wanted to say good morning. I was passing on my way to my lecture when I saw you.”
She flexes her manicured nails against my skin, igniting memories of them pressed into my shoulders last night as she came hard around my cock. I shift awkwardly as she smirks, knowing exactly what she’s done to me.
“Morning, gorgeous.” I drop a kiss on her nose and give her a smile. “Look, I really have to talk to my partner,” I say, only to have her laugh.
“Oh, please! Not that freak,” Darra says, looking over her shoulder towards the woman I need to win over, who is currently shooting daggers in our direction.
Penelope Dawson’s eyes have turned towards us, and I watch her roll them as she takes in Darra and me. Darra has now wrapped herself around me like a snake.
My eyes lock with Penelope’s, and something passes over them.
“What did you say?” I ask, my voice hardening.
Darra freezes, her gaze returning to mine. She flashes me a dazzling smile as she flips her hair over one shoulder.
“I said it would be a shame not to speak to her, clear the air,” she replies, not missing a beat.
I frown.
“I will,” I say, watching Darra’s eyes harden just a fraction before they sparkle up at me once more.
“Oh, I forgot,” she says, her arms snaking up and around my neck, pulling my face towards hers.
Our lips touch, and I return her kiss. When she pulls away, she bats her eyelashes dramatically and giggles.
“See you later, sexy.”
It’s my turn to grin as I watch her walk off, hips swaying.
“You most certainly will,” I say before turning and walking into the classroom.
I pass one table.
“You’re one lucky bastard, Frazer,” one of my peers says, whose name I can’t recall.
His gaze remains fixed on the doorway, where I stood moments ago alongside Darra.
I shake my head and shrug.
Damn, I miss what Professor Dunn said when telling Penelope why he paired us together, although I soon get my answer.
“It’s okay, Prof, I’ll partner Elijah, if Dawson doesn’t want him,” another member of the class says as I make my way into the room towards Penelope.
When I locate the voice, she grins at me, flipping her hair.
“I’m also happy to partner him,” several of the other guys add.
God, the Frazer name can be a real pain in the ass. If I was Joe Blogs, no one would want to partner me.
“I’m happy, thanks,” I say, although the look Penelope is shooting me tells me she doesn’t share my sentiment.
I finally arrive in the far corner where Penelope is sitting. We’ve shared a number of classes in our first semester but have had little interaction. The look she shoots me tells me I should keep my distance. Until recently, my life worked. However, my last grade was different. I’ve stretched myself too thin, and I need a partner with a strong work ethic. Will get down to business, not wanting to know the ins and outs of my family or social life. Penelope Dawson gives me no inkling she’d be interested in what my favourite grilled sandwich is, or my favourite washing powder. No, Penelope Dawson is dedicated to her work, and that’s what I need.
“Hi,” I say, positioning myself on the chair beside her.
She shoots me a sideways look that would kill me if looks could genuinely kill.
“I think we seem to have got off on the wrong track,” I say, keeping my voice low, not wanting to create an even bigger scene than has already occurred.
“Um, no. I don’t think we have,” Penelope says, staring at her book, ignoring me.
“Look, I’ve clearly offended you. Whatever it is, I’d like to apologise.”
My dad raised me to be a diplomat. Whatever rod has positioned itself up Penelope Dawson’s back passage. I can’t fix it unless I know what it is.
Professor Dunn takes that moment to begin talking about the assignment, so we have to stop talking. The hostility resonating from my partner is almost palpable. It’s only at the end, when she gets up to leave, I snag her arm.
“Wait,” I say as the rest of the group file out of the room. Several glancing our way.
Her eyes drop to where I’m holding her, and I release it.
“Sorry,” I say, running a hand through my hair.
Could this morning get any worse?
“If you find working with me difficult, I’ll request Professor Dunn reassign you.”
Penelope shakes her head and lets out a dry laugh, exposing her tongue piercing.
“Exactly my point.”
Her eyes lock on mine. I’m shocked at their dark brown colour, surrounded by thick black lashes. Her makeup does little to hide them. If anything, it accentuates them. It’s then I realise Penelope is tall. Not as tall as me, but taller than the average girl. She’s closer to Jaxson’s height.
She folds her arms over her chest. It’s rare for me to be around a woman I don’t have to look down on, especially when she’s only six inches shorter than me.
“I ask, and I’m told I have to live with it. You ask, and I’ll be reassigned. Some of us are here to work, Mr Frazer. I need this degree. I don’t need to be carrying people who’re only here for the experience.”
I almost take a step back at the venom in her tone.
“I see you and your friends partying. You rock into class half asleep...”
My annoyance rises. How dare she? She doesn’t know me. She’s slinging mud when she has no idea.
“Get your facts straight,” I hiss. “As for rocking up to class half asleep. That’s not the case. I’m at the pool every morning at five AM, training. I swim at a national level and I’m hoping to qualify for the Olympic team in two years. Believe me, that lifestyle excludes partying and drinking.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, wondering why the hell I’m standing here explaining myself.
Then I remember.
I need her.
“Look, I may appear half asleep, but one hundred lengths in a hot chlorinated environment has its effect.”
I watch as the woman in front of me shrinks and realise I don’t like it.
“Oh,” she says.
“Yes. Oh,” I say, letting the silence between us stretch. “But I can promise you. I’m here to work.”
“Fine. But I will not carry your sorry ass. If we’re partners, then it’s an even share,” she says suddenly, making me want to smile.
“Deal,” I say, holding out a hand. “I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I tell her truthfully.
She looks at my outstretched palm and shakes her head.
“Fine. Write your initial thoughts on the assignment, and we can discuss it in our next class,” she says, picking up her laptop.
“Why wait?” I ask. “Two days, and we can get ahead. I hate putting things off.”
She looks at me and inclines her head. A small smile playing at the edge of her mouth.
“Done.”
She returns her laptop to the table and holds out her hand.
I raise an eyebrow until I realise she wants my phone. I hand it over to her after I unlock it. She tuts but says nothing. Instead, she inputs her number and saves it, handing it back to me.
“Tomorrow morning. Meet me in the library, first period. Message me when you’re ready.”
“I will.”
I watch as she scoops up her laptop and leaves without a backward glance.
I’ll need to thank Professor Dunn. I wasn’t sure he’d do it when I approached him about who I wanted to be partnered with. Penelope Dawson is the top student, and I want to work with the best. I haven’t got the time or inclination to be fawned over, not for work. The downside of my last name and all that entails. Miss Dawson gave the impression she finds me less than appealing, which I should find irking. She’s an individual both in her style and her approach to life. Her makeup and extensive piercings give the impression she’s not as confident as she wants everyone to believe, but that’s not my issue. All I’m interested in is if we can work together and I can stay on track. I don’t need to be her friend.
I need to get my grades up, and Penelope Dawson is going to help me do that.