Chapter 42
Nix
Idrop my arms. “Stop it.”
Volik drags his tongue over the tip of his fang. “I cannot help it.”
My core throbs in agreement.
“Which is why you can’t stay here.” I argue. “I can’t think right when you’re around. Especially when you’re… practically naked.”
“I am hardly naked.”
“Close enough.” My eyes lock on the triangle of bare chest. “If someone touched you…” I clench my fists at my sides.
Volik lifts his hand and brushes his thumb over my cheek. “If someone tried to touch what belongs to you, I would rip their hands off.”
My heart beats faster. Because I know he means it.
And… I like it.
Volik lifts a hand to his chest, acknowledging that he can feel my response. Then he drags the hand on my cheek down.
Over my throat.
To my chest. To the bare skin.
That calming rumble rolls out of his body again, and he lowers his face.
I think he’s going to kiss me, but he tilts his head, angling his horns away from me, and keeps lowering.
His hot exhale ghosts over my cleavage before I realize he’s about to face-plant into my tits.
Jerking my hand up between us, I slap my palm to his forehead. “Stop it.” My demand comes out as a snort. But he stops.
He lets me push him back, and I use my other hand to gesture at my room. “I have a sweater I’m going to put on. I just forgot about it.”
After Jenny left, I was too distracted with all the students piling into my room to remember my state of undress.
Normally, I’d be too cold sitting around in a tank top, but today my stress must be keeping me warm.
“Would you like me to get it for you?”
I press my lips together.
I shouldn’t say yes. Volik going back into the classroom will cause even more of a stir than me walking back in, boobs out, then pulling my sweater on in front of everyone.
But…
“Yes, please.”
Volik dips his head in instant acceptance, proving it wasn’t an empty offer.
Something tells me Volik isn’t the type of man to make those.
“Where is it?”
“On the windowsill.”
“Okay.” Volik steps around me.
I turn and watch as he crosses the few feet to the classroom door.
Chairs scrape across the floor inside the room. Which I assume is from students flinging themselves back into their seats after trying to peep on us.
Volik opens the door, and I expect him to duck into the room, but he doesn’t.
He stops at the open doorway, holds his hand out, and a second later, he’s holding my sweater.
My eyes widen.
I knew vampires could do cool things. Already this morning, I’ve witnessed Volik doing his super-speed thing. But I’ve never even seen a video of anyone doing that. Whatever that is.
Leaving the door open, Volik returns to me. But before he hands me my sweater, he brings it to his face. And he inhales.
Heat swells between my thighs, and I snatch the sweater from his hold, then pull it on to distract myself.
He is standing right before me when I pull my head through. And he slides his warm hands against the back of my neck as he pulls my hair free from the sweater. “I will find you later. Okay?”
I bite my lip, then nod.
I’m still freaked out over whatever is happening to me. Between us.
But I feel much more clearheaded today than I did yesterday.
I feel like me.
And… I still feel the pull to Volik.
The pull to be near him.
To kiss him and touch him and let him touch me.
The brain-melting desire is still sizzling through my blood. A roaring lust is still pulling us together. But I don’t feel drugged.
I can feel my emotions plainly.
And they feel like mine.
“Tonight.” His mouth pulls into a smile. “Have a good class, Ms. Novak.”
“Quit it,” I exhale.
Hearing Volik say Ms. Novak in his deep voice…
I shift, glad I have my thick sweater back on so no one can see my pebbled nipples.
His nostrils flare, and he drops his head back and groans, “Nix.”
I poke my finger into his hard stomach. “Don’t Nix, me. This is your fault.”
His hand engulfs mine, keeping it against his body. “Skip class.”
The laugh that pops out of me surprises us both.
Volik grins down at me.
It should be scary. This huge man looming over me. Wearing some old hooded black robe. Black horns sticking out of his head. Black eyes locked on mine. And a smile that shows off his long, sharp fangs.
But he’s not scary.
Not to me.
He lifts his brows, silently asking why I won’t just leave.
“I can’t skip class. It’s only my second day here.” I heave out a breath. “Not to mention the fact my class is twice the size it’s supposed to be.”
“What do you mean?”
I lift a shoulder. “Pretty sure they saw the videos from yesterday and came here hoping to see… something.”
Volik raises his voice. “Would you like me to handle the trespassers?”
I mouth the word trespassers back to him, trying not to smile, then lift my own voice. “I’ll let you know.”
Volik lets out a deep sigh, then he gently grips my face, holding my head still, as he presses a kiss to my forehead.
I keep my eyes narrowed at him, for playing dirty, as he steps over to the side of the hall and picks up the breakfast he brought me.
Then he does that speedy thing, where he’s standing back in front of me in an instant.
“I want to know how you do that.”
“I will tell you.” He hands me the little box, and I swear the logo is from the same bakery I stopped at yesterday.
I hold my hand out for the coffee, but instead of giving it to me, he holds the paper cup between his palms.
“What are you doing?”
Volik doesn’t answer right away. Then he blinks and lets loose a devilish smile.
“I heated it up.” He holds the cup out for me.
I stare at him. “You did what?”
He pushes the cup into my empty hand. “Go teach. We will talk tonight.”
I take the cup, pretend it isn’t insane that he just heated my coffee with his hands, then stride back into my lecture hall.
It’s silent as I cross the room.
Silent as I set my coffee and what I suspect is a breakfast cupcake on my desk.
It remains silent as I take a breath.
I might not be willing to just blindly jump headfirst into whatever is forming between Volik and me. But I’m aware enough to know that something is forming.
I can feel the weight of it inside my rib cage.
I can feel the steady beat of it in my heart.
Thinking about that same beat inside Volik’s chest, I turn to the class.
Whatever this is, it’s a big deal.
Huge.
Global news.
And that means I can’t show any of my hesitancy.
Not now.
Not ever.
I lean back against my desk and lift my chin. “Anyone who is not on the official attendance list, I appreciate your eagerness to learn, but it’s time for you to leave.”
There are a few snickers.
A few disappointed exhales.
But, one by one, about half the students stand from their chairs and start down the steps toward the front of the room.
A blur moves past the open doorway before the first student exits, and I inhale the scent of fresh mint.
Then, I start class.
For lunch, I eat a chocolate cherry cupcake.