Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
He smiles so wide it illuminates his face, reaching up to his light blue irises. Tucker has eyes you can get lost in, the perfect shade of blue that reminds me of a cloudless sky. The dimple in his right cheek creases his tanned skin. I like it when he smiles instead of smirks. There’s a boyish quality about him, even though he’s all man and muscle.
That is until he speaks…
“Don’t make me bend you over this desk and spank you.” He leans forward, his elbow on the edge of the desk, his lustful gaze luring me in. “Unless that’s what you want.” He lowers his voice, though this time it’s more sensual. “I remember how you like it.”
I cough, practically choking from his remark. I need to get out of here, but I can’t leave. He hasn’t even written his name on the quiz.
“Tucker,” I warn, my voice trembling.
“Samantha,” he whispers, pressing his palms on the wood to lean over the desk, invading my space.
I stop breathing the closer he gets, unable to think straight. He knows how uncomfortable he’s making me, but he keeps going until he reaches for a lead pencil in the mug next to my computer.
Relief washes over me.
Still tight, my chest slowly deflates, my breathing returning to normal.
He grips it between his fingers, his cocky smirk returning, and then sits back in his chair. “I need something to write with,” he says. “Unless you want me to work off my grade in other ways.”
Holy mother of dragons.
“Fifty minutes,” I choke out.
He nods as if saying he gets the hint, his eyes leaving mine to read the paper. I watch his every move, studying him like any other subject.
The editor at The Strickland Gazette has taught me to observe and report. How to spot little cues and tells that help good reporters become great.
I dream of working for The New York Times or The Washington Post. That’s why I double majored in law and journalism. A well-rounded education should help when I apply for positions after graduation. At least, that’s my hope.
After I snap out of it, I enter grades into the computer. Professor Frazier is very hands-off with his classes, so I’m expected to do everything for him. Busy with his law practice downtown, Professor Frazier only checks in with me once a week. And with the clock ticking, he will be here any minute.
“Time’s almost up,” I say, breaking the silence in the room.
Tucker peeks up at me, pencil clasped between his fingers, and smiles. He pushes his quiz toward me and winks. “Go easy on me.”
“You’ll get whatever grade you deserve,” I assure him because I’m not doing him a favor.
Good looks and cocky smirks aren’t enough for me to make an exception. Tucker has to earn his grades. He won’t get any handouts from me. Every single thing I have worked for. Rich kids like Tucker must learn that hard work pays off in the long run.
“I can’t fail this class,” he says, “or I’ll be off the team.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Not my problem. Your grades reflect your effort. If you put nothing into this class, you’ll get nothing out of it. That’s how life works.”
“I don’t remember you being such a hardass,” he says.
“You didn’t remember me at all,” I challenge, now angry with him.
He sits back in his chair and kicks his foot up on his knee, smirking. “Oh, so that’s it… you’re punishing me for doing exactly what I promised.” Tucker shakes his head. “I told you back then it was nothing more than a hookup. You were okay with it. And now you’re taking it out on me.”
“Losing my virginity in a frat house was memorable but for all the wrong reasons.”
Horror scrolls across his face. We sit in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before Tucker speaks again, “You didn’t act like a… there wasn’t any… you should have told me.”
He disposed of the condom so fast he probably didn’t notice the blood on it before he sent me on my way. Would he have cared back then? I doubt it. Not after he’d gotten what he wanted. But I can’t pass all the blame to Tucker. I wanted him to be my first for some idiotic reason.
“I had experience doing other things, just never had sex with anyone… until you.” I rise from the chair and straighten my skirt, running my hands down the front of it. “It’s in the past, okay? But don’t expect me to do you favors just because we were together years ago. It meant nothing to you. It means nothing to me,” I lie. “So, let’s move on and forget it ever happened.”
“That’s the problem.” He jumps to his feet. “I can’t forget you.”
I laugh. “You already did. It should be easy to go back to how things used to be before you found me on Strick Net.”