And The Beat Goes On (5 page)

Was he being serious? Was that a line?
“No.”

“You should.”

“I should?”

“Yeah.” He gave me a straight face. Nothing seemed to get under his skin.

Was he hitting on me?
I wanted to ask but I was afraid he’d say no. But I was also scared he’d say yes. “The carpet business isn’t too bad.”

“It didn’t seem like you liked it the other day.”

“It gets boring after a while. When people come in to pick their carpet for their new home, they take forever. But all the fabrics and prints look the same.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m getting hardwood floors in my house.”

He laughed. And it was a beautiful sound. His lips stretched apart and showed his perfect teeth. He retained his masculine voice but it was lighter, carefree. “That sounds like a good call.”

My heart fluttered while I watched him. I’d never been attracted to someone like I was to him. And the fact he was my teacher made it extremely inappropriate. I had a weird affection for jerks, men who were unavailable, and just plain assholes.

Mr. Clearwater placed his arm over the back of the chair, his arm touching the back of my neck. To a stranger, it looked like we were a couple. As soon as the fabric of his suit touched me, I felt the shiver move down my spine. I immediately wanted to move closer to him.

What the hell was wrong with me?

No, what the hell was wrong with him?

I moved away. “It was nice seeing you, Mr. Clearwater, but I should go.”

His hand gripped my arm, steadying me. I could easily twist out of it and leave but I let him hold me. And I hated myself for it. “I didn’t realize you were in a hurry. I could give you a ride.”

“It’s okay.”

He dropped his hand and watched me stand. Then he joined me.

“Well, I’ll see you at school…” I turned away and walked out the door. I didn’t bother speaking to Heather, if she was even still at the bar. She probably brought that guy back to her apartment.

When I stepped outside, I caught my breath. I had no idea what just happened.

“I really insist on taking you home.” He appeared at my side, his hands in his pockets.

“Mr. Clearwater, I appreciate the offer but I can make it on my own.”

“Do you have a car?”

“No. I take the tube everywhere.”

His eyes widened. “Let me drive you.” It was a command.

“I’m—”

“The subway isn’t safe. It’s dirty, full of dirty people, and there’s no security down there.”

“I guess I’m dirty too.” Just because he was rich didn’t mean he could insult me for being poor.

“That’s not what I meant,” he said darkly. “It’s no place for a young woman.”

A black car pulled up to the curb where we were standing. It clearly belonged to him. Mr. Clearwater opened the back door and waited.

“Get in.”

I eyed him and the car.

“Please.” His tone was less demanding.

I wasn’t sure why I was resisting him so much. I just didn’t like being told what to do.

He stared me down and waited.

Drawn to him like I was since the moment I saw him, I got into the backseat. He came beside me and shut the door. He pressed the intercom. “Give your address to my driver.”

“425 Pitcher.”

“Very well, sir.”

The car moved forward while we sat together in the back. A black divider hid the driver from view. It was tinted and dark. Even his windows were difficult to see through. Mr. Clearwater clearly didn’t want to be noticed.

His hand rested on his thigh. I eyed it, wondering how i
t would feel wrapped around my hand.

Mr. Clearwater turned his head slightly, his lips near mine. I stared straight ahead and hoped he couldn’t hear my rapidly beating heart. It was thudding like an explosion in my ears. “Do I make you nervous?”

“No,” I lied.

“You make me nervous,” he whispered.

I did?

“But I like it.”

I’m pretty sure he’s hitting on me. But what if I was wrong? Would he really engage his student in a romantic relationship? Not wanting to look like an idiot, I didn’t speak.

When we arrived at my apartment, I opened the door. “Thank you for the ride.”

But he always already out of the car and walking to my side. He extended his hand to help me out.

I eyed it for a second before I took it. My heart rate increased when we touched.

I was going to have a heart attack if I didn’t get this under control.

“I’ll walk you to your door.”

Was that appropriate?

He entered the building and held the door open for me. I stared at him for a second before I walked inside. Together, we walked up the stairs until we reached my apartment.

His hands were in his pockets and he stood close to me before I pulled out my keys.

“It was nice running into you.” He leaned close to me, not decreasing the proximity. As guilty as I felt, I didn’t want him to step away. A sick part of me loved it when he was near.

“You too.” I grabbed my keys and put them in the door.

“I’ll see you in class.” He stepped back and adjusted his tie.

“Yeah…”

“Have a good night.” He walked down the hallway then headed down the stairs. After I couldn’t see him or hear him, I took a deep breath and covered my face.

What the hell just happened?

Chapter Nine

♬

Jeremy Clearwater

I crossed the line.

I tried to stay away from her, but when I saw her in that bar I couldn’t help it. The dark side of me emerged and I went in for the kill. I couldn’t read her mind, but I thought she was attracted to me too. But I wasn’t sure.

But she definitely wasn’t the type of girl to date a professor. I could tell that much.

But I liked her—a lot.

She was smart, beautiful, funny, beautiful, interesting, and most importantly, beautiful. Girls hated it when guys were superficial when it came to finding a partner, but that’s how the world works. I would never bothe
r getting to know a girl if the basic need of sexual attraction wasn’t met. That defied human sexuality.

And I was really, really attracted to Athena. In fact, I think I’m more attracted to her than I’ve ever been to anyone else. But was that because I couldn’t have her? Was this just
a childish need I had? Now she was prohibited, and that made me want her even more. Or did I honestly want her?

I don’t know.

I wondered if I had a chance with her. I should wait until the end of the semester to make my move, but that was so far away. I didn’t think I could wait that long. I wanted to see her again, talk to her. And not just in my classroom. She was humble, down-to-earth, and easy to talk to. And she challenged me. No girl had ever done that before—not even my sister.

I went scouting for a girl the next night. When I was in the bar, I looked for someone who could rock my world. But I didn’t see anyone worthwhile. Some were too
loud, others had too much makeup, and some of the women I talked to were just annoying. I wasn’t usually this picky. If she was hot, she was hot. I didn’t need anything else.

But I couldn’t do it. And that’s never happened before. I went home alone, feeling the solitude in my house. I was horny but with no outlet to express my frustration. And I thought about Athena. I wondered what she
was doing, how her hair felt in my fingers. I wondered if she was thinking about me. I hoped she was.

♫

When I went to class the next day, I was nervous to see her. I wondered how she’d act around me. Would she ignore me? Pretend nothing happened?

The students filed in. At the same time every day, Athena made her appearance right before the bell rang. She had a class just before this one on the other side of campus. I knew that because I was a crazy stalker.

I admit it.

She took her seat, and right on cue, that annoying jackass sat beside her. I was tired of seeing him eye-fuck her. If anyone was going to do that, it was
me. I tried to keep my rage back but I couldn’t. I snapped.

“For attendance purposes, we’re having a seating chart.”

The students looked at me like I was crazy.

“Get up.” I grabbed the roster and approached the fron
t of the room.

After the confusion passed, everyone gathered their things and stood up. Athena moved to the corner and watched me, her annoying stalker right behind her.

I wanted to snap his neck.

I directed the students to their seats. Then I put the annoying blond in the back left corner, as far away from Athena as possible. The guy sighed in annoyance as he moved to his place. There was only one
seat left over, and it was the one right in front of my desk.

What a coincidence.

“Athena, take your seat.”

I loved saying her name. I wanted any excuse to use it.

She gracefully sat down and opened her notes. I watched her, not bothering to be discreet.

Then I began the lecture for the day. I loved having her so close to me. When she
was up close, I could clearly see every dimension of her face. Her lips were red and her eyes were a brighter shade of green. I watched the way she gripped her pen. Everything about her was elegant. I wondered what her kiss was like…

So much for backing off.
I completely redesigned my classroom just to keep her away from any other interested men.
Because I was crazy.

When the class was over, the students grabbed their bags and left their seats. I remained at my desk and watched Athena. I wondered if she would say anything to me on her way out. Patiently, I waited.

“Want to get lunch?” It was the fucking blond guy.

“Umm…I have to get to the art building. I have to submit my painting.”

That’s right. That auction was this weekend.

“I’ll come with you then we can go.”

She averted her gaze and stepped away from her desk. “It’s okay. I’m really busy.”

“We can’t even be friends?” he snapped.

She stopped and stared at him. “Let’s talk about this outside.”

I knew I should hold my tongue but I couldn’t. He was harassing her and I wouldn’t put up with it. I came to her side, my arm touching hers. “Is there a problem?”

“No,” he said immediately. He grabbed her arm. “Let’s go.”

Like a snake, I lashed out and snatched his arm. Then I pulled him off. “
Don’t touch her again.”

His eyes widened and he stepped back.

“I’m a powerful man. You don’t want to fuck with me.” My voice came out deadly.

“Are you threatening me?”

“What do you think?” I stepped closer to him.

He glared at me then left the classroom. When I
heard his footsteps disappear, I looked at Athena. “Are you alright?”

She didn’t look happy. “You had no right to threaten him like that.”

“And he had no right to grab you like that.”

“I can handle myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time.”

What was her problem? Any other girl would swoon over me.
“I was just trying to help.”

“Well, don’t.” She stormed out the door, leaving me standing alone.

♫

I needed to repair some of the damage I caused. I was quickly realizing Athena wasn’t like the other girls I met. She was different.

I waited a few minutes before I went to the art department. I made sure she wasn’t inside before I moved down the hallway. I noticed the walls were lined with paintings. This must be where Athena dropped off her entry.

“Can I help you?” A woman wearing a tight pencil skirt and glasses looked at me. She didn’t look pleasant.

I smiled and extended my hand. “I’m Mr. Clearwater. I’m teaching Business Ownership.”

Recognition flashed in her eyes. “Of course. How are you?”

“I’m well. And you?”

“Good.” She shook my hand. “I’m
Dr. Pantos. How can I help you?”

“I was just looking for a pain
ting that was dropped off by one of my students.”

“Which one?”

“Athena Riley.”

“Why?”

Hmm…good question.
“She wanted me to take a look.”

She eyed me suspiciously before she picked it up from the ground. It was an image of a naked woman covered in paint. She was sitting in a patch of sun that drifted through the window. The woman wasn’t smiling but she seemed happy, despite being covered in paint. It was beautiful.

“What do you think?”

“It’s…amazing.”

“I like it too.” She smiled while she stared at it. “But I have no idea what it means.”

I do.

♫

When I got home that night, I paced the living room. I didn’t know what to do. Athena was consuming my thoughts. I didn’t know how to approach her. And I couldn’t afford to push her away again.

There was only one girl I was close to. And that was my sister. I decided to call her.

“Hello?” It was Cash.

“Sorry, I meant to call my sister.”

“No, this is her phone. She’s in the other room so I decided to answer it since it’s you. What’s going on?”

“Nothing too interesting. I just wanted to talk to my sister.”

“Here she is.”

The phone became muffled before Prudence spoke. “Jer?”

“Hey. You alright?”

“I’m great. How are you?”

“I’ve been better.”

She sounded alarmed. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing important, but I wanted your advice anyway.”

“Advice? You’ve never asked me for advice before.”

“I know.”

‘What is it?” she asked. “You’re the business mastermind. I doubt I can offer you anything useful.”

“Well, it’s not about business.”

“Then what’s it about?”

“A girl.”

Prudence was quiet for a moment. “A girl?” she said excitedly. “Who?”

Her voice blared through the phone. “Calm down.”

“How can I? You’re in love.”

“Whoa…I’m not in love. I just like a girl.”

“You like her a lot, then.”

“I’ll give you that.”

“So, what’s the problem?” she asked.

“I’ve been trying to…get with her. But she’s…different.”

“Jer, you need to give me something more than that.”

I sighed then told her the full story, including my temporary gig as a professor.

Prudence processed my story for a moment. “Well, it’s probably because you’re a professor.”

“But there are no rules against it.
And I’m going to be gone at the end of the semester.”

“It’s still wrong. If anyone found out, she would get a bad label. I doubt she wants that.”

I sighed in annoyance.

“Just wait until the end of the semester, Jer. Then you can hunt her down and fuck her brains out.”

I’ve never heard her talk like that. I think those words were more from Cash than her. “I guess.”

“If you were into her because you actually wanted a relationship with her or something, that would be different.”

“Why?”

“Because you actually care about her. In that case, I would continue to pursue and remind her you won’t be teaching forever. If she’s into you, she’ll understand that. But if you just want to fuck her, I would let it go and find someone else.”

“You’re right.” I hated it when she was right.

“Was I helpful?”

“You were,” I said.

She sighed. “I was hoping you found the one.”

I didn’t respond to her comment. “How’s the marriage?”

“Wonderful.” I could hear the smile in her voice. I was glad she was happy.

“I’ll let you go. It’s late here.”

“Okay. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

After I hung up, I reflected on my sister’s words. If I just wanted to screw Athena, I should just wait or move on with someone else. But if I wanted something more, I should pursue her. But I didn’t know what to do. Athena had captured my full attention. And I couldn’t just walk away.