Live By The Team (Team Fear Book 1) (11 page)

“
Professor?” Beth stared at her from behind the coffee kiosk. “You look— Different.”

It was the leather. Debi had brought black skinny jeans and knee-high black leather boots which were definitely not from the approved teaching attire section of her closet. Once she added Ryder’s leather and multiple bruises, she looked like a dominatrix with a leather fetish. It was marginally better than sweats. She’d have to avoid Dr. Crawford for the day. “Can I get the largest black coffee you make?”

“
Sure. What’s with the—” She gestured to her forehead.

Lauren’s hand fluttered to the bandage. “Car wreck, last night going home from work.”

“
That’s awful.” Beth poured a steaming cup of black coffee and carefully placed the cover. Here on campus, she looked younger than she had last night at the bar. Her chestnut hair was pulled into a tight ponytail and she was dressed casually in jeans and a sweatshirt. “Shouldn’t you be at home or something?”

“
Or something.” Lauren swiped her dining card to pay for the coffee. “Am I going to see you in class?”

Beth was one of her brightest students, but actual attendance didn’t fit into her plans. “Hard to ditch once you’ve seen me.” Her lips lifted into an impish grin. “But if our professor takes a sick day, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings.”

“
Nice try.” Lauren grabbed her coffee and stepped aside for the person behind her.

Beth’s face lightened into a beatific smile. “Hey.”

Lauren glanced back to see one of the soldiers from the bar last night. “Baby Face?”

Red stained his smooth cheeks. He reached out a hand. “I’m Joe.”

Lauren introduced herself and stared between the two. Seeing the young soldier chasing after her student shouldn’t surprise her, but somehow, it did.

“
Joe is taking me to lunch after I get off shift.” Beth glanced behind her at the clock. “In six minutes.”

“
Six minutes? Crap, I gotta get to class. If you’re late today, Beth, I’ll know why.”

Beth laughed and waved. Lauren raced across the quad to her class in the administration building. Ryder waited for her at the top of the concrete steps. “You were supposed to change your clothes and meet me here.”

“
I had to stop for this.” She lifted the coffee cup. “And I don’t have to report to you, Ryder. I have a job to do.” He walked with her to the classroom. “You can’t stay and observe. Go annoy someone else for a few hours.”

He tugged her sleeve, pulling her away from the door. “The guys from last night probably won’t bother you, but the man who hired them may get someone else to do his dirty work. Until we figure this out, I’m watching your back.”

Her heart thumped at the reminder of the accident and subsequent kidnapping. “Fine, but do it from a distance.” He raised a thick brow. She recognized the move and knew a lecture was coming. “Would you look at that? Time for class.” She escaped to the room and closed the door before Ryder could step through. The anger on his face promised payback. Fine. Time to have it out. He couldn’t walk away for six months and expect her to play the dutiful wife when he returned. They hadn’t used the word obey in their wedding vows for a reason. Lauren turned her attention to the full classroom of freshmen.

Silence reigned as shiny faces stared at her like she’d walked out of a porn video. Maybe they thought her outfit was some sort of instructor role play. Lauren set her coffee on the desk and tried not to sigh. The way they looked at her—the boys especially—proved the outfit was as bad or worse than she feared. Debi had had her revenge, because Crawford would hear about this before the end of the day.

Lauren straightened her shoulders. The last week had been anything but normal. Mayhem was becoming a way of life, but she still had a job to do. She might not always have a husband, but thanks to her education, she’d always have a career teaching young minds, most of whom wanted to be anywhere but history class this early in the day. She took a deep breath and smiled. Deep down, abysmally deep some days, she loved teaching. And today, teaching gave her the break she needed from Ryder’s intensity.

When she glanced back out the door’s window, he was gone. The thought of being alone sent a shiver up her spine.

CHAPTER NINE

Lauren raced down the hall like the hounds of hell chased her through the administration building. At her office, she grabbed the textbook for her next class. When she neared Crawford’s office, she doubled her speed. If she went fast enough, maybe he wouldn’t notice, because nothing about her appearance screamed academic. The look screamed desperately seeking attention, which was seriously frowned upon in academic circles. She made it nearly two doors past when Crawford’s voice called her back.

“
Lauren, dear.”

Ha. The “dear” didn’t fool her. Crawford was not some cuddly grandfather figure who would give her a kindly pat on the head for a job well done. Lauren lifted her shoulders and marched back to Crawford’s office, her heels clicking on the tiles. She felt like the whore of Babylon. The second she walked through his open door, she smiled. “Yes, Professor?”

And there sat Ryder in the brown leather chair next to Crawford, looking like a preferred guest. One booted foot rested on the opposite knee, and he looked as comfortable here as he did in a fight. This was not going to be good.

“
Lauren, dear, Ryder was just telling me of your horrible accident last night.”

Her hand automatically flew to her bandaged head. “I’m sure it’s not as bad as he made it sound.” She glared at Ryder sitting calmly and silently watching the byplay.

“
Your truck brakes failed?”

“
Yes, but—”

“
And the truck flipped?” Crawford would have made a great prosecutor if he’d had a heart for it, but he lived and breathed for the academic world. He wore tweeds even in the hottest weather, and the room smelled of pipe tobacco even though smoking indoors was patently illegal.

“
The truck? Well, yes, but—”

“
You should have told me.” Crawford’s face wrinkled in concern. Real or imagined? He wasn’t an unkind man, but he certainly wasn’t a teddy bear. His wrinkles and balding pate showcased a career teaching history long enough to
make
history. “I would have insisted you stay home and heal.”

“
Well, I—” Lauren shuffled her feet. Ryder was going to pay for this. “I didn’t want to worry you, Professor.” Her excuse sounded lame. She hadn’t even considered calling in sick. “I can finish my classes for the day.”

Crawford’s watery gaze turned to Ryder as if seeking his advice. Dear God, what had Ryder done? Threatened the professor?

“
Ryder tells me you didn’t get any sleep, considering the accident and time in the hospital.”

Sleep was optional for PhD candidates. “True, but—”

“
Stop,” Crawford ordered, his deep voice kindly. “I respect your dedication, but we can’t have our star pupil getting ill.”

Star pupil? Apparently the knock on the head had done some serious damage, because she was definitely dreaming.

“
I’ll take your afternoon class. It’s been too long since I taught an undergraduate history course.” Crawford glanced through his reading glasses at her schedule. He’d printed her schedule? What had Ryder done? “We’ll get a sub for the rest of the week. You need time to recover.”

“
Professor, while I appreciate—”

“
Enough.” Crawford stood and crossed the room to pat her shoulder. In Ryder’s presence, Crawford morphed into the stereotypical—and unlikely—professor with a heart. Lauren’s bruises throbbed under his hearty pat. “I don’t want to see you on campus until next week. And bring Ryder with you.” The old man showed yellowing teeth in a frightening grin. Ryder stood and the men shook hands. “His take on history is colored by the military of course, but he has some fascinating theories. I’d like a chance to pick his brain.”

Lauren groaned. Now it made sense. The academic world was the good old boy’s program, and Ryder had a penis. Damnit all to hell. The one time Crawford cared a whit about her, and it was because her husband had an interesting mind. She smiled tightly. “Of course.”

Two steps down the hall and Lauren spoke around a bitter smile. “What did you do?”

“
Just told him the truth.”

“
Right, because the hospital happened.”

“
Did you want me to mention the exploding meth house?”

Lauren dropped her books back at her desk. She patted her arms and pockets, looking for car keys she didn’t need and the purse she didn’t want to carry on Ryder’s bike. It hurt to ask the next question, but she was at his mercy. “What’s the plan?”

“
Lunch.”

Lauren crossed her arms over her chest. “You want to take me to lunch?”

“
Sure.” He grabbed her arm and escorted her down the hall and into the quad. “An army marches on its stomach.”

The quote was one of Ryder’s favorite. “Frederick the Great?”

“
No. I’m quoting my TI in basic training.”

Ryder twined his fingers through hers, effectively silencing her. She’d always liked his public displays of affection. Kissing, holding hands, the feel of his touch against the small of her back. Small acts of possession. Maybe she was as much of a throwback as Dr. Crawford, because she’d missed the feel of Ryder’s large hand around hers. He rubbed a thumb over the heel of her hand as they walked. The easy strength made her feel safe.

The sun shone down, filtering through the bare branches of the trees, creating lines of light and shadow on the bench where he stopped. A memory whispered in the shade, one better left in the dark. Lauren’s heart pounded. “Don’t even think about it.”

He rested his hands lightly on her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Let me.”

She shook her head. “Bad idea.”

He stared at her face while he ran his thumbs down her jawline. Gentle, so very gentle for a man so formidable. The touch barely registered, as soft as a spring breeze. Her nipples peaked in anticipation. This was where he’d kissed her after their first official lunch date. He’d come by to treat her to lunch between classes, and before she went back to work, he’d pulled her aside and planted one on her. She’d floated on an emotional high the rest of the day.

Today, he’d maneuvered her this way intentionally. Strategically, like a soldier in combat. Lauren wanted to be angry at the manipulation, but her body leaned into his as if Ryder pulled the strings.

Really bad idea, yet when he lowered his head, she was helpless to stop him. She ran her hands down his sides and moaned. The ridges of muscle were better than a dream. She thought she had lost him, and the loss had changed her. Running her hands over him was an unexpected gift, one that would alter her yet again. Firm muscles twitched at her touch. The soldier was as powerful as they came, but he quivered at her touch. A sense of power invaded her veins. He used the hands at her jaw to tilt her head and he dove deep, an answer to her unspoken prayer. His tongue battled hers. Lauren responded with a hunger that time and anger could not diminish. In his arms, she felt protected, safe and for once, not alone.

Tears threatened, the memory of his first kiss mingled with the moment until she couldn’t contain her reaction. Life reduced to the necessities: light and air and Ryder. She ran her tongue over his. The growl of pleasure emanating from his throat sent chills through her body. She needed closer, wanted the feel of him pressed along her length. His hands slid down her arms leaving fire in their wake to land on her hips. He pulled her closer still, until the hard ridge of his erection pressed against her belly.

She moaned his name, and even she heard the erotic demand. Desire flashed soul deep and wouldn’t be sated with a simple kiss. She wanted to wrap herself in him and forget the pain of their past. A group of laughing girls walked behind them and pulled Lauren from the hypnotic moment. Ryder was a dangerous man. It wouldn’t take much for him to pull her back into his view of the world. They stared at each other. His ragged breath spoke of his own struggle with desire. His eyes were hooded, hiding any emotions. He lifted his hand back to caress her bruised jaw. “Come on, let’s eat.”

Lauren followed like a freaking pet. The kiss left her a jumbled mess of confusing emotions. She wanted Ryder, but the hurt of the past six months wouldn’t disappear. She was terrified it could happen again. They’d gotten their food before her brain reengaged. It was his wallet that snapped her out of it. Tucked in with his cash was a dried leaf sealed in plastic. Oh, dear, her heart was definitely going to get involved. “Is that...”

He nodded tightly, not meeting her gaze, and folded up his wallet, tucking it out of sight but not out of mind. The leaf was from the tree outside the cafeteria; a reminder of their first kiss. How could a man who kept such a memento end up leaving?

The line pushed them forward, but Lauren was struck numb. Ryder held the tray with one hand while holding Lauren with the other. Across the room, Beth and Joe sat next to each other, leaning in as if the rest of the world didn’t matter. Watching them brought memories that haunted her, pained her. She gripped Ryder’s hand tight and altered her direction to pass Beth’s table.