“It doesn’t make any sense that they’re out there. They’re being relentless.”
“And you just made it worse. I specifically asked you not to talk to them.”
“James. Doesn’t it make you mad? Why won’t you defend yourself?”
“I know you’ve had a bad day. But I’m trying very hard to remain calm right now. I need to know that you’ll listen to me when I ask you not to do something.”
“If you won’t defend yourself, I’ll defend you. Everyone at this school already hates me. I don’t care anymore.”
“What you just did is going to make it worse. Not better. That’s going to be all over the news tonight.”
“Good. I want everyone to know that you’re not a bad person. It sucks walking around campus hearing people say bad things about me. But I can deal with that. What I can’t handle is people saying bad things about you.”
“And I can’t stand that you have to hear bad things about you. I’m used to getting my way. I don’t know how to fix this. I never expected this to happen.” He leaned against one of the walls in the elevator.
“I know. You’re used to being in control. And I’m infuriating.” I shrugged.
He gave me an exasperated laugh. “I can’t think straight when I’m with you. I’m so unbelievably mad at you right now. But all I want to do is fuck you in this elevator.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too.” He looked down for a second and then back up at me. “If you think it will help, I’ll talk to them. It might help around campus.”
“Not if you’re going to take all the blame.”
He closed the distance between us in the elevator, pressing my back against the cold steel. “You really are infuriating.” He leaned down and kissed me hard, sending shivers of desire through my whole body. I didn’t like when he was mad at me. But I liked this. I liked that it made him want me in a different way.
My fingers slipped beneath the back of his hoodie and up his muscular back.
He grabbed my hands and pushed them against the side of the elevator. “There are cameras in here. And Rob is waiting for us upstairs. I had the front desk let him up.”
“Okay.”
“To be continued?” He ran the tip of his nose down the length of mine.
“I kind of wish Rob hadn’t come early.”
James laughed and let go of my hands. “Your face is flushed.” He rubbed his hand along my cheek.
“No kidding.”
He smiled. “Ready to meet my little brother?”
“Absolutely.”
James hit the button that had made the elevator stop. I pressed my thighs together and leaned against the side of the elevator. Making me incredibly horny before meeting his brother was an odd choice. I took a deep breath. I needed to calm down. I had already been nervous to meet Rob. Now I was going to be more awkward than usual. The doors of the elevator slowly opened.
“Finally, man!”
I turned my head to see Rob in the kitchen. He was sitting in front of a pizza box at the counter. Rob looked a lot like James. He was slightly shorter and tanner. His jaw line wasn’t quite as sharp and his hair was shaggy. And he dressed a lot differently. Way more like a college student. His jeans had holes in them and he was wearing a flannel shirt over his v-neck t-shirt. I had thought that Professor Hunter was a college student when I bumped into him. If I had met his brother in the same situation, I wouldn’t have had a doubt in my mind.
He tossed a piece of crust back in the box and walked over to James. I thought they were going to hug, but instead Rob wrapped his arms around James and lifted him off the floor slightly. “It’s so good to see you!” he said really loudly. It looked like it made James super uncomfortable. I couldn’t help but laugh. Rob’s good mood was contagious.
Rob set James back down on his feet and leaned close to James. “Dude, is this seriously Ellen? You didn’t tell me she was super hot. Please tell me you’re tapping that?”
I was sure he had meant to whisper that. He must have just been really bad at whispering. No one talked like that. I could feel my face turning even more red.
“No.” James sounded mad. “That’s not Ellen. That’s…”
“Shit, are you serious? I get my own housekeeper? I should have come here ages ago.” He patted James on the chest and walked over to me. “I’m Rob.” He put his hand out for me to shake.
“Penny.” What the hell is happening? I shook his hand.
“So tell me about yourself, Penny.” He leaned against the counter and locked eyes with me. It was so strange. His eyes were so similar to James’. It was unnerving.
“For starters, I’m not a housekeeper.”
His smile got even bigger and he looked over his shoulder at James. “You’re the best brother ever.
“Jesus, stop talking, Rob.” James walked over and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
“So…” Rob looked back and forth between us. “You are fucking then?”
“No, Rob. Or, well, yes actually.”
Oh my God! This seemed way worse than telling my parents about our relationship.
“This is my girlfriend.” James squeezed my shoulder.
“Wait, what? What about the troll?”
“We’re divorced.”
“Seriously?! I didn’t really think you had the balls to cut that cord.”
James laughed.
I was pretty sure James and his brother had the strangest relationship ever. But I liked Rob for referring to Isabella as a troll. It helped redeem his inappropriateness. I was almost positive he thought I was a hooker that James had gotten for him.
“Okay, wow. So, we should probably start over,” Rob said to me.
“Yeah.” I laughed and stuck my hand back out to Rob. “Let’s just pretend that didn’t happen.”
Rob laughed. “No, actually that’s a great story. I can’t wait to tell people I thought my brother’s new girlfriend was a prostitute. And it’s a compliment really. You’re hot. I’m sure you get that all the time.”
“Only recently.”
James tightened his grip on my arm.
Rob laughed again. “She’s funny. And young. You look really young. How old are you?”
“20.”
Rob stared at me for a second and then looked back up at James. “Oh shit! Don’t even say it. She’s your student, isn’t she? Oh my God, this is golden. The perfect son is fucking one of his students? I love it. Do Mom and Dad know?”
“Okay, we need to talk for a second.” James let go of my shoulder and walked toward the living room, grabbing Rob’s arm on the way.
“Does he get mad at you a lot too?” Rob yelled over his shoulder. “I bet that makes things exciting in bed.”
“Shut up,” James said.
That was the last thing I heard. I knew that James was embarrassed. But I liked Rob. He seemed so carefree. I thought he’d be a good influence on James. And James described him really well. Fun was the perfect word.