Temptation (The Hunted, #1)(76)

I looked longingly into his eyes. "I know that I'll never get enough of you." I loved him. There was no doubt in my mind. I loved him so much.





Chapter 50


Wednesday

Last time Professor Hunter had been here I hadn't known he was coming. So I wanted to make sure my dorm room looked better this time. I grabbed the last piece of clothing on the ground and tossed it in my hamper.

"Geez, hasn't he been here before?" Melissa was watching me.

"Yeah, but I don't want him to think I'm messy."

"But you are messy."

I put the bottle of Windex down on my bureau. "I guess you're right."

"Is there anything else I should know?"

"About Pro...I mean, James?"

"Ew, do you call him Professor Hunter?"

"No," I lied. I could feel my face turning crimson.

"You're so weird."

"Melissa, please don't embarrass me."

"I promise that I'm not on a mission to embarrass you. But I do have some questions for him. If I happen to mortify you along the way..."

"Melissa."

"I'll be on my best behavior." She lifted her hands in the air, pretending to surrender.

I didn't believe her for a second. My phone buzzed and my stomach rose to my chest. I grabbed it and read his text. "He's here."

"So go let him in." Melissa crossed her legs on her bed.

I gave her one last pleading look and went to go let Professor Hunter in. I opened the back door to our building. He was standing there in a leather jacket, jeans, and a t-shirt. He truly looked like a college student, the most handsome college student in existence. It had started to rain, which made his hair glisten. He stepped inside and kissed me.

"Penny," he whispered.

"James," I said breathlessly. My knees felt like jelly.

"Is she excited to meet me?"

"I think so."

"You don't seem very confident." He had a playful grin on his face.

"It's just that she can be kind of intense. Please just remember how much I like you."

"I'm sure it won't be that bad. I brought brownies." He held up a pan covered with aluminum foil. Brownies were second only to condoms on my list of favorite things that come in foil.

"I'd rather have you." I was feeling bold, a feeling I knew would disappear as soon as we walked into my dorm room.

"Maybe later. Right now, I promised to meet your friend." He pulled back and put his hand out for me. I let him lead the way up the stairs to my room. I took a deep breath as I opened the door.

"So you're the elusive Professor Hunter?" Melissa asked.

I closed the door behind us, hoping that no one on our floor had heard her.

Professor Hunter gave Melissa a charming smile. "Please, call me James. And you must be Melissa." Professor Hunter put out his hand for Melissa to shake.

Melissa hesitated a moment too long and then shook his hand. She was being awful on purpose. Letting them meet was looking like a terrible idea already.

"I brought brownies." Professor Hunter lifted the pan in the air.

"Yum! Did you bake them yourself?" Melissa asked.

Professor Hunter paused. "No. I doubt they'd be edible if I had."

"You don't cook?"

"Not very often." Professor Hunter scratched the back of his neck. He looked so uncomfortable. I wound my arm around his.

"He has a personal chef," I offered. Could this be any more awkward? Melissa was going to spend the whole night rapid firing questions at him.

"Very fancy," Melissa said. She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "It's strange, I never pictured a professor in our dorm room."

"I never pictured myself in a student's room either. It just happened."

Melissa smiled. "So, tell me about yourself."

"Well, I grew up in New York. I lived there my whole life until I moved here last year. I'm sorry, what is it that you want to know exactly? Something specific?"

"Where did you go to school?"

"Can I sit down?" He gave me a smile. He was handling himself well, despite Melissa's onslaught.

"Yes," I said. But I was curious to know where he went to school too. I had never asked him about that before. I pulled out my desk chair for him. Professor Hunter took off his jacket, put it on the back of the chair, and sat down. I jumped onto my bed and sat Indian style.

"I went to Harvard." Harvard, wow.

"Your parents are wealthy then?" Melissa asked.

"My parents are wealthy, but I had a scholarship to Harvard."

"Impressive."

"Thank you."

"But even so, you're very handsome and your parents are wealthy. Most things in your life must have been handed to you."

A flash of anger crossed Professor Hunter's face. He took a deep breath. "In some regards, yes. Many things that were handed to me I didn't want though. I owe my success to myself, not my family. Do you have another question for me?"

"Well there's one main one. Why is it that you want to date students?" Melissa wasn't backing down.