Camaro, the rumble of the car’s massive engine creating another wave of quivers dancing down the length of my body. Damn, the man was attractive, but his warning left me uncertain of why the hell I found him sexy in the first place.
I stared out the window of the diner, still jittery from the night before. I’d anticipated seeing the assholes again, but the evening had been filled with what seemed like every other rowdy jerk from town filling the place, demanding their share of attention. At least it was almost time to go home.
Home. That was a shitty little apartment with secondhand furniture. I eased a strand of hair from behind my ear, tugging at the apron until I was able to jerk it over my head. Everyone seemed to be celebrating something tonight. I rarely felt sorry for myself, but tonight I felt lonelier than I had in a long time. Three months of a quiet town without my friends. Three months of pretending that one day my life would be happy.
Three. Months.
I waved at Becky after grabbing my things, the mace in my hand as I walked into the lonely parking lot, moving quickly toward my car. Thank God, I’d been able to get inside without being attacked. After locking the doors, I took a deep breath, still unable to get my thoughts off my professor. Who was he and what secrets was he hiding?
There was no amount of admonishment that could shove my thoughts about him aside, but I forced myself to start the engine, pulling to the edge of the parking lot. As I looked across the road, I couldn’t help but notice Mr. Lenkov’s Camaro parked in front of one of the local bars. I glanced into the rearview mirror, my body quivering, the thoughts that flowed in my mind ridiculous.
“What are you doing?” I asked the girl staring back at me.
She didn’t seem to have an answer.
I waited for a few additional seconds before my curiosity got the better of me. After crossing the road and finding a parking spot, I allowed the engine to idle for a full two minutes before I even moved. What would it hurt to go inside and have a drink? I was of legal age. I’d promised myself a small celebration after finishing the year with mostly A’s. I deserved a break.
Another glance in the rearview mirror and I grimaced, yanking the clip from my long hair, doing my best to fluff it back into any kind of hairstyle. Wearing the ugly khaki skirt and tee shirt wasn’t the best look, but from what I could tell, the bar was nothing more than a dive anyway. Maybe I’d fit right in.
When I walked inside, I was painfully aware that the place was filled with men, the same kind of burly dudes I’d been forced to confront the night before.
And every one of them turned their heated gazes in my direction, their hunger obvious.
To hell with them.
I scanned the perimeter, finally noticing the professor sitting at the bar, the bartender standing in front of him. At least there was an open seat a few feet away. I moved through the crowd, cognizant of the various lewd remarks.
“Come here, baby.”
“How about a ride, sugar?”
Jesus.
This was nothing more than some kind of glorified biker bar. What was a well-dressed professor doing frequenting the place? It only added to the mystery.
Almost as soon as I sat down, I felt a presence behind me. Then there were two hands planted on either side of me. I issued a hard jab of my elbow without looking, quickly realizing I’d assaulted my professor. “Oh.”
He exhaled, the sound guttural, the kind that sent tremors skating down my spine.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded. “I told you to stay away from me.”
“This is a free country. I can do what I want, Professor.”
“As of tonight, I’m just a man, Chloe. My name is Nikolai; however, you’re going home right now.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
I could hear him sucking in his breath. Every sound he made sent quivers down my spine.
“Then I’m afraid I’m going to have to teach you a lesson,” he stated.
“What the hell does that mean?”
When he jerked me off the barstool, pulling me into the dark confines of the bar, I was flustered. What was he doing?
“I’m doing exactly what I said,” Nikolai murmured, continuing to drag me down a hallway. When he slammed his hand on one of the bathroom doors,