“Is he really that brutal?” Eva asks.
I nod in response. “He’s a sadist.”
Natalya clears her throat. “Exactly why we told you that you’re insane to want to pursue him.”
“I don’t want to pursue him,” I lie, as deep down I know I wanted to get sent to Nitkin to find out if my reaction to the pain in ninth grade was a one off. “It was a joke.”
“Right,” Adrianna says, nudging me. “You’ve had a crush on him since forever.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t mean I’m crazy enough to pursue him. As I said, he’s a sadist.” My cheeks are blazing with heat as I focus on my stack of pancakes, forking some into my mouth.
“Talk of the devil,” Nat says, nodding toward the entrance of the cafeteria.
Nitkin strides in confidently and students in his way cower before him, getting out of his way sharply. It’s awe-inspiring the amount of fear he commands, especially amongst the brutal mafia heirs that attend this academy. I wonder if that’s part of the allure he has on me. The power and fear that he commands.
Adrianna nudges me. “Even after he beat you, you’re staring at him like he’s God’s gift to this earth.”
I clear my throat and tear my eyes away from him. “Bullshit.”
Eva laughs. “I’ve got to admit, Adrianna is right.”
I glare at her. “You’re all being a bunch of assholes.”
Nat holds her hands up. “Hey, what did I do?”
“Okay, you excluded.” I shake my head. “Yes, I find him attractive, but I’m not insane enough to want to actually be with someone so crazy.” I fork the rest of my pancakes into my mouth, hoping that ends the discussion.
I’m not sure I even believe what I’m saying. After I climaxed from the pain, I fear I’m at more risk than ever of pursuing that monster. He’s not a man, he’s a beast the way he tasted my blood, and yet it makes me want him more.
A shudder skates down my spine at the memory and I steal a glance toward him, to find that he is watching me intently. Those unique hazel eyes of his burning with a fire that steals my breath away. For a moment, I’m captivated by them and him, unable to look away. A dark, twisted smirk curls onto his lips and I quickly look away, trying to focus on anything but Professor Nitkin.
I clear my throat. “Has everyone got class first period?” I ask.
Eva shakes her head. “No, I’ve got a free period.”
I smile, thankful that I’m not the only one. “Do you want to go to the library for it?”
Nat raises an eyebrow. “Since when do you voluntarily go to the library? Normally it’s like pulling teeth to get you to go.”
I shrug. “I’ve got the assignment to catch up on for Professor Jameson’s class.”
Eva winces. “Didn’t you hear they fired her?”
“What? No!” I shake my head. “Why?”
Adrianna clears her throat. “I hear she tried to seduce a married man after having a go at him for marrying a student.”
Eva nods. “Something like that.”
My eyes widen. “Wow, what a bitch. Who’s taking math now, then?” I ask.
“I hear Professor Nitkin is standing in until they find a replacement,” Nat says.
Eva nods in agreement. “Yeah, and Professor Davidson is standing in on English class.”
I swallow hard. “All the more reason to get my assignment done.”
Eva nods. “True. If he knows that the assignment was due in the first place.”