Page 100 of Their Naughty Student (Office Intrigue Duet 6)
Edge walked around the coffee table, then pushed it back from the sofa, allowing more room as he sat on it directly in front of me.
I kept my focus on my bare feet. Right up until his finger curled beneath my chin, tilting it back until our eyes met. For long seconds, he stared back at me while I was mesmerized by his bright blue eyes. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen that color before.
Even as the anger and hurt churned, I couldn’t deny I wanted to get lost in those eyes. Just one more time.
“I owe you an explanation,” he finally said, his tone cooler than before.
It took a second for his words to register. In an effort to maintain my mad, I snarled, “Yes, you do.”
The corners of his eyes squinted but they didn’t quite narrow. I could see his restraint. He didn’t appreciate my bratty attitude.
“Did you want to join the class?” he questioned.
“Yes.”
“Did you not tell us you didn’t want special treatment?”
I opened my mouth to answer, then snapped it closed.
Edge waited me out, holding my gaze.
“Yes, I did.”
“Have you received special treatment?”
“No.”
“Yet you’re still pissed.”
I shook my head. “Not pissed.” I swallowed hard, let my eyes drop from his. “Hurt.”
“Look at me, sweetness.”
“I’m not your sweetness,” I hissed. “Not anymore.”
“Look at me, baby.”
My eyes shot to his instantly, as though that one endearment was all my stupid heart needed to hear.
“I’ve hurt you,” he said, as though he accepted it.
“Yes.”
“What did I do?”
I thought about the pain I’d felt when I walked into the training room Tuesday, knowing that neither of them was going to be my trainer. That familiar ache ricocheted in my chest, stealing my breath. I refused to cry again. I would not allow him to have that much of me. He didn’t deserve it as far as I was concerned.
“You gave me away.”
He sighed. “I did not.”
I held his gaze. “You did.” I twisted my fingers. “How do you think it makes me feel to know you can just pass me over to another man? Like it doesn’t even bother you?”
“It does bother me.”
“If it did, you wouldn’t’ve done it.”
“As far as I’m concerned, Jamie, you belong to me.”
My heart skipped a beat at the dominance behind that statement. Still, I wasn’t ready to cave. “You gave me to Master Chaos.”
“Not true,” he countered. “I didn’t give you to anyone. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.” He swallowed. “You mean something to me, Jamie.”
“Funny way of showing it,” I muttered.
This time when Edge gripped my chin, he wasn’t as gentle. He didn’t hurt me, but he damn sure got my attention. I glared at him, surprised daggers weren’t shooting from my eyes.
Neither of us gave for several seconds. I fought the urge to look at his mouth, battled back thoughts of him kissing me the way he had before.
“You want it your way?” he ground out.
I didn’t answer, not quite sure what he was getting at.
“Do you want me to prove myself to you?”
“Yes, damn it,” I barked. “Yes, I do.”
“Fine.” His hand dropped. “If that’s what you want, that’s what you’ll get.”
He released me, got to his feet, stared down at me.
“What?” I had no idea what just happened. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ll see you in class on Saturday, Miss Lautner. Come prepared.” He started for the door. “Oh, and I didn’t add you to the rotation tomorrow. It’ll give you time to figure out if this is really what you want.”
I watched as he walked out the door, instructing me to lock it behind him. I stared for the longest time, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.
I was still wondering, even when I fell asleep an hour later.
CAV
Friday, November 9, 2018
WHEN I ARRIVED AT DICHOTOMY ON FRIDAY night, I knew something had happened. Not only because Edge had insisted the Masters meet prior to the class, but also because he hadn’t been at the Chatter offices that day. When I had texted him, he’d told me we would discuss tonight. When I had texted Jamie, she told me she needed some time to think.
That was when I got the sneaking suspicion something had happened between them.
I walked into the training room to find Edge pacing the floor. I was the first to arrive for this impromptu meeting, which I took as a good sign.
“Hey, what’s up?”
He stopped suddenly, his eyes slamming into me as though he hadn’t expected me to be there.
“I went to see Jamie last night,” he informed me, stepping closer.
So it would appear my suspicions were accurate. “And…?”
“And I’m making a change to the class.”
I stared at him, let it all sink in.
“Did you hear me?” he asked.
“I did.” I pushed my hands into my pockets. “And what change would that be?”
“You’ll see.”
I grabbed his arm when he started to turn away. “I think I deserve to know now. If it pertains to Jamie…” I studied his face momentarily. “I have a right to know.”
