Artemis' Gift Book 4

HELLA

Holly and I had a wild night, drinking more than we should have. But I needed it. The pain of discovering Tobias’s betrayal felt like a physical wound, as if my heart had been ripped from my chest.

I remembered walking into his room, collapsing onto his bed, my mind still reeling from the class I’d just attended. He was there, holding me, comforting me. I let my hand fall off the bed and felt something squishy. It was a condom.

The initial shock gave way to disgust, then pure, unadulterated rage. I screamed at him, grabbed his baseball bat, and took out my anger on his car. I hoped the damage was irreparable. He deserved it.

I wished I could have done more. But the day wasn’t over yet. The image of the enormous sandy wolf flashed in my mind, leaving me wondering how that was even possible.

“I wish I could find the girl he cheated on me with and give her a piece of my mind,” I said.

“Tobias is on the baseball team and this is a big university. It could be anyone.” Holly replied.

“Well, I’m going to enjoy being single now. It’s my last year and I’m going to have some fun before I start job hunting.”

“What about the new professor? I heard he’s incredibly attractive.” Holly suggested with a grin.

“That he is.” I confirmed, giggling. “He’s so attractive, I had trouble focusing in his class. And his voice… It’s enough to make a girl weak in the knees.”

“You’re so bad.” She laughed. “If he’s that good, why not give it a shot?”

“He’s a professor.” I frowned. “That’s not exactly allowed…”

“Who cares? It’s your last year. Why not take a chance? It could turn out to be something great…” She smirked.

I mulled over her words. The alcohol coursing through my veins made me feel invincible, and the idea of sleeping with my professor suddenly seemed like the best idea in the world.

Payne was undeniably attractive, and just the thought of him sent shivers down my spine. I wasn’t sure he would be open to anything, but it was worth a shot. He wasn’t going to be here for the entire year anyway, just a semester.

“You know what? You’re right.” I nodded. “I’ll give it a shot. But I need to act fast because he won’t be here for long.”

“Maybe I can help.” She grinned. “Tomorrow, you’re going to dress to impress…”

We giggled and drank some more, took a shower, and finally crawled into bed. I was determined to seduce the sexy professor or die trying.

I woke up to the sound of my alarm, my head pounding from last night’s drinking. I groaned, and I wasn’t the only one. Holly looked just as bad as I felt.

“I’m picking out your outfit today.” She croaked. “But first, I need water.”

I nodded silently, watching her get up to grab a bottle from our mini-fridge under her desk. Our room wasn’t large, but it was functional with two desks, two wardrobes, the mini-fridge, shelves full of books, and an en suite bathroom.

She downed half the bottle and I got up to grab one for myself. I felt a bit better, but I vowed never to drink that much again.

Holly went to her wardrobe and pulled out a black dress with a plunging neckline. It ended just above my knees and looked great with my black heels.

She handed it to me and told me to wear my best underwear before heading to the bathroom. I did as she instructed and added a necklace with a small key pendant.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror on my wardrobe door and thought, Tobias, you have no idea what you’re missing out on. I’m going to have a great time with Payne.

I blushed at my own thoughts. Since when was I interested in my professors? Payne was probably the most attractive professor I’d ever had, but… This felt wrong somehow. Could I really go through with this? It was too late to back out now, or I’d be late for my lectures.

I grabbed my bag and walked out of the room with confidence. Holly was still getting ready, but she was always late, so I’d stopped waiting for her a long time ago.

I made my way to the main building for my first lecture of the day, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves. I was so nervous, I was sure everyone could hear my heart pounding in my chest.

“Hella!” I heard someone call from behind me.

I turned to see Tobias. He didn’t even look angry about his car, which was disappointing. But he seemed to want to talk. I didn’t want to hear anything he had to say.

“I can’t, I’m going to be late for my lecture,” I said, frowning.

“Please, listen to me. I’m sorry for what I did. I promise it won’t happen again.” He pleaded.

“I don’t want to hear it, ok? You should have thought about that before you cheated. Now go be with your new girl and leave me alone.”

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm, holding me back. I tried to shake him off, but his grip only tightened.

“You’re hurting me!” I snapped.

“Listen to me!”

“Let her go, now.”

We both froze at the sound of the commanding voice. Payne’s green eyes were cold as he stared at Tobias, making him whimper.

He looked terrifying, and a small part of me wanted to run away. But there was also something incredibly attractive about him. He looked so strong, so… sexy. What was wrong with me?

Tobias slowly released me and backed away, never taking his eyes off Payne until he was out of sight. I rubbed my arm, trying to soothe the spot where he’d grabbed me.

“Are you okay?” Payne asked, concern evident in his eyes.

“Yeah… Thank you for helping me.” I replied, attempting a smile, though it probably looked more like a grimace.

He returned my smile and nodded. Then he looked me up and down, and I saw something change in his eyes. His body tensed.

“I’ll see you in class.” He said, clearing his throat. “You… You look good today.”

My heart skipped a beat and I blushed. He looked so cute… This gorgeous man with clear green eyes, wheat blond hair, and a body like a Greek god was nervous because of me.

It was both adorable and amusing. I loved making him nervous.

“Thank you, professor.” I smiled at him.

He walked past me and headed straight for the amphitheater. I followed a bit later and managed to snag a seat as close to his desk as possible, even if I had to fight a few women for it.

I noticed him glancing at me several times while we waited for the room to fill. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if we actually started dating.

There was a certain confidence that radiated from him when he delved into the topic of Ancient Greece, but when it came to paying a compliment, he seemed to lose that assurance.

Was he…inexperienced? No, that couldn’t be it. He was too suave, too polished. Could it be me? Was I the one making him jittery? But why?

As soon as everyone found their seats, he began the lecture. As always, I found myself captivated by him. His lips, the fervor in his eyes, the way his large hands gestured to emphasize a point—every aspect of him was magnetic.

I found myself biting my lower lip, imagining what those hands, so large and strong, could do to me. His biceps were visible beneath the short sleeves of his shirt as he spoke. Damn.

The mere thought of what he could do to me in bed sent a wave of heat coursing through my body.

Suddenly, it was as if he could sense my thoughts. His body stiffened, and he made a conscious effort to avoid my gaze. How? Why was he averting his eyes, and why did it bother me so much?

He couldn’t possibly know what I was thinking, or how my body ached for him. That was impossible, wasn’t it?

His expression hardened, and as soon as the class ended, he made a swift exit. Why? I attempted to follow him outside, but he was nowhere to be found. Damn, he was quick.