Tessa’s POVI returned to my room shortly after my conversation with Joseph and he went straight to his so he could sleep for the day.It was going to be a quiet and lonely day for sure and I needed to figure out what to do with myself while he slept. There was no way he’d let me go into the city without Jordan.I suppose I could go back out into the gardens and do a little bit more writing.First things first, I needed to get dressed.I grabbed an outfit out of one of the many drawers this room had and went to take a shower. It felt like it’s been ages since I was able to shower without care or fear in the world. I felt incredibly relaxed and in bliss, as the hot water soaked my body and soothed my aching muscles.I closed my eyes as the water soaked through my hair. I breathed in the lavender scent, and I couldn’t help but smile up at the steam that danced off the ceiling.Once I was done in the shower, I threw my hair in its usual messy bun and then dressed before leaving the bathr
Tessa’s POVRuby was right. Jordan looked anything but happy. Especially when he saw me standing in the middle of the café.He narrowed his eyes at me and began stalking toward our direction.“What is he some kind of bodyguard?” Ruby asked from behind me, watching as Jordan only grew angrier.“Something like that,” I said, biting my bottom lip nervously, wondering what Jordan was about to do.It was no secret that he already didn’t like me, though, I thought he warmed up to me a little when we went shopping together. But it seems that the bonding experience had worn off and now it was just an angry shell of a man.“Let’s go,” he said between his teeth, keeping his eyes locked on mine.I knew he was being careful with what he said knowing that Ruby was watching and listening. I wasn’t going to argue with him, especially considering his hand was back on his gun.I hoped that Ruby didn’t notice that as well.I turned to Ruby and tried to give her a confident smile to reassure her that ev
Tessa’s POVThe next day“We should send flowers to Miss Peabody. I hear she fell ill.”“Maybe we can get everyone to sign a card as well!”I heard the murmurs of students as I put my things in my locker and I frowned at Ruby who leaned against her own locker, watching as those students walked by.“What’s going on?” I asked her, obviously, I had missed something while I’d been so wrapped up with Joseph.“Miss Peabody is sick. I guess she’s out for the rest of the semester,” Ruby explained.“What?” I gasped. “Who’s going to be teaching her writing course?”Miss Peabody would have been our writing professor if Joseph hadn’t come along and offered his special writing course. Her classroom was right next to his and she’s worked at this school for years. We always joked that she was immortal because she was so old, and retirement was never even a thought that crossed her mind.“I heard there’s a new teacher coming to replace her,” Ruby answered.A new teacher? In the middle of the semester
Tessa’s POV“Emily Thorton?!” Ruby gasped, nearly jumping to her feet in the lunchroom as soon as I told her about my encounter with the new teacher.“Yes,” I said, frowning down at my sandwich. “She just barged into Joseph’s office.”“I can’t believe you met the actual Emily Thorton. You know how much I love her,” Ruby cooed. “She’s my favorite blogger! What’s she like in person? I imagine she’s just as cool in person as she is in her blog.”I thought about the encounter, and I shrugged.“She was okay,” I said, not wanting to admit that she was incredibly cool. Everything was cool about her, even the way she dressed. Not to mention she was beautiful in every way possible. It was no wonder Joseph jumped at the opportunity to walk her to her office despite me being right there.“Just, okay?” Ruby asked, raising her brows. “Or are you just saying that because Joseph kicked you out of his office for her?”“He didn’t kick me out. We were done with our conversation, and she was lost,” I sa
Joseph’s POVIt wasn’t a secret that Tessa was uncomfortable since this afternoon when Emily Thorton barged into my office. She doesn’t have a good poker face and I knew there might have been a little jealousy involved.Tessa was quiet for most of the class, but usually, she jumps at the opportunity to answer my questions and provide her unasked-for input. But in this case, she kept her eyes on her desk and did her assignments quietly without a single peep from her pretty little mouth.I jumped at the opportunity to tease her once we were alone.I wanted her to admit that she was a little jealous. I kept my body pressed against hers and her eyes were fixated on mine.Her breathing had become harsh and the area around her nose and cheeks were completely red.It was cute, I will admit.“So, are you going to tell me what’s been going on with you today?” I asked her again, my eyes drifting down to her lips that she was chewing on violently.“Professor, this is highly inappropriate,” she m
Joseph’s POV“Hello, Professor. I thought maybe we could have lunch together and discuss that book,” Emily said as she entered the classroom.I was only in this classroom for a minute so I could grab some things, I wasn’t really expecting to have lunch with anybody. In fact, I wanted to sleep during the lunch period. But Emily’s large almond eyes stared up at me with such hopefulness that I started to feel guilty that I was shunning her.Though, I wasn’t shunning her purposely. But I knew her being around made Tessa uncomfortable and I didn’t wish for her to feel that way. So, I’ve been aiming to be careful. If Tessa were to see Emily in my classroom right now, I doubt she would be thrilled by it.“I made way too much food and I need someone to share it with,” Emily continued, as she brushed her fingers through her dark mass of hair.“All right,” I finally said after a pause.I grabbed the folder I came to the classroom for and joined her at the doorway. I was hungry and it would have
Tessa’s POVEmily’s laugh echoed throughout the room. She was chuckling at a writer’s joke that Joseph had told the class. In fact, everybody, including Ruby was laughing. But I could only hear Emily’s laugh. Her face lit up and she touched Joseph’s shoulder as she laughed. He didn’t seem to mind it, or at least he didn’t make it known that he minded.I hated that I was feeling this way towards her. Otherwise, I would have been fangirling with the rest of the class. I absolutely loved Emily Thorton’s blog. I read it every day. I was always so eager to hear about her next adventure and see pictures of the world through her eyes.But now all I could see was an attractive girl stealing her claim on Joseph.I wanted to shout to her that he was mine, but that didn’t feel right either. Mainly because he wasn’t mine.Occasionally, Joseph’s eyes were turned in my direction, maybe to see my reaction towards him bonding with Emily right in front of me. I felt sick watching them and as much as I
Tessa’s POVI stopped midbite to look at Joseph who was now eyeing me carefully. His face was so serious and the look he was giving me took my breath away.Was he serious when he said I was the only when he’s been with this lifetime?My heart was pounding rapidly against my chest, and I had to press the palm of my hand to my chest to keep it from exploding right in front of us.He continued to look at me like I was some kind of fascinating science experiment.“I don’t date,” he continued to explain. “I don’t have a lot of free time to do so. It’s complicated explaining to women why I can’t see them during the day. But I’m not here to pursue women, I’m here because I have a job to do. I’m here to stop those new vampires from killing humans and now I’m here to protect you and make sure you aren’t their next victim. I’m also curious about you because you have blood that’s not only attractive to them but also attractive to me. It makes me nearly lose control when I’m around you and that’s