"I've missed this," Mia says, drawing my attention to her over the rack we're both sorting through.I smirk. "Don't pretend like you haven't been to Bloomingdale's countless times since I've been at the academy."There's no way Mia can stay away that long. She's a shopping addict."No, but it's not the same without you."I roll my eyes. "Shopping is shopping. Don't you get fed up with my moaning?"She shakes her head. "It adds to the enjoyment."Mia can shop for hours, and it drives me insane. I enjoy shopping, but when it goes on almost all day, it exhausts me.A prickle of awareness skates down my spine as if someone is watching me. I've felt it for a while now, ever since I left the changing room. I scan the room, checking no one is watching me.For a second I think I see some dart out of sight, but shake my head. Clearly, I'm hallucinating because I'm starving."When are we going to get food?" I whine.Mia laughs. "You eat too much. We had a massive stack of pancakes for breakfast
Mia elbows me as I am drifting off while watching our favorite movie, When Harry Met Sally. "Wake up."It's been a tough first week of Spring Break, finding out our father has stage four cancer, on top of me waiting and hoping that Blaine might break his own stupid rules and text me. I've not been sleeping very well at all.It all started okay until Massimo broke the news the evening we returned from our shopping trip."Sorry, I'm exhausted."Mia shakes her head. "It's only nine o'clock. What's up with you?"I shrug. "I've not been sleeping very well after finding out about Father."Mia's expression softens. "Right, sorry. I always sleep like the dead, no matter what's going on in my life."I snort. "I know you're ridiculously lucky.""Is that all that's bothering you?"I nod in response, as I have no intention of talking about Blaine with her again. It was awkward enough when I told her, but the fact she's fallen for Killian Callaghan, an enemy of our family, gave me the guts to tell
It's hard to believe how fast Spring Break went, as I open my locker and pull out my books for Anatomy class. My stomach is a mess of nerves because I'm about to see Blaine for the first time in two weeks, and I'm angry with him, even though I know I don't have any right to be.He made it clear before anything started between us that this was sex only. I shouldn't have hoped that he might have changed his mind and text me or called me.I jump as someone places their hands on my shoulders suddenly from behind. "Have you heard who the new math professor is?" Nat asks, smirking at me.I shake my head. "No, I haven't. Who is it?"Her expression turns a little concerned. "You're going to flip out.""Who is it?""Your brother, Luca.""What?" I ask, shaking my head. "Impossible. If my brother was coming to work here after spring break, he would have told me."Nat arches a brow. "Then who is that?" She nods down the corridor and my stomach dips when I see Luca walking down the corridor in a s
"Are you alright?" Nat asks, frowning at me."Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"She shakes her head. "You just look a little pale."I shrug. "Perhaps it has something to do with my fucking brother being a professor here," I lie.She nods. "Fair enough."We both step into the classroom barely a second before the bell rings, rushing to our seats at the front quickly.I feel Blaine's eyes on me, but I don't look at him. The man is an asshole for not contacting me for two weeks, and I won't be the one to make first contact after that.Eva is already sitting in her spot. "You both left that close," she whispers.Nat shrugs. "We were talking to Luca, Azira's brother. He's the temporary math professor."Eva's brow raises. "How come you didn't tell us?"I clench my jaw. "Because until five minutes ago, I didn't even know."The slam of a ruler against my desk makes me jump and I glance up to see those hazel eyes staring at me."Silence, Sidorov. You made it here with barely a second to spare and now y
The rest of the students filter out of the room and I watch them, keeping my attention anywhere but on Blaine. Eva slips out of the room and shuts the door behind her and the tension increases, swirling around me like a thick cloud of smoke.I keep my eyes anywhere but on Blaine, even as I feel his attention on me, burning a hole through me."What do you have to say for yourself, Miss Sidorov?"I clench my jaw. "Nothing, sir." I rake my fingers through my hair. "I'm not entirely sure why I'm being punished when Natalya was as late as me and talking as well."He stands suddenly and walks over to my table slowly, a predatory look on his face. "Because after two weeks apart, I am ready to devour you whole, malishka."I straighten. "Perhaps I don't want to be devoured."He shakes his head and continues to advance toward my desk. "I don't believe that for a second.""Well, you should." I raise my chin and look him in the eye. "I've got no time for someone who can't be bothered to contact m
I feel off balance after my encounter with Azira. It didn't exactly go how I'd pictured. I caved and gave her my cell phone number after we had sex, which means I have to speak to her outside of our sexual encounters. Something I've been trying to avoid.My cell phone buzzes.Azira: What are you up to?I stow it back into my jacket pocket and push open the door to the staff room. An unsettled feeling clawing at my gut, as I knew she'd start texting me. Instantly, I feel rage slam into me when I see Luca Sidorov is sitting in my spot.When he spots me, he gives me a smug smirk that only heightens my rage."Good afternoon, Professor Luigi." He stands. "Or should I say Blaine? I must admit, I never imagined the day I'd be your colleague."I narrow my eyes at him. "Neither did I, considering how much you flaunted the rules while you attended here."His smirk widens. "Yes, but unlike most, I didn't cower in the face of your punishments, and it drove you crazy." He sits back down, crossing
The bell rings, signaling the end of the day and, like clockwork, Azira appears in the doorway of my office. Her eyes blazing with desire. I text her to meet me here after class, as I gave her my number but didn't set out any rules."Have a seat, Miss Sidorov."She swallows hard and then shuts my office door behind her, before taking a seat opposite me. "Am I in trouble, sir?" Her voice is seductive and I know she thinks I've called her here for a repeat of what happened in the classroom this morning."I want to establish some ground rules."Her expression falters at the serious tone of my voice. "Oh, what kind of rules?""Rules concerning you having my cell number."Her lips purse together and I can tell she's getting ready to argue. "No texting during the school day, and only minimal texting at all." I grimace. "I hate texting."She crosses her arms over her chest and glares at me. "That's ridiculous.""Are you questioning my rules?" I arch a brow. "As I won't hesitate to change my
As the weeks pass by, I feel the clawing sensation at my gut, warning me that Azira is going to graduate soon.It's driving me crazy that I even care. Five weeks until school is out and I never see her again.I run a hand through my hair, knowing that it is for the best.She's been more withdrawn ever since she came back from her sister's second wedding.Two weeks before, she went to Mia's arranged wedding, but Mia was kidnapped by Killian Callaghan, the man she really loves, half an hour before.Somehow, the Sidorov family and the Callaghan family have come to some kind of agreement for Mia to marry Killian. I was shocked, to be honest, as they've been at war for years. The union should bring some stability to the city, at least, that's the hope.The desire to spend every possible moment with Azira is making me feel a little insane. After all, I've never craved a person's company the way I crave hers.After the talk we had in my office when I comforted her over her father's illness,