Page 185 of Wicked Savage Cruel
I hang up and all but run to my last class of the day, my sneakers squeaking as I race down the hallway. My phone buzzes in my hand but I send Mom to voicemail. I’ve talked to her three times already, and she just left for Florida yesterday. I think she’s bored. It’s a long drive and she still has probably a day and a half before she’ll get there, assuming she doesn’t stop to shop along the way.
I chance a look at the clock on my screen.Shit.I’m going to be late. I’m almost to the door when another figure turns the corner on my right and crashes into me.
I drop my bag and my books tumble out onto the floor. My body sways with my momentum, but the stranger reaches out, grabbing me with an iron grip before I land face first on the linoleum. “Ow. Crap.”
“Watch where you’re going,” the guy snaps.
Asshole.I jerk my arm free and ignore him, not bothering to look up. This is just my luck. I drop to the floor to grab my things, conscious of the time as I rush to put everything back in my bag. I’m so screwed. It’s only the second day of school and I’m going to be late to my english class for the second day in a row.
His feet edge closer. Black Beast Mode sneakers come into my line of vision, making me think of the red ones Dominique wears.Urgh, and now I’m thinking about Dominique.
The guy crouches down and retrieves my last book before handing it to me. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. You just came out of nowhere. I’m late to my English class and my professor is known to be a real hardass. I didn’t mean to take you out like that.”
I accept the book, rising to my feet and finally look up at the stranger beside me. Honey-colored eyes framed with dark brows meet mine. I suck in a breath, my heart skipping a beat. I’m taken aback by my response to him, but the longer I stare makes me realize I’m not that surprised.
He’s gorgeous in a devastating way. Medium brown skin, full lips. I wouldn’t say he’s light skinned, but he’s not as dark as Dominique. He’s wearing slim-fitting jeans that are torn in the knees and a long white crew shirt that molds to his body. Add to that the black sneakers and a black ball cap turned backwards and he’s stunning. I’m not sure how else to describe him.
Most of the skin I can see on him is covered in ink. Two forearm sleeves disappear beneath the long sleeves of his shirt that he’s pushed up to his elbows, and he has a cross tattoo on the left side of his neck. A scroll design filled with script on his right.
But despite looking like Kelly Oubre Jr’s doppelganger, there’s something about the way he’s studying me that sets me on edge.
"It's fine. Sorry for slamming into you,” I say.
The corners of his mouth curl into a calculated smirk. He licks his lips and rubs his palms together, almost like a prayer. “Nothing to be sorry about.” His eyes roam over me, sliding down from my face, lingering on my chest, and then returning to my face again.
“Alrighty then.” I move to step around him but he mirrors my steps, effectively blocking me.
What is he doing?
“You have Fisks for English 101, right? I saw you in the back the other day.” His eyes rake me over in appreciation once again. He’s not even trying to hide his interest.
Normally, I’d be flattered, but right now I just want to get to class.
“Um. Yeah." I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear and try to ignore the way my stomach clenches. “So you know, gotta run.”
I try to go around him again but his hand shoots out, gripping my forearm. “Hold up,” his voice pitches low and his eyes lock onto mine.
Mine widen, a flash of trepidation slamming into me before I shove it aside. I don’t know who this guy thinks he is, but he can’t just grab me. I tug on my arm, but unlike the first time, he doesn’t release me. His fingers flex, his grip tightening as his penetrating stare bores into me. Something dark and dangerous seeps into his expression and tension bleeds into the air.
I swallow hard. My gaze darts around us, taking in the empty hallway. Classes started almost over five minutes ago, so it’s just the two of us in the halls.
He must pick up on my anxiety because all of a sudden the dark look on his face is gone, replaced with an easy carefree grin. “Safety in numbers, right? Come on." Not giving me a chance to respond he gives me a conspiratorial wink and pulls me the rest of the way to our class, his hand wrapped around me though they’ve slipped down, his fingers encircling my wrist.
The door to our class is already closed but he quietly inches it open and peers inside.
"How’s it look?" I ask, trying to dispel some of the tension still thick between us. I attempt to peer over his shoulder, but he's nearly a foot taller than me so I can’t see much.
He turns to look at me, giving me another smile, and I realize he’s young. Probably a freshman like me since we’re in the same English class. He still has some softness to his face, though that looks like the only place you would find any. His shoulders are broad, his waist narrow and his arms are corded with muscle. Between the body, the arrogance, and the shoes, I'm betting he's an athlete, and since Beast Mode Gear is owned by a former NFL player, I’ll assume he’s on the football team.
"Come on," he whispers, tugging me through the door with him. He adjusts his hold again, this time capturing my hand with his. I stare at our laced fingers with a frown, but allow him to lead me inside so as not to disturb the class.
Fisks is at the whiteboard, his back to us as he writes today's assignment on the board. We get a few interested looks from other students as we make our way to the empty seats in the back, my hand still locked in his as he raises his finger to his lips, the universal sign to be quiet. A few students nod and grin before turning their attention back to the front of the class.
Once safely in our seats, he releases me and I expel a relieved breath right as our professor turns around to face the class. His gaze lands on me and he frowns but doesn't comment, continuing with his lecture.
"That was a close one," the guy who crashed into me says.
I bite my bottom lip and nod. Pulling out my notebook so I can take notes on today's lecture, I do my best to block out our strange encounter, hoping that's the end of it.
