makes sense. You seem like the professor type.” She tipped her head down just slightly and batted eyelashes long enough to be illegal in at least a few dozen states as she wrapped her dainty hand around his.
He really liked the way that felt. A wave of warmth washed over him. Heat settled low, below his belt. “I thought I was the priest type,” he teased, adoring the way her face lit up whenever she had a light-bulb moment. He could practically see the bulb blinking over her head.
“I’m not too proud to admit I made a mistake. You definitely fit the professor image more than the priest. It’s your eyes. And my name’s Sophie. Sophie Hahn. It’s nice to meet you.” She gave his hand a single pump up and down and then wiggled her fingers until he released her hand.
“Sophie,” he repeated. “I tell you what, why don’t we share this book? We can go sit at a desk over there”—he motioned toward a row of tables in a quiet corner—“and read over the material together.”
“Wow. That sounds great but…” She checked her wristwatch and frowned. “I’ve got to get back to the office. My lunch hour’s just about over. Maybe we can meet somewhere later tonight?”
“I have an introduction to biology class tonight from six to eight-thirty.”
“Poop. I don’t get off until six. What if I meet you at your classroom at eight-thirty? Would that be okay? I’ll need directions. I’ve never been on Midwestern’s campus.”
“Sure. That’ll be perfect.” He checked his pockets for something to write with but he knew he didn’t have anything. Empty-handed, he motioned toward her purse, hanging from her shoulder. “Do you have something to write with?”
“Oh. Yes. I suppose that would help.” She dug through the contents of her purse until she produced an envelope from an electric bill and a pen with a chewed-up cap. “Please ignore the mangled cap. My boss eats all my pens.” She handed them to him.
“Not a problem.” He set the book on his bent knee and used it as a makeshift desk as he wrote the directions on the envelope. “I’ll see you later, then. Maybe we can get some coffee?” He handed the envelope and pen back to her. His fingers brushed hers and another wave of warmth spread through his body, leaving ripples of wanting in its wake.
“I’m not much of a coffee drinker, especially at night. I’d be up all night long if I drank even half a cup.” She smiled.
He swallowed a goofy sigh. That was one killer smile. He wondered if she knew how deadly it was to a guy. His lower parts ached, and his teeth ached from gritting against the other ache. He was just an overall aching mess. “Fair enough.” He stood there, book in hand, feeling awkward and self-conscious and very, very horny. The horny part didn’t surprise him but the awkward and self-conscious part did. He’d had more than his share of women in his bed. Why did this one make him feel so flustered and unsure? It wasn’t like she’d done anything to make him feel that way. Chatty, friendly, and cute, she hardly gave a superior air. Yet when she looked at him with those golden-brown eyes, he squirmed like a kindergartner in church.
He hoped by tonight he’d be back to his cool, composed self. More than that, he hoped he could keep his true nature from her for just a little longer. She needed more time yet. More time to accept the impossible.
Chapter 3
After work, Sophie made a quick stop at Dao’s house. Lisse answered the door, shooing her away by telling her Dao was sleeping but had a doctor’s appointment in the morning. Sophie wasn’t sure if she believed her, but at the moment she was willing to trust Lisse was telling the truth.
She hurried home, picked at a Lean Cuisine, and freshened up, changing into a comfy pair of jeans and white top that showed off the hint of an early summer tan. She slid on a pair of high-heeled mules to make her stumpy legs look a little longer and headed out to the campus.
It had been a while since she’d been on a college campus, eight years to be exact. But she still remembered the feeling of being a student, racing across campus to make her next class, cramming for exams, going to parties in cramped dorm rooms. The memories made her smile. The parking situation, however, didn’t.
She found Adams Hall without a problem. A three-story structure of glass and steel, it sat in the middle of a circle of similar buildings. The shared parking lot was at least a couple of football field lengths away. And crammed to capacity. Sure, if she’d waited until after eight-thirty to arrive, it probably would’ve been empty, but Sophie had to admit she was so anxious to see the good-looking professor—for a number of reasons—she hadn’t wanted to wait. As a result, she was twenty minutes early and forced to search the back fifty for an empty spot.
After she found one, a tight spot between two mammoth SUVs, she parked her subcompact, did a final hair and make-up check, and then hurried toward the building. About halfway across the parking lot, the sky opened and half an ocean—or so it seemed—dumped from the clouds in the kind of torrent Michigan is apt to see in early summer. Within seconds, she was drenched to the skin and the victim of a nasty case of goose bumps. If only she’d thought to bring an umbrella!
She briefly considered turning around and heading home, but as she stood, dripping, just inside the doorway, Ric’s smooth, deep voice coming from a classroom close by inspired her to cast that notion aside.
So what if she was a tiny bit wet and her shoes made obscene noises when she walked? A little water never hurt anyone. For all she knew, Dao was near death, being Lisse’s primary food source. She owed it to him to buck up and do what she must to find him some help, whether it was from a more traditional source or nontraditional.
If a professor of science at a university believed in a lamia, who was she to question it? A guy with the initials PhD after his name had to know more than she did, with her BA.
Sophie stood outside of room 103 and listened as he answered a couple of last-minute questions about the next day’s assignment. Then she heard the telltale sounds of zillions of shuffling feet as the attendees headed for the door. Feeling out of place, she stood like a sentry outside the door, waiting for the last few stragglers to leave before she ventured inside. The curious stares she was gathering by students as they wandered past made her nervous and uncomfortable on top of cold. All in all, within seconds she was so miserable, she was ready to make a hasty exit. Maybe she could borrow a copy of that book from another library.
She did an about-face and took a step down the hall.
“There you are…oh. Is that you, Sophie?” she heard Ric say behind her.
Too late. Oh well. Gathering what remained of her dignity, she pasted on a smile and turned around. “Yes. It’s me. I was just waiting for your students to clear out before I came in.” A huge droplet of water dripped from her bangs and landed on the bridge of her nose. Following the law of gravity, it slid down to the tip and hung there.
Ric’s gaze followed its path until she swiped the stupid thing away.
Within a heartbeat, she was wishing she had a second water droplet to distract him.
His warm gaze wandered lower, following the line of her neck to her shoulders. It dropped about four inches lower, then didn’t budge. All it took was a quick glance down to see why. The torrent in the parking lot had made her formerly cute white shirt absolutely obscene. It was almost completely translucent now. The lines of her bra showed crystal clear, and even more disturbing, two pink nipples poked at the fabric.
“Oh
