PROFESSOR HIRAM

HIRAM’S POV:

It’s bad enough that I have to wait twenty-nine years for a mate, but to have a human as my mate? That’s the cruelest curse the Moon Goddess could have cast on me. I would question her decision, but it’s not like I’ve ever been one of her favorites.

Rejecting her isn’t even a question. I want to. But I’m not ready to face the pain involved with it. Mainly because I have a class in an hour, and rejection would tear through me like wildfire.

My phone buzzes, dragging me out of my thoughts. It’s the third-year class rep from my class, Juniper Miles.

“I’ve informed them, sir.”

I toss the phone aside, then I throw on my suit and grab my briefcase. Just as I reach for the door of the hotel room, I freeze, reaching for my pocket to see my wallet isn’t with me.

I check the table, but there’s nothing. With a sigh, I yank the half-laid duvet off the bed, and there it is. My wallet tumbles to the floor, but something else falls with it. Something that sends a jolt through me, unlocking the pieces of last night that the alcohol made me forget.

“What have I done?” I mutter.

**

I can’t shake the memory of last night as I drive toward the university. My hands grip the steering wheel as I try to keep my focus on the road. Luckily, I make it to school, but my problems don’t end because as soon as I park, a familiar scent hits me like a punch to the gut.

“She’s here?”

I curse under my breath, but her scent is warm, sweet, and maddening. It wraps around me, flooding my senses with her beautiful face. My body responds instantly, craving her in ways I don’t want to admit.

When I realize myself, I clench my fists, trying to push the thoughts away.

‘Get your shit together, Hiram. It’s your first day,’ I growl inwardly.

But it doesn’t matter. The pull is there, gnawing at me with every breath I take.

I walk into the building, ignoring the stares of admiration from the females and even some males. It’s not unusual. I’m used to it.

The air gets suffocating the further I step into the hallway.

‘This should be a good thing,’ I tell myself. ‘After class, I’ll find her and reject her. Quick and easy.’

Finally, I make it to my class. I push open the classroom door, and that’s when a familiar pair of eyes catches my attention, causing me to freeze in my tracks. The females in the class are already staring, but not her. She’s scribbling in her notebook, but her presence is louder than everyone else’s.

“Fuck me,” I mutter under my breath as our eyes finally lock.

I tear my gaze away and make my way to the pulpit, setting my briefcase down. My heart pounds in my chest, but I force a deep breath before speaking.

“Good morning, class. My name is Hiram. Since today is my first day, it will only be an introductory class, and I will be gone in a few minutes,” I begin. “With that being said, where is the course rep?” I ask, looking at the wall behind me as I try to avoid her eyes. “Juniper Miles,” I call, and she raises her hand.

My brows knit in anger at the fact she gave me a fake name last night.

“Come up here and help me distribute these questions while I teach, will you?” I instruct, watching as she stands up.

My eyes involuntarily follow the curve of her legs, which has her skirt hanging dangerously high on her thighs.

A wave of jealousy burns through each step she takes. The skirt may be appropriate for others, but inappropriate for me, because the males in the class can see her like this, and she is meant for me. She is pure and untouched, just for me. My mate!

‘What is wrong with you, Hiram?’ I question myself.

“Here.” I hand her the tablet, holding it just a moment too long. “You gave me a fake name?” I whisper.

She tilts her head, her lips curving into a smirk. “What’s it to you? It was a one-night stand, remember? Or do you want the entire class to know, Mr. H?” Her words drip with sarcasm, her lips so close I can feel her breath.

My control slips for a moment as I stare at them, and the moment from kissing them floods in. All I can think about is bending her over my desk, spanking her for her disrespect, and fucking that perky mouth of hers, filling her until she learns to speak to me properly.

Fuck! I feel a twitch in my pants.

I let go of the tablet. My jaw clenched, and she saunters back to her seat, swaying her hips like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.

I force a smile for the class.

Clearing my throat, I try to focus, but her thoughts pierce through. This is the disadvantage of mating with a human. I can hear her, but she can’t hear me.

“He looks good, but he’s a total douchebag. I don’t get why they’re all acting like they’ve never seen a male lecturer before.”

Her voice in my head almost makes me chuckle, but then her confusion seeps in.

“Why do I not have any memory of last night?”

‘You’ll never find out, baby girl.’ I say to myself.

Juniper:

It’s surreal—sitting in this classroom, staring at the man I woke up next to only hours ago. He is my professor, and I should concentrate, but my body drifts to earlier this morning. His crisp suit does nothing to hide the memory of his half-naked body, with water dripping down his chest and the contours of his muscles. Fuck, I could run my hands on them all day long.

I shake my head, trying to concentrate, but it’s useless. The image of him, soaked and sexy, burns through my mind, causing my pulse to quicken and heat pooling in my core.

I shouldn’t be thinking about him like this. He is heartless, and HE IS YOUR PROFESSOR, I try to remind myself.

When I finish distributing the assignments, I walk back to the pulpit to return his tablet, my heart pounding louder with every step.

“Why did you give me a wrong name, June?” Hiram’s voice is low, laced with frustration.

I shrug, turning to leave, but he grabs me by the throat. My breath hitches, and before I can protest, his lips crash into mine, and he ravages my mouth in a possessive, ungentle manner that leaves me wanting him more.

His fingers slide up my thighs, pushing beneath my skirt, finding the lace of my panties.

“You’re so fucking wet,” he growls into my mouth, his hands sliding into my panties, gathering the evidence of my arousal. “Wet for me. Only me, June.”

A soft moan escapes my lips, my body arching into his. But then—

“Juniper!”

His voice isn’t a moan anymore. Something is pulled from my hands, and I blink, startled back into reality. The classroom stares at me, and Hiram takes back his tablet.

Fuck. I was daydreaming about having sex with my professor.

“When you’re done eye-fucking me,” Hiram whispers, “you can take your seat.”

“Did she just moan?” I hear Lola Baker, the class mean girl, whisper to someone.

My cheeks burn with embarrassment, and I can’t meet his eyes. I can feel the stares from the class, but I can’t face them either or return to my seat.

“May I use the restroom, please?” I barely get the words out before he nods.

I rush out of the room with my heart pounding against my chest.

The moment I step into the restroom, I press my back against the door, taking in shaky breaths. What is wrong with me? Why can’t I get him out of my head?

I walk to the sink and splash water on my face, hoping the coolness will clear my thoughts. As my thoughts seem to die down, it only intensifies the ache in my neck. I didn’t bother to check it earlier this morning, because I assumed I slept wrongly, plus I was running late to class.

As soon as I lift my hair to check my neck in the mirror, my heart stops.

“ARGH!!” A loud scream involuntarily escapes my mouth…