I make a move to step around him, but he stops me with a hand on my shoulder. He's right up in my personal space, or maybe I'm in his. I don't know, but he's close enough for me to feel his breath stirring baby hairs all around my face. His gaze scans back and forth across my face like he's looking for something, but I don't know what. All I know is that the urge to reach up and brush his hair away from his forehead is so strong I have to clench my fists to keep myself from doing it.
My skin feels different, strange. Like little flames lick at it from a thousand different directions. The feeling only deepens when he dips his head toward mine. He drops his hand from my shoulder, his fingertips trailing all the way down my arm. They leave a trail of goosebumps in their wake, but I'm not cold.
"I want you in my office first thing in the morning," he murmurs. His lips are inches from mine. So close all it would take to the close the distance would be for me to tilt my head back the tiniest bit. "Don't forget, little owl."
Do I want him to kiss me? Oh God, I think I do. This is bad.
"I…I won't," I promise, my whole body trembling.
He doesn't respond for a long moment and then he makes another little sound in the back of his throat. It's half impatient, half grunt…sexy as hell. His lashes flutter, his eyes falling closed. He moves closer.
I whimper in the back of my throat.
Hs phone rings again, blaring into the tiny space between us like a loudspeaker.
I jump, startled.
"Fuck," Dr. Thorne growls.
"You can't say that at school," I whisper.
"Says who?"
"The rules."
"I make the rules, Rowan."
"Oh." I guess he does.
He chuckles again, and then he touches my cheek with the back of his hand.
"See you at seven," he says, stepping away from me.
I stumble before I catch myself.
He smiles at me, the heat in his eyes stealing my breath.
I stand there, watching as he strolls across the hall toward Johnson's office, his phone at his ear. He turns back to look at me once. My stomach flutters. So does my heart. His full lips curve into that smile that sets my blood on fire. I feel my own smile spreading without my permission.
The door swings closed, hiding him from view.
"This is so not good," I whisper to myself, pressing my hands to my overheated cheeks.