hum of students changing classes had faded, replaced by th

as palpable. His fists were shoved deep into his varsity

throwing out worst-case scenarios. Had someone seen me leaving his house yesterday? Had Miller opene

ry didn't even make us wait. She just pointed a ster

and holding it for me with a sudden, tense

ith state championship trophies. Sitting in the corner of the room, looking exceptionally smug

ter who basically funded the ent

Vance sighed, gesturing to the two

side me, crossing one heavy leg over the other, trying to look complet

of your position as the head of the peer tutoring committee, and as the top studen

" I said plainly, n

dry chuckle. "D-minus isn't faili

ather boomed from the corner, slamming his hand down onto a side table. "You are one bad grade away fro

d at me like a tool. "I looked at your file, young lady. You want to go to an Ivy League school, but your

ow do you know about m

. He laid it on the principal's desk. "Here is the deal. You will not just be Asher's classroom partner. You will be his personal, mandatory academic handler

hest. "And if I refuse, sir? I have my own life, Mr.

ill ensure the board reviews the scholarship nominations. There are plenty of qualified student

ich man using his power to s

hem see me cry. I opened my mouth to tell him exactly where he could shove his scholarship, but

Asher growled, his v

sher," his f

filled my vision, his broad back a wall between me and the sharks in the room. "You don't come into my school and threaten my partner. You wa

tared at his son, his eyes narrowing in complete shock. Asher had never defied his fat

line, boy," Mr.

ountry club is over," Asher countered, his voice dripping with venom. He turned around, gr

d even protest. We burst through the heavy glass doors in

's closets were. He spun me around, pinning me against the brick wall, his hands resting on either sid

he demanded, h

d. "Your father just threatened my entire future

ing me completely in his heat. His gaze dropped to my trembling lips, a fierce, obsessive darkness taking over his

, let

ed his head, his sharp jawline brushing against my cheek as his breath coated my ear. "If I l

ng vulnerability in his voice, the heavy fire

idor, his footsteps approaching fast. "You in

vulnerability vanished, replaced ins

waist tightened, pulling my hips flush against his as