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Davin
He tapped his red pen on the edge of the paper, considering. B+ or A-? Savannah Peterson was one of his top students. Also one who didn’t push herself to her full potential. He knew she could do better. And if she wanted an A in his class, she needed that motivation. That push.
Davin scribbled a B+ and grinned. She’d flash that dagger glare at him from her seat at the front, arms folded across her taut breasts. He couldn’t help but notice them—or her—as she was one of the most striking students he’d ever had.
And one of the feistiest. She challenged him at every turn, almost as if she was trying to prove him wrong. She knew a lot about the literature, but he knew more.
When his students filed in and he spotted her, he bit back a smile and prepared himself for a fight. Savannah never missed the chance to argue with a grade.
He returned the papers one by one, putting them face down in front of each student. When he reached her, he tapped the back of the paper. “Almost.”
She snatched the paper up, eyes scanning for the grade, and then gritted her teeth. He moved on before she could argue, unable to hold back the chuckle this time. A few other students around her laughed, used to their arguing.
Savannah had been his class all year and she was this close to achieving the top grade. The other students knew it.
Davin returned to the front of the class and began today’s lecture. He did his best to keep his eyes from Savannah, even though she looked amazing all fired up like that. He turned away from her. She was a student. He wasn’t supposed to be thinking of her like that.
With a sigh, Davin finished the lecture and put Savannah out of his mind.
<><><>
He had office hours that afternoon, but no student meetings. That was a first. Usually he had a full afternoon.
Davin returned a few emails, grabbed a soda from the refrigerator next to his desk, wishing for a beer instead, and checked the time. Only an hour until the end of the day and he could take it easy. Have that beer.
“Professor Holmes.”
His gaze whipped to the door, and he couldn’t help his body’s instant reaction to seeing her. “Ms. Peterson.”
She folded her arms, just like he’d imagined earlier, and speared him with her gaze. “I don’t have an appointment.”
He chuckled. “I’m well aware of that. I have some time if you need to talk.”
Which he knew she would. He’d almost expected it. She’d either argue in class or set up office hours. But it was the end of the week, and she hadn’t had time for either. He had no doubt she’d want to get this dealt with before the weekend.
She stepped into the room, the paper from earlier clenched in her hand instead of in the messenger bag slung over her shoulder. She set it on his desk. “I deserved an A.”
“You got the highest grade in the class.”
“And I deserved higher.”
Davin sighed and gestured to the chair across from his. “Have a seat.”
She arched a brow, looking like she might argue with that as well, but she finally sat.
“I can see the work you put into the paper,” Davin said, folding his hands on the desk, “but I know you’ve got more in you. You’re one of the brightest students in class, and I feel like if you pushed yourself a little harder—”
“I’m sorry for interrupting, Professor Holmes, but you have no idea how hard I’m pushing myself.”
He leaned back in his chair and tried to read the expression on her face. She looked upset, sure, and argumentative like always, but there was something else. Weariness, maybe.
“I see what you offer in class. I know there’s more.”
Her jaw clenched. “I deserved an A.”
“Prove it.”
“Excuse me?”
He nearly chuckled at the surprise in her eyes. “I’ll let you rewrite the paper. Put that extra something in it—what I always see from you in class. And I’ll consider raising your grade to an A.”
“An A+.”
This time, he did laugh. He dipped his head in a nod. “All right. An A+.”
“Good.” She stood, snatched her paper back, and shoved it into her bag. “I’ll have it to you next week.”
“By Wednesday,” he said, standing as well. She looked tired, and part of him felt bad. If the extra few days helped, he didn’t mind. He wanted her to have that A+ as much as she wanted it.
“Deal.” She held her hand out.
He reached across the desk to shake it. Her fingers were long and smooth, cool. Part of him wanted to linger, to ask her about herself. About what she was going through. About why her eyes looked like she hadn’t gotten much sleep. Run his fingers up the inside of her wrist…
But he pulled back like he was supposed to. “Have a good weekend.”
“You too.”
He watched her exit the office, his chest tight. Damn. If Savannah wasn’t a student…if she didn’t glare at him every single time she saw him…He laughed. Or maybe even if she did.
Savannah seemed like the kind of woman who could handle herself. He could only imagine what she’d be like outside the classroom. What she’d be like in bed.
Davin grunted and sat down, trying to get his dick to cooperate. It seemed like every time he was around he couldn’t control himself. She challenged him mentally, which was already enough of a turn-on, but he was fairly certain she’d challenge him physically as well and that made him so fucking hot, he couldn’t stand it.
Good thing the semester was almost over. Then Savannah would be out of his class and out of his life.
He just couldn’t decide whether that would make him feel better or worse.