Sure, Malia might have smelled like a night of bad decisions and look like death warmed over by the microwave, but she was really happy. Tanashi Corp. was the best possible placement she could hope for. Working very specifically with their fellow would be an amazing opportunity, so she was not going to ruin this. Present look and smell notwithstanding.

When she joined her group, Becky gave her a full once-over and then casually stuck her finger under her nose as if blocking an offending smell. What really irritated Malia though was the way she muttered, "Look what the cat dragged in."

The guys in the group were kinder. They gave her small smiles as if to say, 'Hey, please don't embarrass us.' Well, like it or not, she was part of the team and damn good. She knew the class standings in their department. She knew what each was capable of. She didn't need their personal opinions of her. The only person's opinion that mattered, well, that was a different issue. No other option but to face him head-on.

Zephyr smiled tightly at the group, resolutely ignoring her. "Now that we're all here, let me say welcome." Not once did he glance in her direction. "Please understand that I hand selected each and every one of you to be part of my project group because your portfolios were outstanding. I'm looking forward to the work that we can do together. And let's not forget the stakes here. We are a team, but top of the class gets a Tanashi internship. That comes complete with housing for the duration, a stipend, and the best experience you could ever have. So what do you say we get started with you guys exchanging phone numbers and email addresses? We’re going to be spending a lot of time together in the next several months."

Oh yeah. Like Malia needed that reminder.

"Mr. Donovan?" Becky raised her hand.

Zephyr shook his head. "Just call me Zephyr …"

She nodded. "Okay. Zephyr," she practically oozed. "Should we go ahead and get everyone's home address as well? After all, we might be doing group meetings."

And just like that Malia's heart sank. That was the last thing on earth she needed. Luckily she had a handy lie.

"I actually live out in Monroeville so my place is not the best option."

To her surprise, Zephyr came to the rescue. "Yeah, you can keep your addresses to yourselves. Privacy and all that. Since I live in a Tanashi-sponsored apartment, any non-library study groups should happen at my place."

Thank the good lord, and Buddha, and all their friends. She breathed a sigh of relief. The noose loosened a little bit and relief washed through her, starting at the center of the chest and then flowing to the rest of her body. While the others were busy scrawling their names, Zephyr inclined his head and pulled her aside, guiding her by her elbow.

Her heart rate ticked up as she caught a whiff of him. The next thing she noticed was how warm his hand was. He was only touching her elbow but that touch only reminded her of where else she wanted his touch. There was something solid and safe about him. But she was going to ignore that. Because when one was in survival mode, one did not think with one's vajayjay. "What's up?" she muttered as they stood along the far wall.

Zephyr tucked his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels before meeting her gaze. "Eva—Sorry, Malia. Listen. This project is a big deal. This course is a big deal. I'm going to need everyone to bring their A game. If there's some reason you think maybe you can't handle that, now is the time to let me know. There is still time to drop the class if you need to."

She blinked at him even as she caught his subtle rebuke over the fake name she'd given him. But this was more than that. This wasn’t even about the kiss. He thought she couldn't do this, couldn't hack the class. What in the ever loving hell? Was he seriously trying to get her out of his group now? Not that you can blame him. No, she couldn't. It wasn't like she would have made out with him if she'd known he was her mentor. That kiss had just happened. As had the resulting kissgasm. If he could get her off with a kiss, what the hell could he do—No. Not going to go there.

And in all honesty, if she were in his shoes, she'd be scrambling too. But he had no right. "Can I ask why you're even having this conversation with me? Is it something I missed in the thirty seconds from when I walked while other people were still looking for their groups?"

His lips flattened into a thin line even as some of his blatant self-assuredness waned a little. Leaning closer, he lowered his voice. "No. I just— After last night--and there's no real delicate way to put this, but you said it yourself; your life appears … complicated. Not to mention you're in the same clothes I saw you in last night and you sort of smell like the bar. If you're not ready to take this course seriously …"

Malia ground her teeth together. He was not taking this away from her. So what if she was in the same clothes? So what if she smelled like a bar? It was none of his business. She was good enough to kiss but not good enough to give the benefit of the doubt?

All that mattered was her ability to work. He wanted her to quit. He wanted her to walk away. He wanted her to drop the class. All so he would be more comfortable. The hell she would.

She tilted her chin up and met his gaze. "Mr. Donovan—“,He shook his head. "I told you. Zephyr."

She didn't even bother listening to his correction. "Mr. Donovan, can I ask you something? When you were making your team selections, as the Tanashi fellow you got to pick first in the rounds of selection, right?"

He frowned and narrowed his eyes. "Yes. What does that have to do with anything?"

"And, you managed the cream of the crop. The best marketing, best accounting, right?"

He gave her a stiff nod. "Yeah."

"Okay good. At least we know you're not a complete idiot. So when you were making your selections I'm sure you looked at class rankings, right?"

He nodded again.

"Great. We're on the same page. Now would you remind me who was at the top of the class?"

This time he flushed red. "Malia Adams," he murmured.

She nodded. "You know it's weird. You didn't say that clearly enough for my liking. Who was at the top of the class?"

His gaze narrowed. "You were."

"That's right. I am at the top of the class. And at the top of most of my classes. So I am not the student you need to worry about, the student whose work you have to double check, or the one you’ll need to push along. And I resent the fact that you think you can get me to drop the class because I make you uncomfortable. I would even garner a guess as to why that might be. But let's understand each other. You are meant to be my mentor. If you don't think that you can handle the job, I'm sure I can get reassigned to another group that would be more than happy to have me. I want this opportunity. You're the Tanashi fellow, so I could probably learn a lot from you. If you don't want to teach me, let me know now so I can find someone who does."

When she finished she was shaking. She'd deliberately clasped her hands behind her so that he wouldn't see it. But she made it a point to hold his gaze. Do not back down. You cannot look away. Make him look away. Make him apologize, make him feel ashamed.

She wasn't going to bow down. She wasn’t going to back away. This class, the prize at the end, it was hers to lose. And it would mean the difference in her life. And this guy wasn’t going to chase her off.

Zephyr gave her a clipped nod. "You're right. My bad. I had no—"

Malia shook her head. "No, you didn't." She didn’t let him finish. Instead, she walked over to her group and deliberately sat down as far away from him as possible. For the rest of the class, she kept her gaze away from his. Zephyr Donovan was an asshole. An asshole who could kiss.

* * *

As soon as class let out, Zephyr ran after Malia who took the stairs two at a time. He had to weave through students and found her practically jogging down the steps of the student center. “Malia, wait.”

She looked back and their gazes collided, but she didn’t stop. Instead, she made a sharp left into the shadows under the overhang that led toward the library. He caught up to her easily. “Jesus, wait up.”

“Why?”

“I just want to talk to you.”

“Oh, are you going to be the sweet flirtatious guy from the faculty function, or are you going to be an asshole? I really would like to know before, you know, I get my hopes up.”

Zephyr ran his hands through his hair. “I’m sorry, okay? You walked in and it was a surprise. I didn’t mean to be a dick.”

Malia tipped up her chin to glare at him. “Yes, you did. What exactly did you mean by ‘Will I be able to handle the class?’”

Shit! The moment she tossed his words back up at him, he regretted them all over again. “Look, it was the wrong thing to say. But you said yourself, your shit is complicated.”

“My shit is complicated, so I don’t date. It doesn’t mean I can’t do my work. I’m top of the class. So your douchebaggery is not necessary.”

Zephyr tossed his head back. “Jesus Christ woman. I’m sorry, okay? Are you happy now?”

“I’ll be happier when you mean it.” She stormed off again, and he followed her.

“Jesus! I just—”

She turned. “What? What do you want from me?”

“I don’t know. Fuck!” Several students walked by and gave them quizzical glances as if trying to assess what they were fighting about. He lowered his voice. “Just—I obviously didn’t know who you were when I kissed you.”

She rolled her eyes. “You think? We’re just going to go ahead and forget that ever happened.”

“Fine by me. That works. I just—“

She whirled back on him and planted her hands on his chest. She attempted to give him a shove. He didn’t budge. She frowned. He tried to resist the urge to smirk, but there it was anyway. His gaze flicked down to her lips. Jesus man! You’re a glutton for punishment.

“What do you want?”

“If I’d known who you were, if you hadn’t given me a fake name, maybe I would have had some clue and I would never have kissed you. That’s way off-limits.”

She huffed, barely containing a chuckle. “Oh my God! You’re an even bigger douche bag than I thought. So, you ran after me hoping and praying I don’t tell someone that you've had your hands on my ass and your tongue in my mouth?”

Fuck, that imagery came back to taunt him. “You know full well it's not like that.”

“Oh yeah? Then what is it like?”

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to calm the swirling emotions. Why did this girl push his buttons? And did he want to push hers? It was bad enough when she was just some girl on campus that he'd kissed. He already had his own reasons for treading lightly. But now, she was his student and that was a problem. Because you want more. “I’m not being a douche. I’m just trying to protect both of our careers here.”

“No, asshole, you’re trying to protect your career.”

Shit. “Fuck, yes, but also yours. Like you said, you’re top of the class, okay? Let’s just both forget last night ever happened and we’ll move on from there."

She narrowed her gaze. “Perfect. I want to forget you ever touched me anyway.”

“Are you sure you mean that?”

“Screw you. But I promise, I won’t tell anyone that we kissed. I'd rather erase it from my memory too. Happy? I’m late for work.”

Shit that stung. It was what he needed. But the irrational part of him wanted to prove her wrong. He wanted to say, ‘I’m sorry. This fucking sucks that you’re my student. But hey, I still want to know if you'll melt on my tongue.' But he wasn't that stupid.

"Fine. See you in class."

Even as his brain told him that it was for the best, his dick argued wholeheartedly.