"What's your name?" I ask as the woman grabs a towel and hangs it on a rack outside the shower door.
"It doesn't matter. Now hustle." She makes an irritated face, her patience practically gone.
"Well, I want to know," I say, crossing my arms.
She blows out an exasperated breath. "Stubborn child," she says, and then adds, "Call me Ms. Catherine if you have to call me anything at all."
I can't help the smile that forms on my mouth. "Thank you, Ms. Catherine."
She rolls her eyes. "Five minutes," she says and exits the bathroom.
My shower is better than I want to admit. There's a glorious amount of water pressure, something my apartment struggles to provide. Guilt and pleasure are my constant companion as I quickly wash. Finished, I force myself to shut off the water and grab the towel, drying my body.
Ms. Catherine returns with clothes in her hands. "Get dressed." She keeps her eyes averted as she places the attire on the counter across from the double sinks. "Your shoes and socks are at the foot of your bed."
Before I can respond, she's gone again.
I put on a white bra and undies, followed by a white button-up shirt. Above the left pocket is an emblem with golden wings jutting from either side. In the center are the letters NA. I'm gathering they stand for Nephilim Academy. The skirt is plaid and hits just above my kneecap.
How cliché, I think, studying my reflection. There are hints of shadows beneath my eyes, or maybe it's just the light. Either way, it doesn't matter.
I run a brush through my long, wet hair and open drawers, searching for something to tie it back. Instead, I find a blow dryer and swiftly use it to get my hair most of the way dry. Back in the bedroom, I see a backpack sitting on the edge of the bed and shoes and socks below it.
The socks are white, and I slide them on, but the shoes? "These are stupid," I hiss, loosening the laces. They are black and white. Oxfords, I think they're called.
I finish as Ms. Catherine enters my room without knocking.
"Oh, good. You're done. Let's go." She holds open the door.
I hesitate because so much has happened. For one thing, I'm fucking alive, and I have wings. And why in the hell am I doing what this woman says? I don't belong here. And I sure as hell don't want to be here. My eyes flick to the enormous stained-glass window on the opposite side of the room.
"Go ahead," Ms. Catherine says, a smug look puffing her shallow cheeks. "Run. That'll be the highlight of my day. And I'll be in the front row when you're melded."
I still have no clue what melded means, but it must not be good. "That's only if they catch me," I respond and think of my wings. They pop out through the slits in the back of my shirt, like twin feathery shadows, and then ruffle against my spine.
Her hands return to her hips. "Oh, they'll catch you all right. No question. And when they do, they'll punish you."
"But why? I didn't agree to this." School never was my favorite. Why would I want to go back? And to an angel academy? Not fucking likely.
I step toward the window, my legs deciding for me.
"You're an angel, Mira. This is where you belong. Don't you want to learn about your heritage? Your abilities?" she asks, exasperated. "Don't you want to be a part of our society?"
Before I can respond with a concise, hell no, Jesse enters the room, looking hotter than sin in a white button-up precisely like mine. Though thankfully, he's wearing navy pants instead of a plaid skirt. The tie dangling down the front of his chest is plaid. His wings aren't visible, and I send mine away too.
Even in the awful clothes, Jesse makes my knees go weak, and I think back to our shower and the magnificent orgasm he gave me. A needy shudder causes my skin to prickle.
"I'll take it from here, Catherine," he says, his voice causing my heart to race.
She jumps at the sight of him, clutching non-existent pearls at her throat. "Jesse. I-uh-didn't hear you come in. Her cheeks redden.
Even uptight, Ms. Catherine can't help but notice the gorgeousness of the archangel standing so near her.
I'm actually jealous of their proximity to each other.
"Apologies, Catherine. "Jesse gives her a spectacular smile.
"Oh, well, it's fine. I'm happy to help," she titters lightly, then looks down at her shoes. "Anything else you need, just let me know." Her gaze returns to Jesse's.
His smile broadens. "I will."
Catherine hesitates a moment and then takes off.
Jesse steps further into the room and closes the door behind him. "Now, then. Don't you look nice," he says, appraising me.
My lips tremor, and I'm instantly wet between my thighs. "Thank you," I manage. "So do you."
Jesse chuckles, and I feel it low in my belly.
"All students and faculty are required to wear the uniforms." He tucks his hands in his pockets and leans against the doorframe. His gaze is still on me, and I get the strangest feeling he's thinking about our time in the shower too.
I lick my lips. "Do you think I can use a phone? My roommate will be worried about me."
"Sure." He retrieves a cell from his pocket and hands it over.
I dial, but it goes straight to her voice mail. Nervously, I turn away from Jesse and wait for the beep.
"Hey, Ellie," I say. "You're probably asleep, but I wanted to let you know I won't be home ..." I pause and turn back to Jesse, lifting an eyebrow in question.
"You won't be back," he says matter-a-fact.
I glare. "I'll call you when I know more, but I'm okay. Hope you are too." I hang up and hand Jesse the phone. "I need to go back to my apartment. I can't just abandon my roommate. She won't make it without me."
Jesse returns the phone to his pocket. "I'm sure she's tougher than you give her credit for."
I wish I could be as confident in Ellie as Jesse seems to be. But then he doesn't know her. I do. She was close to dying when we met. She does need me.
And I need her too. We are family.
A strange bell sounds, like an angelic choir singing, and filters into my room.
"Time to go," Jesse says and heads to the door.
"But what's the point? I have so many questions, and you said we should talk." I absently pick up the backpack and move toward him without meaning to. He's a beacon of light, and I'm the unsuspecting moth.
He whips around, faster than I expect, and pulls me against his body. His cock is hard. I feel it straining against his pants. Immediately, I'm so damn hot for him. The physical tension between us is undeniable.
I suck on the inside of my cheek, working to get my emotions under control. "Answer my questions, please?"
He leans down, his mouth so close, I can smell the mint of his breath, and I think he'll kiss me.
"The point, Mira, is either attend the academy and be a sheep for a while, or I'll make you suffer in unspeakable ways." He pauses, and his bottom lip drags across my jaw.
The need between my legs intensifies at his touch, and I swallow back a moan. "Like what?" I ask, praying it's the kind of suffering that feels so good.
He straightens and steps back as though he has to put distance between us. "Besides, I'm looking into getting your mom a proper burial. That should be incentive enough."
"You promise?" I can't figure Jesse out. What's strange is at that moment, an image of Fileze filters across my mind. He's probably pissed. That he doesn't know where I am is a good thing, too.
"Yes, Mira. I promise. Now you need to promise me you'll be a sheep."
I'm not sure what he means unless he expects me to follow the rules and be like the rest of the students in the academy. "Fine," I say, clearing my throat and moving close, pressing my hand to Jesse's ass, trying to push him against me. "But I'm sure there are other arrangements we can make."
His eyes spark with desire before anger replaces the hunger. "Mira," he says, tugging my hand away. "That is not how students behave toward one of their professors. We have strict rules." He opens the door and walks out.
I gasp. "A professor?" The words hang on my lips as I rush after him. For some reason, I find the fact that he's my teacher sexy. Surprise. Surprise. I do have a kink—one that's of the awful and arrogant yet gloriously beautiful angel and the unsuspecting new angel student kind.
That thought makes me snort. Because I'm most certainly not gullible or innocent. School might be fun after all, especially if I can find a way to make Jesse fall in love with me. Not that I wanted love. Except maybe…