“I’m Meiying.”
I frown. Something about her feels familiar but I can’t quite place it. “Uh, okay.”
The bell rings and the last of the students claim their seats, but there’s no sign of Mrs. Brookes anywhere, and as soon as the rest of the class realizes she’s MIA, they all begin talking, visiting their friends’ desks, and tossing crumpled paper balls around in a game of catch.
My gaze wanders over the heads in the room and I meet Rafael’s stare. I swear it burns right through me. Heat flashes through my chest with each passing second and my heart rate picks up before Meiying draws my attention back with a small wave of her hand. “So, yeah. Hi.”
I raise both brows. “Hi.”
“I know we haven’t talked before. I kept meaning to introduce myself but you seemed a little standoffish and”—her eyes dart around the classroom—“well, anyway. I was just wondering if you had a thing for Zheng Liu?”
I scowl at her. Was she for real right now? “Why? Do you have a thing for Zheng Liu?” I don’t need to turn to know that Rafael’s stare is still boring into me, but I decide to ignore it, giving Meiying my full attention.
She chokes on a laugh, her black curls bouncing around her heart-shaped face as she claps her hand over her mouth. “What? No! He’s my brother.”
“Your brother?” I take a breath. She doesn’t smell like him. There are some similarities sure, but like they come from the same Clan. They’re both cats. Not in the way blood siblings would smell.
She laughs. “Yeah, sorry. I probably should have led with that. I kind of assumed you knew.”
I’m shaking my head. “No. I didn’t. He never mentioned he had a little sister and you’re not …” I trail off not wanting to offend her.
She sighs and her nose crinkles. “Zheng and I aren’t very close. There’s four years between us and we have different dads. Mom’s a white tiger so we both get that from her, but my dad is a Bengal. Zheng’s is human. That’s why we smell so different. But Zheng’s a good big brother. A little absent but what can I expect? You know?” No. I didn’t know. I didn’t have any brothers or sisters.
“So that makes you a…”
“Freshman. Yep.”
I raise a brow. “And you’re in this class because…?
“Oh. I have a non-schedule first period. I usually hang out in the library since I ride to school with Zheng, but Mrs. Brookes asked me to T.A. for her today so here I am.”
Oh. Okay.
“Anyway, so…umm… do you?”
I tilt my head to the side before her earlier question comes back to me. “Oh. No.” I shake my head. “We’re just friends.”
Her smile drops and she purses her lips together. “Oh.”
Why does she care?
I reach out and touch her forearm offering what I hope is a reassuring gesture. “It’s not like that with us. On either side. You don’t need to worry about me stringing him along or anything. He knows I’m only looking for friendship.”
She nods but doesn’t look wholly convinced. “Is it because of…” She flicks her gaze toward Rafael, her almond-shaped eyes narrowing just as the classroom door opens and I’m saved from having to answer.
“Good morning, class. Sorry for the delay. Please open your books to…”
Class goes by as usual. Meiying helps Mrs. Brookes pass out this week’s assignment. A ten-page persuasive essay on how problems resulting from the Awakening could have been avoided. Should be easy enough. And then, before I know it, the bell rings, signaling the end of the period and everyone rushes from their seats to head to the door.
I take my time shoving my books in my bag when a familiar sense of awareness has goosebumps breaking out along my skin. I look up and spy Rafael waiting for me near the door with a wolfish grin on his face as he looks me over from head to toe with open want, his wolf shining in his eyes.
When I get close to him, he takes my hand and drags me out the door before shoving me into the first empty classroom we come across.
“Hey! What—”
His lips land on mine and a small whimper escapes me. One hand settles on my hip, the other coming up beneath my hair, dragging me closer. I tense, but when he groans against my lips, I melt into him. The bell rings but neither of us come up for air.
“What are you doing to me?” I arch against him as his lips trail down my neck, teeth nipping at my collarbone.
“Whatever I want.” His fingertips slide inside my jeans and he pulls back to meet my gaze. His tongue peeks out to lick his lips, as his fingers get dangerously close to my needy center.
“Rafael.” My eyes dart up to look at him through my lashes. And then he’s there. Right there. His fingers dip inside me before making a hasty retreat as he swirls my clit with my own juices.
“Just making up for before.” There’s a wicked smile to his voice.
I cling to him, the muscles in his biceps flexing as he works me over with skilled fingers. “We’re supposed to be in class,” I rasp.
“Are you asking me to stop?”
I moan and my body tightens, chasing away my release. God, no. I don’t want him to stop. But when I don’t respond, he must take my silence as agreement and withdraws his hand from my jeans. A strangled snarl of protest leaves my lips and he chuckles before kissing me into silence as his hands work quickly to unbutton my pants and shove them down over my thighs, leaving me exposed.
My head falls back against the classroom wall and when he shoves two fingers deep inside me, curling them to find just the right spot, I shudder in his grip. He kisses my jaw before trailing his lips
