Page 29 of Allegiant

My eyes narrow. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” He rakes a hand over his face. “Ignore me. Why can’t you do whatever we were or weren’t about to do?”

“Come on.” I roll my eyes with a huff. “We both know you were about five seconds away from kissing me.”

“There’s that ego again.”

“And there’s that stubborn bastard,” I shoot back with a grin. God, I shouldn’t love fighting with him like this, but I do. I fucking do. There’s something wrong with me.

That’s not exactly news.

My grin fades from my face as I remember what being close to me means. What it costs. “You’re my student now. It would be inappropriate.”

“I’m not that kind of student.”

“I know,” I say, my shoulders dropping slightly. “But all of this feels…dangerous.”

His tongue runs along his front teeth, but he says nothing.

“Are you dangerous, Samson?” I ask, my voice low.

“I can be.”

The way he says that, the tone of his voice… A threat, a promise. But then he takes a step back and runs a hand through his hair. Disappointment floods me, an unexpected wave that pulls me under for just a moment.

But then he opens his mouth and all feels right in the world once more.

“Let’s go grab something to eat.”

8

ROWAN

I consider saying no, but I can’t bring myself to do it. It’s not like I have another class tonight. Other than Nugget, who’s probably happily snoozing on Larry’s lap right now, I have no reason to rush home. I find myself bobbing my head, grabbing my bag, and moving toward the door.

Samson looks almost surprised that I agreed to this, and watches me until I’m at the door. When he doesn’t say anything, I arch a brow. “Well? You chickening out again?”

He frowns and stalks toward me, looking fine as hell in those tight sweatpants and shirt. I want to peel him out of them, but I behave. I force my fingers to stay tightly gripped around the strap of my bag.

They twitch defiantly, desperate to disobey me.

“Where are we going?” I ask after locking the door and walking into the lobby. There are other teachers here today, but they’re all in class, so no one sees me leave with a student.

Not that he was a student before. He was just a guy watching me throw axes who did wonders with his fingers and tongue. Who found his way into a locked studio and drove me crazy before leaving me high and dry. Who later turned up at my apartment uninvited.

Samson’s fascinating. Every time I see him, a new layer to him is revealed. It has me wanting to peel more back. To see what lies at his core.

But those desires are for other people. Not me.

I can’t get close to anyone again. I won’t allow it.

It’s too dangerous.

“I know a place.” He parrots my own words back at me as we step outside, and despite the chill in the air, my cheeks heat. Sadly, I don’t think the motel is what he has in mind for right now. The only food available there is courtesy of the vending machines. Given how some of the packaging inside has faded…I don’t think I’d risk it.

“Is it a fancy upscale one?” I ask, and then point to our outfits. “Because they might let you in looking like that, but they won’t let me in.”

His eyes rove slowly over me. “You look fine to me.”