"Hey, Professor Gounaris!" Anirudh snapped out of his daze and threw her a quick, respectful nod.
"Heh, good kid. It's getting late—scoot home. My class kicks off tomorrow morning, so don't sleep through it, got it?" Gounaris chuckled, her voice all warm and easy.
"No way I'm missing it!" Anirudh bobbed his head like a bobblehead, tossed her another goodbye, and peeled out.
Once he was gone, Gounaris whipped around and hit Kimbell with a frosty glare. "What're you just standing there for? Move it—back with me!" She strutted to her car, no nonsense. Kimbell didn't dare mouth off, hopping in like a whipped pup. He knew screwing with Anirudh again would bury him deeper—and his crew? They'd bolted the second the heat was on.
Strolling down the street, Anirudh fished out his phone, ready to ping Eleanor about her ETA. If she was still swamped, he'd grab a cab. But then a sleek silver Audi Q7 rolled up smooth beside him. He glanced over—the passenger window slid down, and there was Aurora, looking like a million bucks.
"Hop in…" Aurora shot him a soft, killer smile, catching his surprise.
Anirudh didn't blink, yanking the door open and sliding in like he owned the place.
"Aurora, what's up? You stalking me now?" he teased, giving her the once-over. She was rocking a white short dress today—neckline tame, but her rack was too stacked to hide. From his seat, he caught a prime view of that deep, drool-worthy cleavage. The skirt flared out in pleats, chic and knee-length, but sitting down, it rode up just enough to flash some creamy thigh action. Pure eye candy.
"What, I can't pick up my favorite troublemaker?" Aurora grinned, her eyes dancing with flirty vibes.
"Pick me up?" Anirudh blinked, playing dumb.
"Yup. Eleanor's stuck at the office—total no-show. She tapped Amy to scoop you for dinner at my spot, but Amy's jammed too, so I dragged myself out here. Pretty damn noble, right?" Aurora giggled, her curves jiggling like they were in on the joke.
"Noble? I'm straight-up honored—ready to hand myself over…" Anirudh hammed it up, clutching his chest.
"Hand over what, hotshot?" Aurora quirked a brow, smirking as her gaze flicked south.
"Whatever you're craving, Aurora…" Anirudh ducked his head, milking the shy-guy act.
"I'm a greedy gal—I want the full package…" Aurora teased, tossing him a wicked grin.
"Then it's all yours, lock and stock…" Anirudh kept his head low, bashful as hell.
"You little player—how many girls you already sweet-talked with that line?" Aurora cracked up, eating up his goofy vibe. She gripped the wheel with one hand and jabbed his forehead with the other.
"None, swear on my life! I'm still a virgin!" Anirudh doubled down, all wide-eyed innocence.
"Virgin? You mean a 'been-around-the-block' virgin?"
"Nope, legit—except…" Anirudh fumbled, starting to sweat.
"Except what?" Aurora leaned in, hooked.
"Except that night when you… uh, with your mouth…" Anirudh's voice shrank to a mumble, like he was mortified.
"No way—you're actually a virgin?" Aurora's jaw dropped. These days, a guy his age—hot, slick as oil—either had a girl on lock or hit the shady joints to get his fix. A virgin? Rarer than a four-leaf clover, especially a smooth operator like him.
"Cross my heart!" Anirudh nodded like his life depended on it.
With a squeal of tires, Aurora slammed the brakes, the Audi Q7 lurching to a stop on the curb. She spun, gaping at him like he'd grown a second head.
"For real?" She couldn't buy it.
"Deadass—why'd I fake that?" Anirudh flinched, thrown by her freakout.
Right then, Aurora's hand shot out, snagging his crotch. Feeling it swell under her grip, she leaned in close, her plump red lips grazing his ear as she purred, "How about I make a man outta you, kid?"
"Right now?" Her hot breath and tight squeeze had his pulse hammering, his pants tenting up like a circus big top.
"You game?" Aurora slid closer, brushing a kiss on his ear.
"Uh… maybe not here?" They were parked on a bustling street—daylight, folks strolling by. This was insane, right?
"Not here?" Aurora's eyes slit, her grip clamping down, her vibe screaming "say no and I'll snap it."
"No, I mean—chill, you horn-dog! What kinda girl you think I am?" Just as Anirudh was about to cave, Aurora let go, flashing a megawatt grin and rolling her eyes hard.
Anirudh blanked—she'd been yanking his chain!
Revving the Audi back to life, Aurora peeled out, but the fire she'd sparked in Anirudh wasn't dying down. Sneaking looks at her—those killer curves, that juicy red pout—dragged him right back to last night at KTV. Heat roared through him. If they weren't in this damn car, he'd have tackled her. Lucky break—the Audi rolled up to a swanky three-story villa soon enough. Aurora hollered for him to follow, hopping out first.
That cooled the flames a tick, but watching her hips swing as she strutted? The embers flared right back up.
"Plop down—I'm swapping outfits," Aurora said, pointing at the plush central couch as she ushered him in, then sauntering up a spiral staircase.
Anirudh sank into the sofa like a good boy. Looking up, he caught her bare calves flashing, then higher—those smooth, thick thighs popped into view, followed by a peek at black panties. His throat hitched with a loud, thirsty gulp…