Page 17 of Stalker

Heat pools in my belly. "Which memories in particular?"

"The way you gasped when I..."

I bite my lip, crossing my legs.

"When you what?"

"When I kissed that spot behind your ear. The one that made you shiver."

Professor Zhang drones on about power conversion ratios. I sink lower in my seat, typing: "I'm in class right now, you know."

"Then pay attention. Wouldn't want to corrupt your education."

"Too late for that." My fingers shake as I send the text. "You've thoroughly corrupted me already."

"Hardly. We've barely started."

My pulse quickens. "Promise?"

"Cross my heart, little human."

My fingers dance across the compad screen. "You should hear what my friend thinks about you."

"Oh?"

"She's convinced you're some kind of reformed space pirate."

"Reformed?" Three dots pulse. "What makes her think I'm reformed?"

A laugh bubbles up. "She also thinks you've got me locked in your quarters as your willing slave."

"Interesting theory. And what did you tell her?"

"That all the rumors about Reapers are true."

"Which rumors would those be?"

"You know. The ones about being insatiable. Demanding. Possessive."

"And did you confirm or deny these allegations?"

Heat creeps up my neck. "I might have mentioned the thing about three times."

"Only three? We'll have to improve those numbers."

My breath catches. "She thinks you're going to tie me up and do outrageous things to me."

"Very well, Little Delicacy. I will grant all of your most depraved desires."

My fingers hover over the keys. I start to type "I was just kidding" but pause. The thought of being at his mercy sends a delicious shiver down my spine.

I delete the text.

"See you real soon," I type instead, and hit send.

The lights flicker on and I gather my things in a daze, barely registering Professor Zhang's reminders about next week's assignment. My skin still tingles from Bruticus's messages.

The station's artificial sunlight hits my face as I step out of the building. My ex Derek would have never sent such provocative texts. He'd get all awkward if I tried to flirt, changing the subject to safer topics like quantum mechanics or the latest holoshow.