Chapter 11 A Nerdy Fantasy
REID
Once Lyra finishes her lunch, she stands without a word, grabs her backpack and walks out of the cafeteria.
Normally, I don’t interfere in people’s lives. I keep to my space and let them deal with their shit. But with Lyra, things never follow the usual logic.
Before I even process it, I’m on my feet, following her.
She only notices me when she reaches the quiet hallway near the school’s indoor pool.
Her eyes lock on mine, disbelief flashing through them.
“What are you? A stalker?” She snaps in a low hiss, like she’s scared someone might overhear, even though the place is silent.
“I was making sure you’re okay,” I reply evenly.
Her gaze narrows at me.
And even though she’s in the most basic mid-length skirt and a plain blouse, she looks tempting as hell. Like a nerdy fantasy trapped in oversized glasses. I can make out every curve beneath the fabric. It makes me want to steal her away and bury her somewhere the world can’t find her. Somewhere no other male could ever look at her like this.
She scoffs. “Trying to make sure I’m fine,” she repeats, lips pursed. “Do you really think I’m stupid enough to believe that?”
My eyes fall to her lips. Soft, flushed, too easy to imagine bruised beneath mine. Fuck. I want to drag her against me and taste them just once.
“You think I don’t know the real reason you sat at my table?” She challenges.
I lift a brow, amused. I shouldn’t enjoy this, but I do. Somewhere along the line, I’ve gotten used to this little banter of ours.
“Oh, you do?” I say, stepping forward slowly. “Humor me. And if you get it right…”
She instantly steps back like I’m a threat. I smirk and hold still. I continue, “…I’ll let you go. But if you’re wrong, I’ll kiss you.”
Her body goes rigid. Her eyes widen. The shock spreading across her face makes my smirk stretch.
Damn, I’m enjoying this. Was she always this entertaining to toy with?
“You’re insane,” she spits.
I shrug, unfazed. “Are you going to tell me or not?”
She hesitates, nerves flickering in her eyes. After a few seconds, she steps forward. Her eyes burn into mine.
“You pity me, don’t you?” she says quietly. “That’s why you sat with me. You saw the others mocking me.” Her jaw clenches. “Don’t do that. I hate pity. You don’t have my permission to feel that for me.”
I hold her stare. Then my lips tilt again.
“You got it all wrong, sweetheart.” My voice drops low.
She looks at me like she doesn’t believe a word.
If only she knew.
What I felt watching those idiots ridicule her had nothing to do with pity. Pity’s weak. What I felt was far more dangerous.
I wanted to break them, bone by bone. Paint the floors red for every laugh they threw her way. Turn this entire building into carnage in her honor.
But she doesn’t need to hear that. And I don’t need to do it. She’s not mine. She won’t ever be. Once we break the curse and sever this mate bond, whatever this is will die.
But until then?
I’ll enjoy messing with her mind.
“So…” I move again, closing the gap. She tries to retreat but this time I’m faster. I grab her waist and pull her against me.
Her warmth slams into my body. Her heart beats too fast, and mine answers in the same rhythm.
Still smirking, I brush my thumb slowly across her cheek. Her breathing turns labored. Her eyes are soft, conflicted… scared.
“Do I get my kiss now that you’ve failed?”
“You’re crazy,” She breathes, but her eyes betray her. They flick to my lips, and she swallows like the thought of them just scorched her.
“Am I?” I murmur. A voice cuts through just then.
“Lyra, I’ve been waiting…”
We both turn.
That professor guy again; Hudson, walks in from the pool entrance. His steps slow as he takes in our position. His gaze flickers between us, landing on how tightly I’m holding her. He blinks.
“Uh… am I interrupting something?”
Lyra snaps back to herself like someone slapped her awake. “N-no, it’s not what you think, Professor Hudson—”
Instantly she shoves me away so hard I almost hit the floor. I catch my balance at the last second.
“It’s not what you think.” She repeats, shaking her head furiously.
Hudson clears his throat. He doesn’t believe a word. His eyes settle on me, and I can tell his mind has already drawn its conclusions.
“It’s alright, Lyra. My fault for walking in at the wrong time and spoiling the fun.”
Lyra’s eyes widen in horror. The panic on her face nearly drags a laugh out of me, but I swallow it down.
“Believe me, Professor Hudson, that’s not what it is—”
“It’s fine,” he cuts in gently. “Go get ready for practice. I’d like a word with Reid.”
She nods fast and bolts like she’s been set free.
Once she’s gone, Hudson steps closer, wearing that mild-mannered smile.
“Hello, Reid. We meet again.”
I nod once. This morning, when Dean tried to swing at me, Hudson had dragged me away and introduced himself as my ‘personal school guide.’ He’d talked enough to give me a migraine. I made a silent wish to never see him again.
Clearly, the gods enjoy mocking me.
“You know Lyra is part of the swim team, right?” he says, gesturing toward the pool. She’s already disappeared into the locker room. I give him a small nod, and he continues.
“You’ve got a swimmer’s build,” he adds. “Why don’t you join the men’s swim team?”
I meet his eyes this time. “I’m sorry, Professor, but I don’t swim.”
Hudson looks at me like I just committed blasphemy.
“You’re joking, right?” He asks, hopeful.
I exhale, already drained by his questions. “I have a hate relationship with water. I don’t swim.”
He studies my face for a long moment, waiting for the punchline. But my expression doesn’t move.
Eventually, he accepts it.
“Oh. Wow. That’s… interesting,” he says awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
I bite down on the inside of my cheek, silently urging this conversation to end.
If there’s something I’ll never reveal, not even if someone held a blade to my throat, it’s what happened in the water. The story that left me haunted. The reason they call me a monster.
“Very well then,” he says, smiling politely. “Enjoy the rest of your day, Reid.”
I nod and start to leave but pause mid-step. Something makes me turn back.
“Oh, and Professor?”
He lifts a brow, still wearing that harmless smile.
“Do me a favor and stop feeding Lyra those ridiculous spell ideas. One day, she might get hurt because of them.”
I turn before he can reply, ignoring the confusion shadowing his face.
On my way out, my phone buzzes. I pull it free and check the message.
It’s from Voss; leader of the Dark Howlers Underground Biker Club.
VOSS: 6PM TONIGHT. DON’T MISS IT. IT’S A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR YOU.