“Well, we can agree on that,” Embry said.

At that moment, the music stopped, and the dean grabbed a microphone to address the faculty and students. The dance floor cleared, and Embry had her first real look at Luke. He stood directly across the dance floor, wearing a charcoal-gray suit with a thin black tie and crisp white shirt. The suit was perfectly tailored to his long muscled body, and his dark hair set off his cobalt eyes, which were fixed intently on Embry.

“Wow,” Morgan said, following Embry’s line of sight. “Your man cleans up well.”

“Yeah, he does,” Embry agreed.

The dean prattled on in the background, but Embry’s eyes remained locked on Luke’s. She couldn’t look away. He was jaw-droppingly handsome, and he was all hers. A jab to her ribs caused her to stop her greedy perusal and glare at Morgan.

“Just doing my job.” Morgan gave Embry a dazzlingly smile.

“What job is that?”

“Bree-sitting. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to keep you from mounting your professor in the middle of a school-sponsored event.”

Embry rolled her eyes and took another sip of her champagne. They chatted idly for a few minutes while the dean finished his speech. Everyone clapped politely, and the music kicked back on.

Embry and Morgan made their way around the room, mingling with other students and enjoying the hors d’oeuvres. She did her best to keep her eyes away from Luke, but no matter where in the room she went, she felt him watching her—felt his eyes like a soft caress that set her skin on fire. She eventually lost the battle and found him across the ballroom. He was talking with the blonde woman he’d taken to the bar the night of her setup with Brendan, but his eyes were fixed on Embry. She was stuck to the spot and lost in this gaze.

Morgan leaned in close to whisper, “I suggest that if you want to keep up the innocent student act, you stop eye-fucking your professor from across the room.”

“I’m not—”

“You are, Bree. Everyone stares at him; that’s not the real problem.”

“Then what exactly is the problem?” she asked, annoyed.

“That he stares back. I don’t think a single person in this room could miss the sparks flying between you two if they bothered to pay any attention.”

“Well, then I guess it’s good they’re not paying attention.”

“You’d better hope they’re not,” Morgan said.

Embry let out a frustrated sigh, but she knew Morgan was right. They couldn’t be so obvious. “You’re right, thanks.”

Morgan nodded.

“I’m going to find the bathroom.”

“In need of a cold shower?” she joked.

“Yeah, something like that.”

Morgan wasn’t entirely off base. Embry had to remove herself from the situation, take a few deep breaths, and compose herself. They weren’t love-struck teenagers, and they needed to exhibit a little more self-control. She looked around for Luke but lost sight of him. She walked down the long corridor to the bathrooms. Other than a few students on their way back to the ballroom, the hallway was empty. She found the bathroom and opened the door. Suddenly, a warm chest pushed against her back and forced her into the room. Startled, she gasped and turned to find Luke smiling down at her.

He pressed his body into hers and against the closed door. “Hey, beautiful.”

“Luke!” she whisper-yelled, pushing against his chest. “Are you crazy? You can’t be in here with me!”

“I can’t?” he asked, smirking.

“No, you can’t!”

He eased away from her and reached for the door. “Okay, I’ll just—”

“No,” she said, grabbing his tie and pulling him to her.

He crushed his lips to hers and held her against the door. She felt his erection, long and hard, pressing against her belly.

“Luke,” she whispered.

He tore his mouth from hers, his hands coming up to cup her cheeks. “I couldn’t help myself, baby.” His eyes burned into hers. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life.” He captured her lips in a searing kiss, his tongue slowly invading her mouth.

Embry made short work of his belt buckle and pulled him free. His hands traveled down her body, hiked up her dress, and ripped down her panties as he continued his assault on her mouth. Luke cupped her ass with both hands and lifted her up against the door. She automatically wrapped her legs around his waist as he slid her onto his hard cock. Embry cried out. He stretched and filled her until she wasn’t sure she could take anymore.

Luke’s hand came down over her mouth. “Shhh.”

She groaned into his hand as sensation took over and she felt that delicious tremor building deep inside. Luke removed his hand and gripped her ass again. He held nothing back, slamming into her with such force her back slid up the door.

“Is this becoming our thing, baby?” Embry whispered teasingly. “Sex against doors?”

Luke smiled against her lips. “It’s your fault. If you weren’t so goddamn beautiful, I might have a chance at keeping it in my pants.”

“I like it that you can’t keep it in your pants, at least with me. I just think I might miss the bed a little bit.”

Luke groaned as he dragged himself out of her before pushing back in with more force. “Mmm, I have plenty planned for you later tonight, don’t you worry.”

“Is that a promise?”

“No, beautiful. That’s a guarantee,” he said as he joined his mouth with hers once more.

Embry’s mind went fuzzy, and she wasn’t sure if it was the champagne or Luke or both. Her head fell onto his shoulder as her body seized up. “Oh my God! Luke!” she cried into his neck as waves of pleasure took her over.

“Fuck,” he said softly, releasing inside of her.

He feathered light kisses across her cheeks, whispering how beautiful she was before slowly sliding out of her and easing her down from the door. They both cleaned up, and Embry fixed her curls in the mirror. Luke watched her intently before slipping his arms around her from behind, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror.

“You’re coming back to my place tonight, right?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.

“Yep. I packed a bag and left it in the limo.”

They were spending the weekend doing all of the fun Christmas things they wanted to do together before Luke’s family flew in that week.

“Good. I’ll see you in a few hours then.” He spun her in his arms, turning a mega-watt Luke smile on her.

“I’ll see you in a few hours.” She pushed up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his before he slipped out of the bathroom.

Embry checked herself once more in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, but she could chalk it up to the alcohol. She stepped out into the hallway and saw Luke a little ways ahead of her. He nodded at someone walking toward him and continued into the ballroom. The woman was walking in her direction and as she drew nearer, Embry’s heartbeat skyrocketed.

“Miss Jacobs,” Professor Coleman said, tilting her head and pausing to examine Embry.

“Professor,” she replied, smiling. She felt her blush deepen as her skin flushed with embarrassment, but she kept walking and hoped that Professor Coleman wasn’t as perceptive as she seemed.

Embry shoved her hands in her pockets and huddled against Luke, the cold wind whipping against her face. Snow had fallen the night before, adding to the feel of Christmas. His arm came around her, tucking her against him.

“How high are your ceilings again?” she asked.

Luke chuckled. “High enough, baby. Pick whichever one you like.”

Embry stared at the row of Christmas trees before her and chewed on her lip. Christmas music echoed in the background, and Luke waited patiently as she made her decision. She picked the largest one of the bunch, a fifteen-footer, and watched as it was wrapped up and tied to the top of Luke’s Rover.

After their little tryst in the bathroom the night before, Luke and Embry had managed to stay away from each other and socialize for the remainder of the evening. She left with Morgan in the limousine and met Luke at his house. He’d kept his promise, and they had made very good use of his bed. They were ready to enjoy their Christmas-filled weekend, just the two of them, before his family flew into town.