“Such a visceral reaction, Lola.” Xavier’s expression changed to one of humor. “You talk as if you know the lady in the painting. You defend her as if she were family.”

“Maybe Lola just wants to have a threesome,” Justin called out and laughed.

I stared at him with disgust. “I don’t want to have a threesome, not that it’s any of your business. But look at the painting carefully. Her pose isn’t provocative. The men don’t look aroused or in lust. They all look as if they are they’re just enjoying a picnic and she just happens to be naked. She is beautiful and unashamed.”

Xavier nodded and then started talking. “She is so unashamed that she stares at the viewer as if to say, ‘And? And so what of my nakedness?’ But for many, it was not just the subject matter that turned them off of the painting. It was also the technique that Manet used. A technique that differed from the customary Neoclassicist lines. A technique that other artists admired. And Manet became their leader and carried them through the Impressionist revolution.”

“So Impressionism means that whores are no longer whores in paintings?” the boy at the back of the class called out again, and I could feel myself growing annoyed with him.

“Impressionism means that not only did we see a shift in the art that was created, we also saw a shift in the way we saw the world. Art is not just something to admire. It is something to breathe and learn from. It is our history and our future. It is our very essence captured and contained for the world and our ancestors to see.” Xavier’s eyes closed as his words flowed easily like a fine wine down the throat.

“As you can tell, he’s really into art,” Sebastian whispered to me.

“Yeah, he seems to be really into art.” I smiled back at him, noticing now that they did have the same green eyes, though Sebastian’s were open and happy while Xavier’s were closed off and full of distrust.

“Class, today I want you to think about what art means to you, what it has taught you. I want you all to present and talk about your favorite piece of art tomorrow. It doesn’t have to be Impressionist. Tomorrow, I want us all to get to know each other.” He smiled. “And now, you may go. This is the only day you will get to leave early.”

Students jumped up eagerly, and I saw one boy leaving the room before Xavier had even finished talking.

Sebastian packed up his things and looked down at me. “What are you up to now, Lola?”

“I’m probably going to go to the library.” I shrugged. “I’m meeting Anna for lunch so I need to stay around the building.”

“Perhaps we can go and get a coffee?”

“That sounds like it would be very nice.” I nodded at him.

“What would be very nice?” Xavier’s voice was right next to my ear, and I shivered.

“Lola and I are going to go for a coffee,” Sebastian said, answering his brother. “And how are you today, Xavier?”

“Fine.” His tone was clipped. “I’m afraid coffee is out. I need to talk to Lola.”

“About what?” I looked up at him finally, and his green eyes were full of mystery, revealing nothing to me about what he was feeling.

“You inquired about an assistant position?”

“I did?” I shook my head at him in denial. “I think you have the wrong person.”

“The admissions department forwarded me a list of names of students who were interested in becoming assistants to help save on tuition.”

“Oh, yeah.” I bit my lower lip as I remembered. “What about it?”

“I want to talk to you about becoming my assistant. See if you are suitable.”

“Suitable?” I made a face at him, and I saw Sebastian rolling his eyes.

“Yes, suitable.”

“Do you want to interview me or something?”

“Yes.” He stepped back. “I will be waiting.” He walked back to the front of the class, and Sebastian laughed.

“Sorry. He doesn’t really have a way with people.”

“You can say that again.”

“It’s what comes of having everything handed to you.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “Though I can’t really talk.”

“I guess you are brothers.” I stood up and grabbed my bag. “I guess I better go before he threatens to fail me already or something.”

“Don’t worry too much. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. His bark is worse than his bite.”

“If you say so.”

“Trust me. He is very smooth. He wouldn’t get half the women he does if he didn’t know when to pour on the charm.”

“Oh, he has a lot of women?” A surge of disappointment ran through me and I wanted to slap myself.

“It depends what you call a lot.” He laughed heartily. “Let’s just say that our mother is very worried that he will never get married and produce an heir to carry on the family name.”

“Oh.” That’s weird, I wanted to say, but I kept my mouth shut. Who was I to talk about crazy families? Maybe they were from a family or country where it was important to have people carry on their names. Maybe they were still stuck in the olden days? It did seem like they were rich if Sebastian had grown up with masterpieces in his home.

“But I will see you tomorrow, yes? I will save you a seat.”

“You’re not English or French, are you?” I blurted out.

“How did you guess?” His eyes twinkled at me as we walked to the front of the class.

“I think I kind of knew when we met the other night. Your mannerisms and your speech ... There’s just something a bit different.”

“You’re correct, of course. I did go to school here, but I still carry the tint of accent from my country.” I wondered if he remembered telling me that the other night and I cringed at how obvious I was being.

“What is the name of your country?”

“Sebastian, don’t you have things to be getting on with?” Xavier walked up to us and gave his brother a look. “Mother would be disappointed to know that you aren’t concentrating one hundred percent on your studies.”

“I’m just talking to a new friend, Xavier. It’s allowed, you know.”

“Maybe you should think about what is best for your country and not what is best for your bed, dear brother.”

“Xavier!” Sebastian’s voice was outraged, and I felt my heart sink into my stomach. This was it. Xavier was going to tell his brother that he knew me and then Sebastian was going to look at me in distaste.

“Run along, Sebastian. I don’t have all day and I do believe that Lola would like to get this interview out of the way as well.”

“Good luck, Lola. I apologize for my brother. This is his first time as a professor. I think he’s letting it go to his head.”

“That’s okay.” I smiled at him warmly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I can’t wait.” He smiled at me one last time before glaring at his brother and walking out of the room.

I stood there watching him and didn’t stop staring at the door, even after he had walked through it. I felt my heart rate increasing rapidly as I stood there waiting for Xavier to say something. But he remained as silent as I did. Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer and turned to look at him. He was watching me with hawk eyes and pursed lips.

“What’s your problem?” I couldn’t resist saying the words that were in my mind. “You’re such an asshole. Do you know that?” I glared at him and noticed his lips twitching. “Are you going to answer me or not?”

“What do you want me to say, Lolita?” he finally spoke and raised an eyebrow at me. My stomach did flip-flops as I stared at him, unable to forget and ignore how attracted I was to him.

“My name is Lola, not Lolita.”

“And I suppose you’re going to tell me you’re not a prostitute either?”

“You’re a fucking asshole.” I grabbed my bag. “I’m out of here.”

“Running away again?” His voice was tight as he grabbed my shoulders to stop me.

“Don’t touch me.” I shook him off me, ignoring the tingles that ran through my body.

“Leave my brother alone.”

“Excuse me?”

“He’s young and impressionable, and I won’t let a gold-digger get her hooks into him.”

“A gold-digger?” My mouth fell open in shock. “Are you joking? You’re really going to stand there and start insulting me again?”

“I’m not insulting you. I’m just letting you know that I have your number.”

“You have my number?” I repeated, dumbfounded.

“I know what sort of girl you are, Lola Franklin,” he sneered, and he moved his face closer to mine. “I’ve got your number all right.”

“There is no way in hell I’m staying around to listen to you insult me, Professor Van Romerius.” I quickly turned around again and walked towards the door.

“Wait.” His voice was commanding, and I stopped involuntarily, a part of me hoping that he was about to apologize.

“What?” I watched as he walked up to me casually. He looked like a lion about to attack his prey. I swallowed hard as I realized I was the prey.

“I just wanted to do this.”

He stopped in front of me, and before I knew what was happening, his lips were crushing down on mine and his hands were on my lower back, bringing me into him. My breasts crushed against his chest and I felt as if my soul were leaving my body as his tongue consumed me roughly, as his hands caressed my back. My hands found their way to his head and I ran my fingers through his silky tresses, allowing myself to forget how much I hated him as my hunger took over.

He tasted so goddamn delicious—even better than I had remembered. His lips were sweeter somehow, plump and sweet like ripe grapes. My brain was screaming at me to pull away, to stop his invasion of my mouth, but I couldn’t. My body didn’t want to run away from his touch, even though my mind did. But Xavier did it for me. He broke off the kiss slowly and pulled away from me. I waited for him to say something scathing, something that would make me hate him again, but instead he lightly touched my lips with his fingers and stared at me consideringly.

“You really shouldn’t let strange men kiss you.”

“I don’t think I let you. You didn’t really ask.”

“No. You are right. I didn’t.” He nodded slightly and a harried expression crossed his face. “I do suppose you are right.”

“You shouldn’t be kissing your students.” I started getting angry, wanting to show him that I had some power as well. “I’m sure it could get you fired.”

“Perhaps.” He nodded and the humor was back in his eyes. “But I’d rather kiss you than have you try to trap my brother.”

“How do you know I wouldn’t be trying to trap you?” I snapped, annoyed again.

“You could never trap me.” He laughed, a slow, long, dry laugh. But there was no humor in his eyes. “I’m older and smarter than Sebastian. That is why I need to protect him.”

“And when you fucked me the other day, who were you protecting then?” I tried to keep my voice strong as hurt course through me.

“I fucked you because I wanted to feel myself inside of your sweet body,” he murmurred as he looked me over slowly. “No other reason.”

Our eyes stayed locked for a few minutes as we just stood there staring at each other, and I felt my knees start to tremble. It was almost too much. He was too much.

“I’ll leave your class.” I took a step back.

“And go where?”

“I can join the literature program.” I swallowed. “My friend Anna is in it. She told me they need more people.”

“You didn’t even know who Nabokov is,” he sneered. “I don’t think the literature program will be a good fit for you.”

“I can’t stay in this class if you’re going to insult me.” I shook my head to clear my thoughts. My brain was starting to get cloudy from being so close to him.

“I didn’t know I had insulted you.”

“What?” I looked at him in disbelief. “You’ve basically called me a whore and a gold-digger, and you don’t know that you’ve insulted me?”

“Your skin is too thin.”

“Can I go?” I sighed and waited for his response. I didn’t want to deal with him. I needed time to think.

“I haven’t interviewed you for the position as yet.”

“Forget it.” I shrugged. “I don’t want it anymore.”

“Come, now. Surely that’s not true.”

“I don’t want to work for or with you.”

“I should be hurt.” He laughed, but his eyes were blank. “But I’m not.”

“I’m sure you’re not.”

“You start tomorrow at eight.”

“What?” I frowned, wondering if I had heard correctly. “What do you mean?”

“Was I not clear? You should come to my office tomorrow at eight a.m.”

“You haven’t even interviewed me yet.”

“You were the only applicant, so you win.”