Rhydric froze.
The echo of her slap still burned across his cheek, spreading heat through his skin, snapping his mind back into place. He stared at her…at her trembling form, her flushed cheeks, her bare skin exposed in the classroom light, and something inside him cracked clean open.
What the hell had he just done? Did he just strip her naked?
His breath shuddered. "Athena…" His voice broke. "I…" He swallowed hard, shame and panic twisting violently inside him. "I'm… I'm sorry."
He dragged a shaky hand through his hair, his fingers trembling as he stepped back. His chest heaved, each breath a battle. He'd never lost control like that, not with anyone. Not even in his worst moments. And the realization hit him so hard his knees almost buckled. Athena was getting to him real bad, damn he didn't want her to pull away.
"Athena…" he whispered again, this time softer, almost pleading.
