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  Dr. Sheffield introduced the other two men as members of the ethics committee while Conner nodded and held his breath.

  “We’ve received some disturbing e-mails in the last few days concerning your possible involvement with a student here at the university.”

  Conner stopped breathing. “What?” He gripped the edge of the table with both hands. His head spun.

  Dr. Sheffield continued. “These are printouts of the e-mails we received over the weekend.”

  Conner lifted the pages, but he kept his gaze on Dr. Sheffield for several seconds before lowering his face. When he did, he was stunned. Three e-mails—their contents printed out on the pages in front of him. Each e-mail was similar and sent to a different faculty member, not just Dean Sheffield, but the university president and the head of the language department as well, Tina Chang. Oh, great. Now he would have to speak to Tina also.

  Conner’s hands shook as he read the lines indicating he was involved with a student, had been meeting with her secretly, and should be investigated.

  When Conner lifted his gaze, he found Dr. Sheffield frowning. “Who did these come from?”

  “We have no idea, Dr. Bascott. We were hoping you could tell us.”

  “Of course not. These’re lies. I have never, nor will I ever be involved with a student here.” And thank God I’m not lying.

  Dr. Sheffield let out a long breath. “That’s about as I expected.”

  “What? That I would deny these allegations? Hell yes, I will deny this shit. It’s not true.” Conner tried to control his volume, but it was tough. Who the fuck would do this to him? He sat up straight and set the pages on the table in front of him, tapping the top one with a finger. “Can’t anyone trace these? It’s a university for Christ’s sake. The place must be filled with dozens of people who could hack this address and get more information on the sender.” He tried to chuckle, but came up short. Hell, the most qualified hackers around were probably students.

  “Not yet.” Dr. Sheffield nodded at the printouts.

  Conner dipped his head and tried to catch his breath and control his emotions.

  “I’m going to have to ask you some hard questions, Dr. Bascott. It’s policy. You understand.”

  “Of course.”

  “Is there any validity to these e-mails?”

  The two other men in the room squirmed in their seats. They were both younger than Conner. Before this incident, they had both looked up to him. Now they appeared uncertain. Conner couldn’t blame them, but he was still pissed. Who the hell would do this?

  Conner shook his head. “Nope. Not one word is true.”

  “So, you aren’t dating a student.”

  “I am not.”

  “You’ve never had any relations with a student?”

  “Never.”

  “And you can’t think of any reason someone would suspect you were or try to frame you?”

  “No.” Conner pursed his lips and thought back on everything that had happened in his twisted life for the past ten days.

  Sabrina.

  If anyone saw him with Sabrina, it was a long shot. One quick conversation outside Extreme where the only witness was Frank and one argument in his car outside the arena Friday night. The chances of someone witnessing that were slim. As far as he knew there weren’t many students who were aware he was an MMA fighter. It wasn’t a secret, but he didn’t publicize it, either.

  If these allegations had come up before he’d encountered Sabrina at Extreme, he would have shit a brick. It would have been extremely farfetched for someone to have seen him interact with her two months ago at King Pizza. But he still would have pissed his pants worrying about it, since at the time he didn’t realize she was not a student any longer.

  But after last week, he knew Sabrina was not only significantly older than he’d suspected, but also no longer a student. He’d broken no rules. Not even his own.

  How the fuck could this be happening to him within days of running into Sabrina Duluth, though? Was it a coincidence? There was the distinct possibility this had nothing to do with Sabrina at all. If someone wanted to frame him for his supposed involvement with a student, why pick someone who wasn’t enrolled? That made no sense at all.

  And there was no way Conner was going to drag Sabrina into this mess. She’d done nothing wrong. Besides, there was nothing to drag her into. Involvement with her made him guilty of nothing.

  He still didn’t intend to mention her name.

  “Dr. Bascott, this is very unfortunate.”

  “Yes, it is.” Conner sat up straighter and stacked the pages. “May I keep these?”

  “Of course. We have copies. Look them over. See if anything rings a bell.”

  “I will.” He made eye contact with the two men at the table and then lifted his gaze to the dean. She was all business. Her face was impassive. Her perfectly fitted gray suit was wrinkle free. Her hair was pulled back in a bun, not one lock out of place. “Dr. Sheffield, I give you my word these allegations are unfounded. I know you have to follow up on this, and I understand you need my cooperation, but you’ll never find anything because there isn’t anything to find. I have never at any point done anything inappropriate with a student in all my years of teaching. Not now. Not ever.” He was beating this over the head, but he wanted to be sure everyone in the room was clear.

  “Do you have any students in any of your classes that are perhaps doing poorly, failing, or seem angry with you?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. No.” Conner shook his head. “Hell, I haven’t even seen a student during my office hours this past week. I’m as perplexed as you.”

  Dr. Sheffield pursed her lips. “I hear you. And I’m terribly sorry about all this. It’s my job and the job of the ethics committee to ensure these allegations are untrue. While we investigate, please be sure you’re engaged in absolutely nothing unseemly.”

  “Of course.” It occurred to Conner that being a member of the BDSM community could be seen as unbecoming to someone. He rarely saw anyone he knew at Extreme, but that didn’t mean someone hadn’t seen him. He’d run into Tina Chang there one time, but she wasn’t a regular. Perhaps another teacher? Or even a student? Someone who wanted to hurt him? It made little sense. If someone wanted to damage his career simply because he enjoyed a little kink on the side, why not come right out and say so instead of twisting it into false involvement with a student?

  What about Tina? It was insane to think she would do something like this to him. But was it a coincidence he’d turned her down for Saturday night and now this? Ridiculous fake allegations? He couldn’t imagine her stooping so low, but it would be ingenious to send the false allegations to the dean, the president, and herself. Shit. Would she try to get him fired over a rejection to date her? If so, she was crazier than he thought.

  Conner stood. “If I think of anything, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I’d appreciate if this didn’t leave this room. I have a stellar reputation at this university. I love my job. I would hate to be dragged through the trenches over a bunch of lies.”

  “You have our word. The other recipients of the e-mail know better also.” Dr. Sheffield stood, as did the other gentlemen. “Without any specifics, I’m not inclined to take this seriously. If whoever this is wants to nail you to the wall, it makes no sense why they haven’t come right out and told us who the mystery student is you’re supposedly involved with. That, and the fact your reputation on this campus is completely unblemished, leaves me with no choice but to assume your innocence. I’m on your side in this, Dr. Bascott. Please don’t prove me wrong.”

  Conner nodded and left the room.

  He fumed all the way to his office. There wasn’t a single thing he could think of that would cause someone to frame him for something so serious. Crazy.

  He was late for his slotted office hours, and as soon as he rounded the corner he found a student standing outside his office.

  Angelica Hudson. She pushed off the wall and ri
ghted herself as he approached, pasting a big smile on her face. “Dr. Bascott. I was afraid I had my days and times mixed up.”

  “Nope. Sorry. I was in a meeting.” He unlocked the door, trying to muster the energy to speak to this undergrad. He’d had her in class last semester, and this semester she was in another of his classes. It wasn’t unusual. If she was an English major, it would be expected.

  At the moment, he was in no mood to speak to anyone. But that wasn’t Ms. Hudson’s problem.

  He rounded his desk. “Please, have a seat. What can I do for you?”

  She bounced as she walked. Hell, she bounced as she sat.

  He imagined she was quite popular. She seemed very friendly, almost too friendly most of the time in class. She flirted mercilessly with at least two of the male students before and after class.

  When she leaned forward to open her backpack, her shirt gaped open, showing way too much cleavage. But hell, he wasn’t the fashion police. And what did he care? He certainly wasn’t interested in her. She was probably nineteen at best and not his type at all physically. It occurred to him that it would be nice if someone pointed out that her shirt was too small and too low, but it wasn’t going to be him.

  “I was hoping you could take a look at my outline for the next paper we’re doing. I’m worried I haven’t hit all the points you suggested.” She held out a printed piece of paper.

  She wasn’t the best student in his class. She wasn’t the worst either, but he didn’t usually get mediocre undergrads in his office to go over their potential outlines for a paper that wasn’t due for another two weeks.

  He narrowed his gaze at the page in front of him, not looking at it. Instead he let his mind run rampant in another direction. Absurd, really. He was losing his mind if he thought this bubbly student had anything to do with him being framed for inappropriate behavior. Surely it was simply his recent encounter with the dean that had him on edge and paranoid.

  Angelica Hudson was no more likely to be framing him for dating a student than the pope.

  “So, what do you think?”

  Conner jerked his gaze up to glance at her. He hadn’t actually read a word of her outline yet.

  She leaned over his desk with her arms crossed loosely on the surface, causing her enormous breasts to push up and forward. A boob guy would find her delightful. Conner was not a guy who enjoyed large breasts.

  “This is a good start. I don’t know what you’re worried about. I’m sure it will be fine. Start the research, and if you have any questions, come back and see me.” He handed the paper back to her. It could have been the lyrics to a nursery rhyme for all he knew or cared right then.

  It wasn’t like him to so blatantly dismiss a student, but his mind was preoccupied. He promised himself he would give her more of his undivided attention in a few days. He glanced at his watch. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Hudson. I have another appointment I need to get to. Why don’t you get the paper started and come back next Monday, and I’ll take another look.”

  She smiled and took the page back from him with a syrupy sweet grin that made him cringe for no good reason. “Of course. Thanks for your time. I’ll get to work on this and stop back by.” She flipped her long black hair over her shoulder as she stood. Flirtatiously? Surely not.

  Jesus, Conner. Get a grip.

  Moments after Angelica left his office, someone else knocked on the open door and stepped inside. Tina Chang. Of course.

  Her brow was furrowed, and she shut the door behind her.

  “What’s this crazy accusation about you dating a student, Conner?” She cut straight to the chase and plopped down in the chair Angelica had vacated.

  He leaned back, in no mood to have this chat, or any chat, with Tina. “I don’t know. But it isn’t true, of course.” He watched her closely, hoping her face would divulge something.

  Her shoulders slumped. “Well, thank God. I’d hate for you to get in trouble for something you didn’t do.” Was that sarcasm in her voice?

  Conner didn’t move.

  Tina tapped the desk. “I really needed you Saturday. It would have been nice if you could have done me that favor.” She pouted. A grown woman with a PhD pouting—and possibly blackmailing him. Fuck.

  He hesitated. Was it a coincidence she combined these two issues in one sitting? Either she was extremely stupid or very very smart. Or clueless. “I already had plans. And Tina, we are not dating. You really shouldn’t lead your family members to believe that.”

  “I know.” She trailed a finger along his desk, her voice lowering. “Is it because you practice BDSM? I could give that a try, you know. I’ve been to your club once. It wasn’t too bad.”

  He sat forward. “No. I’m not interested in you that way, Tina.” Lord. The woman was desperate.

  She lifted her head and narrowed her gaze. “You seemed interested enough when your tongue was in my mouth.”

  Jesus. That was so long ago. And besides, it was her tongue in his mouth, not the other way around. “I’m sorry if you felt misled. I was tipsy. So were you.”

  She pouted again. “Well, think about it, Conner. We could make a good couple. If you gave us a chance.” She turned and left the office, not saying another word.

  Was that a threat?

  He shook his head and gathered the papers on his desk that needed attention at home that evening. First, he needed to go to the gym and blow off steam.

  What a day.

  Chapter Five

  Sabrina stared at her computer screen, wishing she could concentrate on her work. She had deadlines to meet. Freelance editors did not get paid unless they actually returned the editing to the client.

  She blinked, trying to focus. Even two cups of coffee did nothing to help her stay on task.

  It had been five days since her run-in with Conner. Five very long days. And nights.

  She hadn’t slept well. Conner’s words kept running through her head over and over like a broken record.

  He didn’t make your panties wet and your nipples bead like they are now, did he?

  Infuriating man.

  He’d laid no claim on her for himself, and yet he’d made it perfectly clear he didn’t like her seeing Doug. She didn’t get the feeling he knew Doug or enough about the man to warn her off him for some reason. Nope. Conner Bascott had simply destroyed that relationship with no motive.

  Unless he did have a motive, and that motive was to have Sabrina for himself. If that was the case, however, then why act like such an ass?

  And she had to admit, if she stepped back, Conner had not been responsible for the demise of her relationship with Doug. Not even close. Sabrina alone held the blame. She was the one who stopped their scene when she could no longer give it her entire attention. She was the one who turned down Doug’s suggestion they go out again after dinner last Sunday. She was the one who ignored his calls until she finally broke down on Tuesday and answered the phone to break things off with him.

  She couldn’t pin any of that on Conner.

  But oh how she tried. Damn him for shaking up her perfectly good life accepting the status quo.

  He thought she was too young. Ha.

  She had more experience with submission than most of the women who belonged to his club. It was by sheer coincidence she’d never been to Extreme. She’d been a member of another club across town for several years.

  Sabrina had known she was submissive since she was about fourteen, more than twelve years ago, when she discovered the Story of O at a neighbor’s house where she babysat. Needless to say, she sat for that family happily dozens of times, slowly devouring every bit of the book after the kids went to bed.

  It wasn’t that she was a masochist. In fact, she’d learned over the course of several years she didn’t care much for the harsher elements of BDSM, but she knew she was submissive without a doubt from the moment she’d entered her first club at eighteen and submitted to a well-established Dom who agreed to take her under his wing and introduce her
to his world.

  That first Dom had been twice her age, almost forty, which was significant for someone her age at the time. But she’d always considered herself an old soul and wasn’t bothered by the man’s age or the looks people gave them.

  In the end, she’d fallen hard for him and his style of domination, and he’d broken her heart when he ended things about six months into the relationship. She shouldn’t have been surprised. He’d told her from the beginning he enjoyed training women, but had no desire to engage in anything permanent. The moment she told him how she felt about him, he broke things off.

  For a while she’d been lost, but she was a strong person. She threw herself into her studies and stayed away from relationships until she graduated from college.

  Editing had fallen into her lap by accident. One of her professors noticed her affinity for good grammar and punctuation and encouraged her to make some money on the side editing for other students. That decision had changed her life.

  Her degree in political science was immediately stuffed in a back corner when she graduated. By then she had enough clients who needed editing work that she gave up her plans for law school in order to follow her new dream.

  When she moved on from student essays to editing for romance authors, her life was complete. The idea of getting paid to read novels all day made her the happiest person alive. Under most circumstances, she couldn’t wait to get up in the morning, pour her coffee, and sit at her computer to immerse herself in fantasy.

  Until this week.

  Again, damn that man and his ability to leak into her every thought while she was supposed to be working.

  Sabrina stood and paced the room for several long strides so she could loosen up and straighten out her head. A slight ping told her she had a new e-mail. Why she kept the volume on, she had no idea. It was annoying as hell. Especially on days when she received far too many e-mails.

  She sat in her ergonomic chair, the one she’d invested a fortune in, and opened the browser.

  And then she froze.

  Dr. Conner Bascott.

  Shit.