Compliments by Mari K. Cicero Page A

students were right about you after all. Sorry, I guess I had you pegged for someone who valued people for the content of their character. Good thing you got that out there before anything serious happened between us. Now, if you still want to leave, I have papers to grade.”
    I don’t hesitate. Jumping to my feet, I grab my bag and swing it back over my shoulder, furious at the whole scheme. I’m about halfway to the door when the niggling voice in the back of my head that normally tells me to leave good enough alone develops laryngitis.
    “You know what?” I spin around. Hawk stops midway to his desk and does the same. “That’s crap. It sounds all well and good on paper, but it’s total crap. The truth is, no matter how handsome you are or how much you helped with my presentation, you are the janitor. If anyone finds out I’m involved with you, especially with my history, it won’t be good for me. Those in power judge those without it, and content of character doesn’t mean shit.”
    “Like you would know.” He laughs darkly. “Hello, I am actually the night janitor. In the space of two weeks, I went from being this department’s golden boy to being the butt of all its jokes. All because I got suspended for doing something that instead should have gotten me a freaking award. Don’t act like you know what that’s like, and I certainly wouldn’t want to inconvenience your career for something as stupid as a relationship.”
    “You have no idea. Don’t dare assume you know what I’ve been through.”
    “Oh, yeah? Like what?”
    Blinking wildly, his body language is yelling a dare to me. Before I even realize the mess I’ve gotten myself into, I develop truth Tourette’s.
    “I can’t screw up Manderson, because I shouldn’t have gotten in to begin with. I didn’t go to a single class my whole last year at Colorado unless there was a test or a quiz. I barely passed. And do you know why I couldn’t go? Because I spent most of my junior year screwing one of my professors. Then, when everyone found out, it didn’t matter that I’d spent the first three years setting the curve in all of my classes, or all of the awards I won. All anyone knew was that I was the girl who must have slept her way to a 4.0. When I could barely pass the last year, it was just confirmed in everyone’s eyes. I’m sorry, Hawk, I really am, but I just can’t do the whole scandalous relationship thing again, even if the scandal might be stupid. I need to focus, and I need to prove that I’m worth my place here. Because I am worthy, a lot more than many of the upper-crust, privately tutored, raised by a nanny rich kids here whose daddy will make sure they’ll be millionaires by the time they’re thirty no matter what. I have nothing except my brain to rely on, but that’s just fine by me. Because I’m one of the best fucking mathematical minds at Manderson, make no mistake, and I intend to prove it to everyone.”
    “Really? That’s really what’s holding you back?” He dares to look incredulous, but I nod. “Wow, Robin, you are stupid.”
    I blink twice. “Excuse me?”
    “You’re stupid,” he repeats as he walks my way. “Because I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as sexy as you telling me you’re one of the best fucking minds at Manderson.”
    He stops just inches from me, his fingers keying the air at his waist.
    “I’m going to kiss you now,” he declares, “deep, hard, and long. And I’m going to kiss you like that every time I see you, so you might as well get used to it.”
    “What are you talking about? Did you hear anything I just—“
      Hawk delivers on his warning. His lips crash to mine, muffling my argument. His mouth takes possession of mine, and my senses go wild. Suddenly, I can’t remember why I even came here, or figure out why a moment ago I was ready to leave. His hands encircle my arms, keeping me locked before him. I try to wrestle back control, if only to wrap my arms