He was tall, at least six foot two, with broad shoulders and playful dark eyes. Shaggy dark hair framed his angled jaw and features. He also had a smile hot enough to make any red-blooded female consider dropping her panties. Self-confidence and sex appeal oozed off of him in waves.

“So, for those of you who don’t remember, I’ll give you a brief overview. During the course of a week, you’ll have one lecture, two advisory sessions, an assignment, and a critique.”

A legend like him was going to give me critiques and advice. Bile churned as my stomach flipped. Of course, I’d expected that, but still. Theoretically knowing my work was going to be picked apart and actually having it happen were two different things.

Then there was also the small matter of being stuck in a room with a man, any man, and only one exit. I wrapped my arms around my middle. I’d better learn to steel myself or I wouldn’t survive a day, let alone the whole term. He might be good-looking and in a position of power, but he was not Easton. I’d faced Easton and hadn’t died. I could deal with this man.

“Oh, and one other thing to get out of the way. I want to remind the female and male students alike that it’s pointless to try to sleep with me. I don’t sleep with my students. I promise you it’s not going to happen, so save us all some time and don’t try it. I'd rather get on with teaching you.”

Wow.

Okay. Way to put it all out there. I snuck a look around the room and instantly understood why he’d laid out his cards. Every single girl—and at least a quarter of the guys— appraised him. I had to wonder if anyone would make the attempt. There were only fifty students in the program, and of that fifty, only twenty of us were female.

A tiny brunette sitting next to me whispered, “Just a tad full of himself, isn’t he?”

I giggled and whispered back, “I'd heard British men had a problem with confidence. I see he doesn’t suffer from that affliction.”

The girl grinned. “I'm Ilani Bruce, by the way.”

“Abbie Nartey.” I smiled back.

As I listened, energy hummed through my veins. The work would be exciting, though I certainly wasn't going to enjoy the critiques. But then again, who did?

Xander was speaking again, and I dragged my attention back to him.

“Remember, I hand-selected each of you based on your portfolio submissions. I think each and every one of you has a raw talent waiting to come out. I need your commitment to be honest. Don't give me trite and pretty. I want you exposing yourselves and putting yourself in every single image.”

We all nodded enthusiastically.