Page 29

And thank fuck, I watch it at home.

Because the first viewing scandalizes me. I have to close my eyes to control my breathing before I rewind and pressPlayagain.

Most of her week runs in a similar vein to the previous ones. She tries something new. Her classes and job are blips. But the movie night when Orion Knight links their fingers together has my pulse hammering with jealousy. How casually he touches Sofia…

But his story thread in this narrative is pretty clear, especially with the small laugh that accompanies a young female student practically charging him when the movie finishes and Sofia pulls away.

The sweet bits with Birdie build new layers of intimacy in Doctor Braxton Barlowe’s house.

And fuck, she hid the identity of the romantic—let’s be honest, the erotic—bits, but I know it’s Barlowe there with her.

I bet she’s got some absolutely torturous footage of that event, given the bits she does show. A hand sliding down her stomach. The ceiling flickering with moonlight. Her unsteady breathing and slick noises signaling exactly what’s happening.

It amplifies how badlyIwant to touch her, to make her moan, to watch her writhe in pleasure, to fuck her.

I’ve never struggled this hard before. Especially not with a student.

That nasty green beast clings to my back and has me sending out a query to Barlowe to come sit in on a meeting with one of my students for her project. It’s an assholish thing to do, but it’s also a test.

I don’t tell him who it is, but I’m sure he can guess. Still, he responds with an affirmative, and I want to see how Sofia navigates this situation. Can she keep her cool?

It’s important to me for some reason.

Torturing myself, I watch the rough cuts again, dropping into a daydream of all the things I want to do to her. The one image that rebounds in my mind again and again is a version of her on her knees, that pouty mouth wrapped around my cock.

I refuse to let myself do anything about the desire that rides me hard, letting myself suffer with the inaction. I can’t have her. Not right now. So there’s no need to pretend.

Maybe I just like the punishment.

When it’s time to meet with Sofia again, it’s midweek. Three days after reviewing her footage. I’m still simmering in the discomfort of my wants and my reality.

Dr. Barlowe arrives first, shaking my hand and exchanging the usual pleasantries.

“I hope you don’t mind my calling you in on this, but I have a very promising student who’s flirting the line between art and branding. I thought you might offer some excellent insight.”

“I’m always happy to help a student.” He nods and takes a seat, filling the chair with his bulk.

If that’s what Sofia wants, I’m not able to give it to her. But then again, I don’t think she knows what she wants. Not yet, anyway.

When she knocks and steps in, Dr. Barlowe slowly turns toward me with a new look on his face. Sofia is surprised but curious about what’s going on here. Her cheeks hold a hint of red.

“Good morning, Professor Trevino. Dr. Barlowe.”

Barlowe rumbles, “Good morning, Sofia.”

“Have a seat.” I gesture to the open chair. “Reviewing your rough cuts this week prompted me to contact Dr. Barlowe to weigh in on your project. More in the vein of telling the truth, creating a visual memoir, as it were. Or turning yourself into a product or a brand.”

Sofia sits, back straight as always, notebook appearing in her lap.

“You two already know each other, of course.” Neither of them reacts, no sweat or flinches. Sofia does tilt her head just slightly, trying to figure out what I’m doing. “The bits of your daughter in the story so far are very powerful.”

Barlowe’s brow jumps up, and he peeks at her, like he didn’t know about the project she’s working on. Surely, he’s seen her set up the cameras in his home.

Sofia turns a smile on him. “Don’t worry. I’m not putting any of her personal information in there. Just some giggles back and forth and a few inside jokes we have.”

The way he smiles is the only break in the professional. He seems profoundly glad that they have those things together.

Interesting.