Page 95 of Academically Yours

She didn’t. Instead, after the girls had chatted with her for a few moments about hall business, Noelle was already saying goodbye. “Well,” she started, “it’s a nice day outside, and we should all get back to enjoying the market.” She handed the stall owner a few bills for the items in her hand, and then pulled me back towards the trees on the other end of the street.

When we were finally alone, we both couldn’t help but break out into laughter.

“I feel like a five-year-old who was caught with her hand in the cookie jar.” Noelle’s eyes were shining with laughter.

“Why do I feel like we got caught?” I huffed. And then I turned my attention back to the potential problem at hand. Did she even want her students to know? “Your students—”

“They’re not going to say anything,” she reassured me.

I had told her I didn’t want her to be my dirty little secret, didn’t want to hide our relationship, but obviously Noelle didn’t feel the same. I frowned. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Did you see them?” she dropped her voice to a whisper. “They’re so dating.” She grinned. “I called it. Hazel owes me fifty bucks.”

I think my jaw dropped a little. “You were betting on your RAs hooking up?”

She shrugged. “I’ve known them both since they were freshmen. I always felt like there was something more there than friendship.”

“Huh.” I rubbed a hand over my jaw. “And what did you feel with us?” The glint in her eyes was unmistakable as Noelle stood up on her tiptoes.

“Hmmm…” Noelle stood up on her tiptoes so she could look into my eyes better. “I felt like you were going to eat me. You’re a wolf, after all.” she batted her eyelashes. “And I’m just a little kitty.”

“Noelle—” I about growled. “I did want to eat you. Still do.” I gave her a wolfish grin, and pulled her into my arms, even as some of her bags fell to the ground. “But you’re not a little kitten, are you, hm? My little vixen.”

She wasn’t a kitten—she was a fox. A wicked little fox who certainly knew every possible way to get into my pants. I was glad we had the rest of the week still together because I needed to stop feeling like I wanted to jump her bones anytime I saw her.

“I’m pretty sure that I’ll never get sick of eating you, my sweet girl.” I gave her a wicked little grin, letting the implications of my words sink in.

She laughed, and then put on her cutest coy face. Like she didn’t know what she was doing, acting all bashful and shy. Like she didn’t know how this was going to end—with me on top of her. “You’re sure? Absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure?”

“Positive. I could tell you that a million times, but I don’t think you’ll believe me, so I’ll just show you that instead.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her and placed a kiss on her jaw before pulling away just a little.

Noelle pretended to think about it. “I think I require dinner first, and then you are free to show me all night long.”

I nipped at her ear. “Let’s get going, baby.” I hoisted all of our bags back up off the grass as we finally separated, and I was glad I managed to control myself enough not to pounce on her here.

Time and place, Matthew, I reminded myself. This was definitely not the time or place.

We were going to go home, I was going to start dinner as Noelle sat on my granite countertop and watched me, munching on chips and salsa as I made us tacos, and then I was going to make love to her.

All freaking night long.

I never wanted this break to end.