Page 38 of Brighter Shades of Light

“Precisely.” He nodded. “It can be calculated using several different equations. Would you like me to go over them?”

I’d prefer for you to bend me over your desk.

“Yeah, that’d be a lot of help.”

He explained the formulas, stopping every so often to make sure I was following, and I was. But I was also following the movement of his lips when he spoke, imagining what they’d feel like on mine.

Did he kiss softly, easing into it before adding tongue? Or did he kiss hard, grabbing his partner by the nape as he took their breath away, invading their mouth before invading their willing body?

“You still with me, Mr. Miller?”

“Huh?” I blinked, and the fantasy of kissing my professor flew away, along with my morals. “Yeah, I’m good. You said the entropy of a solid is less than the entropy of a gas, right? Because with a solid, the particles aren’t free to move around, so the uncertainty is lower.”

“Mhm.”

His gaze was unwavering, a seemingly blank expression. I wondered what was going on in that head of his. It was almost as if he was trying to mentally calculate something. Trying to figure me out. Finally, he blinked, and the weight of his stare was lifted.

“We’ve been at this for an hour,” Dr. Vale said after checking his watch. “Shall we stop for the day and pick it back up on Thursday?”

I wasn’t ready for the time with him to be over.

“Yeah, sounds great.” I stood when he did, my head buzzing. He began walking toward the closed door, and my hands shook the closer he got. When he reached it, it would be over. The chance to make a move would go with it. “Um, Dr. Vale?”

“Yes?” He turned to me, standing not even a foot away. Maybe I was wrong, but I could’ve sworn he stared at my mouth a moment before looking into my eyes. “Is there something else I can do for you, Mr. Miller?”

Many things, if I’m being honest. Kiss me. Fuck me.

“Um. I was just. Uh,” I stammered, rubbing the back of my head as my heart beat so hard it was a miracle it didn’t bust through my chest. “Do you want to grab coffee? Like right now?”

Smooth, Cody. Real smooth.

“Coffee,” Dr. Vale repeated, emotionless.

“Yeah?”

He only stared.

So, I started blabbing like I always did when I got nervous. “I know you’ll say it’s inappropriate and unprofessional, but I want to repay you for your time and—”

“Actually, coffee sounds lovely.”

“Huh?” There I was, about to lay out all the reasons why it wouldn’t be inappropriate. Hell, I’d been ready to draw a damn diagram and make a bullet point list. And he agreed just like that. “Really?”

“Yes.” Although faint, there was a small smile in the corner of his mouth. “Consider it the start of the interview process.”

“Interview?” I shoved the thermodynamics textbook back into my backpack and zipped it before slinging it over my shoulder. “For what?”

“I’ve decided to humor the idea of a teacher’s assistant for next semester,” he responded in a cool tone. “Someone to help me grade papers and assist in my lab on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Do you think it’s something you’d be interested in?”

“For next semester?” I was a little swamped this semester and wanted to verify.

“Yes.”

“Then, yeah! I’m interested.” I laughed when something occurred to me. “Wow. Brandon Powel’s gonna be pissed if I get the job and he doesn’t. He’s wanted it since day one.”

“Oh, don’t misunderstand me, Mr. Miller.” Dr. Vale stepped closer, stopping close enough that I felt the heat come off his body, making mine tingle in response. “There’ll be a very thorough interview process. If chosen, we’ll be spending a lot of time together, so I need to be sure we fit together. For work, that is.”

I swallowed, unable to look away from his stare.