Page 51 of Brighter Shades of Light

“So…the university basement?” Cody grinned.

“I might spend a lot of time here, Mr. Miller,” I gripped his waist and brought him against me, “but Idohave a home.”

“Prove it.” Cody stared at me with a challenge in his eyes.

I was digging myself deeper into a hole. Soon, I wouldn’t be able to get out of it even if I wanted to.

“Very well.” I met his challenge and raised him one. “Saturday morning. I expect you for coffee, unless you have other obligations with the program.”

“Nope. My weekends are free.”

“Good.”

The deal was sealed. Whatever it was that had brought us together couldn’t be undone now.

***

Thermodynamics the next day was interesting. Cody sat in the front row, having been one of the first students to arrive in the lecture hall, and he stared at me with an amused gleam in his eyes as I prepared to start class.

It was hard to focus when I saw his lips and remembered how they felt against mine; when he chewed the tip of his pen and I recalled the warm of his mouth as my cock sunk into him.

“Can anyone tell me the four types of thermodynamic processes?” I folded my hands on the podium and waited.

Brandon’s arm shot up into the air. “Isobaric, isochoric, isothermal, and adiabatic.”

“Did everyone catch that?” I asked, receiving scattered laughs and a few nervous glances. “The terms are difficult to understand based on their names alone, so I’ll spend time covering each one.” I started the PowerPoint and changed it to the first slide. “First, there’s the isobaric process. In simple terms, it’s when the pressure of the system stays constant.Isomeans same andbaricmeans pressure, if you need a way to remember the definition.”

Each time I looked at Cody, my chest flooded with warmth. He smiled and averted his gaze to his notebook, and I watched him a second, knowing we shared a secret that could ruin us if anyone ever found out.

Logic told me to let him go. That he wasn’t worth tarnishing my reputation and damaging my career. If it was a warm body I desired to make me feel less alone, there were plenty of willing individuals.

Yet, I saw no one but him.

Toward the end of class, my watch buzzed, and I wrapped up the lecture. “Remember, I posted an assignment on the course page that’s due on Monday. Have a wonderful weekend.”

The room began to clear as students packed up their things and left. Cody took his time placing the textbook in his backpack and zipping it. I placed my notes in my messenger bag and watched him from my peripheral.

“Dr. Vale?” Cody stood at the front of the podium, his face upturned in a smile he only gave me since his back was to the class. “I have a quick question about the assignment.”

He’ll be the death of me.

“Yes, Mr. Miller?” I glanced up at him, tightening my jaw even though I wanted to smile.

“How early in the morning is it due?”

I suspected he was really asking what time he should be over at my house on Saturday, as we hadn’t specified an exact time yesterday.

“Bright and early,” I said, doing my best to ignore the way my stomach flipped. Quieter, I added, “Eight should be just fine.”

“Thanks, Doctor.”

I couldn’t help but admire his toned arms as he walked away from me. Strange how the closer I felt to him, the more attractive he became. Cody was physically beautiful, but it was his heart that called to me most.

Chapter 14

Cody

“Where are you off to so early?” Tristen asked, as I bolted out of the bathroom with a towel around my hips.