Page 8 of Gin & Sin (Last Call #2)

EIGHT

STEWART

Ignoring Kit while he works is easier said than done. I try to keep my attention on my drink and the plate of french fries I ordered just for something to do and to soak up the alcohol, but every time he passes or I hear his voice over the crowd, my stomach does a flip. I can’t believe I get to have sex with a man like that.

“Professor Hanley?”

I stiffen, closing my eyes for a second before forcing a smile to my face and twisting in my seat. It’s Thaddeus from my Social Inequality course.

“Hello, Thaddeus.”

“Thad. What are you doing here?”

I motion to the drink. “Just having a drink.”

He nods, studying my face. Thad is the kind of guy I avoided like the plague during my own college years. He’s popular, on the university football team, and good-looking with his wavy blond hair and sultry light brown eyes. I assume he’s queer simply because he’s always got someone on his arm, but rarely the same someone and the genders rotate. In that regard, his existence makes me proud. That a college football star can openly date whoever he wants is definite progress.

“I didn’t know you were…” Thad pauses, glancing over his shoulder as his friends at the pool table call out his name. “I guess I shouldn’t assume just because you’re here.”

I feel the heat creeping up my neck, but I knew the chance of seeing someone I knew was high. Besides, I’m not ashamed of who I am, I’m just private when it comes to students.

“I am. Queer, I mean. Bisexual, maybe.”

Thad’s whole face lights up. “That’s amazing. You’re so…” Pausing again, he shakes his head. “Are you single?”

His train of thought is dizzying. “Sort of. Why?”

“No reason.” His voice dips in a strange way, and unless I’m imagining it, he just moved in a little closer. “I thought you were married.”

“I was.”

“Oh. Sorry. About the divorce.”

“It’s okay. I’ve worked through it, but thank you.”

His proximity is making me nervous. I don’t socialize with students, so there’s never any question about my role and my professionalism. Simply being outside the classroom doesn’t change that. I shift in my seat to put a little distance between us, and suddenly Kit’s warm, firm grip is on my shoulder from beside me.

“You doing okay, babe?” Kit asks, leaning in and brushing his lips over my cheek.

Thad’s eyes widen as he takes a step back.

“I’m doing great.” I tilt my head to gaze at Kit. “This is a student of mine.”

“Oh.” Kit smiles, but I swear there’s a hint of warning in it as he presses himself against me. “Enjoying yourself?”

Thad nods, glancing over his shoulder at his friends. “Yeah. Cool bar. Just saying hi to the prof.”

Kit nods, but doesn’t say anything else or move at all. I know a lot about mating rituals in the wild, and while we’re not out on the Sahara, this feels an awful lot like two alphas challenging each other over territory.

Thad clearly doesn’t stand a chance, and he knows it. “Have a good rest of your night, Prof.”

“You too, Thad.”

He walks away and my shoulders drop with relief. “How did you know to come rescue me?”

“I saw how tense you looked. I didn’t know if he was hitting on you or what.”

“I don’t understand anything that just happened in that interaction. He was weirdly interested in my relationship status.”

Kit grins, pushing my knees apart to stand between my legs. “Sounds like he was hitting on you.”

I scoff. “No. Why would a twenty-something jock be into me?”

“You have no idea how delicious you are. Adorable.”

“Delicious? How would a student know that even if it were true?”

“Have you ever walked by a bakery and looked in the window and seen a treat that looked so good your mouth watered?”

I nod as my stomach does somersaults. “Yes.”

“Yeah, so you don’t know if it’s as good as it looks, but you know you want a taste.”

His answer leaves me wordless for a second. “You’re good for a guy’s ego.”

“I speak the truth. Gonna prove it to you later.”

“How much later?”

Kit chuckles. “Not long. Kitchen’s closed and the drinking crowd is coming in. They don’t need as much, so I can dip.”

“Okay.”

Kit lifts my hand and kisses my palm, making me laugh softly. Then he licks it, holding my gaze as his eyes heat with promises of more things he can do with his tongue. A shiver moves up and down my spine, and I lean in.

“Mmm. Delicious.”

He winks, then releases me, leaving me desperate for more of whatever the hell that was. I catch Thad watching the whole thing, abruptly looking away when he notices me. Is Kit right? Could a young guy like Thad actually find me attractive? Kit seems to, so I guess anything is possible. Huh.

Just as I down the rest of the cocktail, the ice clinking against the glass, Kit shows up again, this time wearing his jacket.

“Ready to go, gorgeous?”

I nod, sliding off my barstool. “Very.”

We head outside together, and the cold air that nipped at my skin earlier feels positively balmy right now with Kit so close to me.

“Want me to drive?”

“Unless you want to walk to my place.”

I’d like to see his place but… “I think I’d feel more comfortable at mine. For now.”

“Whatever you want.”

I unlock the car doors and Kit slides into the passenger seat. I take a deep breath before joining him. I waited all day for this, obsessively washing every part of my body. I personally can’t imagine putting my mouth on that part of someone’s body, but I won’t stop Kit from doing it if that’s what he’s into.

I smile at him as I start the car and pull out of the parking lot. I should be a little less nervous than I was last night, but nope, the nerves are on fire. Maybe it’s anticipation more than nerves. I don’t know.

“What do you do during the day?” I ask, hoping to distract myself on the short drive to my house.

“Whatever.” He shrugs. “Sleep, of course. Errands.”

“Do you like working at night?”

“I’m used to it now, but we’re planning to hire some more people so we can have better balance. Right now we’re all there all the time. We work too many hours.”

“It must be tough launching a new business.”

Kit shakes his head, dragging a hand through his thick hair. “I can’t complain. We’ve been lucky that the town accepted us and we rarely have an empty table. Indy was right.”

“Indy?”

“Best friend. All the guys are close, but Indy’s my dude. We have the most in common. It was his idea to blow up our lives and move back to Willow Bay to open a gay bar.” He chuckles. “It sounded slightly insane, but I was down.”

“Why?”

“Boredom, I guess. My life felt like I was on a treadmill going nowhere. Work was dull, dating was dull. Nothing lit me up anymore until Indy called with his crazy idea. I didn’t love California as much as I thought I would. Turns out I’m an East Coast guy at heart.”

“California makes me crazy. Too many people.”

“My guy, we live in a suburb of New Onyx, the third largest city in the US.”

“‘Suburb’ being the operative word. Going into the city gives me hives.”

Kit chuckles. “It can be overwhelming. We were so thankful to have Jimmy’s back in the day.”

“I can’t imagine you as a young college student.”

“Same as I am now, but slightly more of a dumbass.”

I laugh, turning onto my street. “Fair.”

“What were you like in college?”

I blow out a breath. “Same as I am now, only way more nerdy.”

“So even hotter?”

“Oh come on. Guys like you never looked at guys like me. Not back then.”

“Not gonna lie, I’ve always had a thing for a pretty twink. I went through a phase where I only went after guys who wore makeup and lingerie. I think gender bending or breaking societal rules is pretty hot.”

“Yeah.” I shift in my seat. I’m the furthest thing from a pretty twink.

“But the older I get, the more I’m appreciating the variety of people in the world. There’s something about you that stole my attention. I think it’s your eyes. I’ve always been drawn to people who actually see the world around them and take it in, and don’t just exist like so many of us.”

“That’s what you think of me?”

“You’re an educator, so I’m guessing you’re curious by nature.”

“That’s been said about me.”

Kit reaches across the seats and squeezes my thigh. “Turns out I’m attracted to smart people with searching eyes and pretty lips.”

“That’s me?”

“That’s you.”

I let his sweet words settle over me as I turn into my driveway, and this time, I remember to open the garage door. We exit the car, and my nerves kick up as I lead Kit into the house. I don’t really know how things will start. How do we transition from talking to him eating my ass?

“Do you want a drink?”

Kit, standing on the opposite side of my kitchen island, leans his elbows on the counter. “No. Unless you need one.”

I shake my head, clearing my throat. “I’m good.”

Standing up straight, Kit gets a grin on his face that makes me feel like the prey to his beast. I stay rooted in place as he rounds the island and joins me, sliding his arm around my waist.

“You feel good in my arms, Professor.”

I slide my hands over his pecs, and even hidden under his shirt, my fingers catch on his hardened nipples. “Can I suck you?”

His eyelids flutter as he softly moans. “You sure can, beautiful. In fact, you can do it while I feast on your ass.”

My cock instantly swells, making my breath hitch. “Christ. I want this so much.”

“So do I. I can’t wait to strip you down and unravel you piece by piece until you scream my name and come all over me.”

“Fuck, yes. Please.”

His sexy smirk does things to me. I can’t believe it took me this long to realize I could have this kind of attraction with someone. It’s never been like this with women.

Kit grips my ass, squeezing gently. “Take me to your bedroom.”

I nod, flicking my tongue out to wet my very dry lips. “Come on.”

He doesn’t let me go as we walk, choosing to drape his body over mine from behind, and I gotta say, it feels good. There’s nothing like the weight of a man’s body, or the roughness of his touch, and the way his beard scratches my skin. What will that beard feel like between my ass cheeks?

When we get to my bedroom, Kit twists me around so I’m facing him. He grips my chin, tilting my head back. “Ask me for whatever you want, and it’s yours.”

Breathing hard, I twist his t-shirt in my fingers. “I want your tongue and your fingers inside me.”

Kit leans in and gently bites my bottom lip. “Mmm. Sounds good to me.”