Page 8 of Hidden Intentions (Quick Bites: MM Short Stories #3)
Kevin
Monday Morning
7:45 AM
I hit send, exhaling as my assignment disappeared from my class portal screen, officially submitted to Matt. I followed up with a quick email to let him know. Hopefully, I’d get a better grade this time around. But more than that, I was excited for today’s class.
A quick shower. A car ride with Tyler. And by nine a.m. I was seated in the lecture hall, my knee bouncing under the desk. Waiting.
For Matt.
Every time the door creaked open, my head snapped up with my heart skipping a beat, only to sag in disappointment when it was just another student coming in for class.
The scene from Saturday’s brunch date played in my head, and I caught myself smiling like an idiot. Matt had agreed to our little arrangement, but from the way my heart reacted every time the door opened, you’d think he’d agreed to be my boyfriend.
Boyfriend.
Huh.
Patience . . . patience . . .
9:30 AM
Still no Matt.
The restless energy in my limbs now had me uneasy. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I scrolled to Matt’s contact. He’d been so damn reluctant to give it to me at first, muttering something about “no digital footprints.” I had to find a creative way to get it in the end— by not giving him permission to come the second time in my mouth until he gave me his number.
Worked like magic.
Coming to class?
Submitted the assignment this morning. Did you get it?
The door flung open and the room went silent. My breath hitched as I perked up.
It wasn’t Matt; it was his teaching assistant.
“Good morning, everyone,” she chirped, putting the stack of papers she was holding down with a loud thud. “Sorry for the delay.” She turned to fully face the class. “Professor Parker has taken a short emergency leave due to personal matters. In the meantime, I’ll be taking over on his behalf for the remainder of the semester.”
My heart dropped to my stomach.
What?
A short emergency leave?
Matt never mentioned anything about taking a leave. Not on Friday. Not on Saturday when I slept over again.
I barely heard the whispers around me as she continued. “I’m sure you all have questions, but I assure you, this change won’t affect your coursework. I have an updated syllabus with my contact information—”
I wasn’t staying for this.
I shoved my phone into my pocket, grabbed my backpack, and snatched a copy of the new syllabus on my way out.
Did he change his mind about us? Was that why he took a leave of absence? Maybe he really did have an emergency and it just happened to coincide with everything, but still... I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d had a hand in it.
I headed straight for his office.
Locked.
I spun, panic beginning to build in my throat. I looked up and down the hall.
No sign of him.
No messages from him either, though I saw my texts had been read.
Fucking hell.
Without thinking, I opened my ride app and typed in Matt’s address. Uber said fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes of hell, waiting, and the ride to his place was equally as painful. I didn’t know what to think. Was this his way of ghosting me? After everything?
By the time I stood outside his door, my pulse was a hammering mess. I pressed the doorbell, following up with a hard knock on the door.
Just as I almost gave up, thinking he might not be home either, I heard footsteps on the other side. The door swung open.
Matt stood in the doorway, in his khaki pants and a black turtleneck, looking very alright for someone who had my emotions all twisted up like a pretzel.
What’s with him and black turtlenecks?
“Kevin?” His gaze flickered over me as his brows drew tight. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have class?”
“Why weren’t you in class today? Your TA said you took a leave for the rest of the semester. I—” I ran a hand through my hair, frustration mixing with concern. “I went to your office. You didn’t answer my texts. What the hell is going on?”
Matt sighed, opening the door wider. “Come inside.”
That had to be a good sign, right? If he was ending things, he wouldn’t invite me in.
Right?
I stepped inside, barely giving him a chance to shut the door before I grabbed him, wrapping my arms around him.
He stiffened—just for a second—before melting into me.
“I’m sorry. Should’ve told you,” he murmured against my shoulder.
“No shit,” I grumbled, pulling back. “You got me worried for a minute.”
Matt’s expression softened as he met my gaze. “I took the semester off because I couldn’t do it.”
Something in his tone made my chest tighten. “Do what?”
“Continue like nothing had happened.”
My stomach dipped. What the hell was that supposed to mean? “Are you... breaking up with me?”
Matt scoffed, a short chuckle escaping as his brows lifted. “Kevin, we’re not in a relationship.”
“Not yet,” I shot back, narrowing my eyes. “So if you’re breaking up with me, do it now. Rip the damn Band-Aid off.”
He blinked. Then his lips parted but no words came out. Instead, he let out a breathy laugh and shook his head. His fingers traced my jawline, sending a shiver down my spine. I bricked in my pants the second he touched me, but he was touching me at least. That had to be a good thing, right?
“I’m not breaking up with you , whatever you mean by that,” he said. “After what happened between us, whether we like it or not it’s unethical for me to continue to be your professor. I don’t want to get you in trouble, or myself for that matter.”
I exhaled. “I could’ve dropped the class, you know.” If Matt had told me he was still uncomfortable, I would’ve withdrawn from the class. For him. I could deal with the fallout from my father later.
“No need for that anymore.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “I want it this way. I’m happy for it to be this way. It’s not like I quit. I’ll resume in the fall semester.”
I studied his face, searching for any doubt, but found none. “You don’t regret it?”
“I don’t.” His gaze held mine. “And I want to explore this. Whatever this is between us.”
Something inside me clicked into place.
This was it.
This was fucking it.
I crushed my mouth to his, pushing him against the door, pouring every ounce of relief, want, and frustration into the kiss. He moaned against my lips, and I grinned.
I ground into him and felt his hardness pressing back. How long had he been hard for me?
My freaky, perfect gentleman.
Matt slowly pulled back, his lips flushed and swollen. His eyes were hazy, dark with naughty intent.
“Want to go upstairs and punish me for making you worry?” he murmured.
Fuck.
I’m so gone for this man.
“Yes,” I rasped, already backing him toward the stairs. “Anything you want.”
His kiss flooded me with more than just arousal.
Matt loaded that kiss. I felt his emotions, and they made my heart beat out of my fucking chest... because they matched mine.
I smiled as he pulled me close.
First fucking rule for impressing a crush: don’t mess up.
And if you do mess up, fucking fix it. I think I did fix it, so... check.
Second rule for impressing a crush: fuck him senseless... double check.
Third rule? Make him yours, exclusively... almost check. I think we’re heading in that direction. Last weekend and this morning were in my book, progress extraordinaire. Five more weeks and I’d be done with my studies here at Vanes U. Five more weeks of bending the rules and secret rendezvous, and I’d have him the way I wanted.
Free. Unapologetic and openly mine.
Final fucking rule for impressing my man?
Loving him into oblivion.
THE END
Thank you for reading Matt and Kevin’s story.