Page 27 of Learn Your Limits

Chapter twenty-six

Emiliano

The hours spent driving on thankfully clear highways with Reid were strangely quiet.

Not in a sense of awkwardness, but perhaps more along the lines of restlessness?

The dark cloud that was forming in my mind as I waited for him to meet me in our clandestine location near his neighborhood quickly dissipated when I saw the bright smile he wore approaching my car.

I was beginning to resent how I couldn’t pick him up from his apartment without it causing an issue.

It was risky, having him come directly to my home last night, but I was a desperate man, and I knew he needed me just as much.

It would only be a few more months of this secrecy.

We have already survived the previous months of the semester, but a small part of me believes things will be even harder now that I know how he looks freshly-fucked in my sheets.

And even more so after becoming accustomed to the feeling of my hand wrapped around his inner thigh as I drove us to the cabin.

“We can unpack and settle in for the rest of the night. I was considering making a pasta dish, if you’d like to help me,” I comment, opening the passenger door for Reid. He steps out, standing a few inches from me in the little space afforded by the car door.

Smiling, he stares at me with a mischievous tilt to the corner of his lips. “Or,” he begins, licking at his bottom lip enticingly as he looks down at me. “We can break in the bed and deal with all that later.”

“Or,” I mock, wrapping my hand around the muscle at his hip.

He pulls in a quick breath as I lean in close enough to make him believe he might receive a kiss.

I whisper, “You could be a good boy and do as I say.” Patting at his hip, I move him away from the passenger’s area, close the door, and guide him to the back of the car with a firm hand.

“Yes, Daddy,” he mutters under his breath, and I can practically feel the way his eyes roll at my dismissal of his idea to break in the bed.

As annoyed as I am by his bratty response, I can’t deny the simmering arousal from hearing him call me “Daddy.” It was meant as a joke, I’m sure, but I’m curious to see if there’s a mutual liking of the moniker.

Recomposing myself, I follow Reid to the trunk where he has already grabbed the majority of our things. I slide beside him as he hauls the various suitcases, and I reach for the last two bags. As I’m waiting for the self-closing mechanism, I make the decision to push the idea.

Leaning over his brimming hands, I manage to capture his lips in a deep kiss, reveling in the way his eyelashes flutter against my closed lids. Stopping the kiss after a few seconds, I remain only centimeters from his pouty lips while I whisper, “Now be careful with Daddy’s things.”

As I turn to walk away, I hear a gentle moan fall from his lips before it’s suddenly cut off. Continuing my steps toward the cabin, I peer over my shoulder to see his teeth catching his full lower lip in a shy smile.

“This way, baby. Unless you’d like to continue your insolence, then you can stay outside.” There’s no threat behind my words, not when a small smile of my own starts spreading across my face.

Reid’s steps in the gravel echo behind me as I reach the front door and enter the code to unlock the cabin. Luckily for him, the small scrapes of the rocks against his shoes cover his grumbled protests.

Once inside, we strip off our jackets and shoes and begin settling our possessions.

Keys and wallets at the entry, groceries on the tucked-away galley kitchen counter, and suitcases sat just inside the bedroom.

The cabin is modern and sleek despite the rural location.

It’s also compact but can still easily fit both of us.

I admit that I booked this accommodation with thoughts of escaping Reid. I hadn’t even made it through the first week of our semester—syllabus week—when I looked for a retreat to get away from what was blooming between us.

Peering to the side, I take in the forest with half of its leaves clinging to the last of the summer green, while others are deep into the stunning shades of autumn. I remember the pictures on the listing showed a progressed autumn forest, the leaves had all become a synchronized amber.

My only thought was how similar the color was to Reid’s eyes, yet it still lacked the brilliance found in the gold flecks of his irises. In the end, I planned my fall escape knowing I’d have at least some part of him with me.

Walking into the bedroom, I hear him approach me from behind, and a moment later, freckle-covered arms wrap around my middle just before I can unzip my suitcase.

“Reid,” I chastise, peering over my shoulder to catch his eye. “You should unpack your clothing before it wrinkles.”

With a long sigh, he lets me go only after I’ve nudged him with my shoulder. Carefully, I begin unpacking my clothes, placing my underclothes in the drawers while laying out items that need to be hung on top of the dresser.

Preoccupied with my organization, I don’t notice at first how loud Reid is as he shuffles his clothing around.

It’s only when I turn to grab hangers from the wardrobe that I see how he has piled most of his clothing on top of his suitcase, unfolded and messy, while some other items cover one side of the bed.

The man doesn’t notice me gawking, happy to have his eyes closed as he leans back onto the only part of the bed not covered by clothing.

His lips curl into a smirk as he props himself up on his elbows, his eyes scanning slowly down my body.

“You sure you don’t wanna break in the bed first, Professor? ”

“I’m sure it’ll break just fine under the piles of your clothing,” I snark, stepping to the side to point at the free drawers.

“There are perfectly usable drawers right here. Why unpack your suitcase only to have your clothes pile on top of it?” I ask.

I shouldn’t be so bewildered. Reid is a young man, most likely only used to living with other college students who may even be messier than he is.

He shrugs from his position on the bed, looking around at his mess of clothing. “Shit’s easier to find when it’s like this,” he counters.

My expression contorts as if I’ve smelled something sour. Whether or not he’s joking, I can’t fully tell, but this won’t do.

“Reid,” I begin, my voice dropping low. “You’ll put away your clothing or you’ll learn your lesson.” My eyes focus on the shirts I’m placing onto the hangers, not looking at the younger man but still expecting to hear him rise from the bed and organize his belongings.

“Learn my lesson, hm?” he taunts. “You’re not exactly making me wanna put away my stuff. Punishment might be fun.” His voice is teasing, and I steal a glance in time to see him move a hand to the hem of his shirt, lifting it to reveal a hint of the taut muscle beneath.

Methodically, I hang up my shirts, purposely choosing not to answer him right away. After a few seconds, I see Reid squirm from the corner of my eye.

Good.

Closing the wardrobe door lightly, I turn and slowly make my way toward the bed, where a now nervous-looking Reid shifts to meet my gaze as I lower onto the bed and tower over him.

“You know,” I speak softly, close enough that my breath ghosts over his lips.

“There is a couch in the living room you’re welcome to break in by yourself.

” Instead of moving closer to kiss him, I lift off the bed and close the drawers of the dresser on my way out of the room.

“I don’t tolerate messes, Reid, and I’m not anyone’s maid. ”

“Okay, I’ll admit,” Reid says as he leans back in his chair. “I was a little nervous when you started adding in the butternut squash, but that was actually really good.”

“It’s important to expand your palate,” I reply, standing to begin clearing the dishes from the small dining table.

Turning to walk toward the sink, I catch a glimpse of the bedroom, devoid of the previous mess.

I wasn’t sure if he would clean his clothing after my little lecture.

Remembering the way he immediately rose from the bed after I barely crossed the threshold brings a tender smile to my lips.

He cares.

As I’m rolling up the sleeves of my shirt, Reid approaches and stands at my side, mirroring my motions as he prepares to help me clean.

He pours soap onto a sponge while I scrape the bits of leftover food into the compost and then hand him the plates.

Silently, we repeat the process for the pans as well, tension building in the air.

We need to have an important conversation.

There are so many factors in our relationship that may cause issues for both of us, and we need to address them.

In the back of my mind, I also know I need to reflect on my actions leading up to all of this.

As much as I am enraptured with Reid, I am very aware of my position of authority over him and my lead in age.

Dishes now dry, I make my way over to the living area, choosing to sit at the end of a large leather sofa. Sitting down on the luxurious cushion provides some instant relief as I sink into it.

“Reid,” I call, turning slightly to see him finish wiping down the counter. “Sit with me, please.” A firm pat on the space beside me echoes in the room.

He takes a moment to hang the kitchen towel over the handle of the oven door and glance over the counters, ensuring everything is cleaned up and put away before he crosses the room to me.

His eyes scan over the couch before he meets my gaze, slowly sinking onto the opposite end.

“Is something wrong?” he asks, nerves lacing his voice.

“Nothing is wrong,” I reassure him. Curling my fingers, I invite him to move closer. “You’re too far away for my liking, though.”