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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

ELLIOT

Amelia

You look so hot in blue.

My head whips around the campus coffee shop where I’m standing in the longest line in history. I haven’t seen Amelia since I got to school and she left for an early meeting on campus before I got dressed, so the only way she would know I’m wearing blue is if she was here.

Not being able to touch her around campus, or be anything other than cordial, makes the time we are together scorching hot, but it also makes me desperate to get my eyes on her anytime I can, so I’m giving the exact opposite of subtle, I’m definitely not dating my student right now.

Especially today. Because today is Wednesday and on Wednesdays Amelia spends most of her day in one of the computer labs, which means I don’t get to see her during the day. I really, really hate Wednesdays.

Me

You stalking me, Mystery Girl?

Amelia

I mean, I guess you could call the fact that I know you’re at the coffee shop every day at ten a little bit of light stalking.

Me

Shit, that’s hot. Where are you?

Amelia

Isn’t it more fun if you don’t know?

I glance up when the cashier clears her throat and place my order as quickly as possible, tapping my card and then stepping aside, eyes back on my phone.

Me

One hundred percent, it isn’t. I need my eyes on you, like, immediately.

Amelia

Just your eyes?

Me

I mean, I would prefer to have my hands on every inch of your gorgeous body right fucking now, but I think what I want is the opposite of subterfuge and hiding the fact that we’re in a relationship from the entire school.

Amelia

Back table, by the window.

I let my gaze roam the coffee shop with what I hope is casual, just waiting for my coffee energy, until I see her.

Amelia grins and winks at me, and warmth floods my chest. She looks cozy and comfortable in a fuzzy pink sweater, her hair tumbling down her back in waves and her elbow propped on the table, her chin in her hand, surrounded by her laptop, the mug I know is her favorite, and three Diet Pepsi cans.

The love that swamps me is so massive it’s almost overwhelming, and the need to get my arms around her is intense. My intention must be written all over my face because her eyes go wide and drop to her phone, her thumbs flying over the screen until my phone dings.

Amelia

Dean Miller, at your six.

“Professor Wyles, just the man I’ve been looking for.”

Wincing inwardly, I turn. “Hey, Dean Miller, how’s it going?”

He shakes his head, as if in disappointment. “It would be going better if you would respond to my emails. I’ve been trying to schedule a meeting with you for two weeks.”

He has, in fact, been doing exactly that, and I’ve been dodging him.

Mainly because he’s an asshole and I prefer to never speak to him, if at all possible, but also because if he asks me about Amelia, I don’t trust myself not to take a swing at him, which would have the unfortunate side effect of outing our relationship.

There’s nothing I want more than to be with her all the way out loud, but not that way, and not until she’s ready.

And I guess I should also have some self-preservation about my own job, but when faced with the thought of being able to yell to the world that Amelia is my girl, my job seems unimportant in comparison.

“Sorry about that; the semester has been a heavy lift. I haven’t had a ton of free time. ”

He takes a casual sip of his coffee but the way his eyes sharpen is anything but casual.

“I’m sorry to hear that. If you have too much responsibility, I’d be happy to see about reassigning some of your classes.

Or maybe you’re too busy with…extracurricular activities.

I’ve seen this before, you know. A professor gets involved with a female student and their job performance goes straight off a cliff.

It never ends well for the professor. And as for the student?

Well, it usually ends worse. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Professor Wyles? ”

The smirk on his face has a red haze covering my vision because how fucking dare he, and suddenly I’m Bruce Banner turning into the Hulk and busting out of his clothes in rage.

I’m King Kong on a rampage through New York.

I’m all of these things, but I can’t be any of them.

I take a deep breath to try and calm my rising fury because showing it to him will only make it bad for Amelia.

He already clearly suspects that we are exactly what we are.

Tearing into him will only prove him right and I’ll be fucking damned if he gets to say I told you so .

“Again, I apologize for not getting back to you. When I get to my office, I’ll check my calendar and send you my availability. ”

Dean Miller studies me for a long minute. “See that you do,” he clips, before turning and walking straight out of the coffee shop.

Fucker. A curl of anxiety snakes through my belly as I fumble for my phone.

Me

Shit that was…not great.

Amelia

What did he say?

Me

He knows.

Amelia

He can’t. There’s no way. He might think he knows, but he doesn’t really.

Me

For a guy like that, him thinking he knows is as bad as him actually knowing. He won’t stop until he figures out what’s going on.

Amelia

He’s an asshole.

Me

An asshole who can out your connection to Gabe to the entire tech world if he wants to. Who can figure out Genesis is yours and tell everyone before you have a chance to.

I fight my racing brain, closing my eyes for a second and taking a deep breath. Until this second, I hadn’t realized how little I care about what happens to my own job. They can go right ahead and fire me for having a perfectly consensual relationship with an adult grad student if they want to.

Amelia is worth it.

She’s worth everything.

But Amelia has been crystal clear about making her way on her own. About keeping her connection to Genesis and to Gabe a secret. And the dean outing us can fuck up everything she’s worked for. All her plans.

Amelia

It’ll be okay, El.

Me

Will it, though?

Amelia:

It will. We can be more careful at school. We’ll figure it out. I promise. I’ve been dealing with asshole men in STEM for my entire adult life. He’s just a bully.

Turn around.

After glancing at the door to confirm that the dean is actually gone, I turn and lock eyes with Amelia.

She grins then sticks her tongue out at me.

I chuckle, feeling my entire mood lift at the smile on her face and the way her brown eyes sparkle at me.

I take another deep breath, trying to shove my anxiety away.

Me

We still on for tonight?

Amelia

Disaster movie night at Jordan and Jo’s and then a sleepover with my favorite guy and his teeny tiny dog? Bet your tight, perfect ass.

Can we take Killer on another midnight snow walk and get hot chocolate at that 24-hour diner by your house?

Me

What my girl wants, my girl gets. God, I adore you. I wish I could kiss you right now. Tonight is way too far away.

Amelia

I think there might be something we can do about that.

Me

Please tell me more.

Amelia

Nope. Just be prepared.

Me

Fuck, I need you.

Amelia

You’ll have me.

Me

Now.

Amelia

Patience, El. I’ll make it worth your while.

My brain finally settled after the turmoil of my run in with the dean, and I’m seconds away from working out a coding issue on one of my side projects that has been eluding me for days when the quiet creak of my office door opening pierces my bubble of concentration.

I’m just about to let out a groan of frustration when I glance up and straight into a pair of sparkling brown eyes, and my frustration flees the chat, replaced by a shot of lust and longing so strong it has me shooting up from my chair and straight around my desk.

All of my anxiety and hesitation from earlier at the café melts away at having her this close to me.

“Happy to see me, El?” Amelia asks, grin spreading over her face as she closes the door with a click that reverberates around the small room.

She tosses her bag on one of my chairs and strips off her sweatshirt, leaving her in black leggings and a tank top so thin her hard nipples strain against the fabric.

My mouth waters with the need to taste them. Taste her.

I take a step closer until our chests brush, sliding one hand around to cup the back of her neck and dropping my forehead to hers. “So fucking happy. I hate Wednesdays. It’s been hours since I saw you at the coffee place. Even longer since I last touched you.”

“I know, and you’ve been so patient today,” she says, gripping my waist. The heat of her hands makes me wish that there was nothing between us.

As if she knows exactly where my thoughts just went, her smile turns sly, and her eyes fill with a combination of heat and fun that has me wanting to strip her bare and bend her over my desk. That visual has my cock going hard as steel. “What a good fucking boy you are.”

I let out a slow breath, trying to find my common sense. “This is a terrible idea.”

Amelia shrugs. “I know. And yet somehow, I don’t completely care right now.”

I close my eyes, shaking my head to try and clear it. “I think maybe I need to care enough for the both of us.”

Amelia cups my face, skating her thumbs over my cheeks.

“You don’t,” she says quietly. “I know it’s in your nature to care about the details.

To handle all the things. Right now, I’m here telling you it’s okay to let go a little.

Let me carry some of it too. We’re both in this, El. We’ll figure it out together.”

My heart thuds painfully in my chest as I absorb her words, the way she sees me so clearly. Her permission to let go of some of the control and share the burden is something I didn’t realize I needed.

“Thank you,” I murmur, leaning into her hands.

“Always. You’re mine too. Now, I’m standing right here. What are you going to do about it?”