Page 31 of Teach Me

“Hold on, I think I’ve got something.” The professor fumbled in his pocket, but I was two steps ahead.

“I’ve got it.” I was already reaching into the front pocket of my backpack for one of the tissue packs I’d stuffed in there the last time I’d caught a cold.

I quickly cleaned up my stomach, offered him one, then stuffed the used tissues back in my pack, not wanting to litter.

“So, Professor.” I sank back against the wall of the little utility building, unsure of how to finish. A current of tension still ran between us, but now there was an additional layer of awkwardness. I had no idea what came next.

“Grady,” he corrected me, not unkindly.

“Grady,” I echoed softly. It was both odd and comforting to call him by his first name.

His fingers traced the contours of my face, one thumb brushing away strands of hair that had fallen against my forehead. The tenderness in his touch was unexpected, and it melted away the fear inside of me, leaving behind rough fragments of raw vulnerability. “This can’t happen again, you realize,” he murmured low, the words gentle but firm.

I nodded, light-headed with post-orgasm adrenaline still coursing through me, because what the hell else was I supposed to do? Disagree?

It must have been the response he was looking for because, with one more squeeze to my shoulder, Grady picked up his bag, straightened his shirt, and walked off, leaving me leaningagainst the building, still half-undressed and a hot mess from outside in.

15

CAM

“Ohhhh, hot professor alert!” Jesse perked up with a grin that only widened as Sam swatted at him. “What? It’s not like I’d actually fuck him, but considering some of the dinosaurs on display in this institution, he’s a breath of fresh air.”

I barely heard the rest of what Jesse was saying. My next breath froze in my chest, words on my tongue shattering as Grady weaved his way toward the bar. He was dressed down in a pair of jeans, loafers, and a dark green crewneck sweater that, fuck me, made him look even more delicious.

It shouldn’t have been weird to see him here. Hell, I should’ve expected it. Both students and administration frequented the Nook and often ended up mingling outside of class. Rumor was that Pietro Bianchi, one of the U’s celebrated philosophy professors, had paid to keep it open one night because he’d gotten into a debate with one of his doctoral candidates that had ended up lasting twenty-four hours. I wasn’t sure that last part was true, but this place was legendary. I really wished I had remembered that and maybe suggested somewhere else. But fuck it, should I even have to do that? Was I going to dothat? Live out the rest of my college days skirting my professor outside of class just because we’d had a few encounters that had left my legs like Jell-O? Fuck that.

“Eww.” Jesse’s nose wrinkled the same way it did when I made a cheese sandwich with Velveeta. “He’s here with Lingen? That tool? Ughhh, he could do so much better.”

“Professor Lusk is dating Lingen?” Nate cocked his head, eyeing the two men as they wrangled a pair of barstools. I averted my gaze stiffly. It didn’t matter who he was with. “No way, I don’t see it. They’re just chilling. Talking boring professor stuff.”

Eric’s eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t be so sure. If they’re not, Lingen is definitely into him.”

I reluctantly followed his line of sight as Professor Lingen leaned toward the bartender, his fingers grazing briefly, lightly over Grady’s forearm. The forearm that had so expertly drained both our cocks a week before. I was trying to be good, though, trying to return to status quo, told myself that at least now I knew what it was like to kiss him. It would’ve been helpful if he hadn’t been so goddamn good at it, though.

“Who wouldn’t be?” Sam shrugged.

“You!” Jesse barked as my blood boiled.

“Oh, now you’re territorial?” Sam cracked up.

“Yes.” Jesse nodded. “Cuz you’re demi, you aren’t even attracted to people like everyone else.”

“I can appreciate aesthetics. I learned that from you.”

Jesse gave a belabored sigh. “Point made.”

Sam reeled him in, laying a dramatic smooch on his cheek.

I took a breath and calmed myself. That was a totally inconclusive touch. Friends could touch like that. Plus, Grady and I weren’t anything anyway, and we weren’t ever going to be. I could accept our encounters as superhot, thrilling aberrations that had enabled me to learn more about myself and my tastes,andfuck, was I giving a dissertation to myself? I wasn’t very convincing.

Jesse rolled his eyes fondly at Sam while my heart tested the limits of my rib cage. “He needs to lose those loafers. They’re very last season.”

“I think they look good.” I didn’t know what possessed me to say something. I didn’t care about his fucking loafers, even if I did think they looked good. Still, despite the storm of jealousy whirling through me, I didn’t like anyone dissing Grady. “He’s a great professor, and I really enjoy his class,” I tacked on, a little too strongly, judging by the way everyone’s gaze swerved toward me.

“Ohhhhh, you have a crush on the professor?”

I didn’t need a mirror to know my cheeks were flushing. Not exactly helping my case. “No,” I huffed as if the idea was ridiculous. As if he hadn’t had me whimpering when his strong fingers flexed on my thighs, dug into my skin. I shifted as my traitor brain transmitted that memory to my dick. “I’m just saying the loafers are fine, and we’re sitting here analyzing a guy who’s just trying to get a drink with his friend.”