People were creatures of habit and usually sat in the same seat each week if it was open. I didn’t require them to have partners to shoot with or buddies to complete assignments with for a group project, but I needed to know this guy’s name. I could bethatteacher who made each one introduce themselves, but that wasn’t part of my syllabus or plan for the day. We didn’t have time for it anyway as I had too much to cover to get them up to speed and explain their first homework task.
“Yeah. Let’s do that. Make it easier on this old man.” I was only thirty-three and far from being old, but I had to keep up the ruse.
She giggled. “You’re not old.”
“Tell that to my back.” I winked and immediately her cheeks flushed. Shit. I wasn’t flirting, but I didn’t go around campus talking about my sexuality, so she might have gotten the wrong impression. I quickly turned to the class and spoke as I made my way to the front. “All right, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Photojournalism 155. I’m Professor Hayden Foster. During the semester, you’ll learn technical fundamentals of photography and photojournalism. I’ve been working as a sports photographer for over a decade, but have been taking photos basically since I could crawl.” I grinned at my joke as a few people chuckled. “My TA, Isabelle, is sending around a seating chart. The seat you’re in will be yours for the semester. If you want to change, I suggest you do it now.”
My gaze met Friendship Bracelet Guy’s and neither one of us smiled or had any sort of facial expression. My heart was racing and even though he was in my class and it was against school policy, a part of me still wanted our one night to turn into more.
Except, I couldn’t let that happen because I loved teaching my craft. I could only hope seeing this man weekly wasn’t going to be an issue.
3
Tyler
Mr. Bright Eyes—orrather Professor Hayden Foster, as he introduced himself—stood in front of the class, going over our first assignment. I should have been listening, but I couldn’t stop the images of our night together from playing on repeat in my head. The way his soft lips felt as he kissed me on the street while we waited for our ride. How his hard body lined up perfectly with mine as he pinned me against his living room wall. The way his body jerked as he came.
My dick strained against my zipper, and I shifted in my seat while trying to conjure up thoughts about anything besides how much I wanted another night with myhotprofessor. I’d never felt the need to seek out one of my hookups for a repeat before, but I’d spent the entire weekend thinking about our time together and couldn’t shake the overwhelming desire to get back in his bed.
“Tyler?” Fallon whispered, bringing me out of my daze.
“Uh … What?”
“I asked if you wanted to work on our assignments together, but you seem out of it. You okay?”
“I’m good.”
“Okay. So, about the assignment …”
I had no idea what we needed to do, but teaming up with Fallon was a given since we were friends and lived in the same house. “Yeah, of course. We’ll work on it this afternoon.”
When Professor Foster dismissed the class, I considered hanging back to try to speak with him, but several other students rushed to the front before I had the chance.
“Where are you headed next?” Fallon asked, lifting his bag onto his shoulder.
“I’ve got a music class in an hour and a half, so I’m going to grab some coffee first. How about you?” I glanced up and noticed a line had formed to talk to Professor Foster.
“I’ve got a poli-sci class. Should have known better than to pick back-to-back classes on Monday mornings.” He looked at his phone. “In fact, I’m going to be late if I don’t get a move on it.”
As Fallon and I headed toward the door, I peeked over my shoulder and my gaze connected with Professor Foster’s before he turned away. Just that split second of attention had me remembering how good it had felt when I had been his sole focus in bed. As I walked across campus, I couldn’t help but wonder if either of us would be brave enough to address the night we’d spent together.
If we’d been in any other situation, I wouldn’t think twice about asking him out, but him being my professor completely changed the game. That didn’t mean I didn’t still want him. If anything, it sort of made it hotter …forbidden. And despite him being off-limits, I knew I wouldn’t deny him if he invited me back to his bed.
* * *
After my MusicIndustry Analysis class, I headed back to the chapter house. My stomach rumbled, so I dropped my bag on the kitchen counter and searched the fridge for a quick bite before settling in to get started on some class reading.
As I heated up the plate of chicken and rice that our house chef had saved for those of us who weren’t home at lunch time, my phone vibrated in my pocket. A huge grin spread across my face when I grabbed it and saw the text.
J Mom: Hope you had a good first day. It’s been too quiet around here since you and your brothers went back to school.
J Mom, also known as my stepdad’s ex-wife Jamie, wasn’t my biological mom or even my stepmother, but she was the one I claimed. She had been married to Chase before he and my dad got together and was the mom to Jase and Cammie, my step-siblings. She welcomed me and my brother, Dylan, into her family with open arms. And when things went to shit with our birth mother, she was happy to fill that role for us. Our family dynamic was unconventional, to say the least, but having Jamie as part of my life meant the world to me.
Me: I’m sure Cammie is keeping you busy.
J Mom: True. That doesn’t mean I don’t miss you.
Me: I miss you too.
