Emily shook her head. “Mr. Rutledge’s still sleeping.”
A tiny furrow appeared between Bee’s brows. “But what is Mr. Rutledge doing in Shawn’s bed?”
“He’s sleeping, silly!” Emily said, forgetting to whisper.
Shawn felt the man behind him stir slightly and tighten his loose grip around Shawn’s waist.Rutledge mumbled something unintelligible, his lips brushing against Shawn’s ear.
Shawn grimaced and tugged the sheets higher, making sure the girls couldn’t see anything they weren’t supposed to see.
Bee pointed at Rutledge. “You told me to be quiet, but see, you woke him up!” She beamed. “Good morning, Mr. Rutledge!”
“Good morning,” Rutledge said hoarsely right into Shawn’s ear.
Goosebumps covered Shawn’s skin. He squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip.Get a grip.
“Morning,” he said at last, turning his head.
It was weird to see Rutledge’s hair so messy, but that, coupled with the dark stubble and all that naked skin, did strange things to Shawn’s insides. Rutledge’s dark eyes roamed over his face.
Shawn wasn’t sure how to act. He wasn’t sure where they stood.
“Why Mr. Rutledge slept in your bed?” Bee asked. “He doesn’t have a bed?”
Rutledge’s lips twisted. “Something like that, midget,” he said, still looking at Shawn.
“Don’t call her midget.”
“I don’t mind,” Bee said. “I’m short!”
“She doesn’t mind,” Rutledge said.
Snorting, Shawn reached for his shorts and pulled them on, wincing a bit in discomfort.
“Sore?” Rutledge murmured, sitting up as well.
Shawn hopped off the bed and threw him a narrow-eyed look.
Rutledge’s face was mostly inscrutable, but therewas a hint of something in his eyes…
“Drop the smug look,” Shawn said and glanced at the clock on the wall. “Don’t you have a class to teach soon?”
“Yes,” Rutledge said, getting out of the bed. He looked so out of place in Shawn’s tiny, shabby room it wasn’t even funny.
Shawn turned away, grabbed the girls, and pulled them out of the room.
Don’t be ridiculous, he told himself. It had just been sex. Yes, sex with another man—sex with his professor—but just sex. He had no reason to feel flustered. They were adults, they had wanted each other and they’d fucked to scratch the itch. Simple. Nothing complicated about it. It didn’t have to be complicated.
Shawn was still telling himself that while he prepared breakfast for the kids when the doorbell rang.
He went to open the door.
“Good morning!” Mrs. Hawkins said, pushing past him. “Morning, girls.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Hawk,” the twins said in unison.
“Have they already eaten?” Mrs. Hawkins asked Shawn.
“No, I was just going to feed them, but I’m running a bit late and I’d really appreciate if you—”
