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“So, I’m Nick,” he says after a drink of tea.
Yeah, okay. I bet the etiquette booksdogo over introductions. I can’t believe I’ve seen his penis, and he doesn’t even know my name. This is so ridiculous. “Hi, Nick. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Katie.”
We shake hands, and a frisson of sparks dance where our skin touches. Wow. I catch his eyes and notice he looks a little confused, too. Did he feel it? Did he like it the way I did?
He shakes his head like he’s clearing his thoughts. “You’re a student at the university then?” He takes another drink of tea and pulls a face. I’m guessing he doesn’t like tea and is only drinking it to be nice. He’s read the etiquette books maybe.
I nod. “I’m majoring in sociology. I hope to get my master’s in social work next.” If I can afford it. “I graduate at the end of first semester this year.”
“So you’re not taking any anthropology classes?” The way his voice raises at the end sounds hopeful.
“Nope. I’ve missed your department altogether.”
“Well, that’s good. I mean, not that you wouldn’t be a good student. I just—even though you’re not a student in my department, what happened earlier was wrong.” Are all men so adorable when they are flustered? He’s this big mass of testosterone and academia mixed together who travels the world and teaches future archaeologists how to be future archaeologists, and he’s tongue-tied and rambling just the same. I get the feeling most people don’t get to see this side of Professor McFuckme. “Katie, I’m very sorry. I hope you understand I would never have forced myself on you. I’ve been traveling for days and wasn’t thinking clearly. I thought I was dreaming.”
My girly bits start tingling. “You were dreaming of me?”
Not the point, Katie.
“Never mind. Don’t answer that. I’m not going to take this to the dean, Professor. You didn’t do anything wrong. The circumstances are...well, I don’t even know how to describe them. I know you wouldn’t make a move on me under normal ones.”
He sets his tea down. “If you weren’t a student, and I wasn’t too old for you, I can’t say that I wouldn’t have made a move. But I don’t usually start from naked and work backward to introducing myself.”
Great. Now all I can think of is his penis again. Penis penis penis. Wait, did he just say he would have made a move on me?
I blink. He’s being kind. No way would this highly esteemed, highly revered, highly in demand professor want plain old me. He could literally have a line of women at his door willing to take turns if he wanted it.
This has been the strangest night.
“I should maybe pack my stuff. I’m sure you want to go back to bed.”
I bet the sheets smell like him now. I’d love to roll around in them. Get his scent all over me.
Focus, Katie.
“Where will you go?”
That’s a good question. “I...I don’t actually know. I’ll probably couch surf for a night or two until I figure something out.”
“Stay here tonight.”
“I couldn’t impose.”
“Katie, I can’t send you out in the middle of the night. You take the bed back. I can stay on the couch.”
I could roll in his sheets...no. “I couldn’t do that to you. It’s your bed. I’ll crash on the couch and leave tomorrow.”
“I’m not throwing you out into the streets. This was supposed to be your home. It’s not your fault my brother is irresponsible.”
“You’re being so nice. But it’s not your fault either.”
He reaches over and covers my hand with his. “I’d really like it if you would stay.”
My lungs squeeze when I meet his gaze. His eyes are gray like storm clouds, and I feel like there’s definitely a tempest brewing inside me. He swallows thickly, and we both lean in an inch like there’s a string pulling us together. His breath is warm and smells like chamomile.
A slow, delicious ache wells up in my body. The quiver in my thighs returns, and I clench my toes involuntarily as the tension builds between us. His eyes darken and take on a fierce, primal look. It’s new, a little scary, a lot exciting.
I should move away but I can’t. I’m drawn like a magnet to steel. He stares at my lips and my tongue darts out to lick them.
