One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 16

Audery

My face instantly paled upon hearing Edwin's proposal.

"You can stay with me tonight."

Without meaning to, I took a step back and quickly shook my head. "Not" I blurted out, "I can't. —"

"Relax, kid" Edwin finished stirring the pasta and tapped the wooden spoon on the side of the pot, then reached over to saule the garlic and spices in the pan. "I didn't mean is like that. I have a spare room here you can use

My mouth worked uselessly for a moment as I watched him work. A thousand refusals reached the tip of my tongue, but they all died there,

I didn't have much of a choice, Linda was waiting outside my dorm to get revenge, and besides...

Dinner was ready.

The guest room that Edwin showed me to was small, just big enough for a twin-

sized bed, a side table, and a dresser. He flicked the lamp on, casting the little room in a cozy amber glow as he began stretching

the clean sheets over the bed. In the far corner were some piles of cardboard boxes and plastic bins.

"Sorry for the mess," he said as he worked. "I've basically only been using this room for storage."

"It's okay." I helped him tuck the sheets in, carefully avoiding his gaze, I didn't want to admit it, but I actually felt a little disappointed; I supposed that a part of me, maybe the same part of me that had had that er bed.

was fine. And it

we were finished, Edwin straightened and turned. He pulled open one of the drawers in the dresser and rifled through it for a moment before producing a plain white t-shirt, which he held

have pajamas, you can

ever so slightly, I hesitantly reached out and took the soft, clean

that unmistakable yearning heating up inside

quickly as it came. Edwin

know where the bathroom is," he said, seemingly oblivious to my turmoil. "I left a clean towel in there for you. Feel

and jumped A little while later, I stepped out of the bathroom wearing Edwin's shirt. It fell almost to my knees because of our disparity in size, practically becoming a

stopped in the doorway when I saw what was waiting for me on the bedside table a tray with warm milk and

in my throat as I stepped forward, observing the gesture. Slowly, I

back abruptly and whirl armand when I heard a floorboard

against the doorframe I swallowed and east my gaze back to the floor, the gesture was so sweet and tender that it not only made me blush, but aho brought tears to

very kind of you," I said

look. "Are you sure? You look

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Chapter 16

redden even more, I shook my head and blinked the tears back. "No, it's.. It's just that it reminded me of my

took in my words. Slowly, haltingly, he took

I nodded and

the milk. "She used to do this for me every night. She'd tell me bedtime stories and tuck me in, too. But... She's gone now." 1 cringed at the thought, my mother had died years ago. I could still reme After a long beat of quiet, Edwin let out

knew that that tender touch had been devoid of all desire; more of a soothing gesture than anything rom "There," he said, raking a hand through his dark hair. "I'm afraid

and turned to hide the disappointed look in my eyes. "It's fine.