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.

fine. And it was

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

can

slightly, I hesitantly reached out and took the soft, clean shirt. Our fingers brushed

felt that sensation roll around in my chest, that unmistakable yearning heating up inside of me. This close, with our rooms right next to one

was gone just as quickly as it came. Edwin lowered his hand and turned, heading for the

my turmoil. "I left a clean towel in there for

disappeared down the hall. Clutching the shirt to my chest, I scurried toward the bathroom, where I turned on the water 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 nightgown on me. But it smelled like him, and with my ski The apartment was mostly dark as I padded back to the guest room-save for a single light in the

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

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

whirl armand when I heard a

"I know it's late, but I was having some myself he said, leaning 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

of you," I

a curious 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

was a silence as Edwin took in my words. Slowly, haltingly, he took

I nodded and

to 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

that that tender touch had been devoid of all desire; more of a soothing gesture than anything rom "There," he

turned to hide the disappointed look in my eyes. "It's fine. Thank you for