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.

And it was better this

finished, Edwin straightened and turned. He pulled open one of the drawers in the dresser and rifled through it for a moment

have pajamas, you can wear this,"

reached out and took the soft, clean shirt. Our fingers brushed as I did, that all-too-familiar current running through my hand

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

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

said, seemingly oblivious to my turmoil. "I left a clean towel in there for you. Feel free to use whatever you need for

him go, only during to release my breath once he had 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

forward, observing the gesture. Slowly, I reached out to touch the

pull back abruptly and whirl armand when I heard a floorboard creak

myself he said, leaning against the doorframe I swallowed and east my gaze back to

um-That's very kind of you," I said

me a curious look. "Are you sure? You look like you might

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Chapter 16

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

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

I nodded and

the thought, my mother had died years ago. I could still reme After a long beat of quiet, Edwin let out a sigh. He strode forward and, before I even had so much as a chance to react,

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 I can't tell you any stories,

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