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.

this was fine. And

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

pajamas, you can wear this,"

the soft, clean shirt.

heating up inside of me. This close,

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

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

for me on the

in my throat as I stepped forward, observing the

armand when I heard

against the doorframe I swallowed and east my

um-That's very kind of

"Are you sure? You

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Chapter 16

my face redden even more, I shook my head and blinked the tears back.

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

I nodded and

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

kiss meant something, but when he stepped back and I saw the stony look on his face, I 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

the disappointed