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

and rifled through it for a moment before producing

have pajamas, you can

the knot that had formed in my throat tighten ever so slightly, I hesitantly reached out and took the soft, clean shirt. Our fingers brushed as I

heating up inside of me. This close, with

gone just as quickly as it came. Edwin lowered his

"I left a

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

doorway when I saw what was waiting for me on

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

whirl armand when I heard a floorboard

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

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

look. "Are you sure?

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Chapter 16

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

Edwin took in my words. Slowly, haltingly, he

I nodded and

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 a sigh. He strode forward and, before I even

face, I knew that that tender touch had been devoid of all desire; more of

head and turned to hide the disappointed look in my eyes.