One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 177 Audrey

I jolted awake, disoriented and stiff from a night of sleeping on the floor.

Blinking against the harsh morning light that was now streaming through the large round window, through which trees were dripping with melted snow and glistening icicles, I realized that we were still in the sewing room. We had gotten so drunk and tired last night that we hadn't even thought of making it back to bed.

Edwin and I had fallen asleep on the floor, tangled up in each other...

And in lengths of fabric, which were now wrapped around our arms and legs.

"Edwin," I mumbled groggily, shaking his shoulder. "Wake up."

He groaned, his eyes fluttering open, and lifted his head from where it had been propped on one forearm. "What... where the hell are we?"

I couldn't help but laugh at his bewildered expression, at the way his hair was sticking up in all directions. "We fell asleep sewing. I said, smoothing the mussed pieces back down.

"Oh, Goddess. My back is going to punish me for this."

We spent the next few minutes extricating ourselves from the mess of fabric, laughing as we went despite our aching heads and backs. The half-finished skirt was in far worse shape than I remembered it being last night, but I couldn't really bring myself to care. All that really mattered was the fact that we had finally, blissfully, made something together.

Even if it looked like nothing more than a drunken mess now that the sun was shining.

"Merry Christmas," I said, wrapping my arms around Edwin's neck and planting a warm kiss against his stubbled cheek.

"Mm. Merry Christmas," he replied, smiling softly. His eyes were warm, still heavy with sleep. "Shall we head downstairs and see what Santa brought?"

Downstairs, we found a pile of presents under the tree. The scent of ci**mon and coffee wafted from the kitchen, where Hadley had prepared a Christmas breakfast.

"Presents first or food?" Edwin asked, eyeing the stack of gifts.

"Presents, obviously," I grinned, already reaching for a box. "I'm not a heathen."

We tore into our gifts like excited children. Edwin, never one to leave someone out, gave Hadley a brand new sweater and matching pair of socks, which the aging housekeeper immediately put on. When Edwin opened the pocket watch I'd gotten him, his eyes widened into saucers, a soft gasp escaping his lips.

it over in his hands and tracing his thumb across the engraving on the back. The silver glinted

in an antique store

love it," he assured me, leaning in for a kiss. His lips were soft against mine, tasting of sleep and a

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Sun, Sep

from Edwin, I nearly screamed. It was a brand new, top-of-the-line sewing machine, sleek and modern and expensive. The little

much." I breathed, running my hand over the

for thy mate. I can't wait to

819

we lazed on the couch until the afternoon, resting our sore spines anil dozing to make up for a night of sleeping on the hard

in the backyard, laughing as we rolled the massive snowballs

nose.

at him, although the warning tug through our bond told me that he could

sipped tea. Edwin taught me how to play chess, his patience never wavering as I struggled to remember how each

up on the couch, watching the fire dance. Edwin's arms were warm around me, and I felt more content than

his voice rumbling in his chest. "I need to

my head to look at him. "What

my pack. But I want you to know, I truly, genuinely love you. I never want to be without you. You're my

I turned to face him fully, cupping his face. in my hands. "I love you

grin, "But if you ever keep something like that

and deep as it vibrated through me. "I'll try not to cross you ever again, then. You're scary now that you've had a bit of training. And

expression turning serious again. "I can't let my past hold you back. You need to learn to protect yourself. If something were to happen, I could never forgive myself for not leaching you the skills you needed to save yourself. And you were right before; maybe someone can't always come to your rescue. As painful as that is, I couldn't bear

peppered his face with kisses, my lips touching every inch of skin I could reach. "Thank you, Edwin. Thank you for trusting me

for me. For seeing my dark past and not seeing me as an out-of-control monster. I truly love you,

the

while he was in the bathroom, quickly arranging myself. When he came back in, I

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Chapter 177

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