Total pages in book: 12
Estimated words: 11178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 56(@200wpm)___ 45(@250wpm)___ 37(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 11178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 56(@200wpm)___ 45(@250wpm)___ 37(@300wpm)
“Only, I was your student,” I finished for him.
He nodded. “And I was your professor.”
The puzzle pieces clicked together. His avoidance of me, the lack of eye contact, his short answers to my questions. It made sense, or… it would have, if not for the fact he was way out of my league.
“Fuck. But that wasn’t fair,” I said, feeling anger bubble up. “You should have said something. I thought you hated me. I thought I couldn’t do anything right. I thought… I thought I wasn’t cut out for this field!”
Professor Henry surged to his feet, grabbing me by the shoulders and leaning down to meet my eyes. “You are,” he said with a clenched jaw. “You’re one of the brightest students in the entire program, and if I made you doubt that for a single second, I’m even sorrier than I can express.”
Hearing him apologize lifted a heavy burden I didn’t realize I’d been carrying. I respected him as a scholar, and his approval carried weight with me. If he believed I had something to contribute to the study of evolutionary biology, then maybe I could stop second-guessing myself all the time.
Maybe I could stop listening to my parents’ opinions.
“Professor—”
“I’m not your professor anymore,” he growled. “Call me River.”
River. Even thinking of him that way felt incredibly intimate.
Perfectly intimate.
“River,” I said slowly, testing the syllables.
He exhaled softly.
“I wish you’d told me.”
“About Raintree or about my attraction to you?”
There was the slightest hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, and I wanted to explore it with the tip of my tongue. I was nearly giddy with the idea that I might actually get to.
I swallowed. “Both?”
“And what would you have done if I’d told you?” He moved his hands down my arms until he could weave our fingers together. My breathing hitched.
“Uh…” I couldn’t think with him this close, with saliva filling my mouth and blood filling my dick.
River’s eyes flicked between mine as if trying to read me. One of us moved closer.
I breathed in, catching the scent of him. Aftershave that smelled fresh and masculine. I wanted to press my nose to his neck and get more of it.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
“I couldn’t tell you about Raintree. All I could do was try and make sure you weren’t one of the students he left hanging in the wind. I was under a legal agreement not to disclose anything—” He sucked in a breath. “You’re driving me crazy,” he added under his breath.
I leaned forward until my forehead was on his collarbone. He’d come here to give me comfort, so I was going to take it.
“Why didn’t you tell me you wanted me?” I asked his shirt.
His arms came around me and pulled me closer. I exhaled and felt my entire body give in and relax against him.
“I didn’t want you to drop the class,” he admitted, nuzzling his cheek against my head. “Seeing you was the brightest spot in my week, and I couldn’t give it up.”
I tilted my head up until my nose brushed the skin of his neck. God, he smelled so fucking good. “I wanted you too,” I admitted before letting my lips brush his neck too.
“Jack,” he breathed. “I came here—” His voice cracked. “I came here to give you platonic comfort.”
I reached up to grab the sides of his face with my hands and meet his eyes with mine.
“I don’t want comfort anymore.”
SIX
RIVER
Jack was in my arms, hot and willing, sending me every signal he wanted me as much as I wanted him. How was this possible?
“Are you sure?” I croaked. My vaunted self-control was practically nonexistent.
Without saying anything, Jack lunged up on his toes and kissed me hard on the lips. I grabbed the back of his head to hold him there as I took advantage of the situation.
His mouth was perfect, soft and warm, open and eager. He kissed like he’d been as starved for it as I was. Even though he was shorter and smaller than me, his body was solid and strong. His physical confidence made me grin against his mouth. Now that he knew how I felt about him, he seemed much less timid.
Braver. Determined.
I pulled myself away from him long enough to meet his eyes. “Wait, stop,” I said, setting him away from me. “I promised it would be platonic. If we’re changing the rules, I need you to be sure…”
His grin was adorable and teasing. “Did I seem unsure to you when I had my tongue down your throat?” His lips were red and full, slick from our kisses, as if I’d needed visual proof.
I brushed his hair back from his face and pressed a small kiss to the apple of his cheek. “You’re so fucking sexy. I can’t believe you’re here with me.”