One Night With My Alpha Professor

Audery

I fell an electric current run through me at his touch.

Edwin's hand was cool and strady against mine, his palm pressing shirdily against the backs of my fingers. I thought my knees might buckle beneath me, or that I might even explode from the feg of nur skin

But just as my lips were parting to speak, my gaze wandering up to meet Edwin's gray eyes, a cooling eucalyptus sensation spread across my pal

I snapped my eyes back down to our hands, my cheeks reddening when I saw the real reason behind why he had touched ne

He was running a soothing roller balin across my hand.

"Oh, I muttered, feg my face heat up even more despite the cooling sensation on my hand. I hadn't realized it, but I had pricked myself multiple times with the pins when I had been draping the gown- a feg that I had grown so used to over the years that I hadn't even noticed at

Edwin, on the other hand, had noticed the little red dots. That was why he had applied an ointment.

Atender, but ambiguous, gesture.

"You should be more careful," he said mutter-of-factly, finishing applying the ointment and reaching out to stuff the tube into my

jacket pocket. mark of a good seamstress is when she can pin something without destroying her hands,"

I swallowed hard as I stared down at my palm. A tiny part of me, I supposed, had felt excitement er his touch-and maybe a bit of hope that meant more than that. I knew I shouldn't, but 1 past couldn't helprit, Lowering my hand back to my side, I glanced up at Edwin to find him already turning

and striding back over to his desk. I watched the broad expanse of his shoulders for a second, feg my hips move involuntarily at the sight of him. He had been wearing his usual tweed jacket today, but had s

Now, his muscles strained against the white fibre of his shirt; that touch we had just shared, in combination with the attractive form of his v sluped body, sent a surge of hormones through me that was nearly imp "Professor," I blurted out. "are you like this with all of your students?"

ore I could see his shoulders tense, his fingers straining to curl up into fists at his sides. But it was

Edwin stopped in his tracks. For a moment, I swore only for a moment-a brief blip in time.

Then he continued to walk over to his desk.

"No," he said simply.

I felt my heart begin to race at breakneck speeds behind my ribcage. Was he admitting to. It would be horrible of us, I was sure, but the energy between us was undeniable. And truthfully. I hadn't stopped thinkin Just as I was taking another step closer to close the distance between us, however, Edirin sat down in his chair and waved his hand at me dismissively.

"You're my teaching assistant," he said. "It's my obligation to ensure your well-being in order to prevent any impact on your performance.

All at once, it felt as if the reg sensation in my head had stopped abruptly and left me careening backwards into space. I froze, one foot forward, and felt the fingers of the hand where he had spread the ointr "Oh," I said, unable to fully hide the disheartened sound in my voice.

Eden blinked an

almost appearing surprised by my reaction. He stared at me for a moment longer before sucking in a breath through his teeth. But just as he opened his mouth to say something. I held up my hand to stop him. "Stop

I blurted out, maybe more harshly than 1 had intended. "Whatever you're about to say, just - stop,"

There was a tense silence after that. Edwin stared at me in shock, those gray eyes of his uncharacteristically wide. Even I was astounded by my own. statement, and I felt my mouth open and close several time some sort of Excuse for my dustered behavior.

It was during

ting those tense moments

that I it

I saw it the slow, knowing smile that spread across Edwin's lips.

now, andNôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Thad gathered, from our brief time together, that a smile gracing the gruff professor's face was a rare occurrence. But he was smiling now, phudidn't take it any longer.

Without a word. I turned on my heel and sporrned out. Edwins didn't call after me, and I didn't look back. I ban't even stop for a second until

435 PM

out in the hallway, the door clicking shut behind me.

Once I was safely a little ways down the hallway, I finally stopped to catch my breath. Leaning against the row of lockers, I placed my palms behind. my lower back and pressed them into the cool metal, which w With a sigh, I shut my eyes and leaned my head back against the lockers. I had made a fool of myself-

a lovestruck fool. For all our talk of losing my virginity to Edwin meaning very little, I certainly wasn't acting like it. Rather, I had acted like a naive teenager in those moments, unable to handle even the smallest "Hey. It's you."

I opened my eyes to the sound of a familiar voice and instantly felt my face redden again when I saw him-

the man who had just narrowly stopped me from having my hair cut by Linda and Max in the storeroom.

The one who I had mistaken for Professor Brooks.

"Oh," I said, pushing away from the lockers. "It's you, um, Mr...?

"It's Charles," the man replied with a chuckle. "Just Charles."

I nodded stiffly. "I'm sorry I got you mixed up with Professor Brooks the other day, Charles. I thought.."

"Don't worry about it." Charles shrugged, sticking his hands into his pockets. He nodded toward the door to the classroom behind me. "Speaking of which... How are you finding working for Edwin!"

"It's fine."

Charles quirked an eyebrow at me. "You can be honest. I won't tell."

I glanced up at him in surprise, but let out a soft breath and shrugged. "I don't know," I admitted, adjusting my satchel on my shoulder. "I guess I thought he was heartless at first. But I think he's actually nice; a t exterior, maybe, but nice on the inside."

For a moment. Charles blinked at me in surprise-or perhaps disbelief. As if the words I had just said didn't fully register to him as the truth.

Frowning, I fiddled with the strap on my bag. "Did I say something wrong?" I asked. "I didn't mean to-"

"No. Not at all." Charles waved his hand and shot me a smile, striding past. "It's nothing. Have a nice day. Miss Thatcher."

I watched him go, thoroughly baffled.