“Despite its size, it never looks like a bomb of batter went off.”
I shot him a look and he grinned, leaning over the butcher block with his cup of coffee, coming across as more relaxed than when he’d entered the kitchen.
“If you haven’t noticed,” I began, spraying the counter and wiping it, “I don’t have very many possessions. Hard to make a mess when you’re living meagerly.”
“I did notice, actually.” He took another bite and leaned back, stretching. “But thank you for breakfast, Adele. This was a nice surprise.”
I observed the way his muscles flexed as he stretched, thankful for his lack of shirt. But I couldn’t help but want to unsettle him a little bit, after seeing how much more relaxed he became as the kitchen turned from disaster zone into normal again.
Trailing my fingers along the counter as I turned toward him, I took heady pleasure in how his own fingers stilled, his eyes trailing me like an invisible cord was pulling me to him.
I dipped my finger into the syrup puddle on his plate and brought it to his jaw, sliding my finger along the edge. My lips replaced my finger and I sucked his skin, swiping it with my tongue as I cleaned up the path I’d drawn.
His hands cradled my skull and pulled my head up before his lips descended on mine, teeth biting gently into my lower lip. He tasted of chocolate and syrup and coffee and I scratched my nails into his neck, not wanting to separate our lips for even a second.
He hauled me into his lap, ran his hands up my thighs and under the shirt I wore. His fingers brushed the underside of my breast before he pulled his lips from mine. “Nice shirt,” he murmured, looking down between us as I straddled him.
His hands were warm and I arched into his touch as his fingers explored under the shirt: over my ribs, the curve of my waist, up the center of my chest. His hand gripped the center of the neckline and made a fist, forcing me closer.
Our lips just touched, not kissing—just breathing. “What are you doing to me?” he whispered.
I didn’t answer; couldn’t answer. Because whatever it was, he was doing it to me too.
Chapter Twenty-Five
In the week since I’d made Nathan breakfast, I’d become a wanton woman. After every class, I’d taken my time putting my things into my bag, hoping to steal a few moments of time with him. I’d taken a chance the last class, planting a kiss on his lips seconds after the last student had left.
Each time, he’d told me to leave but not without regret coloring his words. In an effort to protect me—in his words—we’d been hands above the belt for the last week. Students had moved into the apartment across the hall from me, which meant my place was off-limits. And though he hadn’t told me not to go to his house, he hadn’t explicitly invited me over either.
So when I’d seen the flier for a Halloween party at Sigma Chi’s frat, I’d taken a photo and texted to it Nathan.
Me: Whatcha think, Nathan?
Nathan: Looks like fun. Enjoy yourself, Adele.
Narrowing my eyes, I’d furiously typed another message.
Me: I’ll enjoy myself if you go with me. And I’ll make sure you enjoy it too.
Nathan: Tempting. But I’ll pass.
I wasn’t above whining, but I didn’t want to beg him to go with me.
Me: I have this really sweet Alice from Alice in Wonderland costume. Thigh highs, Nathan. Red heels.
His reply had come minutes later.
Nathan: Fuck. We can’t go together because I can’t go at all. It’s too risky.
Me: Not if you wear a mask. I bought one for you—the Mad Hatter. Think about it. We could be together, in the open, without anyone knowing.
Nathan: Do you have some kind of Lewis Carroll fetish?
The very idea had made me laugh.
Me: Come on, old man. Live a little.
Nathan: I’m only ‘old’ because you are so very young.
Me: Please. I’m not above begging. I’ll even get on … my .... knees. To beg, of course.
So much for not begging.
Nathan: On your knees, huh? I’ll think about it.
Me: The party’s Saturday. When will you tell me?
Nathan: You’ll know by Friday.
Me: In class? Why, isn’t that very bold of you, Professor Easton?
Nathan: You’ll know Friday.
That had been after our Wednesday class, and had been our last contact up until class on Friday, the day before Halloween.
Surprisingly, I hadn’t received any texts from Leo all week. We usually went to the frat parties together, but maybe he was realizing that distance was what we both needed. I needed to apologize for kissing him the way I had, but I was so wrapped up in Nathan that I had tunnel vision.