Page 3 of My Demon Teacher

I shake my head.

“No. I’m just…wondering. Did you think I wouldn’t approve?”

“Not at all, my darling boy.” He reaches out and grabs me by the chin. “I only wanted to surprise you. That is all.”

I force my lungs to breathe past the heat spreading through me and nod.

“I am.”

He smirks. His thumb brushes my bottom lip, and before I think too much about it, I bite it.

“I…didn’t know you were interested in teaching.”

Heat pulsates inside me and I want nothing more than to push the desk aside and climb into his arms, but I’m sure Lockwood has rules about such things.

“I’m not. I’m interested in protecting you. The thought of being away from you for hours at a time every day is too harsh to bear. As is the idea that anything could happen to you and I wouldn’t be here to stop it.”

I’m full-on sucking his thumb now, and you know what? I don’t even care.

“You think I can’t protect myself?” Even though it comes out garbled with his thumb in my mouth, Lucian shakes his head.

“Of course not, darling boy.” He takes his wet thumb out and brushes my cheek, leaving chills across my skin. “I know you can. But consider me your backup. Your armor. Your bodyguard.”

I honestly don’t care if he thinks I can’t protect myself. I like being around him. I love having him with me. And considering I’ve spent the last five years locked up at home or the store, the rest of the world is…kind of intimidating.

“It’s less scary with you here.”

“I’m glad, my darling Yu-jin. That’s all I want in life. To make life easy and fun for you. I don’t want you to hurt ever again.”

He opens his arms, and I walk around the desk so I can sink into them, feeling the impact of every one of his words.

I don’t want to hurt again either.

“What did the dean say when you told him I’m your boyfriend?”

Again, such a stupid word. So silly. I’m sure there’s a far better one out there.

“I didn’t.”

I pull away.

“What? Why?”

Is he embarrassed by me? Is everything he just said a lie?

“Because I can keep a better eye on everyone and make sure no one has any sinister plans against you.”

I smile.

“Thank you. But I doubt anyone cares about me around here. No one even knows me.”

Lucian pulls me back into his arms, and I close my eyes, feeling his warmth radiate through me.

Is there any place safer than here in his embrace?

“That’s what I’m here to make sure of. Once I can confirm no one wants to hurt you, we can go public.”

I hope that’s the real reason.