Page 67 of Class Studies
He spilled them into my waiting arms. I blushed, looking at the table he’d eaten me on, but focused. We didn’t have time for a repeat this morning.
Soon enough, I was reading in a comfortable spot, with the professor leaning close to me, doing the same.
At this moment, he didn’t feel like a professor. He wasn’t trying to teach me something or use sex to control my transfers. We were working on a project as equals.
“Professor?” I asked.
Professor Garnet pulled his eyes away from the page.
I tugged on my braid. “Can I call you Keith, like Saffron does?”
A brilliant smile split Professor Garnet’s face in half. “I’d love that, Aphy. More than anything in the world.”
My heart soared. I nodded vigorously before once again burying myself in my reading.
Chapter 13
I struggled to focus in my morning classes or even play cards with Doctor Roy. In addition to the dirty looks following me everywhere, my thoughts cycled around my reading on blood magic. Forty minutes in the restricted section wasn’t enough time. Professor Garnet…Keith said he’d talk to Officer Keres to see if we could get in again this evening.
Someone knocked on Doctor Roy’s office door, and I thanked my physiatrist before exiting. Tanwyn waited for me in the hall. Heat flushed my cheeks, and I dropped my gaze, remembering Metaphysics yesterday. The dark, corded mage stepped up to my side and put two fingers under my chin, forcing me to look up. “I love seeing you blush.”
I wanted to pull on my braid, but I kept my hands at my sides.
“I need to clarify what happened in class yesterday.” Tanwyn released my chin and stood awkwardly distant while also trying to stay close. “Saffron says you’re not good with subtlety.”
I snorted. “That would be an understatement.”
Tanwyn face lifted in a half-smile half-nose wrinkle. “I’ve been here for four years, and I keep to myself because I haven’t seen the point of making social connections. I always have my summons.”
He ran his hand over his visible tattoos.
Curious, I reached out and traced his movements. His smooth skin glided under my fingers. Tanwyn’s arm trembled as I dimpled his skin with my touch. A slight ripple of orange power followed in my wake.
“That’s never happened before.” He looked up from the magic already dissipating and closed the awkward distance between us. “Like you being able to pet my fantasy dog. It shouldn’t have been possible.”
I blinked, unsure how to react.
He leaned toward me. “I want to kiss you.”
I wasn’t used to being asked. After nodding once, Tanwyn leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. Sparks flew between us, and I wrapped my arms around his slim waist while he cupped the back of my head and deepened the kiss. My phone notification chimed, but I ignored it, enjoying Tanwyn’s playful tongue.
His phone rang, and we broke apart so he could answer it.
“We’re on our way,” Tanwyn responded to whoever called him. “No trouble, we’ve been delayed. We’ll be there soon, Saff.” He hung up and smiled at me. “To be clear. I like you a lot. And so do my summons.”
I smoothed out my shirt even though it didn’t need it, wanting to ask what his summons were without destroying the moment. When my hand glided over my socket, an unnatural warmth radiated.
“Tanwyn—”
The summoner put a finger over my lips. “I know it’s complicated. You come with a male harem, strings, and baggage I can’t imagine.” He rubbed my chin with his thumb. “Saff’s filled me in, though not in detail. Think about it. That’s all I ask.”
I nodded, and Tanwyn tucked my hand into his arm, guiding us to the cafeteria.
My gaze found Beryl at his usual table, still flanked by two MA agents. He grinned at me and got out his phone. My notification chimed with a joke while Tanwyn and I made our lunch selections.
Although I couldn’t wait to read it, all thoughts of Beryl flew out of my head to see Saffron and Ashe glaring at each other from opposite sides of my usual table.
“Thanks, Tanwyn, you can go,” Saffron said when we approached.