Page 37 of My Forbidden Professor

Lily arches one perfectly groomed eyebrow. “If you say so. But you’ve been real jumpy and...flushed, lately.” Her eyes narrow playfully. “Almost like there’s a certain someone occupying your thoughts a little more than usual.”

I force out a breezy chuckle, even as my pulse kicks up a notch. “You two have such overactive imaginations. Maybe I’m just warm from all this…” I gesture vaguely at the sunlight streaming through the windows. “Lovely weather we’ve been having.”

The buzz vibrates against my thigh yet again, and I have to grit my teeth against a full-body shiver. Dammit, why does he have to be so persistently distracting?

“Uh huh, sure.” Maddy doesn’t look even remotely convinced, exchanging a loaded glance with Lily. “And I’m a world-renowned supermodel.”

“For real, though.” Lily leans in with that gossipy spark in her eyes that signals she’s on the scent of something juicy. “He’s not being a stalker? He’s treating you right?”

If they only knew how right Jacob is treating me. My heart does a weird bobbing thing in my chest. He’s treating me so right he drives me to the brink of insanity with nothing more than a text or a message from that sinfully textured voice. One who knows just where to lave his tongue to have me arching into him, chasing that incendiary bliss that only he can give.

I fight against the heated memories that rush dizzyingly through my mind. Down girl. Not the time nor place.

“Steph?” Maddy prods when my silence stretches too long.

Plastering on what I hope is a convincing look of nonchalance, I meet their expectant gazes evenly. “Really, you guys, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me or my love life.”

Well, not entirely true, but voicing that particular fib keeps the peace and sanity for now.

Lily looks utterly unconvinced, but seems to accept my rebuttal with a shrug. “Okay, if you say so.” The pointed look she shares with Maddy says they’ll be revisiting this topic again soon.

Making a concentrated effort to still my restless hands, I take a fortifying sip of my latte and quickly change the subject.

“So, do you guys think Dad and Adeline are having a good time in Italy so far?” I try to steer the conversation away from Jacob and my still-hot cheeks.

Maddy arches an eyebrow, clearly not buying my subject change, but seems to go along with it. I’m going to have to be careful around her. She might only be twenty, but she’s as shrewd as someone double her age. “I’m sure they’re having a blast. Though your dad’s probably cracking open his laptop every few hours to sneak in some work.”

“Ugh, I hope not!” Lily groans with feeling. “That’s like, the ultimate romance-killer on your honeymoon. If I was Adeline, I’d toss that laptop right out the window.”

“That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?” I laugh, relaxing slightly as the focus shifts away from me. “I hope Dad can resist his workaholic tendencies, just this once,” I continue, keeping my tone light and casual. They know the difficult path that led Dad here, to this new beginning with Adeline. “He and Adeline deserve to just...unwind and be in that newlywed bliss bubble for a little while, you know?”

Maddy nods. “Absolutely. No distractions, no responsibilities, just pure romantic indulgence. If anyone deserves that, it’s your dad and Adeline.”

She shoots me a sly look. “Speaking of romantic indulgences—”

“Don’t start,” I warn, holding up a hand. I can see the gleam of mischief sparking in her eyes.

Lily laughs, squeezing my arm. “Aw, c’mon, we’re just teasing. We all know you’re still...unattached.” The knowing lilt in her voice clearly conveys she doesn’t fully believe that.

I bare my teeth in the semblance of a smile, trying not to let my frustration show. We lapse into a comfortable conversation, and my phone buzzes in my pocket. That familiar tingle heads straight to my core as I pull it out surreptitiously under the table and see Jacob’s name flash across the screen. His texts swiftly follow.

Jacob: Can’t wait to get you alone again. My bed has been awfully empty without you in it.

My cell pings again.

Jacob: Been thinking about the way you tremble when I kiss that spot behind your ear...how you cling to me when I’m deep inside you.

Pure, undisguised want sears through me, stoking the slow burn of arousal he’s fanned with just his words. I swallow hard, darting a glance across the table to make sure my friends are still engrossed in their conversation before typing out a reply with shaky fingers.

Me: I miss your hands on me too...your mouth...

Sending the text, I quickly pocket my phone again as Lily’s bright laughter pulls my attention back to the present moment. I force a smile, nodding along as she recounts some silly story about Tristan being a love-lost tease.

But as much as I try to stay engaged, Jacob’s texts have me constantly stealing glances at my phone, unable to resist the magnetic pull of mental images playing through my mind—his smoldering gaze pinning me in place, the brush of his stubbled jaw against my inner thighs, the delicious feeling of him sheathed inside me as we move together in perfect rhythm.

God, I need him. Not just his hands and mouth bringing me to that shattering peak over and over until I’m boneless and sated. But him—all of him, the way he quiets the perpetual thrum of anxiety humming in my veins.

The way he looks at me like I’m the only thing in the world that matters.

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