Page 36 of Bad Professor

“Jule, the class is full of twenty-year-olds who play Dungeons and Dragons in their parent’s basement. They’ve either never seen a penis or don’t know what their own can do.”

She laughs hard enough to spew a mouthful of wine, and wipes it off her jeans with the sleeve of her sweater. “I shouldn’t say that,” I quickly add. “They seem nice; a little intense though. I’m sure they’re all not virgins.”

“You should totally tell them you had the professor’s penis inside you,” Juliet chortles. “Just to see their faces.”

“That’s the problem. He said it was a mistake.”

“Tilly Estes, you could never be a mistake,” Juliet announces.

“But that’s what he said. He got cold. He was rude.” I hunch my shoulders, not bothering to hide my hurt. “He said it didn’t mean anything, like I didn’t matter.”

“That’s bullshit.” Julie grips my hand. “No man who gives you five orgasms can think you don’t matter. The man is a generous lover, and that type is few and far between. And they’re also rarely assholes. He’s got his reasons.”

“Do you think?” Despite my best intentions, I jump onto Juliet’s reasonings.

“Tilly, look at you. A man would have to be insane not to fall in love at first fuck with you.”

An embarrassed laugh bubbles up. “How can you say that?”

“Because I believe it. The man is either lying to you, which does make him a minor asshole, or he’s a serious asshole. And if he’s an English professor… Tilly.” She breathes my name like it’s solved a puzzle. “He’s a professor. You’re a student. How much wine have we drunk?” She peers into her glass. “He can’t date you and he certainly can’t fuck you five times a night.”

“Two times,” I correct in a small voice.

“He’d be a bad professor if he dicked his students,” she points out. “He could get fired. And you—who knows what would happen to you if people found out.”

“Yes, but…” What Juliet says makes sense. There is a moral code against professors becoming involved with their students. And while neither Dexter nor I had any idea this was a problem when we first met, to continue things would be wrong.

And Dexter knows that.

“You might be right,” I say. “That he’s trying to make sure I never see him again.”

It doesn’t make the thought any easier.

“He should have told me the truth,” I decide.

19

Dexter

Idon’t like the think of myself as an asshole, but no one would deny that’s what I’ve been.

There will be no forgiving myself for treating Tilly like that until I can talk to her. Explain.

I want to call and apologize, but what would be the point? I can’t be seen with her. I can’t get involved. How can I explain the past?

I might be able to find a way around it if someone found out about what had happened, since we met before classes started. But if I contact her and something happens…

Something? Many things would happen if I got in touch with Tilly, because all I’ve been able to think about is her. Touching her.

And that can’t happen.

I need this job; I can’t be fired because if I’m fired after previous warnings, no school will hire me. All I’ve known is teaching.

I love being a professor. No woman should come between me and my profession.

But Tilly…

Tilly is different. Open and honest; smart, mature, and I’ll admit, I find her age a surprising turn-on.

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