Page 62 of Toxic

"My philosophy is simple. I don’t go all the way unless I have… feelings for the guy. And the only person I loved was Anton."

The professor walked into the room, so we both fell silent. Yet, something was bothering me—a persistent thought.

"How often do you see May and Ed?" I asked very quietly.

He gave me another long, penetrating look.

"You know I could just say it’s none of your business, right?"

"You could."

He sighed, but his face slowly changed, becoming more… shy? And flushed.

"I'm… uh, taking a break."

"From providing them with your… services?"

"Yeah, that’s what we’re talking about, isn’t it?" Soren again looked annoyed. I guess I was getting on his nerves today with my… cluelessness.

"Why the break?"

"None of your business!"

My eyebrows went up. Now was the time to press him a bit. I was like a dog with a bone.

"Come on. Since when?"

Soren’s eyes met mine.

"Two and a half months ago," he reluctantly admitted.

That was when we met for the first time… The thought seemed almost unbelievable. How could this even be true?

"Is it because of me?" I murmured, my throat dry.

He blushed.

"Don’t flatter yourself!" he snapped.

"Then why?"

"None of your business!"

"ItISbecause of me," I whispered breathlessly, feeling a wave of strange, sweet, dizzying happiness. It was like a drug spreading through my system.

Soren looked at me, our eyes locking. He was blushing slightly too, seeming both angry and excited. No, he didn’t just seem. I knew that’s exactly how he felt—annoyed with himself, yet feeling a thrill of forbidden pleasure. That peculiar duality in his behavior again. As if he wanted something but also… didn't want it.

"Quiet in the back, please!" came the professor's voice, looking our way with a frown.

Soren and I immediately fell silent. But my elation didn't fade, no way. I sat there, spellbound for a moment.

Soren had stopped his work for the Kingdom of Promises, and now I was the only one involved with him sexually!

The stupid hope returned. Maybe I could even be something more if I handled this right, if I played my cards carefully—was this an unconscious sign from him?

Pondering over it for a while, I occasionally glanced at him—at his eye-catching profile and those soft lips I planned on tasting one day. I imagined the kiss, could almost see it before my eyes, that sweet moment when he’d wrap his arms around my neck and give in to passion, parting his lips and letting me in. I felt a wave of heat through my body, and when I peered at him again, I saw he was blushing slightly too, as if my energy somehow affected him.

Soren had forbidden me from touching him outside of his room, but I was slowly making progress in loosening up those rules. It was time to make another advance. I slowly raised my hand and placed it on the back of his chair, in a strategic spot. I hesitated for a moment, then very slowly ran my thumb along the line of his neck, down toward his spine. Soren flinched slightly. I was sure he’d snap at me, tell me to stop, or get angry for breaking his rule, but to my surprise, he did none of that. He let me gently caress his shoulder blades, tracing small circles and lines with just the tips of my fingers across his slim back.

---