Page 23 of Forbidden Professor

I clear my throat, the back of my neck heating. “Nothing. I was just… going over a tricky mathematical equation in my head,” I lie.

Her mouth pulls down. Shaking her head, she unlocks her gate and then flounces up the path. I hear her muttering something as she unlocks her door.

I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the total lie I just pulled out of my ass. Following her inside, I close the door. Her house is large and airy, as fastidious as it is modern. There is a large living room area to the left, followed by a kitchen and dining room. In the back, I can just make out an alcove where the stairs probably are.

Eve walks her meowing bundle over to the kitchen island, setting it down very carefully. As soon as she uncovers the kitten, it pokes its head out of the towel. It’s bright blue eyes are admittedly pretty cute.

Eve scoops it up, checking its belly. It yowls in distress.

“Okay, okay!” Eve says, gracefully putting it down. It looks around with wide eyes, exploring her house very timidly.

“It’s a girl,” Eve says thoughtfully.

I frown. “Are you sure? Aren’t marmalade kittens usually boys?”

Eve shrugs. “I’m pretty sure. We’ll just leave its gender as an unknown for the time being.” She folds the towel, watching the tiny kitten navigate her living room. “What do you think of the name Valentine? That could work for a boy or a girl.”

My gaze has slipped down to Eve’s legs. “Huh?”

She crosses her arms, turning to me. “What are you even here for, Carter? Just to ogle me?”

I clear my throat and cross my arms, giving her a look. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m just being neighborly.”

She arches a brow. “Oh?”

I feel defensive for some reason. “Yeah. Well, you are my student?—“

She rolls her eyes. “Easy, professor. There are like three cell biology classes. If we decide to hook up, I’ll just take a different class.”

I frown. “That would be inconvenient. Especially since we probably shouldn’t sleep together anyway. I mean… you are the sexiest person that I’ve ever met and you’re smart as a whip on top of that. But?—“

She releases an exasperated sigh. “Are you about to say that we’re related?”

I smirk at her. “We’re not unrelated.”

She starts making a list and ticking it off on her fingers. “Okay. First off, you and my brother only share one parent. Your father.” She cocks her hip. “Aiden and I also only share one parent, our mother. And on top of all that, I’m adopted.”

“That’s still more related than I personally would like. I imagine the woman I love being entirely unrelated to me.”

The second the words pop out of my mouth, I want to cram them back in. Eve’s eyes widen a little.

“You love me?” she asks, sounding strangled.

“Uh, that’s not what I meant. I mean, I could grow to love you. I’m sure you’re perfectly lovable. I mean…” I stop, cursing. “Shit. I’m saying that fucking often leads to… catching feelings…”

Her mouth twists, a sly grin appearing on her face. “You have a crush on me.”

“What? No. You wish. That’s just a projection of your feelings for me.”

She saunters a little closer, stopping when she’s almost close enough to touch. “So you wouldn’t get all hot and bothered if I kissed you?”

I swallow. “That’s your prerogative. I will remind you that you’re Aiden’s little sister?—“

Eve brings a finger to my lips, silencing my objection. “I’m not a teenager, Carter. And that isn’t a no…”

Fuck. She’s so sexy. Irresistible, even. I don’t know why she has to tease me like that. What does she think is going to happen? Does she think I’ll just be able to walk out the door like I don’t want to rip all her fucking clothes off and give her exactly what she asked for that day on the roof?

“I wasn’t complaining. And I’m not complaining now. I’m merely stating the clear obstacles that exist in anything more happening between us.”

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