Page 62 of Forbidden Professor

“Come on,” I say, pulling back and taking her hand. “Let’s go inside and get out of this heat. We can talk about things a little more. And then you can tell me why you brought Valentine with you.”

She smiles at my sly, raising her eyebrows. “That’s not Valentine. That’s one of Valentine’s siblings, I think. And I figured that since I already had one cat, maybe you could take the other. You know, a matched set.”

I let out a surprised laugh. “That’s pretty presumptive of you. What if I hate cats?”

I crouch down to peek inside the carrier. A tiny meow is all I hear, but soon I see a little orange fur ball. It meows at me again, shifting uncomfortably in its cage.

“Well, I’m hoping I can use my newfound leverage to ask you pretty, pretty please…”

I shake my head, picking up the carrier and walking to the front door. I sigh with delight when the wall of air conditioning hits me. Setting the cat on the counter, I immediately head over to the AC and turn it up.

When I turn back to Eve, she’s coaxing not-Valentine out of the carrier. Predictably, the little kitten comes easily into Eve’s hands.

“It looks easy when you do it,” I say, leaning against the counter.

Eve flashes me a smile. Holding the kitten up, she flutters her long lashes at me. “Take the kitten, Carter. Look at how cute and sweet it is.”

Raising my hand, I pet the mewling cat. It’s small enough to fit in one of my big hands.

I look at Eve, my lips twitching. “Say it again.”

She looks at me, questioning. “Say what?”

“Call yourself my girlfriend again.”

A dimple flashes in her cheek as she grins. “I’m your girlfriend. And you’re my boyfriend. And this? This is your cat. So I think you should name it.”

I slide a hand around Eve’s hips, pulling her close. “If I name it, will you put the cat in the bathroom and let me make love to you?”

Her cheeks flush pink but she nods excitedly. “Yes.”

I lean down and kiss her lips. “Mmm. Okay. How about Lady Marmalade?”

Eve chuckles. “We don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy yet!”

“I don’t think that human gender constructs really apply to felines.” I shrug.

She hands the kitten to me, looking amused as the vast size difference between us. “Here you go. Now you’re a proud cat dad.”

I look at the fur ball in my hand, my lips curving up. “Hi Lady Marmalade. Or maybe you’d just prefer Marmalade for short. Hmm?”

The kitten meows at me and it is settled.

“Sounds like a plan. Now if you don’t mind, little cat, I have to take my girlfriend into the bedroom for a while. You hang out in the bathroom… and then when I’m done, we’ll see about feeding you and finding you a place to use the bathroom. Does that sound good?”

Eve is already slinking into my bedroom, leaving her shoes in the doorway and unbuttoning her jean skirt. “Are you coming?”

Fuck yes. “Just a sec…”

I sprint to the bathroom, locking a startled Marmalade inside. Then I turn to the bedroom, rubbing my hands with anticipation as I go.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Eve

I stepinto Carter’s kitchen. My breath catches as I spot Carter at the marble island. His athletic frame is silhouetted against the glow of pendant lights. His hands move with practiced ease as he chops vegetables.

“Well, well. Look who decided to grace us with her culinary presence,” he teases. His brown eyes sparkle as they meet mine.

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