Page 23 of Gin & Sin

I motion to the drink. “Just having a drink.”

He nods, studying my face. Thad is the kind of guy I avoided like the plague during my own college years. He’s popular, on the university football team, and good-looking with his wavy blond hair and sultry light brown eyes. I assume he’s queer simply because he’s always got someone on his arm, but rarely the same someone and the genders rotate. In that regard, his existence makes me proud. That a college football star can openly date whoever he wants is definite progress.

“I didn’t know you were…” Thad pauses, glancing over his shoulder as his friends at the pool table call out his name. “I guess I shouldn’t assume just because you’re here.”

I feel the heat creeping up my neck, but I knew the chance of seeing someone I knew was high. Besides, I’m not ashamed of who I am, I’m just private when it comes to students.

“I am. Queer, I mean. Bisexual, maybe.”

Thad’s whole face lights up. “That’s amazing. You’re so…” Pausing again, he shakes his head. “Are you single?”

His train of thought is dizzying. “Sort of. Why?”

“No reason.” His voice dips in a strange way, and unless I’m imagining it, he just moved in a little closer. “I thought you were married.”

“I was.”

“Oh. Sorry. About the divorce.”

“It’s okay. I’ve worked through it, but thank you.”

His proximity is making me nervous. I don’t socialize with students, so there’s never any question about my role and my professionalism. Simply being outside the classroom doesn’t change that. I shift in my seat to put a little distance between us, and suddenly Kit’s warm, firm grip is on my shoulder from beside me.

“You doing okay, babe?” Kit asks, leaning in and brushing his lips over my cheek.

Thad’s eyes widen as he takes a step back.

“I’m doing great.” I tilt my head to gaze at Kit. “This is a student of mine.”

“Oh.” Kit smiles, but I swear there’s a hint of warning in it as he presses himself against me. “Enjoying yourself?”

Thad nods, glancing over his shoulder at his friends. “Yeah. Cool bar. Just saying hi to the prof.”

Kit nods, but doesn’t say anything else or move at all. I know a lot about mating rituals in the wild, and while we’re not outon the Sahara, this feels an awful lot like two alphas challenging each other over territory.

Thad clearly doesn’t stand a chance, and he knows it. “Have a good rest of your night, Prof.”

“You too, Thad.”

He walks away and my shoulders drop with relief. “How did you know to come rescue me?”

“I saw how tense you looked. I didn’t know if he was hitting on you or what.”

“I don’t understand anything that just happened in that interaction. He was weirdly interested in my relationship status.”

Kit grins, pushing my knees apart to stand between my legs. “Sounds like he was hitting on you.”

I scoff. “No. Why would a twenty-something jock be into me?”

“You have no idea how delicious you are. Adorable.”

“Delicious? How would a student know that even if it were true?”

“Have you ever walked by a bakery and looked in the window and seen a treat that looked so good your mouth watered?”

I nod as my stomach does somersaults. “Yes.”

“Yeah, so you don’t know if it’s as good as it looks, but you know you want a taste.”

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