Page 11 of Wet Paint

“Will answered most of them for us,” Ruby reminded her. “So, if we do win that gift card, he should have it and take our girl here out on a romantic date.”

My cheeks heated, and I gave Will an apologetic look. “You really don’t have to listen to them.”

Will chuckled and shook his head. His fingers stretched on my leg, then patted it gently. “It’s fine, really. They’re just teasing. And, to be fair, I’d tease my friends too if they were in my situation.” He looked between Ruby and Lenny, then said, “You keep it. I gotta make my own efforts to take her out someday.”

Ruby squealed, grinning like a child. “Aren’t you a charmer. Honestly, out of all the guys Ivy has ever been interested in, you’re the first one I’m happy about. And the whole professor-student thing makes it even better. It’s so forbidden. And hot. Because you’re both hot.”

I pursed my lips and gave Ruby a look that saidstop it, but I took it as a compliment. And her words made me feel morerelaxed about it all. Even though I had no clue what this thing between Will and me was growing to be.

Before either of us had the chance to say more, the announcer tapped on his microphone to test it before talking into it. We all turned our attention to him.

“Alrighty, folks,” he said, holding up a small piece of paper. “The winner of tonight’s trivia night has been decided. The group winning a gift card for a fancy dinner at The Modern is…”

Lenny and Ruby clasped each other’s hands, muttering to each other as we all waited for the winner team to be announced.

“Trivia Newton- John!”

Everybody clapped as Lenny ran to the front to grab our prize. She held it into the air, jumping up and down as if we had just won the lottery, and we cheered, laughing at how silly this all was.

When she came back to our table, Lenny pointed at Will and said, “I would totally kiss you right now, but I’m a respectful friend.”

I pressed my lips together and looked at Will as he chuckled, giving Lenny and Ruby a simple high five.

“Thank you,” I told him. “For coming. And for helping us win.”

“It’s nothing,” he assured me, his smile softening just for me. “It was fun.”

I reached for his hand under the table and gave his fingers a squeeze. “I’m glad you came.”

We had our little moment before the music got louder, and people started to order more food and drinks. Will leaned in closer. “I’m going to the restroom,” he told me.

I turned my head to look at him, and something flashed in his eyes. Something I wasn’t sure I read right. Did he want me to follow him?

I watched him leave the table, and before he could disappear around the corner, I got up and followed him. It was probably stupid. I was imagining things. That’s what I told myself when he was already halfway through the men’s bathroom’s door.

But when he looked back and saw me, he stopped and smiled, pleased to see me standing there.

He took a step toward me, slowly. “You know we’ll get in big trouble.”

“Not if we don’t get caught,” I replied quickly, my voice a bit too shaky for my liking.

He nodded, watching me closely as he evaluated everything. But it didn’t take him long to decide what to do. He looked behind me, then back at me, before reaching for my hand. He pulled me to him, walking backward until his back hit the men’s door. He pushed inside, pulling me with him, and once the door closed behind me, he pressed my back against it.

His hands came up to cup my face, and he eyed me carefully, taking another moment to take me in. The kiss came slowly. His lips pressed against mine, careful and steady at first, until I opened for him.

He kissed me deeper, and I felt myself give into him fully. I leaned back against the wall as his body followed mine, not crushing but solid. His lips moved against mine slowly and passionately. He wasn’t trying to impress or get me to keep him there. He was just…there. With me. And that made it so much harder to think.

My fingers slid under the hem of his sweater before I realized I was doing it, palms grazing the warmth of his skin. He sucked in a breath at the contact, then kissed me harder.

I tilted my head, letting him in deeper, our mouths moving in a slow, measured exchange that felt less like lust and more like something inevitable. His hands were still on eitherside of my head, his fingers curling in my hair. He kept me in place with quiet confidence, and I wanted to stay like this forever.

After sliding the tip of his tongue along my bottom lip, he dipped it into my mouth, curling it around mine in the hottest way possible. I let out a moan, pulling him even closer by grabbing his sweater by the hem. My other hand was pressed against his hard abs, and I made a mental note to remind myself to ask him how often he worked out. Because between all the teaching and painting, I wasn’t sure where he got the time to work out.

When we heard voices outside the restroom, he slowly pulled back. His breath was shallow, and he rested his forehead against mine.

Words didn’t come easy. He had taken them away from me, but he seemed pretty speechless too. His thumbs gently caressed my cheeks as a small smile appeared on his lips.

“We’re walking a thin line.”

---