Page 33 of Daddy's Muse
A strange, unsettled feeling twisted in my stomach. It wasn’t like seeing him was bad—if anything, my pulse had leapt in a way I didn’t want to think about—but itdidfeel out of place, like spotting a wolf on a city street.
His gaze shifted to me like he’d sensed my approach, smiling at my presence.
I stood there, frozen halfway between walking toward him and pretending I hadn’t seen him at all. When I finally started moving, he pushed off the lamppost and met me halfway.
“Colby,” he greeted, my name warm on his tongue like he’d been waiting for me. “What a coincidence.”
Coincidence.
I wasn’t sure I believed that.
And yet, what else was there to believe? He couldn’t have been waiting for me, couldn’t have known that I’d take this path at this specific time.
“Yeah… coincidence,” I echoed, my voice coming out thinner than I wanted. I shook off my unease, letting out a deep breath and shooting him a smile.
Bodin’s eyes stayed on me like he was reading between the lines of my face. “You look tired,” he said, not as an observation but almost like it was a fact he could feel. “Long day?”
“Ugh, yeah,” I grumbled, shifting my backpack strap higher. “Library’s been my second home recently.”
He hummed, low and almost approving. I stilled as he reached a hand out to tuck one of my wayward curls behind my ear.
This man would be the death of me, I thought.
“Diligent. I like that. Be careful not to wear yourself out too much, though. Can’t have you getting sick.” His gaze flicked toward the path I’d just come from, as if measuring something. “I was just… passing through.”
Passing through… People didn’t justpass throughthe residential part of campus unless they belonged here.
Still, there was nothing pushy in his tone, nothing I could point to as suspicious. Just… him. Steady, calm, looking at me like he’d carved out this time for me alone. I blushed at that thought.Hadhe been waiting for me? The beyond sexy, caring, amazing Daddy of my dreams? No way… right?
“You headed somewhere?” he asked.
“Back to my dorm. Just gonna grab dinner and—” I cut myself off before I could overshare, because talking to him always made me want to tell him more than I should. “Just… normal stuff.”
Bodin’s mouth twitched like my awkward pause amused him. “Ah, yes,normal stuff. Well, since we’re both here, would you like to get dinner with me? It would be my treat.”
My chest tightened, and sure that I had misheard him, I repeated, “Dinner? With me?”
“Ja.” That sounded like a yes.
My throat went a little dry. “Like… right now?”
His smile deepened, slow and knowing, like he could hear every thought tripping over itself in my head. “Unless you have somewhere else you’d rather be.”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out for a second. I’d been planning on grabbing something from the dining hall, eating alone while scrolling aimlessly on my phone. The thought of Bodin sitting across from me instead—talking to me, looking at me like he did—made my pulse jump.
“I, uh… Yes, I guess I’m free,” I managed, rocking back on my heels and feeling so small as he towered over me.
“Good.” He didn’t waste time, just gestured toward the edge of campus. “Come. I know a place.”
We fell into step together, and I couldn’t shake the weird awareness that he’d just… appeared. Nonetheless, I followed him diligently as he led me to who knew where.
The campus buildings thinned out, replaced by the quiet hum of town streets. He walked like he had all the time in the world, occasionally glancing over at me, like he was checking to make sure I hadn’t disappeared.
“You were studying?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. I have a couple of exams next week.”
His mouth curved slightly. “I am sure you’ll do well. You’re a very smart boy.”
