Page 16 of Learn Your Limits
“Cal is a pseudonym, then?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“My full name is Reid Callahan,” he replies with the shrug of a shoulder, and his voice sounds even smaller than before. Reid toys with the strap on his backpack, clearly feeling out of his element.
I mentally curse myself. I’m not looking to upset him or scare him off. Fuck. I don’t know what I’m looking to do. I just know what Ican’tdo.
“We can’t continue this, Reid. As much as I am disappointed this is the case, youaremy student and there are lines even I won’t cross.”
His sharp intake of breath cuts through the deafening silence around us, his brows pinching at my words. His posture changes as he straightens his spine and pushes his shoulders back.
Determination.
I watch as he pulls his hand from his pocket and drops his bag to the floor, stepping around the desk to invade my space. Gone is the sheepish younger man who was twiddling with his backpack.
Reid is only a few inches taller than me, but it's enough to make me feel caged in as he leans into me. He's careful not to touch me, maintaining some semblance of a professional boundary. “This isn't over. I can keep a secret, Professor. I'll be a good boy,” he rasps, his breath warm against the shell of my ear.
Too close.
Too tempting.
I try and fail to fight the shuddering of my breath. Reid’s proximity and his wicked words drive me to the brink of my control.Good boy. I’ve been thinking of this young man asmygood boy for the last few days, and here he goes, all but confirming he ismine.
Closing my eyes, I do nothing to push him away. This might be the only time I’m allowing myself the comfort of his body, only inches away from mine. I’m in a state I’m not used to. Frozen, scared, and captivated in equal measures. The lingering sting of his breath against my skin gives me a feeling to anchor to, even when I feel myself sinking further into his allure.
I’m his professor.
I’m in a position of authority over him.
This isn’t right.
“Reid...” Without noticing it, I’ve moved my body closer to his, effectively closing the minute gap between us. My shoulder sears at the contact, pressing up against his chest as he shifts his weight onto me and buries his face in the crook of my neck. Ourupper bodies plaster to each other in desperation. A hug—he’s hugging and clinging to me as if I’m his savior in the flesh. How am I supposed to resist an act that shows so much devotion?
Wrapping my arms around him, I pull Reid close and luxuriate in our embrace, knowing it may be the only time I will get to hold him like this. He is pliant in my arms, surrendering to my embrace despite his hard exterior as he melts into me, letting me feel him without the walls he’s built around himself. And as lovely as he feels in my arms, I need to put a stop to it all. This caress is a goodbye as much as it is a declaration.
Feeling my retreat, Reid attempts to press his body fully against mine. I have to place a hand on his hip to stop him from getting any closer.
This has been careless of me. I could have—should have—stepped away at any moment. Things didn’t have to get this carried away, and I only have myself to blame. I’m the elder, and I’m supposed to be the voice of reason here.
“I need to go,” I whisper into his temple, the short auburn hair there pricking at my lips with the movement. My farewell is painful but necessary.
Reid lifts his head just as I take a step back to escape my temptation incarnate. When his gaze meets mine, I can see there are tears forming in my sweetMuñeco’s eyes. They gleam in the bright light of the projector, amplifying the determination there tenfold.
I can’t stand the sight. I need to leave before I do something even more foolish.
Backing away from him feels wrong. This whole situation feels so wrong for so many fucking reasons.
Wrong because of who we are to each other: professor and student.
Wrong because even as I quickly pack my items and leave a stunned and despondent Reid at the front of the lecture hall, I still think of him asmine.
Chapter fifteen
Reid
I thought I was prepared for the likelihood that Milo would end whatever this thing is between us, but I was lying to myself. There’s no way I could have possibly been prepared for how it would feel to have him turn his back on me and walk away. I want to say I understand, but I don’t. I don’t understand how he could walk away from me as if the past few days meant nothing.
We never discussed what would happen if I was his student. I don’t think either of us were ready for that conversation. Now, I’m wishing we had. At least then I would’ve walked into his classroom and immediately known that we didn’t stand a chance. Instead, I sat there staring at him with heart-filled eyes like some lovesick cartoon character, only for him to tell me that wecan’t continue this.
If I wasn’t genuinely interested in his class, I’d drop it, and the whole professor-student issue would be null and void. That isn’t an option right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find a way to make this work. I meant it when I told him I could keep a secret if he’s worried about what others will think.
