Page 128 of Academically Yours

The last week of classes passed in a blur, a whole week of studying and spending nights with Matthew and laughing and crying more than I could have imagined. When it came down to it, he wouldn’t let me go, and I couldn’t have been happier that he didn’t give up on us even when I tried to. That last week of school was full of him loving me, caring for me, cuddling with me late at night as I stayed over at his place. Those were some of the best days of my life, and I couldn’t wait for an eternity of them.

I just had to get through finals first. And accept my job offer.

“That’s my girl.” Matthew smiled as I hit submit on my final paper, and I sighed in relief. It was done. Now all that was left between me and walking across the stage to get my diploma was a few final exams. I couldn’t believe how fast the semester had gone by.

“I have my final presentations tomorrow,” I grinned. “You’re coming, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it, sweetheart.”

“Now I just have to get through finals, and then we have a whole month before summer school starts for you, right?” I asked, putting my laptop down and moving over to sit across his lap on the couch. His eyes twinkled mischievously, the beautiful blue eyes staring back at me as he gathered what I was trying to do. “A whole month to ourselves.” I kissed his neck, then his jaw, before finally landing on his lips.

“A whole month just for us,” he agreed, kissing me back. “You’re going to stay here, right?”

I blinked at him. “Do you mean…?” Move in?

“Just for the summer, if you want… I was thinking it made sense.” He caressed my arms slowly, up and down. “Just until you move back into the dorm. I just… I want you here with me, Noelle.”

“Oh. Matthew, I love you.” I nuzzled my nose against his neck. “But I’m not moving back into the dorms this fall.”

“You’re… not? I thought you said you were staying at the university.”

“I haven’t officially accepted the job yet… but the School of Business

offered me a position as Student Advisor. So, I’ll be staying there.” I bit my lip, searching his eyes for something I didn’t want to name yet. “I was thinking about getting an apartment…”

“Move in with me,” he said, his blue eyes so big and full of delight as he gazed into mine.

And it clicked. “I… Wow. I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes,” my beautiful, handsome giant blonde man pleaded with me. “You’re here more nights than you are at your apartment, anyway, and the night’s where you’re gone—”

I laughed. How could I say no to him? I didn’t want to spend any time without him. We were in this—life—together. “Yes.” And the word wasn’t even out of my mouth yet that he kissed me with such fervor that it left us both breathless. “So… no more sleepovers?”

“No, Noelle.” He flicked my nose. “It’s the opposite. I want every day for the rest of my life to be a sleepover with you. I want to roll over and kiss you good morning, make you breakfast and make sure you’re fed before you go to work, and then I want to be the one to welcome you back home every day.” He kissed my chin, then my neck, before moving up to my mouth. “I want to make love to you every night until you come—more than once—and I want to hold you in my arms afterward. I want to spend every moment of the rest of our lives together. I want it all with you, Noelle Hastings, and God help me, I never want you to spend another night where I’m not at your side. Okay?”

“Okay.” I nodded tearfully, but my smile was big and wide.

I leaned my head against his chest, fingers playing with the buttons of his shirt. “You know, I had already said yes. I didn’t need a long speech.”

The sound of his laugh was beautiful. “I know. But I liked the long speech. Plus, it meant I could promise you again to make you come every night.”

“Did you promise that?” I tilted my head. “Because that sounds like a wicked, wicked tongue, Professor,” I grinned, and he stole another kiss. I slipped my fingers through his belt loops, pulling him—and his erection—firmly into me. “So, when can I move in? Because I would like for you to deliver on all of those promises.”

“Is tomorrow too soon?”

I laughed. “Maybe after graduation.” I wrinkled my nose at him. “But only if you promise to help me pack. And carry my stuff down the stairs.”

“Anything for you, baby.”

“Now, back to that tongue…”

“Mhmm, but first…” He shifted me and placed me back on the couch, looking at the pile of my study materials. “We do gotta get you across the stage, baby.”

“You know…” I wondered out loud, biting my lip. I pulled a textbook onto my lap as I thumbed through the pages without actually reading any of them. “I think there’s gotta be a better way to study than this.”

“Oh? Please, do tell, my little graduate. After six years of collegiate learning, what is your secret to studying?” He grinned, and I shot him a glare.

“I was just thinking that there are more fun ways to incentivize learning, Professor.” I insinuated, running a finger up the spine of the book. “If you want to help me, that is.”

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