Page 28 of Damaged Professor

Our little arrangement has its rules, but I can see that Dylan wants to break them as much as I do. His expression when he opens the door is the proof.

I rush inside as he closes the door behind me. “Don’t worry. The streets are empty.”

Just because his house should be safe from anyone seeing us, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be careful.

“I know,” he says. There’s no small talk this time. He loops his arms around me and pulls me up. I grab his shoulders to steady myself and wrap my legs around his waist.

“Hungry?” he asks as he starts to walk.

I bite his lip then kiss him, my tongue playing with his. My hold on him is strong—so much so that he is able to slide his hand at my thigh and under my dress. When I pull away to gasp for air we are already in the kitchen. I look at him a little confused.

“We are having lunch first.”

With a swift move he places me on the marble countertop. The surface is icy cold compared to how I’m burning. I slide off and sit on one of the chairs. “What are we eating today?”

“What does it smell like?”

I can’t really tell. I get up to see but he scolds me. “Hey, no cheating. You've gotta guess.”

“There’s a sweet smell, something like caramel—caramel onions?” He nods. “And—“

I don’t get the chance to say anything else. The doorbell rings and both of us freeze.

“Are you expecting someone?”

“No.” He throws the towel over his shoulder. “Wait here.”

The front door opens and a heavy voice echoes through the hall.

“What took you so long?”

“Ashton, you can’t just barge in here whenever you feel like it.” Dylan protests.

“Why? It’s not like you—Do you have someone over?” I can’t hear what Dylan says but his brother bursts into laughter. “Well, I can still hope.”

“What do you want?” Dylan demands.

I keep myself tucked in the kitchen. But I turn off the stove, and peek just a bit, at the edge of the door.

“The anniversary brother, remember? We’ve only picked the cake so far. I can’t believe I have to chase you down for this.” He doesn’t wait for a response. “It’s our parents’ fifty-year anniversary. They expect it to be extra special.”

“Thankfully, they have two sons who can take care of that.” Dylan pats Ashton in the back.

“I can’t go. I’m too busy at work. Look at my schedule.” Ashton takes out his phone and starts scrolling through his calendar, I assume. “Do you see any free time?”

“Yes, right now, this very moment. You didn’t have to come all the way here for this. You could have called me or gone there directly.” Dylan smirks.

“You just don’t want—“ Ashton opens his mouth but closes it again. “I’ll give you this one.” He raises a finger, a fake threat in his voice. “But I’m not doing the catering alone. Pick a day.”

Ashton huffs and puffs. He mutters something and then he leaves as abruptly as he arrived. And Dylan makes his way back to the kitchen.

“I’m sorry about that. Every year, the moment the planning begins, he starts to act like a child.”

“It’s sweet. And, I mean, fifty years… That’s a long time.”

He nods. “They were very lucky to have found each other. Most people either never find the right person or worse—they find the wrong one.”

I am happy for Dylan's parents, but a twinge of envy is mixed in that. I could have had that with James. And now I am not even sure what kind of relationship I’m in. Dylan turns on the stove again, there is a silence between us.

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