Page 58 of No One Else

“You’ve shown me your proposal and I know it’s solid, probably the best thing anyone in the class will turn in, but...” He stalls, picking at the edge of a piece of notebook paper before meeting my gaze. “He’s going out of his way to invite you to a conference which you admit is unusual for a sophomore. Even offers you a scholarship to cover the fee. It’s a little suspicious, right?”

I laugh, leaning my elbows on the table, propping my chin on my hands. “Don’t tell me you’ll be a jealous boyfriend.”

His eyes flare in surprise. “Boyfriend?”

My own eyes widen in response. “Is- is it okay to call you that? I guess I just assumed-”

“Yes, I want that.” He takes my hand in his, intertwining our fingers, his gaze soft now. “To be your boyfriend. As long as I can say you’re my girlfriend.”

I nod, my cheeks heating for some reason. The way he’s looking at me... no one’s ever looked at me like that before.

“And I’m sorry, you’re right,” he continues. “I’m not trying to start trouble, assuming every other guy wants you. But damn, Natalie. How can I not think that? You’re-” He directs his free hand at me, encompassing me from head to toe. “You’re smart and beautiful. You know what you want and you pull no punches trying to get it. But you’re also incredibly giving and sweet. How could every guy not be dying to be with you?”

My initial urge is to turn it into a joke. Tell him he doesn’t need to lay it on so thick, we’re already dating. But he still has that look in his eyes. The kind I see in movies when the guy discovers he’s in love with the girl.

Oh God, the love thing. I completely forgot about that. Does he still feel the same way?

The thought of it now doesn’t freak me out. In fact... it steadies me. “I don’t care what any other guy thinks. I only care about you. Besides, you do know that Dr. Kaufman won’t try anything on me, right?”

“He’s like twice our age but that hasn’t stopped professors before-”

“No,” I laugh. “Because he’s gay.”

He pauses, mulling it over. “That... actually makes a lot of sense now that I think about it.” He gives a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I just- this all seems too good to be real,” he blurts out, shaking his head. “I keep waiting for something to happen.”

I rub my thumb over his knuckles gently. “You know, Samantha gave me some good advice the other day. I can’t remember her exact words, but it was to the effect ofif you sabotage something before it even starts, you’re doomed to fail.”

He nods, swallowing heavily. “Smart words.”

I lean in and give him a quick kiss on the lips, mindful of all the other people studying around us. Almost every time I’ve kissed him has been in public, and I keep forgetting myself every time too. “Nothing is going to happen, I promise. Besides, you forgot the most important part of me attending this conference.”

“What’s that?” He looks relieved to back on safer ground now.

“I’ll have my own hotel room, all to myself. No roommates, no family, no one but me... and you if you’d like to join me.”

His gaze immediately turns hot. “I want that more than anything. But are you ready for that next step? Because you and I spending the night together... alone...” His eyes rake me up and down. I don’t think he even realizes he’s doing it, how seductive he looks, how much it instantly sets my belly to fluttering again. “There’s no way I could keep my hands off you. God, Natalie. All the things I’ve imagined doing to you. Finally getting the chance...”

I squirm in my seat, a flood of arousal going through me. How does he keep doing this to me in public places?

It doesn’t help that a large group of students comes and sits at the table two feet away, leaving us with even less privacy.

I unlink hands with him, pulling his notebook over to me and grab his pen.

What have you imagined doing to me?

I slide it over to him and bite my lip, waiting to see if he’ll take up the reins.

His eyes widen when he reads what I wrote and I give him a mischievous grin. He chuckles and picks up the pen, scribbling down a few lines, and pushes it back to me.

You and me alone in a hotel room? Where do I begin? Do you want it fast and hot or sweet and slow?

The fluttering in my belly from earlier turns into a swarm and I eagerly reply.

I want it fast and hot.

He smirks, scrawling something quick, and angles the paper my way.

Can I be explicit?

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