CHAPTER THIRTY - FOUR

NICK WALKER ©

I snuggled deeper into the hard pillow, though I was enjoying how comfortable the bed I slept on felt.

Wait. Since when was my pillow this hard?

My eyes flew open and met with a face inches away from mine.

Enzo.

I froze as I realized I wasn't lying on a pillow at all. My head was resting on his arm, and at some point during the night, I had curled up against him.

I looked around the room and froze. It was already morning.

The sun streamed through the curtains, lighting up the entire room. I gasped as I realized I hadn't gone home.

“What the hell?” I half-yelled as I jumped out of bed. The sudden movement woke Enzo up.

He lifted his head slightly and blinked at me, his eyes still heavy with sleep.

“Fuck,” he muttered and turned to reach for the clock on the bedside table.

I followed his gaze and my eyes widened.

8:40 a.m.

I had never slept this late before.

“Why didn't you wake me up?” I asked as I searched for my phone.

“I fell asleep too. Fuck, can you calm down for a second?” he said and I ignored him completely.

Shit! Where was my phone?

I checked the bed, the floor, and even under the pillows.

“Nick.” Enzo's voice was firmer this time, but I still didn't respond.

He got out of bed and walked over to me. He grabbed my shoulders to turn to him.

“How am I supposed to calm down?” I blurted out. “I've probably missed calls from Avery by now. And Mira must be worried sick.”

Enzo sighed and gently lifted my chin, making me look at him.

The sudden closeness made my heart race.

“I'll drive you home,” he said calmly. “You can get ready and still make it to college.”

I forgot every thought in my head as I simply stared at him before nodding.

“You probably left your phone downstairs. Why don't you check there first?“ he said, letting me go.

I suddenly remembered leaving my phone on the counter while I was making food for him last night.

I headed for the door to get my phone when Enzo spoke.

“And you might want to cover up,” he said casually. “I told you I swing both ways.”

I froze and slowly looked down at myself. I was still wearing only his oversized shirt.

I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole as I felt his eyes on me.

Without wasting another second, I grabbed the thick duvet from the bed and wrapped it around myself before hurrying downstairs.

I picked up my phone just to see the screen filled with missed calls and messages from Avery.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

What was I supposed to tell her?

I couldn't possibly tell her I'd spent the night at my professor's house. That sounded absurd no matter how I looked at it.

I couldn't even imagine if someone had walked in on us in that room this morning and saw us sleeping in the same bed?

How would I even begin to explain that nothing had happened. And that we were just a professor and his student.

I paused.

Just a professor and his student?

For some reason, the description didn't feel right with me anymore.

Or maybe...

Maybe I wanted more than that description.

My heart raced the moment that thought crossed my mind.

“What the hell am I thinking?” I muttered to myself as I grabbed my head with both hands.

“Found your phone yet?” Enzo's voice interrupted my thoughts.

Right. I wanted to return Avery's call. I immediately called her back and Avery answered before the first ring could end.

“Nick, where the fuck did you go?” she yelled. “And where the hell did you leave your phone?”

“I'll be home in about an hour…”

“An hour?” she cut in. “Where are you? I'm coming to get you right now.”

“You can't. I can't tell where I am over the phone. I'll be home soon…” I said, trying to calm her down.

Before I could finish, Enzo's voice came from behind me.

“Are you going to get ready or not?”

My eyes widened as I quickly covered the phone speaker.

“Who's that?” Avery's voice came through immediately.

“I'll call you back. I gotta go,” I said quickly and ended the call before turning to him, annoyed.

“You shouldn't have interrupted me while I was on the phone,” I snapped.

“Why? You didn't want her to know you took care of your professor over the night?” he asked and I let out a short, sharp scoff.

“Do you hear how that sounds?” I snapped. “Why would I even be at my professor's house taking care of him?”

He stayed silent and just just stood there, watching me with that unreadable expression which only made me pissed.

Without another word, I turned and went back upstairs.

I locked the bathroom door behind me and stood still for a moment, staring at the large quiet room.

Then I walked to the sink and let out a shaky breath.

Why was I annoyed at him?

Why was I annoyed at someone who was only getting better?

I looked up at the wide and smooth mirror, shaped like a river stone and stared back at my reflection.

Then another thought hit me.

How was I supposed to explain where I was to Avery?

There was no way I could tell her.

I suddenly remembered I had told Avery I'd be back home in an hour.

I exhaled sharply as I quickly pulled off Enzo's shirt and stepped into the large glass shower.

Everything in the bathroom was expensive and I couldn't help but wonder how rich Enzo was.

And how much did a professor even earn to live like this?

A few minutes later, I finished my bath and changed back into my dry clothes.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, Enzo wasn't in the room.

My eyes drifted across the room and landed on a small framed photo on the table. It was a picture of a woman.

Perhaps it was his mother.

The door suddenly swung open and Enzo walked in. His hair was still damp. It looked like he had just come out of the shower too.

His shirt was unbuttoned, and he was in brief boxers.

I froze as my eyes lingered on his well built abs and biceps before landing on his bulge in the brief boxers.

I quickly turned my back to him and swallowed hard.

“I… I… I'll wait downstairs,” I stammered, not looking at him again as I rushed out of the room.

I closed the door behind me and hurried downstairs before things got more awkward.

I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and took a slow breath in and out.

But my mind kept bringing up the image of Enzo from a moment ago.

“Fuck.“ I cursed as I looked down at my pants.

My cock was hard already.

I groaned softly as I felt a precum leaked from it.

“What the fuck.” I cursed under my breath and held the glass railing.

I placed my hands on my chest as I tried to steady my racing heart.

I needed to get away from Enzo immediately. If I stayed longer, I might lose myself completely.