e symphony of Dr. Alistair Finch's voice. To anyone else, he was just another academic-pas
ehead as he leaned over the podium, the precise, elegant movements of his hands as he emphasized a poi
es, with a lean frame dressed in perfectly tailored twe
th more doodles of his pr
ing me with my elbow. "You're staring so hard you'
"I am not. I'm contemplating the s
smirked, her
sed us, his smooth baritone vibrating in my
ty Tap," Chloe called
ollowed. "Work out
-out speaker thumped a generic beat. We found a wobbly tabl
ble. A wobbly, green-necked beer
grin w
r dare,
Always
ar
e you... to kiss a guy.
ud jocks. A couple in a corner booth, practically fused together. An older m
old man was the least terrifying option. I could make it quick, a peck on the cheek,
t-there" mission after my breakup with Mark. They meant well,
im, the vinyl cracked and stick
tarted, my voice
nk. Clean laundry, old books, something l
tric, a jolt of recognition that shot straight to my core
was
Fi
and arms. His hair was slightly messy, falling over those intense grey eyes. He looked younger, softer, more
ed, his voice a low rumble th
mind a complete blank. "
wasn't the polite, professional smile fr
scent enveloping me. His bre
ed. "And what, exac
dry. "To... t
to be undeniable. He didn't look surprised
ide of my wrist. His eyes flickered towards my table, where Chloe
he chatter, it all faded to a dull hum, repl
ed to my lips,
m?" He gave a minute tilt of his
. safe," I b
my name. I was in his class. But the way he said it, like a s
amed at me to run, but my feet were rooted to the sticky floor. This was a line, a bri
brushing lightly against my lower lip. The touch
n us. The heat of his palm on my cheek
expressio
remembered
fell away
tment flashed through m
a hand through his hair. His jaw tighten
ad idea," he
harder than th
were openly staring now, whisp
ack to my frie
ied, though he didn
r of u
us felt sharp enou
ed smile-the careful, controlled vers
ur evenin
leaving me standing there with my pulse racin
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