Dirty little secrets

Chapter 26

Ava

"Dude, I'm with someone," I snapped, pushing his hands off, but he laughed like it was a joke, trying to pull me toward him again.

And that's when Professor Calder showed back up, drinks in hand, eyes narrowing as he saw the guy. He set the glasses down on a nearby ledge fast, then cut in smooth but firm, one arm wrapping around my waist from behind, yanking me back against him hard. "She's with me," he growled low, voice like thunder over the music, staring the guy down.

The frat boy blinked, hands up. "Whoa, sorry man, didn't know."

"So why are you still here? ," Calder asked, not yelling but cold, and the guy scurried away quickly.

I turned in his arms, heart racing, turned on as hell by the possessiveness, feeling desired, claimed, like I was his and he wasn't letting go. "That was hot," I said, grinning up at him, and he didn't smile back at first, eyes still dark.

"You okay?" he asked, hand coming up to cup my face.

"Yeah, but damn, are you jealous?" I teased, and that cracked him he laughed short, then got rougher, hand sliding into my hair, gripping just enough to tilt my head back for a deep kiss right there in public, tongue claiming my mouth, body pressing me against the nearest wall in the crowd.

"f**k yes, jealous," he admitted against my lips, biting my bottom one light. "I don't like sharing."

"Good," I whispered, hands fisting his shirt, smirking because he'd go crazy if he knew he was sharing me with his daughter's boyfriend, either way we danced like that, rougher now, his free hand roaming bolder, slipping under my dress again, fingers teasing the edge of my panties while people milled around, oblivious or not caring. "Touch me," I begged in his ear, and he did, just a brush over my c**t through the fabric, making me moan into his shoulder.

"Not here," he said, voice strained, but he didn't stop entirely, grinding against me as the music pulsed. "Let's go to the hotel."

We barely made it out, grabbing our stuff, hailing a cab outside, and the ride back was torture him kissing my neck, hand between my legs under my dress, whispering filth. "I'm gonna f**k you so hard you forget that asshole even existed." And I laughed, pushing him away playful when the driver glanced back.

"Shut up, perv."

"Only a perv for you," he echoed from earlier, and we tumbled into the hotel room laughing, door slamming, clothes flying off my dress over my head, his shirt buttons popping as I yanked it open. He pinned me to the bed, mouth on my t**s, sucking hard, and I arched up, nails digging into his back. "f**k, yes," I gasped, and he moved lower, spreading my legs, tongue diving in without warning, lapping at me like he was starved. The mother f*****g best p***y eater I know Oh my God.

I came fast, shaking, screaming his name, Calder, not Professor, because in that moment he was just him, the guy who made me feel everything. But then the high crashed a bit, post-orgasm haze mixing with the alcohol, and I pulled him up, kissing him slowly. "That forever thing," I mumbled, half-asleep already, "you meant it?"

He rolled onto his side, arm around me, breathing heavy. "Yeah. I like you, Ava. A lot. More than I should."

"Me too," I said, but then doubt crept in Jax's face flashing in my head, the slap, the jealousy, and now this, with a guy old enough to be my dad almost. What the f**k was I doing? Happy, yeah, but scared too, like this could blow up any second. "But what if… "

"Shh," he interrupted, kissing my forehead. " We'll figure it out."

I nodded, snuggling closer, but sleep didn't come easy, thoughts racing happy with him, wishing forever, but knowing life wasn't that simple. Still, in his arms, it felt possible, and I drifted off to the sound of his heartbeat, steady and real.

We woke early, sunlight sneaking through the curtains, and he was already up, packing the bags from last night, coffee brewing from the room machine. "Morning, sleepyhead," he said, handing me a cup, leaning down to kiss me softly.

I groaned, sitting up naked, sheets pooling around me. "What time's the flight?"

"Two hours. Eat something." He tossed me a muffin from the minibar, and I caught it, biting in while watching him move around, efficient but still glancing at me with that hunger.

"Last night was wild," I said through a mouthful, and he laughed.

"Yeah, you trying to teach me to dance? Hilarious."

"Shut up, you surprised me!" I threw the wrapper at him, and he dodged, pulling me up for a quick hug.

"Get dressed. Adventure awaits."

We showered together, quick, soapy, hands everywhere but no time for more and headed to the airport, his hand in mine the whole way. Security was a breeze, him upgrading us to first class last minute, and on the plane, I leaned on his shoulder, watching clouds roll by. "This feels like a dream," I whispered.

"Real as it gets," he said back, squeezing my hand.

But landing in whatever city the trip was for, some conference or whatever, but really our escape hit different. Hotel check-in, him signing as Professor Calder, me as his "assistant" or some bullshit to cover, and the room was even nicer, ocean view, but I didn't care about that. We dumped bags, and he turned to me, seriously suddenly. "Ava, about last night… "

"Don't," I cut him off, stepping close. "Don't ruin it with professor talk."

He sighed, but smiled. "Fine. But I meant it. Happy with you. Forever? Maybe not realistic, but right now? Yeah."

I kissed him then, pushing him back toward the bed, because this realism. I wanted this, him, the escape.

After lying there, he traced patterns on my skin. "What do you want, Ava? Really?"

"You," I said simply, but then laughed sarcastically.

"Easier said," he muttered, but with him there, it was… Jax felt small, petty, while this was big, consuming. We ordered room service, ate naked on the bed, talking s**t about everything his boring lectures, my dumb friends, laughing until my sides hurt.

"You know, for an old guy, you're fun," I teased, and he tackled me, tickling until I screamed mercy.

"Old? I'll show you old." And he did, sucking and eating up my p***y for round two, leaving me boneless.

But night came, and with it the sadness snuck in, thinking about home, the end of the trip, how this couldn't last. I curled against him, tears pricking stupidly. "What if we can't keep this?"

He held me tighter. "We will. Somehow."

I wanted to believe it, but doubt gnawed, making me sad enough to choke up, laughing through it bitter. "God, I'm a mess."

"My mess," he said, and we fell asleep like that, tangled, hopeful but scared.

The next day was the conference bullshit he dragged me to sessions, me pretending to take notes but really doodling hearts like a kid. Boring as f**k, but sneaking kisses in hallways made it worth it. "You're distracting," he whispered during a break, pinning me in a stairwell, hand up my skirt.

"Good," I shot back, and we almost got caught, laughing as we straightened up.

Dinner that night in a fancy restaurant, him treating again and over wine, he got serious. "Ava, I love how you make me feel young. Alive. But this age thing… "

"Shut up," I interrupted, kicking him under the table. "Don't go there. Not now."

He sighed, but nodded. "Okay. But promise me… if it gets too much, tell me."

"Deal." But inside, it was already too much, the happiness mixed with fear, making me want to cry one second, laugh the next. I was loving it here and genuinely hoped it never ever stopped.