“Nothing really to tell. I’m new to the city. I’ve lived here a few months. Before that, I travelled a lot, but I had a place in London. I work hard. I have a deadly allergy to bees and have to carry an EpiPen. Oh, and if I don’t eat regularly, I turn into an angry banshee... don’t say you’ve not been warned.” I chuckled, and Finn rolled his eyes. “I mean it. I’m like the devil. I have to carry snacks everywhere, just to be safe.”
I nodded, pulling out some cash to pay for breakfast. “Well, I’ve taken note and will not let you go too long without sustenance. Shall we go to the office?”
“Whatever you’d like, Aquaman.”
“Absolutely not with that name. Let’s go, and while we walk, you can tell me what your go-to snacks are in case there is ever a food emergency, and I need to save you from a sugar slump.”
FINN
I satat my desk and tried not to swoon over my hot-as-hell boss as I watched him through the window of his office.
He’d pulled up the sleeves of his jumper, showing off his tanned forearms as he leant over the desk while he spoke to someone on the phone. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail, his brown eyes shone, fine lines creasing the corners of them as he smiled at whoever he was talking to.
I let my imagination run wild. There was something so sexy about the idea of seeing a man like Jasper—tall, fit, confident—on his knees for me. Licking my lips at the thought, I let out a long breath to calm the burning excitement in my stomach. It had been a while since I’d been with anyone, and even longer since I’d found someone who would bottom for someone who looked like me. But then I remembered that Jasper was adored by the world, my boss, and most importantly, apparently not into guys. It threw a bucket of common sense over my office romance fantasies that were developing in my affection-starved mind.
I turned my attention back to my computer, wanting to help simplify things around here. The current set up was chaos. I understood that things were new, and the project had just started on this scale, but I would have thought they’d have set up more robust systems to collect the data or to check they were still within budget. I let out a sigh, but really, I loved this. I’d not been doing it long, and it was a world away from how I’d spent the last decade, but the schedules, the organising, the spreadsheets, they gave me a sense of control I’d never had before. Seeing things coming together and everything slotting into its allotted place, well, it was my happy place.
* * *
I wasn’tsure how long I’d been working when Professor Fischer appeared in front of my desk.
I watched as he redid his hair, tying it back into a ponytail. “I have a lecture. Do you want to come?”
I turned in my chair, giving him my full attention. “You lecture?”
He looked at me like it was the stupidest question he’d ever heard.
“Yes, it’s the space blocked out in my diary that says ‘teaching’. Also, why do you think they call me ‘professor’?”
I scrunched my nose as I thought about it. “Because you’re an important, clever person.”
A small smile curled his lips. “I got my doctorate a few years before I moved out to Ecuador, and since then, I’ve lectured all over the world. I got a job here as a professor as part of my new role.”
“So, when you’re not diving, you’ll be teaching?”
A flicker of something that looked like regret danced across his features, but then it vanished, and when he smiled again, it didn’t reach his eyes.
“No more diving for me. Well, not much anyway. But teaching... I’m not giving that up.”
I stood from my chair, dusting down my trousers and picking up my notebook, pen, and phone.
“Well, professor, as I hate boats and the water, I hopefully won’t get to see you in action doing any of that, but I’d love to come and watch you wow lots of young people with your fishy knowledge.”
* * *
We walked through the university.Jasper was polite, greeting students and teachers who spoke to him, but he seemed oblivious to how much attention he attracted. The longing stares and whispered declarations about what people wanted to do to him went unnoticed.
He stepped into the large auditorium that was currently empty.
“Find a seat.” He pointed to the rows that arced the space, facing a huge stage with a large screen behind it. “I’ve got two classes to teach, but you don’t have to stay for the second one. I’m sure you’ll be bored to tears by the end of the first hour.”
I tapped his chest with my pen and chuckled. “I’m caffeinated enough that I won’t nod off. Now, go do your thing.”
* * *
I didn’t expectto understand a word, and, no matter what I said, I’d expected the next couple of hours to drag, but I’d not factored in one important thing—the man on stage.
Professor Fischer came alive in front of his students. He was confident, engaging, and the entire room hung on his every word. When he paused to pull up his sleeves, I thought the girls next to me were about to faint.