One Night With My Alpha Professor novel Chapter 2

Audrey

I shot a puzzled glance between the dark-haired stranger and Max. There was no way I recognized who this man was. But Max didn’t elaborate on how or why he recognized him.

When the man didn’t respond, Max stepped forward and placed himself between the two of us.

“I’m so sorry for the trouble, sir,” he said, grabbing my hand. “My girlfriend must be pestering you. I—”

“Ex-girlfriend,” I corrected Max through my teeth. Ripping my hand out of his grip, I stood and folded my arms across my chest. “I thought I told you that we were through.”

There was a long, tense silence between the three of us then—Max looking at me with panic, the dark-haired stranger blinking bemusedly from behind his glass of whiskey, and me staring daggers at Max.

Then, with a self-satisfied smirk, I stepped up to the man and grabbed his arm. I curled the fingers of both hands around his forearm, feeling a slight blush color my cheeks as I felt sinewy muscle beneath.

“This is my new date,” I said, jutting my chin out at Max. “And I would appreciate it if you would leave us alone.”

Max’s eyes widened at my words. “A new date?” he echoed. “You expect me to believe that?”

I merely gritted my teeth in response and inwardly prayed that this man wouldn’t expose me—that he would just play along until Max left me alone.

“Don’t make a scene, Audrey,” Max said, his voice almost lost beneath the din. “Let’s go—”

“She said, no.” The man suddenly stood then to his full towering height. He was easily over a foot taller than me, his muscular frame crowding around me. I felt my cheeks turn an even deeper red as he looped one arm around my shoulders, tugging me closer.

Max blanched. “I really don’t believe—”

The man’s arm tightened around me, and then suddenly the room was tilting beneath me. He was dipping me, his strong arms cradling me not even a foot above the floor.

“Just play along,” he whispered, placing our faces close and using his body to block Max’s view so that it looked like we were kissing.

At that moment, the sound of bells chiming erupted through the bar. The other patrons cheered and clinked their glasses, couples kissing and friends hugging.

It was officially the new year.

“I…” I murmured, unable to find any words. Here, this close, with his long, dark hair cascading around us, with the scent of his masculine cologne and the sweet tang of whiskey on his breath…

I couldn’t help it. I had to taste him.

Without a second thought, I cupped his stubbly face in my hands, pulled him the extra distance, and pressed our lips together.

He tasted like liquor, and his stubble bit at the soft skin on my cheeks. But neither of us pulled away. Not until the bells had stopped ringing.

When we finally pulled our lips apart, there was an undeniable heat between us. His gray eyes had gone husky looking at me, his fingers digging into the silk sash around my waist. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still.

And then he placed me upright once again, and I felt as though the wind had been knocked out of me.

“Well?” he asked. “It’s officially after midnight, my dear. Shall we…?” He nodded his head to the door, indicating for us to leave. Together.

I nodded hastily—just wanting to get out of here. Getting out of here with him wasn’t the most unappealing idea, either.

“Yes,” I said. “Let’s—”

Before I could finish, the world was moving again—only this time, the man was picking me up in his arms princess-style, my skirt trailing over his elbow. Then, without so much as a second glance, he strode toward the door and kicked it open.

As we emerged out into the snowy courtyard, all I could see over the man’s broad shoulders was Max watching with a stunned expression.

But then the door closed behind us, casting the courtyard into silence, and I was left all alone with the handsome stranger.

A few paces away from the door, the man gently set me down. I placed my hand on his arm to steady myself, feeling my heart throb beneath his gray gaze. Here, the falling snow seemed to mute all other sounds except our own heavy breathing.

“T-Thank you,” I managed, finally releasing my grip on his arm and stepping away. “I’m not sure if he would have left me alone otherwise.”

The stranger simply nodded. “I’m happy to help,” he said, turning. “Goodnight. And Happy New—”

But I panicked. Before he could turn fully, my hand was shooting out of its own accord. I darted my gaze upwards through my lashes, fixing him with a hard stare.