One Night With My Alpha Professor

One Night 81One Night 81Chapter 71

Audrey & Edwin

Audrey's POV

I turned in the stranger's arms, my heart pounding with anticipation. As my eyes adjusted to the flashing lights, I gasped at the familiar face, nearly stumbling backwards as I did so. "Edwin?" I sputtered, my voice nearly lost in the sound of the music. "What are you doing here?"

Edwin's own eyes widened in surprise. With his hands still on my waist, he leaned in, almost as if to make sure it was really me. "Audrey! 1... I could ask you the same thing," he replied.

We stood there for a moment, both shocked, but neither of us fully stopped moving to the music-nor did he fully release. his grip on my waist. The alcohol in my system made everything feel surreal, like a dream I might wake up from at any moment, and yet I couldn't help but feel somewhat... euphoric at the sight of him.

"I didn't expect to see you here," I shouted over the pulsing beat of the music. "I thought you'd be... I don't know, grading papers or something."

Edwin let out a slight chuckle and the sound sent a shiver down my spine despite the loud atmosphere. "Even professors need a break sometimes.

We continued to dance, our bodies moving in sync. It felt so natural, so right, that I almost forgot where we were for a moment-or rather, who we were. Taking the slightest step closer, I swayed my hips from side to side, my fingers digging into his biceps. If it bothered him, he certainly didn't show it; if anything, his grip on my waist only tightened even further.

Edwin leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. "I thought I saw you on the beach earlier," he murmured.

My eyes widened ever so slightly, although not from our close proximity. So that was Edwin in the convertible after all? But if that was him, then the woman he was with....

"Do you have a romantic partner with you tonight?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Edwin looked surprised, pulling back slightly to meet my eyes. "No, not unless we're counting our current dance partners. Why do you ask?"

I blushed a deep shade of pink, wondering if I had just been imagining things when I saw him in the convertible. "No reason," I replied, turning my head to the side as if that would somehow hide my sheepish expression.

Emboldened by the alcohol and the newfound knowledge that Edwin wasn't here with another woman, I moved my hands up and placed them on his shoulders. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching mine, before his hands found my waist. again, his touch more deliberate this time.

"We shouldn't be doing this," Edwin murmured, but he didn't pull away.

"Probably not, I agreed, leaning in closer. "But I don't want to stop."

The urge to kiss him overwhelmed me at that moment. I wanted to feel his lips on mine again, just like that night at the bar when I gave him the scarf. I wanted to taste the alcohol on his tongue. Without even really meaning to, I instinctively started to lean up on my tiptoes, my heart racing like an engine in my chest. Edwin's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he didn't pull back rather, he tugged me a little closer until I almost stumbled

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This was me, his eyelids drooping huskily.

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This was bad, and we both knew we shouldn't be doing it. But the air in this club was too thick, too full of the heady scent of perfume and sweat, to think clearly. I wanted him. And it seemed that he wanted me. But as I leaned up, I glanced over his shoulder, and my eyes widened in shock. The woman from the picture in Edwin's apartment-the same one I saw in the convertible-had just walked into the club. She was standing by the doorway and looking around with her hands on her hips, clearly searching for someone. For Edwin.

Edwin, noticing my sudden stiffness, asked. "Audrey? Are you alright?"

I couldn't speak. The woman was walking toward us now, her eyes locked on Edwin. I had to get away, both before I cried and before she saw me.

Without thinking, I turned and ran, pushing through the crowd toward the exit.

"Audrey, wait!" I heard Edwin call after me, but I didn't stop.

I burst out into the alley, gasping for air. The cool night air hit my flushed skin, but it did little to cool the heat splashing across my face. The pain in my chest was overwhelming.

Why would Edwin lie about having a girlfriend? Why would he dance with me like that if he was here with someone else? Tears stung my eyes as I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. I felt so stupid, so hurt, so... naive. Hey, are you okay?"

I looked up to see Jake, the guy from earlier, approaching me. He must have followed me out.

"I'm fine," I lied, wiping away a tear.

Jake stepped closer, concern written across his face. "You don't look fine. What happened? Did that guy do something to you?"

Before I could answer, he pulled me into a hug. I was drunk enough to let him, grateful for any comfort at that moment.

Edwin's POV

I watched in confusion as Audrey ran away. What the hell just happened? We were dancing, everything seemed fine, and then suddenly...

A tap on my shoulder pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Eliza standing there with a curious expression on her

face.

"Who was that pretty girl you were dancing with?" she asked, leaning around me to take a look in the direction Audrey had run off to. "I hope I didn't interrupt."

I glanced back at where Audrey had disappeared, feg a profound tightness in my chest that was impossible to ignore. "That was... a student, I admitted. There was no reason to hide it anymore, at least not from my sister. "Audrey."

Eliza's eyebrows shot up. "Audrey? As in, the human girl everyone is accusing you of sleeping with!"

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I nodded, unable to deny it. I had been enjoying our dance, even though I knew we shouldn't, and I hadn't wanted it to end. Seeing her run off like that hurt more than I wanted to admit, even though us dancing together was inappropriate to begin

with.

"Is she okay?" Eliza asked.

I pursed my lips and turned toward the exit. "I don't know," I replied quietly. She had looked so upset and had run away so abruptly-something must have happened. "I'll be right back," told Eliza before slipping

away.

"Eddie, wait!" I heard my sister call after me, but I was already pushing through the crowd.

I followed the scent of Audrey's perfume, my senses on high alert in case she needed me; maybe she got sick or something, I figured. The trail led me to the alley outside the club, where I pushed through the door and was hit with the cool night air.

I was hit with something else, too; jealousy.

Audrey was there, being hugged by a guy I didn't recognize. They were leaning up against the wall, his hand stroking her hair. My wolf growled inside of me, hot and dizzying jealousy surging through my veins. I wanted to rip them apart, to pull Audrey into my own arms.

But as soon as I took a step toward them, I faltered. I knew I couldn't. I shouldn't have been dancing with her to begin with, let alone holding her and comforting her in the alley. Perhaps it was best if I just left her alone.

Swallowing hard, I turned and went back inside despite my wolf bristling inside of me. Eliza was waiting for me by the bar and shot me a curious look as I strode up to her. "What happened?" she asked, taking a sip of her drink and eyeing me over the rim of her glass,

"Nothing." I muttered, smoothing down the front of my shirt. "I'm going to head home."

Before I could move, however, Eliza grabbed my arm and stopped me. "Eddie, wait. I know who that girl is, and it's clear you like her. Why don't you go to her?"

My jaw tightened as I considered her words. The thought of Audrey in another man's arms made my blood boil. My wolf was restless, urging me to go back out there, but logic still trumped the feg of jealousy.

"She's just a student," I said, but the words sounded hollow even to my own ears.

Eliza rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. I've never seen you look at anyone the way you looked at her. Don't let her slip away because you're too lame to do something daring.

1 pursed my lips at that insult. "It's not that simple, Eliza. There are... complications."

"Life is always complicated," she countered. "But t

his fingers."

the Edde

Eddie I grew up with never would have let a girl he liked slip through

I opened my mouth to resist again, but before I could, my wolf's voice echoed through my mind.

"Go to her," he said. "Before she leaves with that other guy."

15 Mon, Sep 16