IMADE

I smiled at myself in the mirror as I took my makeup off. I wasn't sure of how long I had been sleeping but I woke up to Theo's voice, telling me that my phone rang.

It was obviously Gloria.

I had been expecting her to call in the afternoon and not in the evening. Gloria and I got along okay. She was a party girl and lived life the way she wanted but we weren't friends and I would never pretend to be her friend.

I dried my face, used some moisturizer and stepped out of the bathroom, trudging to the living room but Theo was in the kitchen, tapping away on that ancient device he called a phone.

"Hey" I hugged him from his back, easily reminded of how large and big he was when he stood up with my arms still wrapped around his neck.

I locked my legs around his waist.

"Ready? I already put the bags in the truck" he was so soft spoken but his grip on my chin in the car and his hold around my body when I slept on him told me that was not the case.

I knew boundaries had been erased the minute he pressed his lips to my neck and then let me sleep in his arms.

It wasn't like anyone would find out if anything happened. Right?

"Yup" I buried my nose in his neck as he stood like a mountain in my kitchen. I felt comfortable against his body but I'd feel more comfortable in his arms.

"You sure you want me to take you outside with you on my back like some koala?" He barely had any humor in his voice but I knew he was kidding, making me shake my head. I unlatched my legs from his waist and slid down his muscled body.

I turned to him with a grin and he was already staring at me.

"You look adorable" he turned to me and cupped my chin delicately and I grinned even wider.

"I do. Don't I?" I took my hand in his and tugged him out of the house, locking it behind us.

Right as I turned, there was a red haired girl standing in front of my apartment with wide eyes with a bowl in her hands.

"I-I hello?" She whispered and I glanced at Theo who eyed her before walking to the car, grunting something in irritation.

Such a big baby. He wasn't even making any attempts to hide anything!

"Hello. How can I help you?" I smiled at her and she walked towards me, glancing back at Theo who had leaned against my side of the truck.

"I'm Holly. I noticed that you were new to the estate so, I brought you some pie" she held the covered dish out and I could smell some apple.

"Oh. Thank you. I'm Imade" I smiled at her before taking the dish from her.

"Nice to meet you. Uh...are you...by chance...dating Professor Stephen?" She asked and my smile dropped.

How nosy could these people get? Even if I was dating him, what did she think I was going to say?

"What?" I asked through gritted teeth and she pursed her lips before shaking her head.

"I just...I was just curious. Sorry" she stuttered, red cheeks and all before running off.

I glanced at Theo who watched her run off before his gaze met mine. He held my gaze for a couple of seconds before tilting his head, asking a silent question.

"Nothing" I replied and I stepped into the house, leaving the pie on the counter before stepping out and locking the door, walking towards the opened door.

"Thank you" I giggled as he helped me in.

"You're welcome, baby" he kissed my chin and shut the door. I watched him in wonder and wondered if I'd be able to make us 'just friends' if he kept doing this.

How did you even become 'just friends' with a hot professor?

It didn't even seem like he was trying to hide this. At all. How was it even possible to hide such a huge man?

He climbed in while I connected my phone to the car's Bluetooth, playing a Burna boy song from my playlist. I had showed him Gloria's hotel address and he seemed to know the place.

As he began to drive, he placed his hand on my thigh like it was natural. I wasn't complaining so, I went with the flow.

I hummed to myself, staring outside the windows of the moving car. His calloused hand ran up and down my thigh like he was trying to reassure himself that I was there.

"What's your favorite color?" I wondered aloud and turned to him. His eyes were on the road and I stared at his lips, probably looking like a blood thirsty rabid vampire.

"White...I don't know. I love those eyeliners you use. Yellow, blue. I loved that white dress you wore at the mall. I love the color of your eyes. I love your ass in that blue skir-" I smacked his arm with wide eyes as I giggled.

He smiled, looking away from the road for a split second.

"What?" He chuckled, relaxing and I rolled my eyes, his hand tightened on my thigh.

"Okay. Favorite food?" I asked, turning to him and he shrugged.

"I'm not picky but I'm partial to Indian" I hummed, knowing I wouldn't judge his taste in food until I had tasted it myself.

"Okay, next question...how old are you?" I raised a brow and he didn't answer me before turning to me.

"Theo?"

"Thirty nine" my lips parted and he grumbled something under his breath.

"If you're gonna say something. Say it to me. Stop grumbling" I warned and he sighed,

"Sorry" his grip on my thigh tightened.

"I'm twenty" I grinned and he eyed me in a way that made me gulp. Darkened eyes ran from my legs, slowly raking up to my face.

"I thought you'd be eighteen or something. I should have known though. With an ass that-"

"Theo!" I laughed, unable to get serious when he was saying it without a smile on his face.

"What?" He looked confused and I shook my head.

"Hmm. Dream country?"

"I hate traveling" he shrugged and my jaw dropped.

"This friendship cannot work" I shook my head dramatically and he smacked my thigh.

"Thank fuck I'm not your friend then, right?" He turned to me, those silver eyes warning me and I rolled my eyes. I noticed he had stopped in the parking lot of the hotel.

"The attitude is unnecessary, sir" I was about to push the door open when he pulled me back in.

"I'm not sorry. I'm not gonna be your fucking friend" his silver eyes glowed with frustration and I sighed, cupping his face.

"You know what is at stake, right? Your job, my scholarship" I reminded him and he nuzzled his face into my palm.

He seemed to love the physical affection. Or rather, crave it. He was either touching me or trying to get close to me in one way or the other if he wasn't talking.