The Professor’s Holiday Surprise (Cam Show Crush #1)

13. Noah

Chapter 13

Noah

The exam has proctors, but I linger in the exam hall after the final test begins. I tell myself that it’s just in case there are any problems, although I don’t usually watch exams—my presence doesn’t necessarily help test anxiety. In fact, as soon as a class starts writing, I almost always leave them in the good hands of the proctors and return to my office.

Today, though, it’s harder to leave the room. It takes me an hour, and then I’m still dragging my feet.

Which is ridiculous.

I’m sure Paisley will take the entire exam period. Even if she finishes early, she’ll go back over her questions, taking every minute available to her to get the answers and diagrams as complete as possible.

So I have another hour until the rest of my life can begin.

And that thought has me picking up my feet and striding with more purpose, new adrenaline pumping through my body.

This must be how Paisley felt in August as she drove to campus. Nervous, excited. Pumped. Unsure of what exactly is going to come next, but knowing that it’s going to be better than what I’m leaving behind.

I’m prepared for all eventualities.

Whatever Paisley wants next, I’m in. I’m hers.

Babies?

Fuck. Yeah.

Sweet hot dirty talk about breeding? I’m her man.

Hell, I’d be over the moon with some good old making out and cuddling at this point.

I just need to hold her in my arms. I’ve needed her on a cellular level since August, but I managed to get through the first three months of term by telling myself she’d never want her professor.

It’s a bright, cold December morning. Chilly enough that my glasses fog up from my breath and I’m glad for my coat and gloves to keep me warm as I stride across campus. My cowboy hat is jammed low on my head, and I’m lost in my thoughts, so I don’t notice my department chair until Chris is right in front of me.

“Noah,” he says as I pull up short. “Is the exam under way?”

“Yep.”

“I reviewed all of her assignments. They’re excellent.”

“I told you she was smart.”

“Considering the situation, you can forgive me for needing to be sure that your previous marks were objective.”

“And were they?”

He doesn’t answer right away. I adjust my hat. “What is it?”

“If anything, you held back.” Chris frowns, his breath puffing in the cold air between us. “I’d have given her higher marks than you did.”

Ah.

I wince. “I fucked up.”

“You sure did.”

“I should have arranged a transfer to another class sooner.” I take my hat off and groan.

“We definitely agree on that.”

But it’s worse than that. I only considered the angle where I’d been right that Paisley is a smart student. I hadn’t given enough consideration to the impact of my bias on her—and any potential overcompensation.

I scrub my hand over my jaw.

Chris opens his mouth to say something, but then snaps his lips shut.

“Noa— Dr. Lowry,” Paisley says from behind me, her voice hitching as she realizes I’m not alone.

I turn on my heel, my eyes soaking up her familiar shape. Her bright smile is complemented today by a bright yellow wool hat with a pompom. Fiery waves spilling out from beneath that, completely the warm sunshine energy. God, I missed her. The tightness in my chest eases as I say her name with a rush of relief.

She waves a hand in a yellow mitt that matches her hat. “I finished early. I was actually already done when you left the exam hall, but I needed to do a final read through.”

“I thought you’d take the whole time allowed.” As I talk, I tug off my gloves just long enough that I can grab an important piece of paper from my back pocket, then I put them back on.

She laughs. “That’s a good guess.” Then she presses her lips together, cutting off her joy, and glances past me at Chris, who she already clocked when she changed my name to Dr. Lowry.

“Chris, this is Paisley Stevenson. The woman in my class who we’ve been discussing.”

Her gaze flares and she jerks her attention back to me. “Discussing me?”

“Chris—Dr. Wesley—is the department chair. My supervisor. And the faculty member who will mark your exam because I can’t.” I hold out my hand. She glances at my glove, and slides her mitt around my fingers.

“The… Right.” She blushes. “Thank you, Dr. Wesley.”

Chris tracks his gaze back and forth between us. Then he nods. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Stevenson.”

I squeeze Paisley’s hand. “Anyone else leave at the same time as you?”

“I don’t think so.” I love the way she searches my face with open curiosity.

It feels so good to be able to openly look at each other!

“Chris, do you have Christmas plans?” I ask conversationally as I tug Paisley right up against my side.

He clears his throat. “The usual. You?”

“Definitely not the usual.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and squeeze. “Starting new traditions.”

He coughs.

I grin. “Speaking of which…” I hand over the folded piece of paper I’ve been carrying with me for two weeks now. “The personal relationship declaration form. Formal notice that I’m in a relationship with a student. This woman, in fact.”

Paisley’s cheeks turn pink as I publicly lay claim to her in front of my colleague.

I smile down at her, then pluck her wool hat off her head and replace it with my cowboy hat. “You’re mine, now.”

She ducks her face for a second, and when she lifts her head, her eyes are bright. “I was always yours,” she whispers.

Chris clears his throat again.

“We should let you go,” I say with a wink.

He nods, then shakes his head. “You warned me this was coming but it’s still…something to see.”

“We’ll be discreet in front of her classmates, don’t worry.” The last thing I want to do is embarrass Paisley or cause drama. “But I need you to know how important she is to me. We’ll talk soon, yeah?”

“Of course. Merry Christmas to you both.” His gaze lingers on Paisley long enough that I growl under my breath and tighten my grip on her.

“Easy, man,” he says, taking a step back. “Ms. Stevenson, if you need anything in the new year—academically, I mean—my door is always open.”

“Thank you.” She nods.

Without waiting for him to stride away, I turn her fully into my arms and tip her back, capturing her shocked little gasp with my mouth.

“Mine,” I repeat after kissing her thoroughly.

“Yours,” she says with a little giggle. “What next, cowboy?”

“I’m taking you home.”

To put a ring on her finger and a baby in her belly.