“Do you need help with your classes?” she added with a bright smile. She looked almost too keen, and something in Ian’s chest roiled with envy.
Sue was younger than him. Better for Brad, probably—students her age didn’t tend to have so much debt to worry about. And Sue probably didn’t cut herself, either.
Brad leaned away. “Nah, I’ve got plenty of help. Thanks.”
He turned to pack his own bag, ending the conversation. Sue seemed to understand Brad wasn’t interested, heading out of the classroom with a bounce in her step.
Ian tidied his own class materials, wondering if Brad would’ve preferred him younger. Maybe if he’d been born a decade later, maybe if he had his life together better...
Brad abandoned his packing and headed over, closing the distance between them. Ian looked up, his heart skipping.
With the number of young omegas in class... it was still a surprise that Brad came to him at all.
Brad glanced around the now-empty classroom, then caught Ian’s chin, kissing him deeply. Ian’s toes curled. He gasped, flattening his hands against Brad’s chest. “Wait—the door isn’t locked.”
“They’re gone,” Brad murmured. Then he kissed Ian again, slipping into his mouth. Ian’s blood rushed between his legs.
He couldn’t help remembering the first time they’d kissed in class. Brad had returned after seven years, and bent Ian over the desk. He’d given Ian the new baby then. Brad had touched Ian, slid inside him, and Ian had been entirely his.
“Professor McMillan,” someone said. “Oh! Sorry.”
Ian jerked away from Brad, his heart clenching. Someone had seen them.
At the door, Sue stood awkwardly, a deep blush on her cheeks. She waved a few sheets of paper at him. “I was just wondering about the, um, assignment for this week. It’s okay, though. I’ll send you an email. Sorry.”
Ian took another step away from Brad, his skin crawling. Someone saw us. “No, it’s fine. I’ll answer your questions now.”
And then he could’ve hit himself, because he was just digging a deeper grave, wasn’t he?
19
Ian
Ian trembled, all his senses jangling with alarm.
Sue looked uncertainly between them, pushing her glasses up her nose. “Well, it’s about the assignment—the questions you’ve picked out are all from the difficult section this week. I’m not sure I can do most of them at all.”
It took Ian a few moments to remember which questions he’d assigned. “The questions I picked have the most to learn from—feel free to do the simple ones first, of course. I’ll go through them in class next week so everyone will benefit.”
“Oh.” Sue studied the questions. Then she glanced at Brad. “It’s not so some of us can score better, is it? I mean, the assignments are part of the final grade. I figured... maybe those who receive more help might do better.”
It sounded like she was accusing Ian of favoritism. Ian stopped breathing. He didn’t know what to say, because Brad had been asking him questions from the textbook, and he’d been trying to explain the best he could. All of that had been outside class time.
Brad growled. “He’s not giving me extra points, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Sue squirmed, looking dubiously between them. It felt like she was seeing too much.
Ian wanted to hide his face. Instead, he straightened his shoulders, putting on a brave front. “All students are graded fairly, I promise. My goal is to help you learn the most you can through these classes.”
“I’m scoring well because I put in the hard work,” Brad muttered. “But if you’re curious, yeah, he’s my omega. We’re bonded. I’m not looking for anyone else.”
Ian’s skin grew hot and cold. There was letting the students speculate, and then there was telling them outright. Who knew where the news would go? How soon until it reached Harold’s ears, and Harold fired him? “Brad.”
Brad met his eyes, rebellious. “Just staking my claim.”
But no one else needed to know Brad had a claim on him. Ian sucked in a deep breath, fighting off the panic that tried to overwhelm him. Sue had seen. And now she had proof, too.
Ian wanted to hide somewhere, and never show his face again.
“O-oh,” Sue said uncomfortably. “Is that okay? I mean, I’ve heard some things. There’s another professor joining the department. Is this... related to you?”
She gestured between Brad and Ian, and Ian’s heart sank further.
“Where did you hear that?” he asked.
“There’s an announcement pinned on the department noticeboard. You didn’t see it?” She looked oddly at him.
Ian winced. He’d deleted the department emails without opening them. With the pregnancy and Gwen and Brad, there hadn’t been time to pick through every single newsletter.
“I’ll look into it,” he said. “Thanks for bringing it up.”
He couldn’t help trembling, though. Had there been news he’d missed? Was Harold already in the process of firing him?
His ears rang, and he couldn’t think. Couldn’t even bring himself to meet Sue’s eyes, when cold fear slithered up his spine, gripping his throat.
I can’t get fired.
“Hey,” Brad murmured. “Ian.”
Ian couldn’t bear to look at him. Not when Sue was watching them, her gaze locked onto his bonding mark. Then she glanced at his belly, and he couldn’t help sliding his hand over the baby bump. It was too late to hide it.
Sue’s eyes widened.
Brad growled, stepping protectively in front of Ian. “He’s answered your question. We’re leaving now. Sorry.”
Sue winced. “I’m sorry, too. It was just a surprise, is all.”
Ian wanted to ask her to keep this a secret, but every time he tried voicing it, it sounded incriminating.
“Keep this to yourself,” Brad muttered, his eyes narrowed. “Please. We’d appreciate it.”
Sue squirmed, nodding awkwardly. “I will. I’m sorry. I really do enjoy your classes, professor.”
With that, she turned, hurrying out of the classroom.
Ian groaned, sagging against the desk. He covered his face, his skin too tight, shame rolling through his gut.
How had he fucked up again? He wasn’t supposed to lose his students’ respect. If any more of his students found out... they’d look at him with revulsion.
“Hey,” Brad murmured, sliding his arm around
