“Now I’m in trouble.”
“You wouldn’t takenoas an answer?” Benny strode forward and leaned down toward Judge, keeping his arms crossed. “What have we taught you about consent, Judge Benedict Daughtler? No meansno. It does not mean keep pressing until you get what you want.”
“Papa—”
“Don’t ‘Papa’ me! I’m serious, Judge. We didn’t raise you to pressure anyone.” He spun toward me. “Is that what he did? Pressured you?”
“Ah.” Benny couldn’t be much older than me, but he had the perfect papa expression that had me shifting nervously in my seat. I hadn’t seen that kind of look directed at me since my mother passed away. “No, it’s fine. I really like your son, Benny, and I promise you that I had plans to have another instructor grade his work. There will be no conflict of interest because of our relationship.”
His dark blond brows dipped low and he straightened. “But there is, isn’t there? You haven’t disclosed anything to the school about you and Judge. If you’re discovered, both he and you will be scrutinized. His academic record might be called into question. I’m not going to allow Judge’s future to be ruined.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen,” I argued, but he huffed.
“You don’t get that choice when it comes to the law school. The president of New Gothenburg State takes pride in his perfect record for rule following. I happen to know personally what a stickler Alfie Warren is because we worked together for a while, and the moment he finds out about a teacher dating a student....” He let out a deep breath and glanced at Roger. “Help me here.”
Roger stuck his hands into the pockets of his suit pants and walked up next to his husband. “What your papa is trying to say, Judge, is that Alfie Warren won’t allow a scandal to rock the law school or spill over to NG State. There have been too many awful stories about universities and predatory sexual behavior, and he isn’t going to have one in our city.”
I hated to admit how right they were. I’d only met Alfie once and he wasn’t the most pleasant man. He expected all his employees to be perfect.
“I’m not giving up Flynn.” Judge curled his arm around my shoulders and tugged me close, chin raised. “He’s mine.”
Benny threw his hands up in the air again and made a sound of helplessness. “You’re willing to risk it all?”
“I’m willing to give up everything,” he said.
I stared at him in awe. The conviction in his voice left little to argue. He was set on the idea of giving it all up for me and my heart thundered. I wanted to wrap him up and never let go and be the sub he needed me to be.
“And you, Flynn?” Roger asked, his gaze narrowing curiously on me.
I swallowed when all the attention turned my way, even from Jury. Together, Judge and Jury really were identical in many ways, and if they’d been wearing the same clothes, I didn’t think I’d be able to tell them apart. “I care about your son very much and he makes me happy. At first I didn’t think I wanted to date him because, like you, I was worried about his age—I want a family, a real relationship, and not many men in their early twenties want that.”
Roger made a sound of agreement and Benny nodded.
I gripped Judge’s hand tighter and licked my dry lips nervously. “But you raised Judge right, and he’s been nothing but kind and romantic, and he appreciates me.”
Benny stared for a long moment before his shoulders slumped and he groaned. He held up his palms to us. “Fine. How can I argue with that?”
Roger gave me a thumbs-up behind Benny’s back, and it was hard to hold in the smile that threatened to break across my face. Benny sent him a glare over his shoulder, as though he knew exactly what his husband was doing, and Roger was quick to drop his hands.
Benny shook his head and came to sit on my other side. It was a tight fit, but he made it work. He stared at me. “Flynn, if you’re serious about my boy, you need to disclose your relationship with your supervisor. It’ll stop any issues from coming up later.”
I dreaded the idea of telling Dr. Hun, but he was right. The longer I left it, the worse it was going to be. Nodding, I gave him a shaky smile. “If that’s what I need to do to get your approval, I’ll do it.”
Jury slapped his hands against his thighs and stood. “Great, now that this is figured out, I have things to do.”
Benny pointed at him. “Sit down, Jury Roger. We haven’t even begun with you yet.”
Jury’s mouth dropped open. “What did I do?”
“You knew and didn’t tell us,” Roger said with a grin.
“Does that mean Flynn and I are excused?” Judge yawned and covered his mouth with his hand. “Because we had an eventful night.”
“That reminds me.” Benny reached around me to flick Judge’s ear.
“Hey!”
“What happened last night and why were the cops involved? I had to find out from my friend, Officer Williams. Your eye looks terrible.”
