Ethan cups my cheek and leans in to kiss me, but I pull back needing to say this before he distracts me.
“I’m graduating soon.”
Pride sparkles in his whiskey eyes. “You are.”
Releasing a shaky breath, I run my fingers over his full lips. “I want to celebrate with my boyfriend. I don’t want to hide anymore.”
To my surprise, he doesn’t shut down the idea straight away, instead asking, “Are you sure?”
I nod. “Will it get us into any trouble?”
He frowns, considering my question. “Not really. I mean, the university won’t be happy about it, but it’s not a fireable offence, even if I hadn’t already handed in my resignation. I’m not technically your professor, so it won’t affect you graduating. Technically, I should have advised them of our relationship the moment it started?—”
“Could we fudge the dates?” I ask. “Tell them it only just started.”
He chuckles. “You want to lie for me, little devil?”
I shake my head. “It wouldn’t really be a lie. We only became official yesterday. No one needs to know anything else.”
“You mean we don’t have to admit to fucking on my desk?” he asks, amusement coating his tone.
“Couch Rourke!” I gasp in mock outrage. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
His laughter is infectious as he rolls us, leaning his weight on his muscled forearms as he kisses me deep, his hard cock resting heavy against my core between us, causing me to moan.
“If you want to go public, Leni, then we can do that,” he murmurs against my lips, “but don’t feel like we have to. You spent your final years of high school in the spotlight because of Dylan. I don’t want you to go through the same in your final month of university.”
I smile, rubbing my nose against his. “It won’t be so bad. Apart from all the girls who’ll be jealous that I made the sexiest professor on campus fall in love with me.”
“That you did, baby. That you did.” He shifts, sinking inside me slowly, fitting inside me like a missing puzzle piece.
Epilogue
Ethan
EIGHT MONTHS LATER…
Leni’s smile is blinding as she walks across the stage to receive her diploma. I bring my fingers to my lips, letting out an ear-splitting whistle, not caring about the looks I get as I cheer for my girl. I’m so fucking proud.
Andy shakes his head, grinning as he claps politely from his seat next to me. I’m so grateful to him for standing by my side when Leni and I went to the university to disclose our relationship, and through all the subsequent meetings we had to sit through with the head of the History Department, Human Resources, and the Ethics Committee. He’s been a good mate, and thanks to him, I’ve met the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.
The small black box is burning a hole in my pocket, and I attempt to tamp down my excitement over the surprise waiting for her back at Andy’s place.
I know Leni’s disappointed that neither of her parents is here to celebrate her achievements today. She didn’t reach out to her father, and her mother hasn’t spoken to her since finding out about our relationship. She still talks to her sisters, but her mother has forbidden them from seeing her in person. It only makes me more determined to show her what a real family is.
We’ve set up a good life in Sydney. I’m the assistant manager at an A-League club. Leni is loving her classes at NIMTA, and she still writes. She’s so fucking smart and talented, and while the sex is still mind-blowing, I love the quiet moments with her the most—chilling on the couch discussing our favourite books, historical events, current affairs, even the god-awful reality TV shows she makes me watch. Which reminds me, we have a couple of episodes ofWelcome to the Jungleto catch up on later.
We’ve both been seeing a therapist, and so has Dylan.
He even came to visit us a few weeks ago. It was awkward, but it feels like a small step forward. I sat him down and told him how I felt about Leni, and my plan to propose. He said it will take him a bit of time to come to terms with it, but ultimately, he wants me to be happy, and I think he can see she does that for me.
Vanessa put off going to Brazil with Henrique for a few months, but surprisingly, it was Dylan who told her to go, and she flew out three months ago. He’s going there for a visit next week.
I return my attention to the graduation ceremony, leg bouncing and constantly checking my watch until Andy elbows me in the ribs.
“Chill, mate,” he murmurs. “You’re makingmenervous. It’s all going to go according to plan.”
I fucking hope so.
