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“I’m just going to get dressed.”

“You don’t need to.”

“I don’t want to stay in my pyjamas all day. I won’t be long.”

“Ok.”

I might have been imagining it but he sounded a bit disappointed.

When I got into my bedroom, I closed the door behind me and reached down to press my hand against my increasingly interested dick. The brace I was wearing around my wrist made it awkward to use my hand and my fingers wouldn’t curl – I wouldn’t be able to wrap them around my dick. I sighed. Great. My jerking-off hand was out of commission, just as I got a live porn show in my very own kitchen.

I let my hand fall to my side and leaned my head back against the door. I gave myself a stern talking-to.

“Stop ogling the young man, Waggoner. He’s not here for your viewing pleasure; he’s here to help because he’s a nice person.”

I went into the bathroom to splash water onto my face and change into loungewear. It wasn’t that much different from what I’d been wearing, except I had loose tracking bottoms on and tighter boxers. Now at least any physical reaction I had to the young alpha would be hidden.

Finally, I was ready to go back out there and face Liam. He had made two grilled cheese sandwiches and a bowl of soup each. The man had been busy.

He turned when I walked in and said, “Oh!”

“What?” I looked down, worried my semi was showing through my pants after all.

“Nothing! I’m just not used to seeing you in casual clothes. You normally wear suits.”

“Yeah. I guess seeing the professor out of uniform is weird.”

He cocked his head at me. “Is that what it is? A uniform?”

Ah, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. Why didn’t I have proper control over my mouth around this man?

“Yes,” I admitted. “It’s… armour, I guess.”

“What do you need armour for?”

“Because I’m an omega and it’s difficult to be taken seriously. Alphas and non-presenting men can wear jeans and a t-shirt and still be considered geniuses but omegas? We look unprofessional. Weak. I have to wear the suit so everyone knows I’m a professor and I’m not to be messed with.”

I wondered if I’d gone too far. Liam just stared at me for what seemed like a long time. Then he nodded.

“I still think you’re a genius, Waggoner. I’m glad you don’t need the armour around me.”

That was… incredibly sweet. And it was only when he said it that I realised that was what I’d implied. Opening my mouth to correct him, I paused. He wasn’t wrong. Ihadchanged into casual clothes. I’d spent all morning in my boxers and an old t-shirt. Ididn’tneed my armour around him.

I closed my mouth and sat down at the table.

Liam brought over the food and I gave him a grateful smile. “This smells delicious.”

“Thanks, Waggoner.”

He grinned back at me and sat opposite. I was just putting the first bite into my mouth when he asked, “What’s your real name?”

“Waggonerismy real name.”

“Yeah, thanks, smartass. I meant what’s your first name? I don’t like calling you Waggoner all the time.”

“You used to call me Prof.”

“That was before we were friends.”