Read Professor’s Rule 01 - Giving an Inch for Free Online Page A

caboodle.”
    Satish’s eyes bugged out. “What? Are you kidding me? No! I’m not a prostitute.”
    Ouch. “No, I know you’re not. It’s just . . . it’s to keep your boss off your case. That’s all. Promise.” To prove it, James reached out and cupped Satish’s thigh, stroking tenderly, like a lover instead of a customer. Satish’s hand returned to James’s sticky face and James turned into the caress. Kissed his palm. Again, like a lover.
    Strangely enough, it didn’t feel like an act.
    “I don’t want you in any trouble because of me, okay? So please? Do it? For my peace of mind?” He pushed himself off his knees and staggered when they protested. Satish helped steady him and nodded.
    “Okay. Let me take that tag off the shirt you’re wearing, and give me those trousers. I’ll ring you up while you . . . put yourself in order.” A little dimple appeared on one cheek as he smiled.
    James smiled back and leaned in, kissing him softly. Lingering in it. It felt good. It felt safe. It felt like something just beginning, not a “Thanks for the quickie and see you later.”
    He still wanted to take Satish to dinner. Or whatever. Wow.
    But it wasn’t meant to be, because just then another text came in.
    What’s taking you so long?
    Satish gathered up the shirts and vests and pants and slipped out of the changeroom.
    He’s just leaving now. James expected another demand for a picture to come in reply to that, but it didn’t. No reply at all. Maybe the game was over, then. He shrugged at himself in the mirror. Time to get dressed and get out of here, he supposed.
    Trying to wipe the “just gave a blowjob” mess off his face and make himself presentable, James pulled on his jeans and shoes, then gathered his wadded T-shirt and met Satish at the register. He was looking . . . puzzled.
    “Everything okay?” James murmured, leaning casually on the counter while Satish entered the purchases into the register.
    “I guess so. I came out to have my manager tell me someone already gave an account number for your purchases and I was to charge it all to that.”
    Oh, fuck. Fuck no.
    James darted a look around the store, trying to find where Carson was lurking, but he could see no sign of him. Bastard probably called it in. Fuck.
    What was Carson trying to pull? Was he making a statement about Satish? Was he trying to, as Satish had suggested, make Satish a whore? And if so, why would he bother? James couldn’t shake the suspicion that Carson’s interest in Satish had an unaccustomed keenness. Why else had he led off asking about Satish? Was it jealousy that James was more interested in a third party than he had ever been in the past? Had Carson realized that James had shut him out of that dressing-room encounter in the end? Out of the action, even out of his mind, at least for a moment. Was he trying to re-exert his preeminence? Remind James who was in charge, who he’d be returning to when all was said and done?
    Even now, full of defiance at this latest move, James knew he was still going to end up on his knees before the Professor. They had unfinished business, after all, and God help him, James still wanted that. But he couldn’t let Carson treat Satish like some random stranger they had used, like they had so many others before.
    Satish was different. For the first time, with Satish, James had found the ability to draw the line, to shut out Carson’s will and make an encounter about his own will. Satish was a lifeline, keeping James from drowning in Carson’s presence and authority. Or at least he had been, in that moment. Who knew if he’d be able to hold up as the storm got fiercer, as all storms were bound to do.
    “You okay?” Satish prompted, and James realized he hadn’t responded or given an explanation for the account number that had been provided.
    “Uh, yeah.”
    Satish gestured to the stack of clothes neatly folded on the counter. “Is your sister paying for all this? Your