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

parents?”
    “What? Uh, no. I’m paying for it.” James’s own perverse cravings might ensure he couldn’t send Carson away again, not yet, maybe not for a long time to come, but he could still issue a satisfying “fuck you” vis-à-vis the pissing match Carson seemed to want to engage Satish in. He fished his credit card out of his wallet, though he could imagine the thin piece of plastic cringing and weeping in terror at what he was about to do to it. “Use this instead. Ignore whatever that was.”
    Satish’s eyebrows went up, but he did as James requested.
    Carson was already going to make him pay for his earlier infractions, so why not rack up even more? And really, it couldn’t hurt for James to hammer home the message that this time, he would be making a few rules of his own. If there was even going to be a this time between him and Carson.
    And to that end . . . “When is your next evening free?” James asked as he signed over his next several months’ groceries in one flourish.
    “Thursday.” Satish flashed a sedate smile, clearly okay with what would follow such a leading question.
    Far be it for James to disappoint. “Would you go out with me? Dinner, maybe a club if that’s your thing? I’d like to see you again.”
    “I’d like that.” Satish held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”
    James complied, nervously mulling over how much he wanted to disclose to Satish. This was messy. Satish had to know, had to have the ability to opt out of any involvement with James while Carson was still in the picture. And Carson would still be in the picture. The floodgates had opened again and there would be no closing them. Not until James decided he’d had enough.
    Strange. He was really hoping it wouldn’t get to that point again. That this time it would be different, and how fucking warped was that? Was he just greedy, wanting to have his cake and eat it too? Nice, safe, vanilla sex with Satish and . . . whatever . . . with Carson? Was he being selfish? Would it be better not to try to involve Satish at all, if he couldn’t swear off Carson completely? What the fuck did he think he was doing?
    Satish returned his phone, and James decided he wasn’t going to do a fucking thing to wipe that sweet smile from his face. He could shelve the bullshit angst for now, think the situation over. At the very least, they could have one pleasant date. Maybe more. Hopefully more. It depended on how Satish reacted to the revelation that there was another presence in James’s life.
    Whatever happened, though, James was in charge of his own destiny, now. Carson’s game, it would always, always be Carson’s game . . . but from now on, James’s rules. He would have a life outside the game, a life Carson couldn’t touch, couldn’t infiltrate. A life that involved more than just being the Professor’s pupil .
    Maybe even a life with Satish in it.
    “Thanks,” James said. “For everything.” Something warmed inside him as Satish let his fingers slide over James’s when he handed the credit card back. James drew a deep breath and smiled in return. He could do this. “I’ll give you a call, figure out when and where?”
    “Sure,” Satish replied.
    Just let me figure out the how, first.
    He wished he could do something more, but with Satish’s boss hovering at the next checkout stand, simultaneously scowling over how long the transaction was taking and salivating over how big the sale had been, he really couldn’t. So he took his (many) bags and murmured a farewell, heading out to his car.
    Another text arrived as James stuffed his bags in the trunk.
    I expect you in my office in no more than a half hour. We need to discuss your behavior today .
    James stared at it a long moment, weighing his options. There was going to be an accounting for what he’d done, and he’d be lying to himself if he didn’t admit he was aching for it, wanted it down to his very marrow. But he wasn’t going to let Carson bowl