Love Him Desperate (On the Market #5) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,49

shifting up along his hairline. He studied his reflection in the mirror sometimes and thought of his mother and all the ways he didn’t look like her. Then he thought of the man who contributed to his birth, and he wondered if maybe everything he was belonged to him.

A stranger.

But he wasn’t feeling particularly melancholy—just tired. He took his next appointment forms and paid his fees, then rolled out to find Lorenzo leaning against the hood of his car talking to two strangers. Or two, until Raphael recognized the highlighted swoop of Dmitri’s hair across his forehead and the way he brushed an impatient hand through his bangs.

The man beside him, at first glance, might have been a student from campus in his distressed jeans and hoodie, except for the way he held himself. He had an air of authority about him, a sort of protective stance at Dmitri’s side. He had one hand tucked into his pocket, and the other shielded his eyes from the afternoon sun.

They were close though—more than casual acquaintances, and Raphael felt something twist in his chest. The man had no business…

But he stopped himself before that thought could take real form. It was not his place.

Gripping his wheels, Raphael pushed up, and Dmitri noticed him first, his face breaking into its usual, soft smile. He pulled away from the other man and walked over, hands twitching like he wanted to reach for Raphael and only just stopped himself. Raphael had made sure over the last year to quash any physical affection between them, just to save himself the pain, but he regretted it right at that moment.

“How’d it go?” Dmitri asked, his voice pitched low and private.

Raphael waved him off. “Same as ever. Was geht ab?”

At that, Dmitri pinked in the cheeks and glanced back at his companion. “Nothing, really. We’re just grabbing pizza. This is Dr…I mean, um. Rian? He’s one of my professors.”

Raphael’s eyes widened, and for a moment, he felt a wave of protective fury. This man—Rian—was attractive, and there was a charisma in his eyes that was impossible to miss. And Raphael had known men like him, charming and beautiful and too happy to take advantage of their positions of power.

His knuckles ached from how hard he gripped his wheels, and he pushed up to him, offering a hard stare. “Just out for a meal?”

“He was helping me on my first paper,” Dmitri said, his voice tinged with confusion. “I haven’t done this school thing in years. It’s…yeah. I thought it would be easier.”

Rian chuckled, his smile very straight—very American. And he was good looking, which made it so much worse. Pretty could too often be deceiving, and he knew well that Dmitri was vulnerable. “He’s actually doing just fine, but I understand the pressure. You must be Raphael. He’s told me a lot about you.”

Raphael stared at the offered hand just long enough to make it uncomfortable before he took it. “He hasn’t mentioned you until right now.” And that was only technically a lie. Dmitri had mentioned a few professors, but never by name. Never casual enough for a lunch. Jealousy seethed in him, an ugly, angry thing. It made his throat hot, and he knew he was treading dangerous waters.

“Uh. Well,” Dmitri said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Lorenzo said you guys were getting lunch, so I thought…do you want to come in with us?” He gestured weakly to the door of the pizzeria.

Lorenzo was staring at Raphael with a confused look, and Raphael forced himself to relax. “Lorenzo wanted sushi, so we should probably…”

“Pizza’s fine,” Lorenzo cut in, jutting his chin at the shop door. There was just the barest hint of oregano in the air, and Raphael knew Lorenzo well enough to know he’d probably hate the cheap imitation they served there. “Why don’t you grab a table and we’ll follow you in.”

Dmitri frowned at Raphael, then looked at Rian before shrugging and leading the way. Raphael tried not to watch them go, and he only came back to himself when Lorenzo touched the tips of his finger to Raphael’s chin.

“Do we need to talk about this?”

Raphael cleared his throat and contemplated playing stupid, but not for long. “Is this a date? Does it seem like a date?”

“Uh.” Lorenzo dragged a hand through his hair before glancing over his shoulder. “I’m going to say no.”

“Is this normal behavior for college professors, then?” he pressed.

Lorenzo sighed. “Okay, it is a little weird that his teacher