“Professor Fraser, are you okay?” Her piercing voice cuts through the chatter, putting the hushing of the librarians to shame. Silence spreads through the library.
“Not now.”
His voice fuels the spark I was trying to put out. The power surges through me, causing me to stand. He steps around the corner looking like he has been running. His hair is dishevelled and he pants as he skids to a stop.
“Oliver?”
“Madison.” My name is a mere whisper on his lips.
“How did you find me?”
He pulls his shoulders to his ears, holding his shrug before letting them drop.
“I had a hunch.”
This isn’t fair. I wanted to get away from him, not make him come find me. His eyes look bloodshot, a deep maroon instead of their usual chocolate brown. He looks how I feel. Heartbroken and worn down.
“I’m so sorry.” He whispers the words as he steps towards me. They melt into the flame in my chest.
“We can’t do this here.”
Arms folded, Professor Dausset watches us from the aisle. Her eyebrows reach her hairline as Oliver takes another step towards me.
“We can.”
My arms drop to my sides as Oliver steps around the table. His hands find my shoulders and he spins me to face him.
“I love you,” he says, “and we can.”
Time stops.
Our foreheads touch first, a tender, gentle whisper of a touch. Then his mouth finds mine and the tiny spark bursts into fireworks. Oliver gives everything in this kiss, and I feel every piece of longing, of trust, of desperation that he gives me. My arms wrap around him. His hands creep their way into my hair.
Tilting my head, he deepens the kiss, running his tongue along my lips. Opening my mouth, we become more frenzied as we claim each other. As we make our love known. To everyone.
A shrill cough interrupts us. “Professor Fraser!”
Thin, wrinkled hands pull mine off Oliver. They pull me back until the distance between us too great and it hurts all over again. I can see the look in everyone’s eyes and the reality of what we just did rings in my ears. Oliver’s eyes don’t move from mine.
“I’m sorry.” I mouth the words but he shakes his head with a smile.
“Professor Fraser.” Dausset steps between us, facing Oliver with her hands on her hips. “As you are well aware this type of behaviour is grossly inappropriate. I cannot ignore what you have done here.”
“I don’t care. I love her.”
My mouth drops at his words.
“That is irrelevant. As a professor at this university, you are bound by the moral obligations as laid out in your contract.”
“Then I quit.”
“Excuse me?” Her already high voice reaches another octave.
What? He quits?
“I quit.” He repeats, stepping around his former boss to hold my hand.
“You can’t quit because of me.” Ignoring all the bystanders, I turn to Oliver. His hand squeezes mine, tugging me towards him.
