Omega Teacher’s Secret

it. “C’mon, I made reservations. We don’t want to be late.”
Ian brightened. “You made reservations?”
“For three, yeah.”
Ian sneaked a glance at Brad, then looked away, his smile growing wider. “You’re banned from winning brownie points,” he said.
That was new. Brad raised his eyebrows. “I thought you said I could win brownie points with Gwen.”
Ian bit down his smile. “I meant with me.”
“All the more reason why I should win points,” Brad said. “Why can’t I?”
“Because you’ll win them all,” Gwen said, throwing her arms into the air.
“Gwen!” Ian tried to frown, but he was blushing and smiling. Brad realized he’d never been this excited about a Christmas dinner. Even if Ian’s daughter was tagging along.
It wasn’t like they knew each other well. All Brad knew about McMillan was that he was lonely and tired, and he agreed easily when Brad tried to get into his pants.
“I will win them all,” Brad said. “Just you watch.”
Ian grinned. Brad led them to his car, pulling the doors open for him and Gwen.
“You shouldn’t do this too often,” Ian said after he’d made sure Gwen had pulled on her seatbelt. “You’re spoiling us. Gwen will be wanting to spend every Christmas dinner with you.”
“That a bad thing?” Brad met his eyes.
Ian froze, blinking. Then he blushed. “Well, forget I said that.”
“Why?”
“You might have other plans next Christmas.” Ian shrugged, looking away. “I got ahead of myself. Sorry.”
Brad clicked on his own seatbelt. Reached over, covering Ian’s hand with his own. “I’ll save my next Christmas dinner for you. And Gwen.”
Ian laughed, disbelieving, but he didn’t protest. “Whatever you say.”
Brad stroked Ian’s wrist again, smearing Ian’s rose scent on his own skin. It made his heart quicken, having Ian’s scent on him. He couldn’t have enough of it.
The drive to the restaurant passed quickly. Gwen hummed in the backseat, and Ian glanced out the window, as though he were worried someone might see them together.
Then they pulled into the parking lot of the Apex, and Ian sucked in a sharp breath.
“This place?” he murmured, turning to look disbelievingly at Brad.
“You didn’t tell me where you wanted to go for dinner.”
“But…” Ian faltered, looking apprehensively at the steel-and-glass building to the side of the parking lot. “I can’t even imagine how much it costs. I’ve never been here, Brad, and I’ve spent most of my life in Meadowfall.”
Brad shrugged. So this was a good choice, then. “Hey, if I get one chance to take you out for dinner, I’m not gonna waste it.”
“Do they have turkey dinners?” Gwen whispered, peering out of the window.
“Sure do,” Brad said.
Ian grimaced. “I don’t even want to imagine how much that’ll cost.”
Brad parked the car. Then he clicked off his seatbelt, reached over, and caught Ian’s chin. Ian stared wide-eyed at him, his throat working.
“Talk about the price one more time,” Brad murmured, “and I’m gonna kiss you silent.”
Ian flushed, gulped, and eased his chin out of Brad’s fingers. “I’ll shut up.”
Brad thought about kissing him anyway. Figured maybe there might be an excuse to later.
The Apex was the most expensive restaurant in Meadowfall. It had been built recently, and had acquired a reputation for itself. There were three levels to the restaurant—private rooms on the higher floors, and a large dining room, split into sections, on the first floor. Brad had visited the place a couple times with his parents, before his mom died.
He jogged around the car hood, pulling the door open for Gwen. Didn’t reach Ian’s in time.
Ian shook his head at Brad, the corners of his lips twitching. “I swear, Brad.”
“Tell me that later,” Brad murmured, and Ian swallowed.
At the entrance, a doorman pulled the doors open—the glass was flocked with fake snow, some in the shape of reindeer pulling sleighs.
Brad watched as Ian and Gwen stepped through, gaping at the long, shallow ponds lining the main walkway. The ponds were lit from the inside with red and gold lights, and beneath the surface, carps glided.
“Wow,” Gwen breathed, her eyes wide.
Ian said nothing, but there was no missing the awe and hesitation in his eyes.
Yeah, it was going to be expensive. But Brad had known that, making the reservation.
“You like?” he asked, nudging Ian’s arm.
Ian’s forehead wrinkled. “It looks—” Expensive.
Brad leaned in and brushed their lips together, breathing in rose and honey. Ian’s lips were soft, a little chapped. He froze, staring at Brad.
Brad’s heart pounded in his ears. Hadn’t thought he’d steal a kiss right here. He’d done it on impulse, and it felt right.
He nodded up at the ceiling. “Mistletoe.”
Ian followed his gaze. Then the blush on his cheeks darkened, and he glanced around them surreptitiously.
There wasn’t anyone but the host waiting for them at the end of the pond-lined walkway, and Brad didn’t know the guy. So no one they knew had seen the kiss, and that was good.
“Relax,” Brad murmured.
“If your dad finds out—” Ian stopped whispering, looking at the floor. “We shouldn’t.”
Not something Brad wanted to think about on Christmas. He slipped his hand into Ian’s. “I’ll deal with it.”
Ian looked like he wanted to say more, but Brad squeezed his hand.
“It’s Christmas,” Brad told him. “You gotta enjoy yourself once in a while.”
After a moment, Ian relented. His shoulders relaxed, and he almost leaned into Brad. “Fine.”
They made their way down the pond-lined path, Brad holding Ian’s hand, Gwen on Ian’s other side. Closer to the dining room, the restaurant smelled like stews and roasts and soup, and cutlery clinked.
Brad told the host his name. They were led to a quiet booth on the first story of the restaurant, with frosted glass dividers separating them from the next tables.
“Sorry it’s not a fancy private room,” Brad said dryly. “Maybe next time.”
Ian snorted. “This is plenty good, Brad. Thank you. I can’t believe you took us here. When I said dinner, I meant somewhere chea—”
“Ian,” Brad said. Looked pointedly at his professor.
Ian froze, glanced at Brad’s lips. Then he smiled faintly. “All right, I’ll tell you how delicious dinner is.