Professor Daddy: A Dark Daddy Romance (Dark Daddies Book 5) Read online

  They were incredibly wrong. Clara was one of only two people to succeed.

  The other was Howard Moon. He’s a skinny guy, acne scars on his face, thin glasses shoved up his nose. He’s wearing an Iron Maiden t-shirt that’s too big and baggy jeans. He’s grinning ear to ear as he comes stumbling over toward me.

  The others join him, with Clara coming up last. The four guys give her looks, but nobody says anything.

  Alan has tan skin, wide eyes, and a big smile. Parker is short and slight and looks nervous as hell. Coop is the biggest of the group, tall and fat.

  Clara doesn’t look like she fits in at all. I can’t keep my eyes off her, although I know I need to give the other four my attention, especially Howard. He’s as promising as Clara is. The other three, well, maybe they’ll develop. Either way, they’ll be useful for a little while at least.

  “Congratulations,” I say to them. “Just to be clear, this opportunity is entirely voluntary, and turning it down won’t affect your grade at all in my class. Understood?”

  “Understood,” Coop drawls. “What’s the opportunity?”

  I smile at him. “It’s an internship on my new project.”

  All five of them buzz with excitement. Even Clara seems to smile and perk up.

  “What are you working on?” Alan asks, nudging closer.

  “Well, you might not be surprised to learn that it’s a virtual reality application,” I tell the group. “Right now, VR needs incredibly sophisticated hardware to run accurately, but I want to make it cheap and easily reproducible.”

  “We don’t do hardware,” Howard grunts.

  I glance at the kid. “Neither do I.”

  He frowns, but doesn’t say anything.

  “We’re doing it in software?”

  I almost don’t hear her. The guys all glance back at Clara. Coop snorts derisively. “Ain’t gonna happen, right?” he says, looking at me.

  I smile at him placidly. “Clara’s right. We’re doing it in software.”

  All five of them stare at me. Clara smiles slightly and I nod at her.

  “We’ll be using some advanced techniques, neural nets, big data, all that stuff. I have a lab at the edge of campus, I’ll email you all the address. Show up there tomorrow morning at eight. Will that work?”

  They all agree and I dismiss them. They all begin to wander off, all of them except for Clara.

  She lingers behind, looking at me. I frown at her as I pack up my things.

  “What can I do for you, Miss Nelson?”

  She grins for a second. “Clara.”

  I laugh softly. “Okay, Clara. What’s up?”

  “Well, I just… wanted to ask you about this.”

  “About what?”

  “You choosing me.”

  I hesitate a second. I wonder if she knows, if she noticed me looking at her…

  Women can be pretty intuitive about these things sometimes. They read body language like it’s a fucking poem. Maybe I need to be careful about her.

  “What about it?” I ask.

  “Did you choose me because I’m a girl?”

  I stare at her for a second, surprised. “Of course not,” I finally manage to say.

  “It’s just that, you mentioned it the other day, and I know it looks good to have diversity on a team, and—”

  “Okay, hold on,” I interrupt her. “I don’t give a shit about diversity, okay?”

  She looks surprised. I can’t tell if it’s because I cursed or what.

  “Really?”

  “I only care about getting the job done,” I tell her. “I chose you because you were one of the best. I wouldn’t pick someone that couldn’t handle what we’re about to do.”

  She bites her lip. “Okay then. Thanks.”

  “Don’t let them define you,” I say, gesturing at the guys that are receding away from the class. “Those fuckers are just insecure.”

  She grins at that. “You’re not kidding. College guys are…”

  “Still children,” I finish for her.

  “Right. Not grown up.”

  “But you are.”

  “Maybe.” She laughs a little. “I don’t know.”

  “You look grown-up.”

  She hesitates, maybe understanding what I’m saying. I shouldn’t have said it, but it just came out.

  “Looks can be deceiving, Jason,” she says.

  I laugh. “True enough.”

  “Anyway, why choose college kids, if we’re so immature?”

  “I have some theories,” I admit to her. “But I don’t plan on sharing them right now.”

  “Secret stuff?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “I can keep a secret.”

  I swear, she knows what I’m thinking. My heart beats faster. I can imagine fucking her right here on this desk, keeping her mouth shut, keeping her quiet, as she strains against my cock, begging to scream out in pleasure…

  “I bet you can,” I say.

  “It can stay just between us.”

  “Some other time.”

  “Sure, okay.” She smiles lightly. “Anyway, thanks for choosing me.”

  “Like I said, you chose yourself. I just read the papers.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Professor.”

  “Jason,” I correct her, but she’s already leaving the room with a smile on her lips. I know she’s messing with me, and it’s driving me crazy.

  What the hell am I doing, flirting with this girl? It’s so stupid and dangerous. And yet I can’t help myself.

  She’s so fucking sexy. Smart and sexy. Exactly what I want.

  I sigh, gather my things, and leave the classroom. I have to put her out of my mind, focus on what I’m here to do.

  Or else risk letting my dick get me off course and fuck things up for myself.

  3

  Clara

  “You’re so fucking lucky.”

  Mac stares at me like I’m literally made of gold.

  “It’s not that big of a deal,” I say, trying to downplay it, although inside I’m buzzing with excitement.

  “Not a big deal? You’re going to be working on a personal project with, like, the hottest billionaire in the world.”

  “He’s not that hot.”

  Mac punches my arm. “You shut your mouth.”

  I grin at her and we sit down together on a bench. Mac lives with me in a tiny apartment off campus, just a few minutes away by bike. It’s early in the morning, ten to eight, and we’re camped just down the block from the address Jason emailed last night. Mac has an early class so she very politely told me that she’d be coming along, or else.

  Mac’s as enamored with Jason as I am, and I can’t blame her. The guy is gorgeous and rich and brilliant. She just wants to catch a glimpse of him, although I’m afraid she’s going to do something stupid. She’s tall, pretty, with straight blonde hair and dark brown eyes. She runs track and writes poetry.

  We’re practically polar opposites. She’s been my best friend since freshman year.

  “Look, okay, it’s not like he’s going to come to work shirtless, you know?”

  “Oh, god, don’t even say that.” Mac flutters her eyelashes. “Heaven forbid.”

  “He’s my professor, okay?”

  “Even better. Seriously, Clara, don’t pretend like you’re not lusting after him.”

  I sigh and sip my coffee. “Okay, fine, whatever. I want him to take me back to his apartment and ravish me.”

  Mac rolls her eyes. “You mean you want to suck his dick until he falls in love with you.”

  “Oh, god,” I groan.

  “Seriously, I’d swallow for that guy every single time.”

  “Mac.”

  “He could put it anywhere. I’m not even joking. I’d give up my butt for that guy.”

  I groan. “Too much, Mac.”

  She shrugs and gives me an innocent smile. “Just saying, you’d do the same.”

  I glance away from her. She�
�s absolutely right, but I’m not about to say that out loud.

  Frankly, I’d let that man do very, very dirty things to me. Whatever he wanted, whatever dirty fantasy he’s into, I’d play along. Anything just to get a taste of him. I’ve never felt like I wanted to throw myself at a guy like this, with pure animal sexuality, but here I am, lusting for a guy twice my age.

  A very rich, very handsome guy.

  Coop and Parker are heading down the street, angling for the building we’re supposed to meet in. I look back at Mac. “There are two of the others,” I say, nodding in their direction.

  She frowns. “They look like typical nerds.”

  “We’re all typical nerds.”

  She raises an eyebrow at me. “You’re too hot to be a nerd.”

  “Not true.”

  She sighs. “Seriously, Clara. When will you figure it out? You’re fucking hot.”

  “Thanks, Mac.” She’s always saying that, always trying to make me feel better.

  I’m not some great beauty. I’m not going to get thousands of followers on Instagram or something like that. Mac, on the other hand, could post a bikini pic and get literally thousands of likes.

  I’m fine with that. I couldn’t care less. I have my own thing.

  “Look, just play it cool in there, okay?” she says.

  “You’re the one talking about giving up your butt.”

  “I’m just saying, you can get a little…”

  “A little what?”

  “Clingy. Pathetic.”

  I glare at her. “That’s not true.”

  She sighs. “Okay, fine. That’s me. You’re Clara the Ice Queen.”

  I nudge her with my shoulder. I spot Howard and Alan hurrying after Coop and Parker. The four guys disappear inside.

  “I think I should get going,” I say. “Stop talking about my professor like that, okay?”

  “Fine, just as soon as you seduce him. Use that magic vagina of yours, okay? Make him remember what it was like to be young.”

  “I doubt he needs me for that.”

  “Do it anyway.”

  I stand up, shaking my head. “You’re revolting.”

  “You’re gorgeous. Go get some!”

  I wave at her, grinning to myself. She waves back as I head down the block.

  The building is like any other on campus, built in the same style. I think this is usually a business hall, but I’m not sure. I’ve never been in here before.

  I head inside and walk down the hall. I take a few turns and stop outside of the door with number 101 painted on it.

  I take a deep breath and step inside.

  The four guys are all sitting around in the middle of a medium-sized room. There are six computers set up in a cluster in the middle. The guys are lingering around them.

  “There she is,” Coop says. “Clara’s here.”

  Howard looks in my direction. “Oh, great. Barbie’s here.”

  I frown a little. “Barbie has blonde hair.”

  “Whatever,” he says, waving at me dismissively. “How’d you get in here, anyway? Did you cheat?”

  I clench my jaw. Howard Moon is such an asshole. Of all the guys in the CS major, he’s by far the worst. The others hide their douchebag sexism, at least a little bit, but not Howard. He lets it hang loose.

  “Fuck off, Howard,” I say to him. The other guys laugh.

  He glares at them. “I’m just saying, Clara. We all know you’re not exactly the best student.”

  “Maybe Jason is into redheads,” Alan offers.

  I glare at him. “Don’t be a dick too.”

  He looks away from me. Howard chuckles. “You’re just mad.”

  “Mad about you being a random asshole? Yeah, I am mad about that.”

  “Nah, you’re just mad you’re a diversity statistic. The only girl available, might as well bring her on.”

  I glare at Howard, but I don’t respond. Even though Jason told me point blank that isn’t the case, the thought still lingers.

  I can’t help it. I’m almost always the only girl in my classes, and so the idea of me being some kind of diversity hire or something like that always comes up. Even if it’s not stated outright, the idea is always there, floating around me.

  But damn it, screw them. Howard’s wrong about me. He doesn’t even know me. I’m a good student, always have been. I get straight As in all my classes. The worst grade I’ve ever gotten since coming to Monray was a B-, and that’s only because I was too sick to go to half my classes one semester.

  I’m about to snap back at Howard, call him a pathetic wiener or something, when the door opens behind me. I have to hurry inside as Jason comes in behind me, carrying a big bag.

  He looks around at the group. I’m standing off to the side, away from the guys. They’re huddled together.

  Jason takes it in. He puts his bag down.

  “Ready to work?” he asks us.

  I take a breath and let it out.

  “Yes, sir,” Howard says. “Let me say, we’re all very excited.”

  Jason glances at him then looks at me. “Clara, go take a seat at terminal one, please.”

  “Okay.” I do as he says. Alan has to get up and let me take a seat.

  “Howard, you’re two. Coop, three. Parker, four. Alan, five.” He clears his throat. “I’ll be six. Please stick with your terminal and don’t swap. It’ll help me check your work.”

  We get into our assigned seats. Howard shoots me a glare across the cluster, but I just ignore him.

  I’m too busy looking at Jason. At his toned body, his handsome face.

  I feel nervous. I feel excited.

  I’m about to work with one of the most respected tech billionaires in the country. So what if these ignorant college boys think I’m just some stupid girl?

  They don’t matter. All I care about is what Jason thinks, and he thinks I belong here.

  That’s going to be enough for me.

  4

  Jason

  I sit back in my chair and scan the room. My five interns, each of them so young looking, stare at their computer screen, typing away furiously like the mundane tasks I assigned them are like life-or-death struggles.

  I smile to myself. I remember sitting in rooms just like this one, industrial air conditioning still blasting despite the chill outside, fluorescent lights buzzing softly, thick plush carpet absorbing all sound. I was young back then, hotheaded, full of myself.

  I ended up being right, but fucking hell. I took risks back then.

  I want to take risks again.

  That’s why I’m here, at the end of the day. I could easily hire a ton of professional programmers, a bunch of guys that are the top of their field, and get this project off to a serious start. I don’t need to hire a bunch of random undergrads as my interns to try and eke out some kind of half-assed application.

  But that’s what I want. I want to discover new potential, to find the next generation of people that are going to change the world. I think I can do that, right here, in this room.

  This group though, I don’t know. Howard and Clara show serious and exciting promise, but the other three are just bodies filling out the roster. They’re smart enough, and hell, maybe one of them will surprise me.

  But I doubt it.

  I lean back and watch them work. I keep glancing over at Clara, letting my eyes roam over her form. Her eyes are screwed up, her face concentrating on some problem. I can’t help but smile to myself.

  She looks so fucking gorgeous like that. Hunched over a computer, one leg underneath her, her fingers tapping away at the keys. It’s like there’s nothing else in the world for her, a sign of a truly intense mind.

  She glances over in my direction and I have to look away quickly. I know she saw me looking and I clench my jaw.

  What the hell am I doing? Staring at my intern like that…

  It’s only going to lead to trouble.

  But I am here to take some risks, right? I mean, she woul
d be a huge risk. Getting involved with a student would definitely ruin my fledgling teaching career, although I don’t much care about that.

  Mostly it would tank this project and taint me. The world isn’t what it used to be, and people aren’t so quick to overlook abuses of power when it comes to relationships anymore. Too many prominent men have gone down for having relationships with younger subordinates, and for good reason.

  I don’t want to suffer the same fate. More than that, I don’t want to take advantage of someone.

  I need to put her out of my mind. She’s young and sexy and exciting, but that’s not why I’m here. I need to try to stick to business.

  Time wears on and I keep studying my new interns. As we get closer to the end of the session, I start to notice something. The four guys are sharing notes, chatting with each other, but they’re all ignoring Clara.

  She doesn’t seem to mind. At least, she doesn’t say anything about it. She doesn’t try to insert herself or offer any solutions to the problems they’re discussion. Instead, she works on her modules, ignoring what’s happening around her.

  I can already tell this is going to be a problem.

  I clear my throat ten minutes later. “Okay, guys,” I say, and they all look at me as if they’re waking up from a spell. I grin at them. “Forgot I was here?”

  They look a little abashed. I laugh and stand up.

  “Good job today. That’s it for now, you’re all dismissed.”

  “Time already?” Coop says, standing up and stretching. “Man, that felt like two minutes.”

  “Five minutes,” Howard corrects. “No more than that, though.”

  “Time dilation,” Alan adds.

  I ignore their banter as the guys grab their stuff. Clara lingers at her station, chewing her lip.

  “You still working?” Howard asks her.

  She glances at him. I watch them carefully from across the room.

  “Yes,” she says.

  “Of course you are.” He gives her a smug little smirk.

  She hesitates. I can see something cross her face, something like anger. I feel annoyed on her behalf.

  “Maybe you should worry more about your own mediocre work than what I’m doing, Howard.” She turns back to her screen.