I grabbed my cane and exited down the hallway. Outside, the tip dragged against the ground. The scraping sound was an apt indicator for how I felt. What I hadn't wanted to believe before, I became certain of the closer I grew to the admin building.
Dean Grub was behind this. He'd been too quiet about my research since our last meeting. He hadn't even responded when I'd sent my last research proposal that laid out how much funding we would need for our second stage and what those funds would go toward.
I bypassed the main office, heading straight for Mr. Grub's door. I pushed it open, caring little about politeness or decorum. If I was right, Dean Grub had made my love upset, and that was unforgivable.
"What is this that I'm hearing about you canceling the student research position?" I knew from a lack of heartbeats and extra scents that only Grub was in the room.
"Good morning, Professor Crawford," Dean Grub replied.
I growled at his sarcasm. "Cut the shit, Grub. What is the issue? Was the attention my last paper gave the university not enough? Did it not bring enough donors?" I knew it had because I'd personally donated. Dean Grub was sitting on enough money to fund my research and ten more like it, while keeping the university running smoothly.
"I've been getting calls, Crawford. Alumni upset that we're focusing so many of our resources on one thing."
"Bullshit. We spend a fraction of what goes into every other program at this school."
His chair squeaked. "It isn't every other program at this school that makes people uncomfortable."
"You mean you. They don't make you uncomfortable."
"If that's how you want to put it, that is your choice. I don't know why you're so upset. You're still getting money. I simply had to cut some of the extraneous costs you were asking for. You may ask for student volunteers. I'm sure by offering a letter of recommendation in exchange, you will have no problem."
My chest rumbled, and my snake floated closer to the surface. I'd sprout fangs soon if I wasn't careful.
"This shouldn't be a surprise. I sent your amended budget back to you a week ago. Or did you not see it?"
I moved without thinking, going around his desk to meet Grub head-on. "Is that a joke?" I snarled.
"A—what? Oh, I understand," he chortled.
I didn't believe for one second his pun hadn't been intentional.
"You are open to appealing my decision, of course. The board will look at your case."
He offered that like it was a choice when I knew it wasn't. Dean Grub was the appeals board, him and his secretary. I could file appeal after appeal, but Grub wouldn't change his mind. I wasn't even upset that he was an unintelligent, sniveling, buffoon of a man, but that he would let his own preconceived notions and prejudice get in the way of academic exploration.
That, and he'd upset Shiloh.
I had to leave his presence before I did something that would land me in jail. If I were less of a man, I'd pull my donation right then and there. I had the right until the next term began. But so many more would suffer than Grub if I did that. Today's slight about my sight hadn't been the first of its kind. I likely had enough evidence saved in emails and voicemails to sue Grub and Morningwood University for discrimination.
But again, the only people that would hurt in the end would be the students.
I left, accidentally swiping my cane against the potted plant near the door so it would knock over. It was petty, but better than breaking Grub's nose.
Despite trying to calm myself down before I returned to Shiloh, my mood hadn't improved by the time I walked back into my office.
"What happened?" Shiloh asked softly.
I sighed. My anger had no place near Shiloh, but shaking my bad mood would be more difficult. "Dean Grub confirmed everything I'd ever suspected of him."
Shiloh grabbed my arm and squeezed. "He canceled the project?"
"No, but he neutered it. I'm sure he's hoping I'll let it drop. He can't imagine why I think my life's work is so important." I'd been butting heads with shifters like Grub my entire career. Narrow-minded folks who couldn't see how anything different could ever be better. I understood scent was important to a shifter—I enjoyed the scent of Shiloh's arousal very much—but I also wished Shiloh had a choice. "All I'm trying to give these people are choices. Instead, they can't move on from the fear that I'm trying to take something away."
I turned to my desk, slamming my knee against the corner. I was so frustrated I wasn't being careful. My anger boiled hotter.
"Maybe we should take the day off," Shiloh suggested timidly.
It was the timidity that had the power to cut through my sour mood. This was exactly what I'd been hoping to avoid: bringing my anger back with me to Shiloh where he couldn't help but feel it. "I have classes. You have classes."
"Cancel 'em. You've made it to every class on time for the past four months. Professors might not know this, but most students are happy when a class is randomly canceled. It's like getting free time you never expected. And thanks to you, I'm ahead in all of my college courses. I don't have much to do now but study for the final."
He wound his hands into mine, tugging so that our arms swayed between us.
"Play hooky with me, Professor?" His lips kissed my cheek softly.
"How am I supposed to say no to this?" I asked.
Shiloh let out an excited squeal. "I'll meet you at our spot!"
***
The best part about agreeing to take the day off was how happy it made Shiloh. He wasn't thinking about his position or how this would change everything moving forward. He could still work with me, if he wanted, but there would be no incentive, and though I knew he didn't do it for the incentive, I couldn't let him do so much work without earning credit.
I'd scanned the email Grub had been talking about too, checking the date first. He claimed the letter was a resend, since I'd lost the last one. The cuts he'd made to my proposal were severe. I couldn't do half the amount of live subject testing as I'd planned on doing, and without the amount of data I needed, what good would the conclusions I drew from it?
"You're still thinking about school," Shiloh complained as we walked inside. At this point, coming home together was as normal an activity for us as eating breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening.
"I'm sorry. Do you want to watch a movie? Read?"
Shiloh stepped closer. "No, I don't want to do those things," he said seductively.
I had an idea of what he wanted to do, but I was too upset to trust myself. I couldn't lose control. Shiloh surely wasn't a virgin anymore and I didn't think I could even call him inexperienced, but in the mood I was in, I wouldn't be able to make love. "Are you hungry? I can make you lunch." I turned, but Shiloh grabbed my hand.
We were in the living room, and he led me to the arm of the couch, where he gently pushed me into a half-sitting position.
"I don't want lunch," he hummed.
He stepped closer, inserting one of his legs between mine, while the other was on the other side of my leg. He bent his knees, riding my leg while pressing his cock and balls against my thigh.