Adrian’s cold and calculated demeanor hid every flicker of emotion as he walked with measured steps, his jacket still wrapped around Elena’s trembling frame. The dawn chill crept into the air, but his focus stayed sharp. He glanced over at her occasionally, noticing how she clutched the edges of the oversized jacket like a shield. She was drenched, her damp blouse clinging to her skin.
Her pink, transparent fabric left nothing to the imagination, and her hands stayed firmly clasped over her chest. Adrian resisted the urge to look too long, instead keeping his tone brisk and business-like.
“I can drop you off,” he said without slowing his pace. “Your home or the university dorm, whichever you prefer.”
Elena didn’t respond right away, her head lowered as if she were retreating into herself. She seemed hesitant, torn even.
Adrian frowned slightly. Why wasn’t she answering?
“I don’t have all day, Miss Harper. Which is it?” His voice was sharp, but not unkind. He didn’t want to admit it, but her prolonged silence made something twist in his chest.
Finally, she mumbled, “The dorm…” Her voice was soft, almost inaudible.
Adrian’s steps faltered. She seemed so uncomfortable at the suggestion, shrinking even further into herself. Suspicion flickered in his mind. Why would she hesitate to go back to the dorms?
Adrian’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the hesitation that passed over Elena’s face when he asked about dropping her off. Her shoulders tensed, her gaze darted to the ground, and she seemed to shrink further into herself.
“Miss Harper,” he said, his tone slightly impatient. “I asked where you’d like me to take you. Your home or the dormitory?”
She opened her mouth as if to respond, but no words came out. Instead, she bit her lip and looked away.
Elena’s mind raced, the weight of her situation crashing over her like a wave. She couldn’t ask him to drop her at the university dorm. The thought of anyone seeing her with Professor Blackwood was unbearable. Mia and the others would seize the chance to spread more rumors, twisting the situation into something ugly. They already disliked her, and this would only give them fuel to hate her more.
And what about him? She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. His reputation was impeccable, strict, composed, untouchable. If anyone saw her with him, it wouldn’t just tarnish her but it could affect him, too. She couldn’t be the reason his name was dragged through the mud.
As for her small room… Elena’s stomach churned. The idea of him seeing where she lived made her insides twist with embarrassment. It was cramped and barely held together, a far cry from the kind of life someone like him probably imagined for a university student. Her landlord was strict and wouldn’t appreciate her bringing anyone there, especially at this hour.
Her fingers tightened around the edges of his jacket. What could she say? She didn’t want to burden him more than she already had.
“Miss Harper,” his voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, more firm this time. “I’m waiting.”
Elena opened her mouth again, desperate to come up with something, but her mind went blank. A sudden wave of dizziness washed over her, making her sway slightly. Her legs felt Wiggles, and a strange coldness crept through her limbs.
Her lips parted, and she tried to speak. “P-Professor…” Her voice was faint, barely above a whisper.
Adrian frowned, noticing her swaying figure. “Miss Harper?” he asked, taking a step closer.
Elena’s vision blurred, and the world around her seemed to tilt. She tried again to say his name, to explain, but the words wouldn’t come. Her body betrayed her as her knees gave way, and the last thing she felt was the cold air brushing against her face before everything went dark.
“Miss Harper!” Adrian moved forward, catching her just before she hit the ground. His arms instinctively wrapped around her, and for a moment, he froze, staring at her unconscious face resting against his chest.
Her body was too light, as if she hadn’t eaten in days. His jaw tightened as he adjusted his hold, cradling her in his arms. She was trembling, her skin cold to the touch.
“Elena,” he muttered under his breath, his usual stoic demeanor cracking just slightly. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
He lowered her gently to the ground, one hand supporting her head while the other reached for his handkerchief. Dirt smudged her forehead, her pale cheeks, and even her lips. Without thinking, he began wiping her face clean, his movements careful but efficient.
When his hand brushed over her lips, a strange jolt shot through him, making him pull back for a moment. He clenched his jaw, annoyed at himself for the uninvited reaction.
“Focus, Adrian,” he muttered, shaking his head.
But as he looked down at her again, something about her struck him. In her unconscious state, she looked so small, so fragile. Her damp hair clung to her face, and her blouse, still wet and translucent, revealed more than he was comfortable seeing.
His eyes lingered ,” fuck Adrain ” tracing the delicate lines of her face, the curve of her lips, and the way her long lashes rested against her cheeks. She looked… innocent. Weak.
Adrian cursed under his breath, shaking off the unfamiliar thoughts. This wasn’t the time for distractions. He needed to get her somewhere safe, somewhere warm.
“Miss Harper,” he said again, his voice quieter this time. “Wake up.”
When she didn’t respond, he sighed and slipped an arm under her knees, the other around her back. Lifting her into his arms was effortless; she felt weightless, almost too light.
“You really don’t eat, do you?” he muttered, glancing down at her pale face.
As he began walking toward his car, her head lolled against his shoulder, and something inside him twisted. He tried to ignore the unfamiliar feeling, focusing instead on the task at hand.
But even as he walked, the image of her fragile form stayed imprinted in his mind, unsettling him in ways he couldn’t explain.
Before he could press her, Elena’s knees buckled slightly, her body swaying. Adrian’s sharp gaze caught the movement instantly, and his tone turned demanding.
“Miss Harper, are you… .?
“Elena!” he called, his voice losing some of its usual edge. He shook her gently, but she didn’t respond. Her head lolled slightly, resting against his chest.
She felt weightless, like carrying air. Too light. Too frail. His jaw clenched as he realized just how little she weighed.
Adrian crouched slightly, his arm supporting her limp frame. “Miss Harper,” he tried again, his tone softening despite himself. When she didn’t stir, he frowned deeply.
Damn it. What the hell was that?
Adrian shook his head, trying to push aside the strange rush of emotions. This wasn’t about him. She needed help.
“You’re too damn light,” he muttered under his breath, his cold tone cracking just slightly.
Adjusting his hold, Adrian carried her toward his car, his steps quick and deliberate. He tried to focus on the task at hand, but his eyes couldn’t help but drift to her pale face, her long lashes resting against her cheeks, and her trembling lips.
This girl… She was a puzzle he hadn’t planned to solve, and yet here she was, turning his carefully constructed world upside down without even trying.
“Damn it, Adrian,” he muttered to himself as he reached the car. “What have you gotten yourself into?”
He opened the door and placed her gently on the passenger seat, adjusting the jacket around her to shield her from the cold. As he stepped back to close the door, he found himself pausing, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary.
Adrian didn’t know why, but the sight of her like this vulnerable, innocent, and entirely unaware of the storm brewing within him made him feel something he couldn’t understand.
For now, he pushed those thoughts aside, slid into the driver’s seat, and started the engine. Elena needed care, and he’d make sure she got it. Everything else could wait.