Elena sat in the guest room, staring blankly at the floor. Her mother’s phone call echoed in her mind, each word carving deeper into her heart.
Don’t come back. Your dad will sell you to the debtors.
Her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the bed. How did it come to this? How had her life turned into something so terrifying, so uncertain?
Before she could think further, the room was suddenly swallowed in darkness.
Her breath hitched.
No.
The lights had gone out.
Her body tensed, every muscle locking in place. Her hands instinctively clenched into fists as her chest tightened. Breathe, Elena. It’s just a power cut.
But her mind didn’t listen.
The darkness wrapped around her like a suffocating blanket, dragging her back to the past.
Seven years ago.
She was thirteen, curled up in the cold basement, hugging her knees to her chest. Her father’s drunken voice echoed through the house, slurred and furious. Glass shattered somewhere above. Heavy footsteps thudded against the wooden floor.
She squeezed her eyes shut, holding her breath.
He’s looking for me.
The door creaked open.
“Elena! Where the hell are you?”
Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. She covered her mouth, desperate to keep quiet, to stay invisible.
The stench of alcohol and sweat grew stronger as he stomped around. Her small body shook violently. Don’t move. Don’t breathe. Don’t make a sound.
Minutes felt like hours until finally he left.
The moment his footsteps faded, she let out a shaky breath, biting down on her lip to stop the sobs threatening to escape.
The darkness was her shield, but it was also her prison.
Now, seven years later, it still was.
Back in the guest room, Elena sat frozen, her body trembling just like before.
She wasn’t in that basement anymore. Her father wasn’t here.
But the fear never left.
Her chest rose and fell in ragged breaths as she reached out blindly, desperate for something to ground her.
A lump formed in her throat, her eyes burning with unshed tears.
Why can’t I just be normal? Why can’t I let go of the past?
She hugged herself, her nails digging into her arms.
She didn’t even realize she was crying until a soft sob escaped her lips.
The house was silent and in complete darkness. Elena blinked, trying to adjust her vision, but the absence of light made everything feel suffocating. She took a deep breath, steadying her heartbeat. “It’s just a power cut, nothing to worry about.”
But deep down, she hated the dark.
Sitting on the bed, she hugged herself, staring at the barely visible outline of furniture. She had always felt uneasy during blackouts, but this time, an unfamiliar nervousness settled in her chest. Maybe it was because she wasn’t alone in this house.
Her thoughts drifted to Adrian. Her breath hitched. “No, I shouldn’t think about him.” But it was impossible to control.
Professor Adrian..
She had dreamt about him before. too many times. Those dreams always felt so real. The way he looked at her, the way his deep voice sent shivers down her spine, the way he touched her…
She swallowed, trying to shake away the heat rising in her cheeks. “It’s just a dream. It doesn’t mean anything.”But her lips moved before she could stop herself.
“It feels like the dreams I used to see daily…” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Unknown to her, Adrian heard everything.
Adrian’s POV
Adrian leaned against his desk, his eyes fixed on the screen of his laptop. The guest room camera displayed Elena, sitting on her bed, lost in thought.
His fingers drummed against the wooden surface as he listened to her soft, sleepy voice.
“In dreams she sees me daily?”
A slow smirk tugged at his lips. She had been dreaming about him.
He shut the laptop and stood, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. “Interesting.”
He had planned to check the generator, but now, he had a better idea.
Elena’s POV
Deciding she couldn’t sit still any longer, Elena cautiously stepped out of her room, her hands grazing the wall for balance. The house felt utterly quiet.
She bit her lip, debating whether she should call out for Adrian. Before she could decide, a loud **thud** echoed through the hallway.
Startled, she turned the corner only to crash into a solid, warm body. A gasp escaped her lips as she lost her balance, tumbling backward.
But before she could hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around her waist.
The next thing she knew, she was falling…”but not onto the floor.”Instead, she landed on something firm and warm, a heavy weight pressing against her.
Her breath hitched as she realized she had fallen **on top of Adrian.**
Her body was sprawled across his, her hands gripping his shirt for support. The scent of his cologne dark, rich, and intoxicating filled her senses. For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then …
A deep, husky voice broke the silence.
“You’re moving too much, Miss Harper,” Adrian murmured, his warm breath fanning against her ear.
Elena froze.
His voice. His ‘husky’ voice. Her mind turned blank, her entire body tingling.
Adrian smirked at her reaction. His grip on her waist tightened, pulling her closer against him. “Stay still.”She sucked in a sharp breath.
” This… this feels just like my dreams.”
The thought slipped out before she could stop it. She ‘murmured’ it softly, her lips barely moving.
But Adrian heard it. His smirk deepened.
“You dream of us every night, Miss Harper?”
Elena’s eyes widened in horror. She lifted her head, only to be met with his dark, knowing gaze.
Her face turned red.. hot, burning, completely exposed.”I-I didn’t… I mean..”
He didn’t let her escape. His grip on her wrist tightened as he folded her arms behind her back, trapping her completely.
Adrian’s face was just inches from hers now, his piercing gaze locked onto her.”You dream about me, Elena?” His voice was dangerously low, teasing.
Her heart pounded so hard it hurt.”I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered, desperate to escape this moment.
But Adrian wasn’t going to let her go so easily. A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest.
He tilted her chin up with two fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Her breath hitched as his thumb “brushed against her lower lip, tracing it slowly.”
“You’re lying,” he whispered.
Elena felt dizzy. His touch was “too much, too intoxicating, too… forbidden.”
She tried to turn her face away, but he wouldn’t let her. His grip on her jaw tightened slightly, holding her in place.
Adrian leaned in, his lips almost touching hers.
“You think this is a dream?” he murmured, his lips curving into a smirk.
Elena barely managed to nod. Her thoughts were “a mess, her body betraying her completely.”He chuckled.
“Then let me make it real.”Before she could react, his lips crashed against hers. It wasn’t soft or hesitant.
It was deep, demanding, “completely consuming.”
Elena whimpered softly, her fingers curling against his shirt. Her body melted against his, her mind spiraling into chaos.
She had never kissed anyone before….”but with him, it felt nice l.”
Her lips moved against his instinctively, seeking more, needing more.
Adrian groaned softly, “pulling her even closer, deepening the kiss.”
Her knees weakened, her senses clouded by the warmth of his body.
She felt **trapped. Addicted. Helpless.**
She didn’t even realize what she was doing
…. Until suddenly, she panicked.
Her eyes snapped open, and she broke away, gasping for breath. Adrian smirked at her reaction, his grip loosening slightly.
She took the chance to escape.
Scrambling off him, she “staggered backward’, pressing a hand to her swollen lips. Her heart was racing, her entire body trembling.
Adrian sat up slowly, his gaze locked onto her, amused yet predatory.
“Running away, Miss Harper?” he mused, his voice dark with amusement.
Elena didn’t answer. She spun on her heels, ready to escape….
But in a flash, Adrian caught her wrist again.
She let out a soft gasp as he “yanked her back against him.”
Her chest collided against his hard body, her breath hitching at the sudden contact.
Before she could react, his hand found her jaw again, tilting her face up.
Adrian smirked.
“Did I say you could leave?”
His lips brushed against hers once more, “stealing another deep, slow kiss.”This time, it wasn’t rushed. It was teasing. *Torturous.*
He kissed her softly at first, then deepened it when she tried to pull away, “devouring her completely.”
By the time he let her go, Elena’s legs “barely held her up.”
Adrian exhaled slowly, his lips curving into a satisfied smirk.
“I’ll check the generator,” he murmured against her lips before finally releasing her.
And then, just like that, he walked away leaving her standing there, breathless and completely shaken.
Elena pressed her fingers against her lips, her heart racing.
This… This was definitely **not a dream.**