The darkness lingered for what felt like forever, but then, as if on cue, the lights flickered back on. Elena blinked, her body stiff, the air still thick with the remnants of her panic. She took a shaky breath, willing her heart to calm, trying to push away the terrifying memories that the dark had stirred up.
The room was now bathed in soft light, but her mind was still clouded by the remnants of fear. Elena felt exposed, vulnerable, as if the walls themselves were closing in on her. Her pulse raced, and she instinctively grabbed the edge of the bed, trying to steady herself.
Before she could take another breath, the sound of footsteps came from outside the room. Adrian.
She froze.
His voice, low and smooth, echoed down the hallway. “Miss Harper,” he called out, his tone laced with something she couldn’t quite place. She squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to calm herself, but it was like her body had a mind of its own. Her cheeks flamed, and her heartbeat quickened as if she were a deer caught in the headlights.
The door creaked open, and there he was. Adrian stood in the doorway, looking as composed as ever, but there was a subtle shift in his gaze. He took one look at her, and for a brief moment, everything seemed to stop.
“Is everything alright, Miss Harper?” His voice was different now, almost playful. He walked into the room, his presence filling the space, making Elena feel small and exposed. The way his eyes followed her every movement made her stomach twist with nervous anticipation.
She nodded, trying to appear normal, though she could feel the heat rising in her face. “Y-Yes, Professor,” she stammered, trying to push down the embarrassment that made her skin feel like it was on fire.
Adrian smiled slightly, his gaze narrowing with amusement. He took another step closer, his eyes studying her as if she were an open book. “Are you sure? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Elena shifted uncomfortably, her hands nervously twisting in front of her. “I… I was just thinking about…something,” she said, her voice faltering.
His smile grew more teasing, and Elena couldn’t help but feel her face flush deeper. “Something, huh? You know, Miss Harper, you’ve been acting a bit distant lately.” Adrian’s voice softened, but there was an edge to it, like he knew exactly what she was trying to hide. “You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”
The air between them thickened, and Elena’s body tensed. His presence was intoxicating, pulling her in despite every instinct telling her to run.
She couldn’t help it. Her thoughts raced. **Why is he so close? Why do I feel like this? Why does he make me feel… this way?**
“Professor,” she murmured, stepping back, but her feet tangled, and she found herself stumbling into him.
Adrian’s hands were quick to catch her, steadying her with surprising gentleness for someone so commanding. His strong arms wrapped around her waist, and she could feel his body heat seeping into hers. Her breath caught in her throat as his hand brushed her back, pressing her closer to him.
She tried to pull away, her heart hammering in her chest, but his grip tightened. “Stay still, Miss Harper,” he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. His voice was thick with something she couldn’t name, but it made her shiver. “You’re moving too much.”
Her entire body flushed red, and for a moment, it felt like the world had shrunk to just the two of them. His lips hovered near her ear, his voice a teasing whisper. “You’re nervous, aren’t you?”
She swallowed hard, feeling the heat rise up her neck, her heart racing. “I’m not….” she started, but she couldn’t finish her sentence because suddenly, she was pulled closer. Adrian’s grip on her wrist tightened, and before she could react, he spun her around, pushing her back against the couch.
She gasped as they both landed on the cushions. Adrian’s body pressed against hers, his chest rising and falling with every breath. Elena felt her pulse thunder in her ears as he looked down at her, his eyes dark and intense.
His lips curled into a smirk, and Elena felt her body tremble beneath him. “You think I can’t hear you, Miss Harper?” he whispered, his voice husky, almost teasing. “You think I didn’t notice how you’ve been avoiding me?”
She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. All she could do was stare up at him, feeling her body betray her every instinct. She couldn’t help the way her breath quickened or how her heart raced faster.
Adrian’s gaze softened, just slightly, but the intensity never left. His hand reached up, brushing a lock of hair away from her face, and Elena felt her skin tingle where his fingers brushed. His touch was gentle, but it sent waves of heat through her body.
“You’re too quiet, Miss Harper,” he murmured, his voice dropping lower. “I know something’s bothering you.”
She shook her head, her thoughts jumbled. “It’s nothing,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
But Adrian didn’t seem convinced. His gaze dropped to her lips, and for a brief second, it felt like the world stood still. Then, before she could even process it, his hand cupped her jaw, tilting her face up to his.
“You don’t need to hide anything from me,” he said, his voice soft but commanding. “I’m not going to bite.”
His lips were a breath away from hers. Elena’s pulse skipped, her heart racing wildly. She had never felt anything like this before like the world had tilted, and she was falling into something she couldn’t escape.
“Professor…” she whispered, her voice shaking, but before she could say another word, his lips crashed onto hers.
The kiss was firm, but slow, like he was savoring it. His hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. Elena felt like she was drowning in it his warmth, his scent, the way his lips moved against hers, each moment sending a rush of electricity through her body.
She had never kissed anyone before, never felt anything like this. It was dizzying, overwhelming, and-strangely enough comforting. Her thoughts scattered, and she found herself kissing him back, her hands gripping his shirt as if it was the only thing keeping her grounded.
But just as quickly as the kiss had started, Adrian pulled away. He was breathing heavily, his face inches from hers. His eyes were dark with something that made her stomach flip.
“You’ve been dreaming about this, haven’t you?” he whispered, his voice laced with amusement.
Elena’s face turned crimson, and she quickly turned her head, avoiding his gaze. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in short, erratic gasps. She didn’t know how to respond, didn’t know how to handle the pool of emotions crashing inside her.
Adrian chuckled softly, his fingers tracing the curve of her jaw before he slowly pulled away, leaving her breathless and trembling on the couch.
“I’ll leave you to think about that,” he said, his voice almost teasing as he stood up. “But don’t go anywhere, Miss Harper. I’ll be back soon.”
With that, he walked toward the door, his presence still hanging in the air, and Elena was left alone with the wild thoughts that had taken over her mind.