Elena rushed through the hallway, trying to shake off the tension in her chest. The morning had been overwhelming, whispers following her every move. She had ignored them, kept her head down, and focused on getting through the day. But the moment she stepped into the professor’s office, the air around her shifted, heavy and thick with something unspoken.
Adrian stood by the window, his broad shoulders tense, hands tucked into his pockets. He didn’t turn when she entered, but she felt his presence like a storm waiting to break. The door clicked shut behind her, and only then did he move. Slowly, he turned, his piercing gaze locking onto her.
“You don’t like men approaching you, do you?” His voice was calm, almost too calm.
Elena frowned, confused. “What?”
His jaw ticked, eyes darkening as he stepped toward her. “Then why do you let them come so close?”
Elena took a step back, heart pounding. “Professor, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He scoffed, closing the distance in two strides. Before she could react, his fingers wrapped around her wrist, pulling her toward him. The sudden movement made her stumble, and she crashed into his firm chest. A shiver ran down her spine as the warmth of his body seeped through her clothes.
“I hate it,” he murmured, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “I hate seeing other men near you. I hate the way they look at you.”
Elena’s breath hitched. His grip was strong, his presence overwhelming, and her mind was spinning too fast to process. She pushed against his chest, but he didn’t budge.
“You’re being ridiculous!” she snapped, frustration bubbling inside her. “You have no right….”
Her words died as he suddenly spun her around, pinning her against the desk. Her hands landed on the cool wooden surface, his body pressing against her back, trapping her in place.
“No right?” His breath was hot against her ear. “Then why does it bother you so much?”
Elena’s heart pounded like a drum, her hands curling into fists. “You’re my professor! This is inappropriate!”
Adrian chuckled, a dark, amused sound. “You didn’t seem to mind that night.”
She froze. “What?”
His hand trailed up her arm, slow and deliberate, making her shiver. “That night,” he murmured. “When the lights went out… You took advantage of the dark and kissed me.”
Elena’s eyes widened in horror. Her face heated instantly, memories flooding back. She had thought it was a dream that had convinced herself it wasn’t real. But the way he spoke, the certainty in his voice…
“I…. I didn’t,” she stammered weakly.
Adrian smirked, gripping her wrist again and pulling her to face him. His thumb brushed against her jawline, tilting her chin up until their eyes met. “Oh, but you did,” he said smoothly. “You kissed me first.”
Elena shook her head, mortified. “I thought… it wasn’t real. I thought it was a dream.”
His eyes darkened with something unreadable. “A dream?” He chuckled, low and husky. “From that moment onwards, you were already mine, Miss Harper.”
Her breath caught. The way he said it, so possessive, so sure, sent a wave of nervous energy through her. Her knees felt weak, her body betraying her as warmth spread through her chest.
“It’ll be better for you the sooner you accept that,” Adrian continued, his fingers tracing down her arm. “Because I don’t like sharing.”
Elena’s lips parted, her mind in complete chaos. This was too much too intense. “You can’t just decide something like that,” she whispered.
His smirk deepened. “Can’t I?”
Before she could respond, he moved. His lips crashed against hers in a kiss so deep, so demanding, it stole the air from her lungs. It was nothing like she had ever felt before intoxicating, overwhelming, and utterly consuming. His hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer, pressing her against him as if he couldn’t bear the space between them.
Elena melted into the kiss, her fingers curling into his shirt before her brain caught up with her body. Panic surged through her, and she pushed at his chest, breaking free. She gasped, stepping back, her lips swollen and breath uneven.
Adrian’s eyes were unreadable as he licked his lower lip, as if savoring the taste of her. “See?” he murmured, his thumb grazing over her lips again. “You don’t even push me away.”
Elena’s cheeks flamed. “You’re impossible,” she muttered, turning away.
He caught her wrist before she could escape, pulling her back against his chest. “You belong to me, Elena,” he whispered, his voice rough with something unspoken. “You’ll come to understand that soon.”
She swallowed hard, too overwhelmed to speak. Then, just as quickly as he had trapped her, he let go. His expression turned cold, mask slipping back into place.
“Now leave,” he said, his voice void of emotion.
Elena stared at him, heart still racing. A storm of emotions swirled inside her anger, confusion, and something deeper, something she didn’t want to name. Without another word, she grabbed her bag and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.
Adrian watched her go, his smirk returning as he leaned against the desk. His fingers brushed his lips, remembering the way she tasted sweet, hesitant, and completely his. He knew she was flustered, confused, but it didn’t matter. She was already caught in his cage.
And he had no intention of letting her go.