Preoccupied with her thoughts, she didn't pay too much attention to the sound of the door opening.
Until a deep and loud voice filled the restroom and she immediately saw the man's reflection on the mirror in front of her.
"You look different today," he said.
"Oh god, no," she muttered under her breath. This reminded her of their fateful first meeting. Certainly, it was impossible to hide behind one of the cubicles then, right?
Feigning offense at her response, Ladislas raised his brow a little. "Aren't you excited to see me, Miss Dunn?"
The man slowly made his way behind her—so close that she could feel his breath on her skin. Her own hitched at the surprising feeling.
"You shouldn't be in here," she said as calmly as possible as her fingers inched closer to her phone and flipped it over without him noticing.
"Ah, you were the one who taught me this interesting thing. I have to say… it isn't as thrilling as I had imagined," he said frankly. He looked around the washroom and then hummed in disappointment. "I am not bored, though. That's a point for you and your hobbies."
She tried to keep her embarrassment at bay. Stuttering, she formed words, "Professor, your date might walk in on us. I don't want her to get the wrong idea."
Instead of moving away, Ladislas closed what was left of their distance. It was also his first time seeing her in heels and she was exactly where he wanted her. Leaning in a bit to speak into her ear, he saw Anna pressed her palms on the edge of the sink, curled to seek more support, grabbing on for dear life as her knees threatened to fail her at any moment.
"First of all, that wasn't a date. And if there is someone who I don't want to get the wrong idea…" his voice was dangerously low in her ear. "It's you. I wouldn't want you to think I am looking at anyone but you with interest."
She didn't have to reply to that. A sliver of fear ran up her spine at the thought that he was watching her.
"Secondly, why did you ignore me, Miss Dunn? I thought we were hell-bent on irritating one another," his voice turned into a playful tone as his lips lightly brushed against her earlobe. The contact was so faint and delicate that it reminded her of a feather brushing along the expanse of her skin. She found his hand inching closer to her and lightly grabbing the wrist that was near the phone.
Despite the anxiety pooling in her stomach and the heat rising in her insides, she managed to smirk at what he said. 'People really hate it when others do unto them what they did to them,' she thought mournfully.
He was paying back for her intrusion in the restroom and in his class. And he was doing a fine job of it.
"Oh, I thought that was what you wanted," Anna replied with the same playful tone, only tinged with a little sultriness that she never knew she had. "In my defense, when I see a professor out on a date, I ignore it. I don't want to be entangled in their private affairs. I thought you would want to act as if we don't know each other…"
Ladislas let out a gentle laugh which sent soft tingles across her sternum.
"How are you, Miss Dunn?" he asked. "I haven't asked you this question, I believe. You have already been privy to my naked form and I to the sight of your underwear, but we have never introduced ourselves politely, have we?"
He didn't give her a chance to reply. She felt him pull away, his finger swiping across her wrist. The touch was marred with intense thirst and curiosity for her.
"I am doing great. You? Your date looks gorgeous, by the way." Where she found the strength to reply, she did not know.
He didn't stop the smirk that placed itself firmly on his lips.
"Are you jealous someone gets a pass to the Ladislas club?" He moved his fingers up to her face and put a strand of her hair behind her ear. It was the only thing hindering a good view of her face.
"I need to go back," she said breathlessly.
He took his hand back. His gaze landed on the mirror where their eyes met, now full of fire.
"Why? Don't you want to play cat and mouse with me?"
She didn't want to admit it out loud, but she really did want to stay back and play this game with him.
Letting caution away in the wind, she gave him a wicked smile. "Which one of us is the mouse, Mr. Forester? Because it definitely isn't me."
Ladislas threw his head back and laughed. "Pardon my simile. Neither am I. A wolf and a… demon?"
She looked at him strangely.
"Oh, tell me. Do you really want to play with me, Anna?"
For her, there was no other acceptable response than a nod.
"Good," he said. His hand slid into his pocket. "Because I would be more than happy to play with you. I love a good chase."
She waited for him to continue. "Now that we have decided on that… I will give you a head start in the game." She looked at him curiously. "Don't forget to lock your door and window tonight."
Finally, they stood face to face.
Racking her brain for something to say, she found none. Once the downloads were done, she would find an excuse from her dinner with Lewis to leave and go home. She took notice of the threat in his voice.
"Okay."
If her reflection could talk, it would tell her to get a grip on herself and not entangle herself with Ladislas Forester.
But as they said: Curiosity killed the cat.
She looked at the mirror and added in the part everyone seemed to forget: 'But satisfaction brought it back.'