Li Na felt suddenly and desperately exposed.
"Stay where you are Li Jun," she said, the words coming out harsh. "Don't come near."
He stopped. Because he had to. Because he was shocked at the way she seemed frightened by his actions.
She was standing behind her desk like she was hiding behind a wall, her tightly folded arms another barrier. Her face was as pale as the silk blouse she wore and he could see the fear in her eyes which was not there when they were consumed with passion the other time.
He clutched the strap of his bag, fighting the impulse to come close to her, to use their bond to strip her of her shell, to get her to succumb to the desire he knew was there despite her best efforts to hide it.
He knew she might start overthinking but that fiery passionate time they shared was not enough for him to quench his hunger for her.
"Li Na," he said into the deafening silence. "Why are you hiding? You have started overthinking again."
Her mouth became a hard line. "I'm not overthinking. I need a little bit of sanity where you are concerned"
"Oh, so I make you lose control, Professor."he teased
Her chest rose sharply, pink staining her cheekbones.
So, he was crossing the line. He didn't want her to do that because she was shielding herself again, shrinking within herself like a snail.
He'd been distracted during the meeting by thoughts of her, and he'd tried contacting her during the day but she hadn't answered.
He'd tried to control his compulsive tendencies by focusing his attention on the ongoing tasks at the firm as he went about his day. His mind was invaded by her expressive eyes and what they shared.
He couldn't stop thinking about it. About her. About what they'd done. About what she'd given him and what they both taught themselves about their sexuality..
He folded his arms as he continued watching her. "What happened Li Na? You want it too, though," he said softly, staring at her. Daring her. "Don't tell me you didn't want to get it on with me at the Lunch hall. "
Her entire body was tense, and he could clearly see her resolve to keep his gaze fixed on him, to hide her emotions. In order to keep him out.
"Li Jun I want some modicum of sanity at my workplace. I just want a little bit of control okay.."
He couldn't touch her since she has stated her reasoning. He'd respect what she said. But it didn't mean he didn't have any other options. He already knew she liked it when he talked a little bit dirty to her, for a start. "I'm trying to get you to accept what you want, Li Na. Don't worry you are all in control. The fact is, whether you admit it or not, You like me telling you what to do, even here, in your office."
"I don't li—"
"You want me to get you off, Professor?" he interrupted, cutting her off. "Are you standing there telling me you don't want me to kiss you right now, right here. Professor Xu?"
Her eyes had clouded, and her breathing had become ragged and quick. "Stop. Stop uttering those words."
"I'll stop saying them when you stop denying what you want. When you stop letting your fear do your thinking for you."
She looked sharply away, down at her desk, dropping her arms and beginning to fuss with the papers on her desk. "You have no idea what you're talking about."Her voice had a blazing streak of fury running through it.
He locked his gaze on her. Around her mouth, there were lines of sorrow. Her exquisite jaw was cast in a rigid mold. He knew she had a horrible experience when lecturing abroad, but he didn't have any information other than what he learned from his private investigator, which was that she had an ex-fiance with whom she abruptly broke up. The situation was hazy at the time. And it was evident that there was more to it than that.
"Does this have anything to do with your ex-fiancee Li Na?" ' he remarked.
Her fingers paused in their shuffle through the pages for a brief moment. "How do you know?"
Li Jun said tensely. "I did a little bit of study on you."
"How do you know?" "What! Why?"
"Li Na, what happened?"
"Li Jun, let it go. And I'm politely asking."
"No," he answered bluntly, his voice displaying the steely edge of a multinational corporation's CEO. "Professor, I'd like to hear about that. I'm the one who politely inquires. Because not knowing it, is undeniably a disadvantage in our current relationship."
She kept her head down, fiddling with a red pen on her table. "I don't want to talk about it.Li Jun."
"What? Li Na, it is clearly weighing you down."
Li Na dropped into her chair, putting her hands flat on the desk with a slap. "Stop it. Just stop, okay. You know nothing about it, so how about you don't ask me about it for the meantime?"
Guilt wrenched through Li Jun as she saw frustration on her face. He didn't want to hurt her, but he couldn't forget about the woman she'd been in her apartment with on Friday night. She let herself enjoy it. He'd seen how much she enjoyed it, and it irritated him that she was holding herself back now.
During the death of his parents and ex-girlfriend, he'd seen how life can deal a hard traumatic blow to a person. It broke him. Shit, he nearly ran mad when he witnessed what happened. But he didn't think Xu Li Na would break despite any curveball life threw at her. Behind her delicate front he sensed a strength that ran deep. A strength that perhaps she wasn't even aware of herself.
"Li Na, it's okay," he said quietly. "I know what it's like to be hurt. And I know what it's like to be afraid. You're not the only one."
Her head came up finally, a sharp black gaze meeting him. "I Know, Li Jun."
Pushing himself away from the desk, he straightened. "Keep calm and don't get carried away by your fear. I will be expecting you at my apartment tonight, Li Na."
Her mouth drew together into a line, and she lowered her gaze. She was piercingly silent.
He was going to break through those walls of hers and get rid of her fear completely. She'd given him the first piece of her trust and, Shit, he wanted the rest.
LI Jun turned to the door. "I'll see you tonight, Professor. And don't be late."
Then he strode out.