Nathaniel knew he was breaking every rule, shattering every boundary he had ever set for himself, but with Elena pressed against him, her breath warm against his skin, her fingers still tangled in his hair, he couldn't bring himself to care. They had crossed a line they could never uncross, stepped into a fire that neither of them could escape. And yet, standing here, in the quiet shadows of his office, the scent of old books and lingering desire filling the air between them, he knew with absolute certainty that he would do it all over again.
Elena's fingers traced slow patterns against the back of his neck, her touch is featherlight yet possessive, as if she could hold him there forever. He let out a slow breath, his forehead resting against hers, his heart hammering against his ribs. He had never wanted anything the way he wanted her, never felt this helpless in the presence of another person. She had undone him, unraveled him piece by piece, and now that she was in his arms, now that he had tasted what it felt like to have her this close, he didn't know how he was supposed to let go.
But then, a knock on the door shattered the moment.
Nathaniel stiffened, his hands tightening around Elena's waist as reality crashed back into him like a tidal wave. They weren't alone. They weren't in some secluded world where time stood still, where their rules didn't exist. They were in his office. In the university. And someone was outside.
Elena's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat as she clutched onto him. He could see the flicker of panic in her expression, the sharp realization that if anyone found them like this, everything they had built, everything they had been trying so desperately to contain, would be exposed.
Nathaniel swallowed hard, his mind racing. He had no idea who was on the other side of the door, but one thing was certain—if they saw Elena here if they even suspected what had just happened between them, it would change everything.
"Elena," he murmured, his voice low, urgent. "You have to go."
Her lips parted, her body still flush against his, her hands gripping the front of his shirt as if she didn't want to let go. And neither did he. But there was no time. Another knock came, this time more forceful, more impatient, and his pulse spiked.
"I—" she started, but he was already moving, already pulling her away, guiding her toward the side door of his office, the one that led to the hallway behind the library. He reached for the handle, turning it just enough to push it open, the dimly lit corridor beyond offering her an escape.
Her gaze locked onto his, something unreadable flickering in her expression, something that sent a sharp pang through his chest. But then she nodded, understanding passing between them without a single word, and she slipped into the hallway, vanishing into the shadows just as the main office door swung open.
Nathaniel turned just in time to see Professor Adrian Cole stepping inside.
Adrian Cole was the last person Nathaniel wanted to see right now. The man had a way of sniffing out secrets, of digging into things that weren't his business. And right now, Nathaniel knew damn well that his business was dangerous.
"Did I interrupt something?" Adrian's voice was casual, but there was a glint of curiosity in his sharp blue eyes as he scanned the office, taking in the slightly disheveled papers on the desk, the faint flush still lingering on Nathaniel's skin.
Nathaniel forced himself to remain calm, to push down the rush of adrenaline still coursing through him. "No," he said evenly, moving behind his desk, putting distance between himself and whatever suspicions Adrian might be forming. "What do you need?"
Adrian raised a brow, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. "I was actually looking for Elena."
Nathaniel's grip on the desk tightened. Of course, he was.
"I had a few questions about her research paper," Adrian continued, watching him too closely. "She's quite an impressive student, isn't she?"
Nathaniel forced himself to nod. "She is."
Adrian's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile, something knowing. "You seem to take a particular interest in her work."
Nathaniel's jaw clenched. "I take an interest in all my students."
"Of course you do," Adrian mused, but there was something about the way he said it that made Nathaniel want to throw him out of his office. He was playing a game, testing the waters, trying to find the cracks. And Nathaniel knew—if he wasn't careful, Adrian would find them.
Nathaniel exhaled slowly, forcing his voice to remain steady. "If that's all, I have work to do."
Adrian studied him for a long moment, then finally, mercifully, nodded. "Of course. I'll see myself out."
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Nathaniel standing alone in his office, his mind racing, his body still thrumming with the ghost of Elena's touch.
He had barely caught his breath when his phone buzzed.
A message.
Elena: Meet me. Tonight.
His pulse kicked up. He didn't hesitate.
Nathaniel: Where?
The response came almost instantly.
Elena: Somewhere we won't be interrupted.
And just like that, his fate was sealed.