Emilia let out the breath she’d been holding.

Then, almost thoughtfully, she tilted her head.

"Actually..." A tiny smile tugged at her lips. "We’ve already known each other for a month."

Adrian frowned. He already had the feeling that he would not like where she was about to go with whatever she was about to say.

"So..." she continued, counting quietly on her fingers. "That leaves four months."

Silence fell between them.

His expression didn’t change immediately. Then he let out a low grunt, dropped his head, and rubbed a hand over his face.

He shook his head slowly.

"No, Emilia." He shook his head again.

"No." He looked back at her, something between disbelief and reluctant amusement settling in his eyes. "Don’t play with me like this."

She blinked innocently. "What?" She made a face. "Haven’t we known each other for a month already?"

"We have."

"Exactly." She spread her hands. "So there are only four months left."

He stared at her for a long moment before exhaling through his nose. "You didn’t say this from the beginning."

"I just realized it."

"Convenient." He breathed.

"It isn’t my fault I can count."

A reluctant smile threatened the corner of his mouth before disappearing again.

"No." His voice remained firm. "Your rule starts today."

She frowned. "But—"

"Today."

She folded her arms. "You’re negotiating my own rule?"

"I’m correcting it." He raised a brow at her.

She opened her mouth to argue again.

Before another word could leave her lips, Adrian stepped forward.

One arm slipped securely around her waist. In one effortless movement, he lifted her clean off the seat.

A startled gasp escaped her.

"Adrian!"

She instinctively caught his shoulders as her feet left the ground.

He carried her the short distance between them and the wall before settling her gently against it.

Her back met the cool surface with a soft breath.

She remained suspended just enough that the tips of her shoes barely brushed the floor. His arm stayed firm around her waist, holding her with effortless strength.

The space between them disappeared.

Emilia’s heartbeat stumbled. She looked down at him, suddenly very aware of how close he was.

"You negotiate like a lawyer," he murmured. "Why isn’t fair."

She swallowed. "I thought economists negotiated."

His eyes warmed. "Not this badly."

Despite herself, a smile escaped her.

"So..."

"So," he repeated, holding her gaze, "five months."

"Starting today." She sighed dramatically. "You drive a hard bargain, Professor."

His soft grip tightened around her waist. He lifted her legs to his hips, and rested them there.

She gave him a sly smile, and runned her hand on his chest so softly. "And there’s no room for compromise?"

He stared at her intensly, and pushed closer. "None."

She studied him for another second before giving the smallest, most exaggerated nod.

"Fine."

His smile finally appeared.

Before Emilia could tease him again, Adrian moved.

His hand slid around her waist, drawing her closer until there wasn’t a breath of space left between them.

She barely had time to inhale when his mouth found hers. The kiss stole the rest of her words.

She laughed softly against his lips for the briefest second before melting into it, one hand slipping into his hair as her fingers tangled through the dark strands. The other found his shoulder, holding on as though she’d forgotten the floor beneath her.

Adrian kissed her with the quiet certainty that always unraveled her. When she smiled into the kiss, he answered by backing her the final inch.

Her shoulders met the wall with a muted thud, as she pressed into it. The cool surface against her back was a sharp contrast to the warmth radiating from him.

The space around them seemed to shrink until there was only shared breath, racing hearts, and the impossible awareness of every place they almost touched.

His palm rested securely at her waist, keeping her close, while his other hand braced against the wall beside her head.

Emilia drew in a quick breath as he broke the kiss just enough for their foreheads to rest together.

His eyes searched hers, as his hand moved to her ass. He kneed her ass, and groaned from satisfaction.

"Every inch of you is perfection," he murmured.

A smile spread across her face.

"We are currently in your office, Professor," she whispered, unable to hide the laugh in her voice.

His expression shifted into one of mock annoyance.

"Don’t call me professor one more time."

He leaned in and captured her lips again, slower this time, lingering just long enough to make her forget what she’d been about to say.

She pulled back only an inch, smiling.

"Why?" A quiet chuckle escaped him. "Because I don’t want to remember the protocols around here."

His forehead rested against hers once more, his smile widening.

"Besides..." He glanced around the office before returning his gaze to her. "My walls are soundproof."

Emilia turned briefly, and glanced at the door for a second. Then, she smiled lightly. "Lectures are done for the day. It’s past 5 already. I don’t want anyone wondering why I’ll be seen leaving here an hour later."

Adrian chuckled. "I wasn’t planning to have sex with you in my office." He pressed his thumb on her cheek fondly. "How about dinner tomorrow night?"

Emilia searched his eyes. "I can’t be seen with you." She frowned slightly. "People might start talking."

"They’ll keep talking whether we give them a reason or not."

She let out a small sigh. "That’s not very reassuring."

"It wasn’t meant to be."

That earned him an eye roll.

"We don’t have to stay in the city."

She looked at him curiously.

"I know a place about forty minutes away."

"Forty?"

"Mhm."

"It’s quiet." His thumb brushed lightly across her cheek before his hand fell away. "No students, no faculty, and no questions."

She studied him for a long moment. "You’ve already thought this through."

"I have."

Her brows lifted. "Before asking me?"

"I was hoping you’d say yes."

She bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to smile.

He shook his head once. "I was also prepared for you to refuse."

Her expression softened. "And yet you still asked."

"I’d rather hear ’no’ than wonder ’what if.’"

Silence settled comfortably between them.

Emilia reached up and smoothed the collar of his shirt, a gesture so absent-minded she didn’t seem to realize she was doing it.

"Dinner," she repeated quietly. "No expensive restaurants."

He thought for a second. "I can work with that."

"No chauffeurs." She added to the list.

"I’ll drive myself."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "No buying out an entire restaurant."

He paused for a second. She raised a brow at him. That forced him to nod in acceptance.

"One dinner," she said at last.

"One dinner."

"And if anyone from Blackwood sees us..."

"They won’t."

She pointed a finger at him. "You sound very certain."

"I’ll make sure of it."

She held his gaze for another second before nodding. "Okay."

His smile was small, but unmistakably genuine. "Tomorrow." He reminded.

Reluctantly, Adrian took a small step back, giving her room to stand on her own again.

The sudden distance felt strangely noticeable.

Emilia smoothed the front of her blouse before picking up her backpack from beside the chair.

At the door, her hand settled on the handle.

She glanced back over her shoulder.

"Professor?"

He sighed. "I warned you."

She grinned. "I just wanted to see your face."

He shook his head, unable to suppress a smile. "Go before I change my mind about letting you leave."

She laughed. "I’ll see you tomorrow."

"You will."

She slipped out of the office, closing the door softly behind her.

Adrian remained where he was for several seconds, his eyes fixed on the closed door.

"Five months," he murmured to the empty office.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!

Report chapter

Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter