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"Ah!"

The library ladder was busy. Eva had stretched on her toes to get the book, overestimating her height, only the tip of her finger brushing the book she wanted. She struggled and managed to pull it free—then felt someone come close behind her. That was what startled her first, and then she was falling.

She squeezed her eyes shut, ready to fall and get hit by the book—but instead, a pair of arms surrounded her, catching her and pulling her close. A gasp left her as she collided with hard muscles, soft heat searing through her. The familiar scent of wood and rain washed over her. Eva’s wide brown eyes opened, meeting familiar dark-gray ones. Heat rushed to her cheeks.

“P-Professor,” she whispered, her hands flat on his chest, trying to keep an appropriate distance, but his grip around her was iron-tight. Professor Vale had been a little different lately. She didn’t know what, though.

“Miss Jade,” his voice deep and smooth. “You should be careful.”

His hand moved from her back to her arms, sliding to her elbows after he put down the book he had caught on the edge of the shelf. Then his attention focused on her. That deliberate move ignited an unknown fire in her belly. She bit her lip to keep her reaction at bay.

“What are you doing here alone?” he asked, but there was warning and promise in his words.

“I am—” She swallowed her words, unable to think.

Eva’s body followed his lead as she eased onto her feet, eyes fixed on his. She had always thought his eye color was unique—dark gray with hints of gold if you were close enough, calm and ready to pull her in like the lake waters in her hometown.

He was so close it reminded her of their first meeting. What was different was that he didn’t pull away; instead, he leaned closer, and she swallowed as a feeling swooshed low in her belly. She bit her lip harder, and his eyes fell on the movement as his arm came around her waist, pulling her closer.

Eva’s heart rang in her ears, the calm look in his eyes now deep and dark, something swirling that pulled her in. She released her lip from her teeth, flushed red. The look in his eyes darkened, the current between them making her breath hitch.

She couldn’t blink or think when he pressed closer. Her back hit the shelf, and she looked at him, her mouth agape. A helpless look passed over her when she felt the edge of his hard muscles against her, her senses hypersensitive to it.

“You alright?” Concern was clear in his voice—but there was something else. His eyes focused on her, heat radiating from him, sinking into her core. Under the collar of her simple T-shirt, Eva felt unbearably hot as her gaze fell to his lips.

His lips were closer than ever. She just needed to stretch on her toes, and their lips would meet.

Eva’s breath shuddered.

Her heart stopped. “Professor,” she couldn’t stop the helpless whimper that left her. This was getting out of hand.

The silence of the library echoed in the corner of her mind not occupied by her position with her history professor. For several months, she had been trying to avoid being caught like this. Not because she didn’t want to—she did—but it was better they stayed away. Recently, it seemed Professor Vale had given up the pretense.

“You can’t, please—” she tried to push, but he was too strong. The look in his eyes said he was losing patience as she was losing sanity. She locked every muscle in her body not to react as his hand traveled to her lower back.

I have to think about the consequences. It doesn’t matter how good it feels. I can’t go back to my uncle. This chance, this scholarship, is all I have, she told herself, pressing her thighs together as the throbbing ache nearly broke her resolve. His breath down her neck made her shiver, swallowing her whimper. She pressed her hand hard on his chest and pushed, shoving him away.

Professor Vale stumbled back, a growl coming from deep in his chest that vibrated through her. She looked around the library. No one was there. She swallowed, breathing heavily while he seemed as out of breath as she was. His dark-gray gaze was still on her.

“Do you think what will happen to me or to you if anyone knows?” she tried to sound strong, but disappointment bled into her words. He took a deep breath and stood straighter, polite and attentive, but looked away.

How fast he switched from the feral animal he was a few minutes ago to the good professor he seemed to be to the rest of the university—but Eva had glimpsed more… his real self, and she craved it as he craved her. But this was impossible.

“Stay…” She wanted to groan. “Away from me,” she said. In the end, she let her logic prevail. She stepped away, trying to escape, but stopped as arms came around her from behind. Her heart seized. Warm lips pressed to her neck, and she clenched her hands into fists to fight the urge to melt.

“I know all the things you say, but I don’t care anymore.” His lips traveled down her neck.

She felt she was about to tip over, leaning into his touch as if it were second nature to her. She froze; she couldn’t let this happen. It used to be simple when she thought it was just her. It became harder when she found out he wanted her the same way.

“It is just temporary,” she managed to say. “You will get over it.”

“Temporary…” He breathed, and it dawned on her—he too was trying to resist. “…How wrong you are…” His lips traveled to her ear, hot breath brushing her sensitive skin. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to think over her pounding heart, and it became impossible the moment she became aware of his heat at her back. She touched his arms.

“Let go,” she said, her voice coming out breathless, no matter how much she wanted to sound assertive.

The professor’s arms tightened around her. She went soft in his arms against her better judgment. He kissed behind her ear, his lips traveling to the shell and stopping at her earlobe. Her mouth parted, and she leaned into his sweet, musky scent. She moaned.

“Ah!” she cried out, startled when his teeth sank into the soft flesh of her ear.