We shouldn't

Sebastian put her down gently. She stumbled a little and rested her hand on his shoulder to balance herself.

Eva clutched Sebastian’s shoulder tightly before he put her down on one of the benches and brushed her hair away from her neck and face. Her body tensed at his touch, fighting the instinct to lean into it. He stopped, meeting her eyes without blinking, but his dark gray gaze grew darker. Sebastian’s fingertip brushed her cheekbone, wiping away the pearl-like droplets on her pale skin, leaving fire in its wake. Eva’s breath shuddered under the weight of his stare. His thumb came to trace her lower lip, and her lips parted. He stepped slightly closer while she shifted her weight onto her toes. His breath brushed her lips. She shivered, and Sebastian snapped out of the trance. He stepped back at the same time Eva did.

Eva looked down at the floor. Sebastian’s hand fell over her shoulder and then her arm, rubbing it in comfort. Startled, Eva looked up at him in question. He wasn’t pulling away exactly, and that eased the tension in her shoulders.

He is here, it not like in the library. 

“Wait for a moment,” he said.

Then he walked away. Eva, still confused, watched his back until he disappeared around the corner where the changing room was. He came out with towels in his hands.

Sebastian’s eyes once again took in her flushed, wet skin. He clenched his hand around the towel before extending it to her face, then pulling away a little still staning there not touching her. Realizing he is waiting for her, she step forward. He pressed the towel on her cheek patting it dry. His gaze once again fell on her lips as she leaned to his touch, taking him in. 

“How did you get here? Why were those boys after you?” he asked, half because he was worried and half to provide a distraction from his own thoughts.

Eva shook herself out of it, fighting the urge to look at him and trying to form coherent thoughts so she could answer him.

“They were bullying someone. I filmed it—” Her hands went to her pocket and her eyes widened as she looked at the pool. “Damn it! It’s in the pool!”

She looked at him, then dashed toward it, but too late realized the heaviness of her shoes from the water. She skidded across the slippery floor.

“Ow!” she exclaimed.

Sebastian caught her before she could hit the floor again. She tensed against the contact.

“Leave it. Whatever you filmed is lost anyway.” He helped her stand straight.

Eva pouted, realizing he was right. He pulled her closer and pressed the towel to her neck. Water from her hair dripped onto the back of her hand.

Eva sighed, dejected. “How will I report it now?”

“No worries. I’ll report it. I’ve seen them. They’ll listen to a professor.”

She startled again at his words. 

Professor. Right. 

She wasn’t supposed to be doing this. She looked at him, then at their feet almost touching—his one hand on her shoulder holding her, the other patting her face and neck dry. She stepped back, coming to her senses. She reached to take the towel from him, but he moved behind her, gathering her hair in his hand, wrapping it in the towel and gently wringing out the excess water. She suppressed another shiver down her spine.

Then he came in front again. Her breath hitched as she met his eyes once more. This was going to be so, so hard if he kept looking at her like this. The professor’s hand came to her neck, resting on her overheated, freshly dried skin, and his other hand moved the towel to her neckline.

Eva watched the professor’s gaze turn darker, and she felt hot. His gaze dropped further, and somehow she became acutely aware of her clothes clinging to her like a glove, cool over her heating skin. She pressed her lips together, her face turning red, and she closed her eyes. Her breathing swallowed itself when his hand moved lower. The heat from his hand through her wet fabric felt too intense—the hot and cold sensation made her weak in the knees.

She grabbed his wrist, stopping him, blinking up at him with a pleading look.

Sebastian’s grip loosened around the towel. She took it slowly, looking away, seeing the stricken look in his eyes—his gray eyes only turning deeper, piercing her heart. She stepped back from him.

“Forgive me,” he whispered.

Eva shook her head in silent dismissal.

This was getting out of hand, but Eva’s heart lurched in her chest with a silent protest as he stepped back too. Professor. He is your professor. Get a grip, she told herself.

Eva turned away quickly, trying to walk off.

“Eva.”

Hearing her first name from his lips again made her heart skip a beat. She turned to meet his eyes. A flash of what could have been hurt passed through them, but then his gaze turned serious and straight. His expression was clear but devoid of emotion, and the little ache in her heart spread through her whole chest.

“Yes?”

“What happened in the library…” His voice trailed off. “What happened now…”

Eva’s teeth came down on her lower lip again, bracing herself for what was to come as Sebastian’s eyes set with determination.

“I hope you can forgive me. I assure you it will never happen again.”

The ache now was gripping her lungs. She turned away, fighting the lump in her throat, but her lips trembled and her eyes stung. She decided to walk away before she embarrassed herself further, but a pain shot through the length of her leg and she fell down.

“Eva!”

She heard frantic footsteps coming toward her. She sat back on the floor, stretching her legs forward and grabbing her right leg. The heavy wetness of her shoes made it more uncomfortable, and her heart once again thumped painfully in her chest as he crouched in front of her, concern set in his brows as his frown deepened, looking down at where she was holding herself.

“You said you weren’t hurt,” he sounded accusing.

“I am now,” she shot back, looking at him for a second, then pulling away as he came to touch her hand where she held her leg.

“Miss Jade,” his voice hardened.

“I can go back, Professor,” she said, swallowing the lump in her throat, but she couldn’t help that her voice sounded thick. It was childish, she knew. They both couldn’t do anything, but was it so easy for him to pull away while she felt like this, sacrificing breath to keep her sanity?

Sebastian’s hand came to her leg anyway. When she tried to pull back, he firmly held her ankle in place, and her body jolted at the contact. His eyes were set on her leg as he rolled up the hem to look.

“Have you twisted it?”

“No,” she said quietly, defeated. “It cramped.”

“Hm.”

He unlaced her black shoes.

“What are you—”

“You can’t walk in them.” He took off her shoes, and her cold, flushed feet rested on his strong palm, her feet so small in his hand. He rubbed them slightly to warm them.

Eva felt an ache building inside her as their skin touched again. Her eyes flew open to meet his. She curled her toes.

“Professor, you shouldn’t… We shouldn’t.”

He met her gaze, sensing the torment. They couldn’t be here like this. Whatever was happening felt like a losing battle. The look in her eyes was wide open, transparent, and deep—a flood of warmth that was going to drown Sebastian soon enough. He held her warm, pleading gaze, her eyebrows scrunched together, her skin flushed. How perfect she looked as she leaned to touch his hand, to stop him probably, but her eyes pleaded otherwise.

Something shifted in the air, startling Eva.

Abruptly, Sebastian moved forward and his arms went around her. Once again she was in his arms, her feet off the ground. Eva’s arms came around his neck.

“Professor Vale! Where are you taking me?” She tried to squirm, and his hold tightened. Her bare feet rubbed together nervously as she looked around. What if someone passed by? But Professor Vale didn’t look concerned as he walked out of the poolside and to the emergency exit. Eva blinked in confusion, looking at him, but he was staring ahead. Her heart slammed in her ribcage while her whole body heated at every point of contact between them. He was careful in his strong strides not to bounce her too much because her leg still ached.

Soon they were in his office, and he gently put her down on the couch, finally making eye contact with her. Then his eyes once again fell over the length of her figure—she was still soaked and small, her slender frame visible beneath her clinging clothes.

Eva watched as his eyes darkened once again. The defined muscles of his strong chest were visible through his white, soaked, now-transparent shirt. He was breathing heavily, and Eva somehow knew it wasn’t because of carrying her. She tore her gaze from him as he went to slam and lock the door. The sound made Eva jerk slightly and wince as pain shot through her leg again. She licked her dry lips.

Sebastian was once again in front of her, but closer. The charge between them was completely different now, stretching the air thin as Sebastian knelt in front of her. Eva didn’t even blink as she followed his movement. His full lips looked redder, his gaze heavy-lidded. Eva shifted slightly, but there was no way back from the couch as his hand came to her waist. Her spine went straight like a rod and her arms crossed over her chest, covering herself instinctively.

“Pro-Professor,” her voice sounded raspy, her skin tingling with anticipation as his fingers traced the hem of her T-shirt. His eyes, the way he moved, were so different from moments ago. It made no sense. Eva’s head spun as she felt him lean closer, her knees parting automatically, her breath hitching.

“You’ll get cold,” he said matter-of-factly. Then the next words nearly stopped Eva’s heart. “We should get you out of these clothes.”

Eva’s eyes widened as his hand slipped under her T-shirt.