Chapter 2

Ariel’s POV

The next morning, I left before the sun could fully rise.

Slipping out of Luther’s apartment felt like sneaking away from a crime scene. A violent pounding in my chest echoed the intensity of my panic and regret. I scrambled into my clothes, a desperate, clumsy effort to cover my nakedness. My shoes dangled from my fingers as I tiptoed toward the door, hyper aware of every creak of the floorboards.

Don’t wake up. Please don’t wake up.

Every step away from his bedroom made my stomach knot tighter. Memories from last night flowed through me like fluid patterns… touches I shouldn’t have wanted, moments I couldn’t take back. The way his hands had traced my skin, the tension of his gaze.

I shouldn’t have stayed the night.

The moment I stepped out, reality crashed down on me. My body ached in places that I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. I didn’t need a mirror to know I looked like a mess… makeup all over my face, hair tangled up, my dress looking like I'd slept in it for days.

What the hell did I do?

The question echoed in my mind.

I was a college student. He was my professor. Not just any professor… Luther Grayson, the most respected art history instructor in the department. Absolutely off limits. And yet, somewhere between late night studio sessions and stolen glances, we had crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed.

I quickened my pace. All I wanted was to get back to my dorm. Away from everything.

“What’s he gonna think of me?” The words slipped out as a whisper. “He probably thinks I’m easy… a mistake… just another girl in his bed.”

I was mad at myself. Luther wasn’t just some random guy I could avoid for as long as I wanted. He was my professor, someone I looked up to and admired. And now? I messed everything up. One stupid night and everything was ruined.

I reached my dorm and headed straight for a cold shower. When I was done, I collapsed onto my bed. I pulled the blanket over my head. Shutting my eyes, I tried to sleep, to wash away the memories. But sleep wouldn’t take me.

~~~

By the time cheer practice came around, I was barely holding it together.

I hadn’t eaten, hadn’t spoken to a single person all day, my phone untouched, messages unread. And my mind… God, my mind kept replaying every second of last night. The way I wanted him so desperately it terrified me.

Now, standing on the practice mat with my squad, I could barely focus. The routine we’d practiced a hundred times before seemed like an impossible puzzle.

“Ariel, are you even listening?” Dani, the co-captain, waved a hand in front of my face. Her voice cut through my thoughts. “You missed your count. Again.”

“Sorry.” I forced a smile. “I’m just… tired”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever, just get it together before the coach comes in. You’re wasting everyone’s time.”

I nodded, inhaling sharply as I stepped back into formation. The music started playing.

I counted in my head, trying to stay on rhythm, trying to keep my body moving like I was supposed to. But my thoughts were louder than the beat.

I wasn’t supposed to sleep with him.

I wasn’t supposed to want him.

I wasn’t supposed to lose control.

My concentration shattered.

I did a back handspring, and my balance wavered. My footing missed, and before I could catch myself… my ankle twisted sharply. Pain shot up my leg as I collapsed forward. I braced myself for impact for the sting of hitting the hard gym floor, but it never came.

Arms caught me. Strong arms. Familiar arms.

The scent of sandalwood hit me before I even looked up.

Luther.

Time seemed to stop.

I swallowed hard, my breath hitching as I felt the heat of his body against mine. For a second, neither of us moved. I just stayed there in his arms, my hands gripping the front of his shirt. My brain was screaming at me to move. To say something. To stop looking at him like he was everything.

The whole gym fell silent.

Then the whispers started.

“Holy shit, did professor Grayson just catch her?”

“Why is he even here?”

“God, she’s so lucky.”

“I wish he’d catch me.”

“If i fake a fall do you think he’d catch me too?”

“They’re totally hooking up. There’s no way he moved that fast otherwise.”

“She’s such a teacher's pet, always getting special treatment.”

I felt sick to my stomach.

Luther’s jaw clenched, his gaze unreadable. He said nothing as he adjusted his hold on me, gripping me tighter before straightening up.

Then, before I could protest he lifted me.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as Luther carried me across the gym, his arms locked around me like I weighed nothing. People were staring. Everyone was watching.

Dani’s eyes widened. “Ariel…?”

“I’m fine,” I mumbled. But I wasn’t.

I was in Luther’s arms in front of everyone. And my leg was hurting really bad.

This was a disaster.

“I’m fine, you can put me down, professor Grayson.” I whispered under my breath, the words barely audible.

He ignored me.

His grip was firm, his pace steady as he walked us out of the gym and toward the exit. His face was as stiff as a stone, his silence was worse than any of the whispers behind us. Suffocating.

When we reached the hallway outside, he finally stopped.

“Put me down,” I repeated, louder this time, trying to reclaim some ounce of control.

He looked at me, his eyes were intense.

Slowly, he lowered me, his hands lingering for a second longer than necessary. My ankle throbbed as my feet touched the ground, but I managed to maintain a straight face. My heart was racing.

Then he leaned in, so close that I could feel his breath against my skin.

His voice was cold.

“You don’t need to hide from me. It was just a one night stand.”

I froze. His words hit like a slap.

He wasn’t smiling. Didn’t look happy. He just stared at me like he was done with whatever this was.

For a moment, he stood still.

Then, without a word, he turned and walked away.

Leaving me standing there, speechless and… broken.