Chapter 6- The second detention

ALEENA’S POV

I stood there frozen, my face still flushed.

“Leena, what did Professor Lorcan give to you?”

Mira said as she hurriedly walked towards me.

“Huh, It's nothing.” I said and quickly shoved the paper in my bag.

“That's not nothing. Come on let me see.” She said and reached for my bag.

I slapped her hand away. “It's nothing Mira, It's just a study guide professor Lorcan gave to me to improve my grade—you know, like a cheat code.” I said, trying to hide the nervousness in my voice.

Mira looked at me, and something flashed behind her eyes. “Really? So now a study guide from Professor Lorcan can make someone blush. I wish I could have one too.” She said playfully as she clasped her hands together and pouted.

I chuckled. “Stop it Mira, you're impossible.” Then we left the class.

We walked down the hallway, then Mira paused.

“Speaking of which, what did Vivienne want?” She asked.

“It's nothing important.”

“Nothing important?” Mira's voice was sharp. “Leena, she's the richest girl on campus. She doesn't talk to anyone for no reason.” She crossed her arm.

I sighed. “She wanted to warn me about Professor Lorcan, and that he used her or something.”

Mira's eyes narrowed as her expression shifted. “And you believe her?” 

“Nah, I don't. Vivienne is a sly person. She could do anything just to make sure she gets what she wants.”

Mira scoffed. “Yeah, she's just jealous that he hasn't even looked at her once since she enrolled in his class, so she probably cooked up a story to make you scared.”

I shrugged. “Typical Vivienne.”

Mira grabbed my arm and pulled me closer. “Leena, listen to me. Vivienne Draycott is not your friend. She has never been nice to anyone who wasn't rich or powerful. Just be careful, okay?” She squeezed my arm gently.

I nodded. “Okay, I'll be careful. Besides, I can't fall for him, you know. I'm only going for the detention to improve my grade.” My throat tightened as I forced out the lie.

Mira let go of my arm, but her expression was still troubled. She didn't say anything else as we walked back to our dorm.

I could feel her watching me, and I could feel her suspicion growing.

—

That evening, I stood in my dorm room wearing the red silk robe.

Mira went to a party. I had already told her I was going to study at the library —the lie came out easily now.

The robe hung open at the front, and I wore nothing underneath, just as Lorcan said. I didn't even know why I obeyed. The fabric was so light it felt like water against my skin. I looked at myself in the mirror and barely recognized the woman staring back.

When I got to his penthouse, I knocked and his voice came from behind the door. “Come in.”

I pushed the door open and walked inside.

He was standing by the windows, his back to me, the city lights spread out below him. He was wearing a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. The geometric tattoo on his forearm was visible in the dim light.

I didn't wait for him to tell me to lock the door. I just locked it. 

He turned around, “You sure are a fast learner.” His grey eyes travelled over my body. “You wore the robe. I was not sure you would.”

“I almost didn't.”

“Stop Lying Aleena.” He walked towards me slowly. “I know you would.” He stopped at the edge of his desk and sat down, his grey eyes moved over my body again. The robe hung open at the front, exposing the bare skin beneath. His gaze traveled from my face down to my thighs and back up again.

His expression did not change, but the air felt thicker and the space between us felt electric.

"Come here," he said.

I walked to him. The silk whispered against my thighs with every step.

He reached out and touched the edge of the robe where it hung open at my collarbone. His fingers brushed against my bare skin, and I felt that touch everywhere. A shiver ran down my spine.

"Do you know why I asked you to wear this?" he asked.

"Because you want to see me uncomfortable."

"Partially." His fingers traced the edge of the robe down to where it parted at my chest. "But mostly because I wanted to see if you would obey."

I lifted my chin. "I am not the type of person who obeys."

"No," he agreed. "You are not, which is why you came here tonight. Not just because I told you to. Because you wanted to know what would happen next."

His fingers found the sash of the robe. He untied it slowly, and the fabric slid apart.

The robe fell open completely.

I stood there wearing nothing underneath as he had told me in class. The air was cool against my bare skin, but his gaze was hot, burning me from the inside out. I wanted to cross my arms. I wanted to cover myself, but I could not move.

His eyes roamed over my body slowly. He took in every curve, every inch of exposed skin. His breathing changed and it became deeper and rougher.

"Tonight," he said, his voice low and dark, "you are going to talk to me. You are going to answer my questions. And you are not going to hide."

"About what?"

"About everything." He pulled me closer by the waist. The robe fell away entirely, pooling at my feet. His hands found my bare back, warm and rough against my skin. He pulled me against him, and I felt the fabric of his shirt, the heat of his body, the hardness of his chest pressing against me.

“And there are rules—simple ones. The ones I know you can abide by.”

I met his eyes. “What kind of rules?”

He paused for a second. “I ask you questions, you reply without hesitation—but if you do hesitate, there are punishments.” A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Are you in?”

I swallowed. “Yes.”

“Good.” His hand moved down my spine, tracing it back up, then his other hand gripped my hips, pulling me even closer. “Do you want me to kiss you here?” He murmured into my ear, and his breath was warm, sending sensatuon of shockwaves down my body.

I didn't answer, I was lost in the feeling before Lorcan pulled back and looked me in the eye. “You hesitated, now you are going to be punished.”

My breathing became uneven as I felt his hand move from my spine to my stomach, then it glided upwards until it reached the swell of my breast. He looked at me again. “If you want to stop, you can walk out this door right now.”

I closed my eyes. “No, I don't want you to stop.” My voice was a little shaky.

Then his hand moved teasingly around my breast, then he cupped it, his thumb brushing the sensitive rim of my areola in circles. The other hand was still at my hips, his fingers moving up to the small of my back. I arched into his palm, my mouth open as I tried to catch my breath. Then he moved to my nipples, his fingers tweaking and twisting until it was red and hard as a pebble.

“Yes,” I murmured beneath my breath.

Then he suddenly pulled back just enough to see my face. His hands stayed where they were, one at my hip, thumb pressing into the bone, the other at the side of my breast, not moving.

“Again,” he said.

"What?"

"The question. Do you like my hands on your body?"

I opened my mouth—the words were there. Yes. But saying it meant admitting I had lost this game I told myself I was playing. I came here to seduce him, to use him, to make someone else suffer through me. Not to stand naked in his penthouse and confess that his touch was the only thing I could think about.

His thumb at my hip began to move in small circles, pressing then releasing. I felt each one in my throat.

"You're hesitating," he said.

"No, I'm—"

"That's hesitation."

Then he stepped back. His hands left my body and I felt the loss like cold water poured on my skin. I almost reached for him, but I caught myself.

"The rules," he said calmly. "You agreed."

I just nodded—the words couldn't come out of my mouth.

He walked to the window and stood there with his back to me, the city lights painting him in gold and shadow. I stood naked in the center of his room and felt the air move across my skin where his hands had been.

Minutes passed—and I didn't know how many. I watched the line of his shoulders, the way his hands flexed at his sides.

Then I finally understood that he was waiting for me to break, to beg, to become the thing I was pretending not to be.