chapter 5

Eliana's POV

For the next few days, I made sure to steer clear of Professor Matthews. Anytime class ended, I made sure I left as fast as I could. Whenever class was going on, our eyes always found each other, like two opposite sides of a strong magnet. I rarely saw him outside of class and the few times we ran into each other, I made sure I did nothing more than to exchange a very brief greeting with him.

One morning, I had just gotten to school when I received a text from Annabelle to meet her at one of the classrooms in the faculty for something urgent.

“What's going on?” I texted back but I didn't get any response.

Worried, I made my way to the classroom she had described in the text.

It was four days after my last encounter with Professor Matthews in his office and while I'd managed to avoid him, my mind had been unable to do the same. As I was walking down the corridor, wondering why Annabelle wanted me to meet her, the door to one of the rooms on my left opened but I didn't pay any attention to it.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed me and I found myself being pulled into the room. Gasping in shock, I opened my mouth to scream but a large hand put a stop to that.

The door slammed shut and a familiar scent filled my nostrils. The room was dimly lit so I couldn't see his face clearly but I was totally sure that it was him. The only person that occupied my thoughts every time.

“Have you been avoiding me, Eliana?” He asked, his voice hoarse. He was so close to me that I could feel his breath against my face. My mind started running wild again.

I tried to talk but my words were muffled against his hand. Realizing that, he pulled his hand away and put his finger to his lips.

“What are you doing?” I muttered in frustration. “What's going on?”

“You've been avoiding me. Why?” He asked. He put his hand on either side of my shoulders to restrict my movements. His lips were so close to mine that it made electric currents dance around my brain.

“I’m not avoiding you, sir,” I lied.

Gosh. Why did he have to be so close? Why did he have to be so hot and attractive?

“I think we both know that's a lie. Ever since that day at my office, you've put a great deal of effort into making sure that our paths don't cross.” He brought one hand up to my hair and brushed it gently.

“I– I've been busy,” I stuttered. His hand came down to my face and he traced a line down to my cheekbone. His touch was so soft that it made my face tingle. I knew I was in trouble but it didn't seem like there was a way out.

“Yeah. Busy avoiding me.” In a slow, deliberate manner, his finger moved to my lips and traced its way around it. “Are you scared of me, Eliana?”

“No,” I replied quickly, barely able to recognize my own voice.

But that was another lie. I was scared of the way he made me feel. I was scared that he had unlocked parts of me that I thought I had locked away.

“What is it then? Are you attracted to me?” He moved his lips closer until I felt it brush against mine. My brain shut down immediately and I felt my belly churn.

“Are you attracted to me, Eliana?” He repeated. “I see the way you look at me and I notice how you always seem so uncomfortable whenever you're around me.”

“Aren't you married?” I asked accusingly, silently thanking my brain for coming up with that.

He pulled his face back a couple of inches and cupped my chin in his palm. “My wife and I are separated so I'm free to do whatever I want.” I felt exposed under his probing gaze. It looked like he was going to kiss me anytime soon and I didn't think I would be able to restrain myself if that happened.

“Please,” I said weakly.

He cocked an eyebrow. “Please what?”

“Let me go,” I answered, although my traitorous body wanted otherwise.

“Are you sure you want me to do that?” He traced his finger down to the hollow between my breasts. That simple movement ignited a spark in my belly. I squirmed against the wall in an attempt to stop the wetness that was beginning to form between my legs.

“Yes. No. I don't know,” I cried out and his finger traveled up to my lips immediately.

“Shhh,” He said and I gave a quick nod. “I'm going to let you go but first…” He closed his lips on mine and provided an answer to a question that had been on my mind ever since the first time I set my eyes on him.

His lips were even softer than I anticipated and they tasted like candy. A moan escaped my lips as the kiss deepened and I parted my lips to give him full access. His hand came to rest on my waist and I grabbed onto his shirt to stop myself from melting into a puddle on the spot.

Electric currents shot up from my stomach to my brain and I shut my eyes as I allowed myself to get carried away by the sweetness his lips offered.

Suddenly, his lips detached from mine and the sweetness disappeared. My eyes flew open immediately to see him heading towards the door. Without uttering any word or even taking a glance back, he pulled the door open and shut it behind him.

I was stunned.

What the hell had just happened? Wasn't he going to finish what he started?

Expecting him to come back, I waited in silence, my eyes glued to the door. Almost twenty minutes later, I was forced to face reality. My anticipation gave way to frustration and I cursed him inwardly as I exited the room and went in search of a bathroom.