All Chapters of Forbidden Lecture: My Professor's Secret Craving: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

An hour later, Aria pressed the elevator button to take her to the ninth floor of Fairview Hotel. The ride felt endless.Her heels sank into the plush carpet as the door dinged open, her heart slamming against her ribs with every step down the quiet, golden hallway.Room 914. The gold numbers gleamed under the soft lighting.She had tried to resist him for weeks, but the pull had only grown unbearable until tonight. She had decided to cave in to her desires.She'd told Lena she was going to take a walk to clear her head and maybe meet up with Tyler. A lie that tasted like ash.As she stood outside the door, she smoothed her black dress, took a deep breath, and then knocked once, the sound barely audible.“It’s open,” the baritone voice said from inside.The suite was beautiful and minimally furnished. An open-plan space with floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded the room with the city lights and offered a stunning view. There was a plush designer sofa at the center, paired with elegan

It was Aria and Lena's shift that evening.She stood behind the counter, breaking down a stack of cups, the cardboard edges rough against her fingers. Her phone buzzed in her apron pocket.She fished it out with one hand, her thumb swiping the screen clean of flour dust. The sender line made her straighten.From: paula.donahue@yorku.caSubject: Lawson Scholarship – Next StepsDear Ms. Jenkins,On behalf of Dean Hargrove and the Office of Graduate Studies, congratulations on being selected as the student face of the Lawson Scholarship initiative for this academic year.As part of this role, we have scheduled a small meet-and-greet dinner tomorrow evening with Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. Victoria Anderson, and her husband, Professor Jason Anderson, to discuss the scholarship launch and your role as an ambassador.Date: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.Location: Lawson Private Dining Suite, York ClubPlease confirm your availability at your earliest convenience.Best regards,Paula DonahueExecutive A

“Turn,” Mia commanded from the edge of the bed, one leg crossed over the other, a lip gloss wand in hand like a conductor’s baton.Aria did a slow spin.The dress they had chosen for her date with Tyler was a soft red wrap that hit just above her knees. Not too tight and not too loose. The neckline dipped just enough to hint at cleavage without screaming it.“She looks hot,” Jade said from the floor, where she sat cross-legged amid a sea of shoes. “Like ‘I read books and also might ruin your life’ hot.”“Perfect,” Mia said. “Men need to be kept on their toes.”Aria laughed weakly, tugging at the hem. “I feel like I’m trying too hard.”“That’s because you’re thinking about it,” Mia said, hopping up.She took Aria by the shoulders, turning her toward the mirror. “Look. Cute dress. Good hair. Not a try-hard. A try-just-enough.”Her reflection stared back. Her eyeliner was sharp, lashes dark, her lips a soft berry. Lena’s work. She had stood in front of Aria ten minutes earlier, her hand

Victoria stood just inside the doorway, her coat draped over one arm, hair sleek, eyes sharp. She took in the scene in a single sweep. Her gaze landed on their space, that invisible line between them.Jason took a step back, his hands sliding into his pockets as if they weren’t just on Aria’s arms. His face smoothed into something easy, practiced.“Hey honey,” Jason said too enthusiastically as he went over to meet her. “I didn’t know you were coming.”She glanced at him briefly, then let her gaze settle on Aria again. “They moved a meeting,” she said. “I thought I’d swing by, see how our rising star was doing.”Aria forced a smile. “Hello, Mrs. Anderson.”Victoria’s eyes swept the room: the backdrop, the Lawson banner, the cluster of people near the monitor.“I thought this was a simple photo shoot,” she said, her tone light but edgy. “It looks… busy.”Elise, blessedly oblivious to the undercurrent, laughed. “My fault. Come on in.”“Aria is amazing,” Mark chimed in from the monitor s

The next morning on campus, students poured out of their afternoon classes, laughing in twos and threes as they parted easily around Aria as she headed towards the Dean’s office.He had sent for her earlier that day to meet him during one of her free classes.Dean Hargrove glanced up from her file and smiled as soon as she entered, the lines around his eyes deepening. “Ms. Jenkins,” he said. “Thank you for coming by.”“Of course,” she said, trying not to sound as nervous as she felt.He closed the folder, steepling his fingers over it. “I know you’ve had a busy few months,” he said. “I wanted to check in. How are you finding