Chapter 4
Kaela stood outside Professor Ryker's office door, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure anyone walking past could hear it.
This is a mistake.
She should just leave.
Pretend she didn't hear him.
Pretend last night never happened.
But she was the class representative… and ignoring a professor's request would only make things worse.
Taking a steady breath, she knocked.
"Come in."
His voice was calm. Deep.
Dangerous.
Kaela pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside.
Professor Ryker sat behind his desk, flipping through a few papers as if nothing in the world bothered him. The sunlight from the window behind him framed his tall figure, making him look even more intimidating.
He looked up.
And smiled.
Not the polite smile of a professor.
The knowing smile of the man who had been in the same bed with her only hours ago.
Kaela's stomach twisted.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Ryker leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully.
"Close the door, Miss Anderson."
Her throat went dry.
She hesitated.
But slowly reached back and shut it.
The soft click of the lock echoed through the quiet office.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Ryker stood.
Kaela's breath caught slightly as he walked around the desk toward her.
He stopped only a few steps away.
"Tell me something," he said quietly.
His dark eyes searched her face.
"Why did you run away this morning?"
Kaela's face burned instantly.
"I..I didn't run away."
Ryker raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
His lips curved into a faint smirk.
"Because from where I was lying… it certainly looked like you fled the scene of a crime."
Kaela crossed her arms defensively.
"That was a mistake."
The words came out faster than she intended.
"A one-time thing. We were both adults. It happened. It's over."
Ryker's expression didn't change.
If anything, his eyes darkened.
"Over?" he repeated slowly.
"Yes."
Kaela forced herself to meet his gaze.
"You're my professor. I'm the class representative. That's the only relationship we should have."
Silence filled the room.
For a moment, Ryker simply watched her.
Then he stepped closer.
Too close.
Kaela instinctively stepped back until her back lightly touched the edge of the desk behind her.
Her heart raced.
"Is that what you want?" he asked softly.
His voice had dropped lower.
Dangerously lower.
"Yes," Kaela said quickly.
But her voice lacked conviction.
Ryker noticed.
Of course he noticed.
He reached up slowly and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers grazing her cheek.
Kaela inhaled sharply.
"Your body says otherwise," he murmured.
His thumb traced lightly across her cheekbone.
"You're nervous."
Kaela's pulse pounded wildly.
"I'm not nervous," she insisted.
Ryker chuckled softly.
His hand slid away from her cheek… but then rested briefly against her thigh.
Not enough to be inappropriate.
Just enough to make her breath hitch.
"Your heart is racing," he said quietly.
Kaela quickly pushed his hand away.
"Stop it."
Her voice came out breathless.
"You're my professor."
Ryker watched her carefully.
He could hear her heartbeat.
He could smell the faint shift in her emotions.
Fear.
Confusion.
Attraction.
The bond was already working.
Interesting.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Very well," he said calmly, stepping back.
"If that's what you want."
Kaela blinked, surprised.
"That's it?"
"For now."
His smirk returned.
"You're free to go, Miss Anderson."
Kaela wasted no time.
She quickly grabbed her bag and hurried toward the door.
Just as she reached it.
Ryker spoke again.
"Kaela."
She paused.
Slowly turning around.
He leaned casually against his desk, arms crossed.
His eyes gleamed with amusement.
"You can pretend all you want."
His voice lowered slightly.
"But what started last night… won't disappear."
Kaela swallowed.
"You're wrong."
Ryker only smiled.
"We'll see."
Her chest tightened.
Without another word, she opened the door and left the office quickly.
Behind her, Ryker chuckled.
He leaned back in his chair, clearly amused.
"The bond has already begun," he murmured.
He could feel it.
The faint connection between them.
The pull.
The hunger.
"Oh, little human…"
His smirk deepened.
"All I have to do…"
"Is tease you."
Kaela hurried down the hallway, trying to calm her racing heart.
The moment she turned the corner, two familiar voices attacked her.
"KAELA!"
Lila and Jade rushed toward her.
"There you are!" Jade said. "What took so long?"
Lila looked worried.
"What did the professor want?"
Kaela forced a small smile.
"Nothing important."
Her friends exchanged looks.
Jade frowned.
"Then why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"
"And why were you in there for so long?" Lila added.
Kaela quickly shook her head.
"He just talked about class representative duties."
"Really?" Jade said suspiciously.
"You look terrified."
"Did he threaten you or something?" Lila asked.
Kaela immediately shook her head.
"No! Nothing like that."
She grabbed her bag tighter.
"Can we just go to the next class?"
Her friends still looked doubtful.
But eventually nodded.
"Fine," Jade said. "But you're telling us later."
Their next lecture began quietly.
Kaela sat in her seat, trying to focus as the professor wrote notes across the board.
At first, she managed to listen.
But then…
Her vision began to blur.
The classroom sounds faded.
Her eyelids suddenly felt heavy.
What's happening…?
Her head slowly lowered onto the desk.
And before she realized it…
She was asleep.
Kaela found herself lying inside her bedroom.
She wore soft nightwear.
The room was dimly lit.
Confusion filled her.
How did I get here?
Then she noticed something strange.
Her hand was resting against something warm.
Something firm.
Her fingers moved slightly.
And she froze.
Her hand was touching a man.
Her gaze slowly followed her hand upward.
Ryker was lying in front of her.
Shirtless.
Watching her.
His eyes dark.
Dangerous.
"You shouldn't tease things you don't understand," he said quietly.
Kaela's breath trembled.
"I'm not teasing."
His jaw tightened.
"Careful," he warned.
"You might make me lose control."
Kaela's pulse raced.
"Then… what will you do?" she asked softly.
His eyes darkened even more.
"I'll take you."
He stepped closer.
Her breath caught as he reached for her...
"KAELA ANDERSON!"
Kaela jerked awake.
The classroom burst back into focus.
Miss Jacklyn stood at the front of the room, staring at her in pure annoyance.
"Would you like to explain," she said sharply, "why you are sleeping in my class?"
Every student in the room was now staring at her.
Kaela's face turned bright red.