Between the desks

Chapter 81

Elizabeth's POV

The day was dragging, a slow crawl of hours filled with routine tasks and mundane moments, but underneath it all, there was a current of excitement that I couldn't quite ignore. I was seeing Amren tonight, and the thought of it made my heart race. I needed to see her—to know how she was holding up, how she was really feeling after everything. More than that, I needed to talk to her. The feelings I had kept hidden for so long were now out in the open, and the uncertainty of where we stood was gnawing at me.

I was in the middle of giving a lecture to my class, explaining the finer points of literary analysis, but my mind wasn't fully present. I instructed the students to work on their projects in silence, hoping that it would give me a chance to gather my thoughts. They dutifully got to work, their heads bent over their assignments, the sound of pencils scratching paper filling the room.

I kept up the façade, the mask of the strict, authoritative professor that I wore so well, but inside I was a mess. My personal and professional lives were supposed to stay separate, and for years, I'd kept them that way. But it wasn't working anymore. I was in love with a student. I had crossed a line that was forbidden, and yet, I couldn't bring myself to regret it. Not after finally admitting how I felt.

My phone vibrated softly in my pocket, and I pulled it out, glancing down at the screen. I wanted to be prepared for tonight, to know where I was going and have everything planned out. Spontaneity had never been my strong suit. Even as a child, I had always liked knowing exactly what was coming next.

Me: Hi Amren, can you please send me your address?

It didn't take her long to respond, and I tried not to smile as I read her reply. I couldn't afford to let my icy professional demeanor slip, not here, not now.

Amren: Okay, stalker. Here's my address:

She sent me the details, and I quickly noted it down.

Me: Thanks, Amren. I'll see you tonight.

Amren: I look forward to it, see you, professor!

A small, suppressed smile tugged at the corners of my lips, and I could feel the butterflies in my stomach. How had I ended up here? After months of trying to keep my distance, to ignore how I felt, the last two weeks had made it impossible to deny any longer. And every time I allowed myself to feel something for her, I felt like a teenager all over again—giddy, nervous, excited.

I dismissed the class an hour later, my mind already half out the door. As soon as the last student left, I practically ran to my car, eager to see Amren. The drive to her apartment was a blur. I couldn't help but think about how strange this was, visiting a student at her home. She was still my student, after all, and it felt like I was crossing into uncharted territory. But I couldn't stop myself. My heart wanted nothing more than to be with her.

When I arrived at her building, I pressed the buzzer, my stomach doing somersaults. She let me in, and I made my way up to the fifth floor, cursing myself for taking the stairs instead of the elevator. By the time I reached her door, I was slightly out of breath, the door already open, waiting for me.

"Hello!" I called out as I stepped inside.

"In here, professor!" her voice echoed back, playful and warm. I followed the sound, finding her on the balcony, staring out at the cityscape. The late afternoon sun bathed her in a soft, golden light, and her hair, tied up in a messy bun, caught the breeze. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful, it took my breath away.

"Hi," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I couldn't take my eyes off her.

She turned to face me, her eyes sparkling with warmth and happiness. "Good you're here. I made food," she said, smiling brightly, and I couldn't help but return her smile, genuinely.

We sat down at the small table on the balcony, eating the pasta carbonara she had made. It was simple, but it tasted amazing, probably because she had made it. We ate mostly in silence, exchanging glances now and then. Every time our eyes met, we both giggled like teenagers, caught in a moment we weren't quite sure how to handle.

After dinner, we cleaned the dishes together, our movements in sync. It felt easy, natural, like this was something we had done a thousand times before. When we finally sat down on her couch, Amren broke the silence with a question that made my heart stop for a second.

"Did you mean it?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with vulnerability.

"Did I mean what?" I asked, confused for a moment, unsure what she was referring to.

"What you said in the hospital," she clarified, her eyes full of hope. "That we can work this out, whatever this is."

I moved closer to her, my heart pounding in my chest. "I meant everything I said. The last two weeks... all the feelings I have for you, they've only gotten stronger," I admitted, my voice raw with honesty.

She blushed, looking down at her hands. I reached out, gently taking her hand in mine, and she looked up at me, giving me a smile so genuine it nearly broke me. "Do you want to get some fresh air?" she asked, her voice soft and hesitant. I nodded, following her back out to the balcony.

The sun was setting now, casting the city below us in a warm, orange glow. Amren stood at the railing, her eyes squinting slightly against the light. The breeze caught strands of her hair, and she looked so perfect in that moment that I couldn't stop myself. I stepped closer, reaching out to gently touch her arm.

"Amren, I—" I started, taking a deep breath, my voice low, barely more than a whisper.

She turned to face me, her eyes searching mine. "I want to kiss you," I breathed, the words coming out before I could stop them.

Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide with surprise, but then she smiled, her voice soft and full of need. "I want that too."

I cupped her cheek gently, my fingers barely grazing her skin as I drew closer. My heart was racing, and I could feel her breath quicken in response. The air between us crackled with anticipation, thick and heavy with unspoken desire. My lips hovered just above hers, teasing, brushing lightly. She inhaled sharply, her breath catching as our mouths finally touched.

The moment our lips met, it was electric. It felt like every emotion I had buried for so long was suddenly released, all the butterflies I'd kept caged fluttering wildly in my chest. The warmth of her mouth against mine sent a jolt of pure sensation from my lips to the very core of my being, a spark that ignited something deep inside me. A shiver coursed down my spine, and I pressed into her, needing more, craving her.

We stood there on the balcony, wrapped in the fading light of the evening, and everything else disappeared. The city below us, the world around us—none of it mattered. It was just us, lost in each other. Her lips were soft and pliant against mine, and the taste of her felt intoxicating, sweeter than anything I had imagined.

Then, she deepened the kiss, her tongue slipping between my lips, exploring with a slow, deliberate hunger. My breath hitched, and I welcomed her, our tongues moving together in a slow, sensual dance. Each stroke, each caress was deliberate, tender, but filled with a passion that simmered just beneath the surface. It was unhurried yet intense, like we had all the time in the world to savor this moment. We kissed like we were learning each other, savoring every second, every sigh, every brush of skin.

When we finally broke apart, gasping for air, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears. She gave me a smile—soft, lazy, full of emotions that mirrored my own. Her eyes sparkled, and in the dim light, I could see the way they shimmered, full of life, full of something deeper, something more. I brushed my fingers through her hair, letting them tangle in the soft strands as I pulled her close, hugging her tightly to me.

We stood there for what felt like forever, wrapped in each other's arms, her head resting against my chest. Every second felt like a balm to the time we had wasted, to the moments we had let fear get in the way. I held her tighter, as if hugging her now could make up for all the lost moments, for every second we had been too scared to embrace what we both knew was inevitable.

And in that quiet embrace, with the city fading into the background and the cool night air swirling around us, I realized this was all I had ever wanted—her, us, together.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had found where I was supposed to be—right here, with her.