Between the desks

Chapter 93

Amren's POV

The tension in the room had become suffocating, a heavy weight pressing down on every second that passed without a word. I couldn't take it any longer. My fingers twitched on the paper in front of me, my pulse racing in my ears. I finally broke the silence, my voice barely steady as I turned in my chair to face her.

"Professor?"

Lizzie didn't respond immediately. She kept her head down, eyes still scanning the pages of her book as if my words were nothing more than background noise. Then, after a beat that felt like forever, she lifted her gaze, locking those piercing eyes onto mine. The corner of her lips curved slightly, an expression that was equal parts amusement and something much darker.

"Yes?" she answered, sharp but with an edge of seduction that made my stomach flip.

I swallowed hard, feeling the tension coil tighter in my chest. I didn't actually have a question, but I needed something—anything—to break the silence. "I... I don't understand something," I managed, my voice a little too high-pitched, betraying the lie. I understood everything perfectly, but I just needed to talk to her, to pull her attention away from that damn book and onto me.

Lizzie snapped the book shut with a quick, deliberate motion that made my heart skip. She stood from the couch, her movements slow and graceful as she made her way toward me. Each step she took was deliberate, seductive. She was enjoying this far too much, and I could feel the power shift with every inch she closed between us.

She didn't sit in the chair directly next to me, instead choosing her usual seat across from me. Crossing her legs in one smooth motion, she leaned back, her gaze unwavering as she asked, "What don't you understand?"

There was a glint of challenge in her eyes, as if she knew this game better than anyone else. I swallowed again, fighting to keep my composure, though I could feel the heat building beneath my skin.

"This part," I pointed at the line in the text, even though I wasn't confused at all. Lizzie's eyes followed my gesture, but when she looked back at me, there was that damn smirk again, subtle but unmistakable.

"Read it to me," she demanded, her voice dropping into a lower, more sensual register that sent a shiver down my spine.

I hesitated for a moment, my throat dry as I tried to gather myself. Then I started reading aloud, my voice trembling as I spoke the words. "In the stillness of the night, her hands moved like a secret prayer, tracing forbidden paths where desire bloomed in silence, a craving whispered only to the dark."

I could barely finish the sentence, my breath catching as Lizzie chuckled softly, the sound rich with satisfaction. She leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming with something primal.

"Don't you understand what that means?" she asked, her voice thick with intent, each word dripping with an intimacy that made me squirm in my seat.

I shook my head slowly, my body betraying me as a flush of heat crept up my neck. She knew I wasn't confused. She always knew. The way her gaze pinned me to the spot made it clear that she enjoyed watching me unravel under her scrutiny.

Her lips parted in a slow, deliberate smile as she clarified, "It means someone is touching herself. Someone who she shouldn't be thinking about. It's forbidden, but she does it anyway. Does that make more sense now, Amren?"

My breath hitched at the way she said my name, her voice laced with dangerous seduction. Her eyes glimmered, as though she was daring me to react.

I managed a small nod, but the words tumbled out before I could stop them. "Have you ever experienced that, professor?" My voice was barely above a whisper, but I could hear the longing in it. The way I asked wasn't innocent—there was no mistaking the heat behind my question.