𝙁𝙊𝙍𝘽𝙄𝘿𝘿𝙀𝙉 [𝟭𝟴+]

Fourteen

The night is finally here, and the anticipation in my veins is like electricity. I've been toying with Damon for weeks, watching how he reacts to my every move, testing how far I can push him before he breaks. Tonight, it's all coming to a head. And I can feel the tension in the air, thick and impossible to ignore.

I'm ready. More than ready.

I meet Sinn and Jazmine outside the lecture hall before the seminar begins. They've been my partners in crime for a while now, and though they don't always fully understand the depths of my little games with Damon, they're always there to back me up.

Sinn grins as soon as he spots me. "What's up, troublemaker?" He winks, his usual confident swagger making his presence impossible to ignore. His hand slings around my shoulder as he gives me a playful squeeze. "You ready to cause some chaos tonight?"

"Always," I reply with a wink of my own, my lips curling into a smile. I can feel the heat of his touch, the comforting warmth of his friendship, but it's Damon's presence in the back of my mind that keeps me on edge.

Jazmine, on the other hand, is already eyeing the door to the lecture hall, her eyes narrowing slightly as she takes in the situation. "This is going to be interesting," she mutters, her voice always calm but sharp as a razor. Jazmine has a way of observing things, a sixth sense about people's emotions. She knows when something's up, even if she can't always put it into words.

"Is that your way of saying you're on my side?" I tease, nudging her with my elbow.

She smirks. "I'm on your side, Aurelia. But I'm also on Sinn's side—just don't drag me into your drama." She shrugs and crosses her arms, but I can see the glint of curiosity in her eyes. "But if things get messy, I'm out."

"Don't worry," I reply, casting a glance toward the front of the hall where Damon is standing, his broad back to us. "I'll keep it under control. I'm just... stretching the boundaries a little."

Sinn laughs. "You're always stretching boundaries."

"Someone's got to keep things interesting," I say with a sly grin, stepping forward as the doors open, the hum of the conversation inside already reaching us.

The lecture hall fills up quickly, and I can't help but notice the way the students seem to be scanning the room for where Damon is, like they're all waiting for some kind of signal.

But my focus? It's squarely on him.

Damon hasn't noticed me yet, but I can feel his presence the way you feel a storm before it hits—quiet, brewing, but imminent. He's still writing on the whiteboard, his back to us, but I know he knows I'm here. He always knows.

I take a seat in the front row—close, but not too close. I want him to feel my proximity, but not be able to fully reach me just yet.

Jazmine sits beside me, her gaze flickering to Damon briefly before she leans toward me and murmurs under her breath, "You're really going through with this, huh?"

"Why stop now?" I reply, my voice low, but there's a playful edge to it. I know Jazmine thinks I'm crazy. She's always the practical one, the voice of reason. But she knows better than to try to stop me when I'm this determined.

Sinn sits beside Jazmine, his attention on the screen at the front as Damon begins speaking, but I can feel his eyes flick back to me every so often, checking my mood. Making sure I'm still in control.

I glance up at Damon now. He's speaking to the class, but his eyes occasionally flicker to me. There's an almost imperceptible tension in his posture, his jaw clenching every time he looks my way. He's trying to maintain that professional front, but I can see right through it.

He's still thinking about me. And that's exactly what I want.

The seminar progresses, but I'm no longer paying attention to the material. My focus is solely on Damon. His voice flows smoothly as he discusses the intricacies of business strategy, but it's not his words I'm focused on. It's the way his shirt stretches across his shoulders, the tension in his posture when I lean forward just a little too far, the way his eyes narrow ever so slightly when I brush my hair back from my face, just to give him a better view.

I'm playing with fire, and I know it. But this? This is the fun part.

Sinn's voice suddenly breaks my train of thought. "You know, I have no idea what's going on in your head right now, but it's kinda terrifying."

I glance at him with a smirk. "What do you mean?"

Sinn shrugs, his smile teasing. "You're giving off this vibe, Aurelia. Like you're about to pull off something big. You and Damon... it's like there's an unspoken challenge between you two. A game you're both playing."

Jazmine chimes in, her voice amused but sharp. "You think you can handle him?"

I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms in front of me. "I don't think. I know."

Jazmine's eyes flick to Damon, who's now engaged with a student's question at the front. She hums thoughtfully. "Careful. He's not just any lecturer, Aurelia. This is Damon we're talking about. And from what I hear, he doesn't play around."

"He's playing right into my hands," I murmur, watching him over the rim of my coffee cup. "He just doesn't realize it yet."

The seminar continues, but the air feels thicker now, charged with an unspoken energy. Every time I shift in my seat, Damon's eyes flicker to me. It's like a game of cat and mouse. But tonight? I'm not the mouse.

I stand and stretch slowly, making sure Damon sees it. As I do, I glance over at him, locking eyes for just a moment. There's a flicker of something there—something that tells me I've pushed him past the point of just casual interest.

I can feel the shift. This is no longer just a game for me. It's a challenge. And I can see it in his eyes that it is for him too.

As the seminar wraps up, I make sure to be the last one to leave the room. I hang back as the other students shuffle out, leaving only Damon and me. My pulse quickens, the anticipation of what comes next making my skin feel hotter, the air thicker.

Sinn and Jazmine make their excuses and leave me to it, both of them sending me knowing looks before they disappear into the hallway.

It's just me and Damon now.

I approach him slowly, letting my footsteps echo in the empty room. Damon doesn't turn to face me right away, his back still to me as he gathers his things. I let him take his time, enjoying the small victory of keeping him on edge, just like I know he's been doing to me.

Finally, he turns, his eyes locking onto mine. "I thought we agreed on a certain level of professionalism, Aurelia," he says, voice smooth but with that unmistakable tension I've come to crave.

I lean in just slightly, my voice low and sultry as I respond, "Who says I'm being unprofessional?" I step closer, enjoying the way his eyes seem to darken as I approach. "Besides, you've been keeping your distance. I think it's time you came a little closer."

Damon swallows, his body language taut with restraint. But I know him well enough by now to see it. He's this close to breaking.

And I'll be the one to push him over the edge.