Chapter 9
The night felt restless again.
Kaela lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts refusing to quiet. The room was dark, her roommates already asleep, but her mind… her body… refused to settle.
Him.
It was always him now.
His voice lingered in her head, low and smooth. His touch still burned into her skin like it had never left. No matter how much she told herself to stop, to focus, to get control, she couldn't.
Kaela exhaled slowly, pressing her hand against her chest.
"This has to stop…" she whispered.
But even as she said it, she knew she didn't mean it.
A soft knock came at the door.
Her heart skipped.
She didn't need to ask who it was.
Slowly, she got up and opened it.
Ryker stood there.
Calm. Composed. Like he had all the time in the world.
Like he knew she would open the door.
Kaela stepped back, letting him in without a word. The door closed behind him softly, and just like that, the air in the room shifted.
He watched her for a moment.
"You couldn't sleep."
It wasn't a question.
Kaela crossed her arms, trying to hold onto some form of control. "You shouldn't be here."
"And yet…" he stepped closer, "…you let me in."
Her breath caught.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Kaela looked at him properly, her voice quieter now.
"What are we doing?"
That made him pause.
Not because he didn't have an answer… but because he chose his words carefully this time.
"I don't just want this to be about one night," he said, his voice lower now, more deliberate. "I want more than that, Kaela."
Her chest tightened.
That wasn't what she expected.
"This is already complicated enough," she said, shaking her head slightly. "You're my professor. People talk. They always do."
"Let them."
"No," she said quickly. "No rumors. No drama. No constant calling me to your office like…" she trailed off, frustrated. "If this is to continue… it has to stay private."
Ryker studied her.
Then nodded once.
"Fine."
Kaela blinked, surprised.
"That easy?"
"For now," he said, a faint smirk touching his lips.
Her heart skipped again.
Silence stretched between them, heavy… charged.
And just like before
It didn't last.
The distance between them disappeared.
His hand found her waist, pulling her closer, and this time she didn't resist. Her fingers curled into his shirt, her breath unsteady as his lips found hers.
The tension snapped.
Everything else faded.
And once again…
She let herself fall into his ocean of sin.
Morning came too quickly.
Kaela stood near the mirror, wearing her shirt, her hair slightly messy, her thoughts still catching up with reality.
Behind her, Ryker adjusted his cufflinks, completely unbothered.
She turned slightly. "Do you know someone named Nikita?"
He didn't even pause.
"I'm aware of her."
Kaela frowned. "She's been acting like..."
"She won't be a problem," he cut in calmly.
Something about the way he said it made her pause.
Then his gaze shifted to her, amused.
"Are you jealous?"
Kaela scoffed immediately. "Please."
His smirk deepened.
"Good."
He stepped closer, adjusting the collar of the shirt she wore.
"Meet me for lunch."
Kaela blinked. "What? No!"
"I'll be waiting for you," he added.
And just like that, he was done.
She watched him leave, her heart already betraying her… missing him.
The day felt… strange.
Too normal.
Too quiet.
Classes came and went, but Kaela barely registered any of it. Her mind drifted, her focus slipping no matter how hard she tried to pull it back.
Every now and then, she caught Edwin watching her.
Not casually.
Carefully.
Like he was trying to figure something out.
It made her uneasy.
During a free period, Lila and Jade cornered her.
"Alright," Jade said, dropping into the seat beside her. "You've been floating since morning. Talk."
Kaela sighed. "There's nothing to talk about."
Lila snorted. "Please. You look like you didn't sleep."
"I didn't," Kaela muttered.
Jade leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "Was he there again?"
Kaela froze.
That was all the confirmation they needed.
"Oh my God," Jade whispered. "Kaela."
Lila crossed her arms. "This is getting serious now."
"I know," Kaela said quickly. "I know, but we are startibg to develop and understanding."
"Are you?" Jade asked.
Kaela hesitated.
And that hesitation said everything.
Lila sighed. "Just be careful. This isn't just fun anymore."
Before Kaela could respond
"Kaela."
She turned.
Edwin stood there.
His expression unreadable.
"Can we talk...in private?" he asked.
Something about his tone made her nod.
Jade and Lila stepped aside, away from them.
"What's going on with you?" he asked quietly.
"Nothing."
"Don't do that," he said immediately. "Don't lie to me."
Kaela frowned. "I'm not lying."
"You've been off. You look distracted. And you keep disappearing," Edwin added, his gaze sharpening. "Is this about him?"
"Who?"she asked
"Don't give me that bull you know professor Ryker"
Her stomach tightened.
"There's nothing going on between us so why do you ask."
" well something feels wrong," he said.
She shook her head. "Nothing is wrong."
Edwin stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"There's something about him, Kaela. I don't trust it."
Her heart skipped.
"Then don't," she said quickly. "But stay out of it."
The words were sharper than she intended.
Edwin went still.
Then his jaw tightened.
"…Fine," he said.
Silence fell.
Then Edwin stepped back slightly, his expression hardening.
"Just be careful," he said.
And walked away.
By lunchtime, Kaela found herself standing where he said he would be.
Ryker was already there, waiting in his car.They drie off and went into a restaurant not too far from the campus.
Their conversation started simple… almost normal.
But it didn't stay that way.
It never did.
His hand brushed against hers.
She didn't pull away.
That was all it took.
The kiss came naturally, like it had been waiting to happen all day. Soft at first… then deeper, pulling her in before she could think.
And somewhere across the restaurant, someone saw.
Nikita.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she lifted her phone.
Click!.
"Another… and another one."
A slow, satisfied smile spread across her lips.
"This ought to keep the bitch away."
By the time Kaela left, it had already begun.
Whispers.
Stares.
Phones lighting up.
Her chest tightened as she walked through the halls.
"They're talking about her…"
"That's the professor…"
"I knew something was going on…"
Her stomach dropped.
This was exactly what she didn't want.
She didn't think.
She ran.
She didn't stop until she reached his office.
This time, she didn't knock.
She pushed the door open and rushed in.
"Ryker!"
He looked up.
One look at her face and he knew.
"Come here."
Her composure broke.
She crossed the room quickly, and before she could stop herself, he pulled her down onto his lap, steady and firm.
"They saw us," she said, her voice shaking. "It's everywhere… everyone's talking…"
His hand moved slowly along her thigh, calm. Unbothered.
"It's nothing," he murmured.
Kaela pulled back slightly, disbelief flashing across her face.
"Nothing? My reputation is being destroyed and you're acting like it doesn't matter!"
His fingers tightened slightly.
"Does it matter?" he asked quietly.
"Yes!" she snapped. "This is my life, Ryker!"
Silence fell.
Then his hand rose, brushing lightly against her cheek, catching a tear she hadn't noticed fall.
"…Do you want it gone?" he asked.
She froze.
"What?"
"The rumors. The pictures. All of it."
Her breath hitched.
"…You can do that?"
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Say the word."
For a moment, she hesitated.
Just a moment.
Then
"Yes."
The word came out soft.
But certain.
Something in his gaze darkened.
"Then it's done."
He didn't move much.
Didn't explain.
Didn't hesitate.
He simply lifted his fingers slightly and then.
SNAP.