Her loud laughter interrupted my fading thoughts.

"You sounded like you were being fucked so hard! And did I hear you call Jalen? You don't come close girl-It's past school hours, and you're still in bed?" Kelly snapped, her thick, sluggish voice echoing through the room.

If only she knew how right she was about her assumption. And thanks to her, she had ruined the beautiful moment - right at the same spot where it always stopped. I was so close, I wished she hadn't shown up.

My eyes flew open at her words. I immediately grabbed my phone and checked the time.

10:00 a.m.

"Oh my God," I muttered under my breath, leaping out of bed and rushing to the shower. Kelly's laughter didn't stop until she finally stormed out of the room - a relief that felt like fresh air. I was still terrified of her, even though we hadn't spent much time together yet.

After a few minutes, I hurried out of the room and made my way to my first class - technically, the second one of the day already. But my legs froze halfway through the door when my eyes landed on him.

There he was - Jalen.

He looked as gorgeous as the image that always appeared in my dreams. His grey cotton turtleneck hugged his broad, tailored chest perfectly. The scent of his cologne drifted through the air - strong yet calming - and my body reacted before my mind could stop it. The memories of last night's dream flashed through my head - the heat, the pleasure, the teasing.

I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver crawl down my spine. My body trembled slightly. Then his voice pierced through the silence.

"Fiona... are you coming in, or planning to camp by the door?" he said casually, his eyes briefly lifting from his iPad.

"Oh-uh, sorry, sir. I was just... coming in," I stammered, quickly stepping into the classroom and heading straight for the last seat by the window.

As I settled beside my new seatmate, she leaned closer and whispered, "You're lucky he's the one teaching today."

"Why?" I whispered back, glancing at her. Her soft curls framed her pretty face, and the loose black blouse she wore hung slightly off her shoulder as if she'd rushed out without care.

"Because he's the nicest of all the professors," she said. "Stick around for a while, and you'll see."

"Obviously," I murmured sarcastically, earning a grin from her.

"I'm Paris," she whispered. "We could talk more over lunch later."

Before I could reply, his voice echoed through the room.

"Miss Paris and Miss Fiona - save your conversation for after class, alright?"

The way he said my name made my heart skip. It didn't sound like a scolding. It sounded like a warning - or maybe a reminder of something I couldn't explain.

Our eyes met for a brief moment before he looked away. My pulse quickened, and I tried hard to focus on his lecture. But I couldn't. Every time he moved, my gaze followed. When he turned his back to the class, my eyes lingered - watching the subtle clench of his little butt cheeks and the way his shirt stretched across his structure.

I bit down on my lower lip, hardly hearing a word he said until a folded note slipped under my hand.

"You happened to be in my class, hun?" I read.

I looked around and caught sight of Jude sitting at the far end of the class, his rough brown hair dropped over one side of his face, slightly messy but suiting his cute face. I flipped the paper and wrote back:

"Hi, Clumsy." I felt him roll his eyes.

The class went on for what felt like forever before Jalen finally ended it.

"Alright, see you all in the next class. All assessments should be submitted to my email by the due date," he said, gathering his things before leaving the room.

I began packing my books, but my mind was already elsewhere - planning to trail him to his office once the hallway was clear. That was the last class of the day, and I wasn't ready to end it without seeing him again.

Paris turned to me with a grin and stretched out her hand.

"Hi, I'm Paris," she repeated cheerfully.

"You mentioned that earlier... during our whispered conversation," I said with a small smile, my eyebrow arching slightly before I turned back to my books.

"Oh-right," she laughed awkwardly. "Well... would you like me to show you around the cafeteria? Though, I'll warn you - the food there isn't great."

I hesitated, then stood up. She followed beside me eagerly. I didn't mind her company, even though her timing had completely ruined my secret plan to follow Jalen. But I didn't really have a choice either.

"Sure," I said casually.

After a long walk filled mostly with her endless chatter, we finally reached the cafeteria. The place was crowded, buzzing with students and chatter. We grabbed our trays and found a quiet corner away from the noise.

She was right - the food looked terrible, barely appetizing. I picked at something that seemed edible enough not to upset my stomach.

"Why bring me here when you know how bad it is? How have you survived this?" I asked, squinting at her.

Paris leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I usually sneak out to grab real food," she whispered.

My eyes widened. "You what?"

"I know it's against the rules," she said quickly. "But considering what's on your plate right now... wouldn't you do the same?"

I couldn't help but laugh softly. "You have a point."

"If you don't mind, we can go later. It'll be fun," she murmured, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Just then, a familiar figure approached our table. The air shifted, and I knew who it was. I rolled my eyes before he could open his mouth.

"Did I just hear sneaking out?"

Fiona's POV

"None of your business, clumsy," I answered curtly.

"Yo, relax, babes. At this point, you might fight me for every little thing," he teased. I rolled my eyes, doing my best to ignore his charming face. He looked much more handsome now that I was actually calm enough to notice him. Paris, on the other hand, was all kitten-eyed over him until I nudged her back to her senses.

"Can I at least sit with you guys?" he asked, but before I could answer, Paris jumped in.

"Sure, please... you can sit beside me," she muttered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. I shot her a quick glance, then looked back at Jude before giving him a slight nod.

"Thanks," he said, slouching into the bench in front of us. "So, care to share where you guys are going? I like fun things too, you know."

"Like I said-"

"Hun, we're heading to a restaurant later this evening to get some real food. I'm sure you agree this isn't food," she cut in.

First, she interrupted me. Now, she was chattering all over Jude. She really needed to do better. I sat back and watched as they both stole the limelight, their laughter filling the air. The girls passing by couldn't take their eyes off Jude either, and though he was engaged in their talk, his eyes stayed on me the entire time.

"Alright, guys. Enough chattering, please. I'm sick already. Where should we meet up later today, and what time?" I snapped, jolting to my feet. My face scrunched in irritation, and for a moment, all eyes were on me-until the bell rang.

"9:30, I think," Paris replied. "That's usually when the security alerts relax their monitoring."

Jude smirked. "Hmm, I've been in this school for a while, and it's never come to my notice that there's a time for security relaxation."

Paris's eyes glinted, and a wide grin curved her lips.

"Well, I guess some information is better off told by a special person," she teased.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes at her ridiculous response before grabbing my bag. "Right, I have to go now. See y'all later."

As I reached the entrance to my hostel, I suddenly caught a glimpse of Jalen and Marian. They were yelling and screeching at each other. I leaned against the wall near my door, quietly listening, but leaned too lightly and lost my balance-landing hard on my ankle.

The loud thud and my wince drew their attention immediately.

"Fiona?" Marian called.

"What are you doing here?" Jalen asked, walking toward me. Marian threw her hands in the air, frustration written all over her face as she watched him approach.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation-haa, ouch," I muttered. He knelt beside me, his soft, warm hands brushing over my ankle. The touch felt so good that I momentarily forgot about the pain. My heart fluttered as I stared at him-his scent, his focus, his nearness. I could almost imagine his lips on mine, his hands exploring my skin with passion.

Then Marian's sharp voice cut through my imagination.

"We'll continue this conversation when we get home, honey. I have to be at a meeting now," she snapped before storming out. The sound of her heels clicked down the hallway, echoing her fury.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked gently.

I nodded, then parted my lips. "Um-not too much. I'll be fine." I tried to get on my feet, but the pain worsened-or maybe I wanted it to, just to keep him close.

"Ouch! Oh my God, it still hurts," I cried softly.

"Okay, okay... let me get you to the school clinic so they can check it," he said, concerned.

"Oh no, no-it's fine," I objected quickly. "I think I just need to rest my leg. It's not that bad. But... I could use your help to get to my room."

He sighed, then nodded. "Alright, let me help you to your room then."

Before I could say anything, he lifted me up effortlessly, holding me close against his chest. I could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong, and his breath brushed against my hair.

"What number?" he asked.

"+4-369-651-70," I replied dreamily, staring into his eyes.

He blinked, confused. "What? Your room number, Fiona."

"Oh-yes, sorry. 306."

He chuckled softly and nodded, carrying me down the quiet hallway. My gaze stayed fixed on his strong jawline. I leaned my head against his chest, savoring the warmth of the moment-it almost felt like we were newlyweds, and he was carrying me to our bridal suite. I didn't want him to let go.

At last, we reached my room. I opened the door, relieved that Kelly wasn't around. The room was dim, lit only by a sliver of moonlight seeping through the curtains, and that faint glow instantly set the mood.

He gently lowered me onto the bed.

"You should rest well so you can attend classes tomorrow," he said softly. "By the way, how was your first day in class?"

"Not bad," I replied, my face brightening like a child's. "Even though I was late-but considering what you taught, it was quite fun."

He raised a brow. "Hmm. What was fun about my class? Because I know you were busy chatting with your seatmate the whole time."

That was exactly what I wanted-his teasing, his attention. I smiled.

"I'd rather not say what made it fun for me right now," I said coyly. "But I must compliment you... you looked way more handsome today than the last time you came to my house."

He went silent. His stare deepened, and I could feel the air between us thicken.

"Thank you," he murmured after a while. "I should go."

"Please, stay-just a bit longer," I whispered. "I'm scared. I can't stay alone in the dark."

"This is against the school rules, Fiona. I can't be seen here," he replied firmly.

"Fine," I sighed. "Then can you at least read me a bedtime story so I can fall asleep-and then you can leave? Please?"

He exhaled deeply, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. "Fine, just for a few minutes."

I smiled, pointing at the book on my nightstand. It was a steamy romance I'd just bought-and I deliberately chose it. Maybe, just maybe, I could make him feel what I'd been feeling all along.