I couldn’t stop staring at him.

He was gorgeous...too perfect to be real. Not even Hollywood could produce a face like that. Sharp cheekbones, deep-set eyes, lips that looked carved to ruin a woman’s composure.

“Hello?”

His voice snapped me back to reality. Low, rich, and impossibly calm. My stomach flipped.

“Oh...uh, hi. I… um…”

Great. Brilliant first impression. I sounded like a malfunctioning robot.

“Do you have a lighter?” I asked, trying to sound casual. He was taller up close, broad-shouldered, and dressed like he’d just walked out of a corporate meeting...not an alley behind a run-down bar.

“You interrupted me just to ask for a lighter?” he asked, his voice low.

I glanced down at him.

“I wouldn’t call it an interruption,” I said. “She was the one throwing herself at you.”

I said staring at his dick, not even a slight hardness, was he even having a blowjob earlier

“You’re not even reacting,” I blurted. “Aren’t you attracted to her?”

I wasn’t sure where the nerve came from.

He stepped closer. I backed up until the wall pressed against my spine.

“No,” he said. “I’m not attracted to her. I don’t get turned on by just anyone.”

“So… you just let her touch you? Or...what...are you gay...”

I didn’t finish. His hand closed around my neck, firm

Great. Confidence officially misplaced.

“I’m not gay,” he said quietly, his face inches from mine.

Up close, it only made him more dangerous. More striking.

As he shifted, my thigh brushed against his shaft. This time there was no doubt...he was hard.

So much for that theory.

“Of course not,” I murmured. “I can see that now.”

My hand moved on its own, sliding against his coxk He sucked in a sharp breath, eyes darkening as he stared at me, caught off guard for the first time.

He studied me for a moment before releasing my grip

Then, “How old are you?”

That voice again. Smooth. Dangerous. It rolled through me like velvet and smoke.

I gasped catching my breath

“I’m twenty four,” I said quickly. Not a total lie

He didn’t look convinced. His gaze lingered on me, steady and unreadable.

Come on, I don't look that young

“Do you need my ID or something?” I snapped, half defensive, half flustered.

A small smirk curved his lips. And damn it, that smirk hit harder than any shot I’d taken tonight. My heart gave an unsteady kick.

“I don’t have a lighter,” he finally said.

“What? Then how did you light your cigarette?”

He tilted his head slightly. “I don’t know. I just did.”

Was he joking? My patience thinned, but I couldn’t decide if it was irritation or attraction burning hotter. Probably both.

Without thinking, I snatched the cigarette from his mouth and took a drag. He didn’t protest. Just watched me with that same infuriating calm, as if daring me to keep going.

“What?” I asked, forcing a grin. “You gonna beat me up for it?”

“Use that same energy on your date,” he said, eyes glinting.

My breath hitched. “How did you know I was with someone?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he took the cigarette back, inhaled, and blew the smoke directly into my face. Slow. Deliberate. My pulse stuttered.

I closed my eyes as his soft exhale tickled my skin.

I grabbed the cigarette from him again and took a slow drag.

“You don’t look like you’re from here... not with that little performance you pulled,” I said, aware of his eyes on me. It felt like he was waiting...to see what I’d do next, or what I’d say.

He still didn’t answer. He only took the cigarette back and drew in another long pull, calm in a way that made me feel anything but.

“You don’t talk much, do you?” The words slipped out before I could stop them. Great. Perfect. My brain had zero filter around him.

But it was hard not to stare. His features were sharp, defined, almost too striking to look at without getting distracted.

“Something like that,” he said.

“Well… you were doing a lot of talking earlier,” I pointed out. Trying to remember the scene he performed earlier

Still nothing. Just him and that cigarette like it was the only thing worth speaking to.

I studied him for a moment. “You give off this vibe...like you’re secretly a criminal or something.”

“Because I am.”

He said it so plainly I almost forgot to breathe.

A beat passed. Then I burst out laughing. “Good one. But you’re way too attractive to be a criminal. What are you, Michael Scofield?”

He raised a brow. “Who is that?”

I blinked. “Yep. You’re definitely not from here.”

A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it.

Before I could say anything else

“Rose?!”

The voice shattered the moment. I froze.

Of course...it had to be Mr. Daniel.

“Rose, where are you?” he called again, his tone greasy and fake.

I pressed myself against the wall, trying not to move. The only thing not making him see me easily was the car in front of me

“What does he want now…” I muttered under my breath, too annoyed to care that the stranger could hear me.

He watched me quietly, his eyes flicking to where Mr. Daniel’s voice echoed down the alley.

“Is there something on my face?” I asked, half teasing. Truth was, I didn’t mind him staring. I wanted him to.

He didn’t answer. Just smirked again...like he knew every thought running through my head.

“Ugh. Can he just die already?” I muttered without thinking. The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Silence stretched. I looked up, meeting the stranger’s gaze again. His expression hadn’t changed...but there was something darker in it now.

“Great! I sound like a psychopath,” I blurted, instantly regretting it.

“Do you want me to kill him?”

The question cut through the air. I snapped my head toward him.

“What… what are you talking about?”

Still no answer. Just that same, unreadable smirk.

Then he flicked the cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his shoe.

“I wasn’t done with that,” I said, more annoyed than I should’ve been.

“You’ve had enough,” he said, voice dropping low, deep enough to silence me completely.

He turned and walked to a sleek black car parked nearby. Of course it was his. The way he moved, the way the streetlight caught his profile...it screamed control. Power.

He opened the door, looked back once. “I hope we meet again, Rose John.”

My breath hitched. He said my full name.

Before I could ask how he knew it, he was gone...disappearing into the night.

How did he...

“Rose!”

Mr. Daniel’s voice made my stomach twist.

I turned just in time to see him stumbling toward me.

“Rose, there you are,” he said, smiling like a man who thought he owned me.

“Oh hi, Mr. Daniel, you found me” I said, forcing a polite tone.

“Oh please, just Daniel,” he said, stepping closer.

"So have you considered my request "

“Yeah, it’s late. I should go.” I turned to leave, but his hand shot out, gripping my arm hard.

“You said you’d do anything to pass my class, didn't you?,” he said, voice low and disgusting.

“Mr. Daniel, stop!” I struggled, but his grip tightened.

“Stop playing hard to get. I’ll make it easy for you. Come on!! I bought you drinks, I should get something in return at least”

My blood turned cold. He yanked me closer, his hand sliding down my back, his breath hot against my cheek.

“Let me go!” I shouted, shoving him, but he only sneered.

“Ungrateful little...” His words cut off as I pulled out my pepper spray and fired it into his face.

He screamed, stumbling back to the empty road, clawing at his eyes. “Ahh! You bitch!”

I backed away, shaking. “Stay away from me!”

But he didn’t.

He lunged again, wild and blind.

And then...

A blinding flash. A roar of metal.

The car came out of nowhere, headlights blinding, metal smashing bone. The impact flung Mr. Daniel across the street...instant, brutal silence.

The sound of impact hit like thunder.

I froze. Mr. Daniel was on the road...crumpled, still. The car that hit him screeched to a stop.

My heart pounded as the tinted window rolled down.

My eyes widened in shock

The man from earlier leaned out, expression calm, almost amused.

“Your wish is my command, princess,” he said softly, then drove off into the night, leaving me standing there...speechless, trembling, and utterly undone.

I stared at the lifeless body on the ground, my breath catching in my throat. My hands shook so hard I could barely feel them. This couldn't be real. That man...the one from earlier...he just killed someone. I just witnessed a murder.

My chest tightened as I tried to breathe, tried to calm myself, but I couldn't. The blood...his blood...was splattered across my shoes, my hands, my clothes. It was everywhere. My vision blurred, my knees gave out, and the world went black.

******

Gasp.

I shot upright, lungs burning, clutching my chest like I'd just surfaced from underwater. My head spun, pounding like a drum. I blinked hard, trying to understand what was happening.

I was home. In my bed.

"When...?" I whispered. When did I get here?

"Rose! Are you awake?" My roommate's voice called from the kitchen. Sydney. That was her name. That meant...yeah, I was home. But how?

The pain behind my eyes sharpened like a knife.

"Rose! Finally! You're awake," Sydney said, stepping in with her usual dramatic sigh. "You left me with all the chores again."

I groaned and sat up, holding my head. "Oh, my God... my head feels like it's going to explode."

"I brought painkillers," she said, tossing a packet onto my lap.

I swallowed them dry and asked, "Someone brought me here, right?"

"Yeah," Sydney nodded. "Some guy carried you in."

"Who?"

"I don't know him. Tall. Dressed too well for a student. He said something about you owing him...i didn't really see his face clearly...He said you passed out from alcohol"

A chill crept up my spine. A man? The memory flickered...dark eyes, a cigarette, a deep voice that made my knees weak. But I just couldn't remember

My temples throbbed as the fragments came rushing back. "Argh," I groaned, gripping my head.

"Hey, don't force it," Sydney said softly, patting my shoulder. "You'll remember when you're better."

"Right," I muttered, rubbing my face. "Did you at least make breakfast? I'm starving."

"Rose... it's four p.m."

"What?!" I jumped from the bed, panic flaring. "I missed all my classes!"

"Who cares about classes?"

"I do! I have assignments to submit!" I scrambled for my clothes just as the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Sydney called.

A moment later, a familiar voice echoed through the apartment. "Babe?"

I froze. Ethan. My boyfriend.

He walked in, smiling. "There you are! I've been calling you all day."

He said giving me a quick hug

"I just woke up," I said, trying to sound casual.

"Just woke up?" He frowned. "What happened?"

"I don't know, I had a long night, I'll tell you later if I remember, but I need to go see my professor. I have an assignment due."

Ethan's expression darkened. "Rose... didn't you hear?"

I turned to him. "Hear what?"

"Professor Daniel passed away."

The room went silent.

"What?!" Sydney and I said at the same time.

"Yeah. The school sent out an email. They canceled all classes for the day...to mourn him."

The words hit me like ice water. My memories snapped into focus. The alley. The car. The headlights. The impact. The man in the suit.

I pressed a hand to my forehead as the images flooded in. "Oh God..."

"Rose, don't push yourself," Sydney said quickly. "Just rest, okay?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah, babe. Sit down."

But I couldn't sit. All I could think about was that man...the one who appeared out of nowhere, the one who killed Mr. Daniel. And somehow, he knew my name.

****

Two days later.

"We lost a good professor, and it saddens our hearts..."

I sat in the lecture hall, barely hearing the Vice Chancellor's voice as he gave his speech. The rest of the class listened, but I couldn't stop replaying that night.

I saw it happen.

I saw him die.

"I can't believe I shared a cigarette with a murderer," I whispered to myself.

"Mr. Daniel was a great professor," the Vice Chancellor continued.

I scoffed under my breath. "Yeah, right."

"A great husband."

I rolled my eyes.

"And a great father."

I muttered, "Sure he was."

The Vice Chancellor smiled tightly. "For now, we have a temporary professor who will take over his classes for the next few weeks."

The class clapped half-heartedly.

"Let's welcome Mr. Sebastian."

"Stupid name," I mumbled.

Then the door opened.

And my heart stopped.

He walked in...tall, sharp suit, that same confident calm that had both scared and drawn me in.

That jawline. Those eyes. That voice that could shatter me with a word.

It was him.

The man from that night.

The man who killed Mr. Daniel.

******

It couldn't be.

There was no way.

But as soon as he spoke, that voice ... low, rich, commanding ... I knew I wasn't crazy.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Professor Sebastian Adams, your temporary instructor. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

Applause filled the room, but all I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat.

He smiled, confident, untouchable... and then his eyes found me.

My stomach dropped.

That smile ... that smirk ... I'd seen it before.

The man who killed Mr. Daniel was now standing in front of me, wearing a professor's suit and a charming smile.

Why was he here?

What did he want?

And why did his gaze make my body react like this?

***

The class went on as if nothing was wrong. He spoke like any other teacher, and within minutes, the entire room was hanging onto every word.

"He's so hot," Wendy, one of the girl in front of me whispered to her friend.

"I'd let him pin me down and teach me a lesson," the other giggled.

I rolled my eyes, but my pulse betrayed me.

He was hot.

Too hot.

Tall, broad-shouldered, those long fingers gripping the desk as he spoke. His voice slid through my veins like smoke.

"Focus, Rose," I muttered, tapping my head to snap out of it.

When I looked up again, his eyes were already on me.

That same smirk curved his lips ... dark, knowing ... before he looked away and continued his lecture.

By the end of class, everyone was enchanted.

Everyone but me.

"Alright, class dismissed," he said finally.

Students began filing out, laughter filling the hall.

I grabbed my bag, ready to bolt ... but his voice stopped me cold.

"Miss Rose John."

The way he said my name... it wasn't just a call. It was a command.

I froze.

"Just a minute."

He added

Everyone had left except me

"I...I have plans. I need to go," I stammered without turning around.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Rose."

That tone ... low, dangerous, irresistible ... made my knees weak.

I glanced at the door.

"Relax," he murmured. "It's already locked."

Locked?

My heart started to race.

I turned slowly, only to see him watching me, leaning casually against the desk, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He was beautiful in a way that should've been illegal ... sharp jaw, dark hair, eyes that could see right through me.

I took a cautious step forward.

"Are... are you going to hurt me?"

He rose from his seat, unhurried, eyes burning into mine.

"I would never hurt you," he whispered, voice laced with something sinful.

Then immediately, he walked right past me towards the door, the click of the door echoed through the empty room.

He had locked it.

"I thought you said it was already locked," I whispered, watching the keys dangle from his fingers.

His smirk deepened.

He didn't answer. He just stepped closer... and closer... until my back met the edge of his desk.

"What do you want from me?"

My voice trembled.

He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.

"You," he whispered. "I want you, Rose. To be mine."

“You,” he whispered, voice deep and sinful. “I want you, Rose. To be mine.”

I blinked several times, my heart pounding so hard it almost hurt. There was no way I just heard that.

"You are gonna marry me rose"

He added like it made what he said any better

“You’ve lost your mind,” I snapped, taking a shaky step back. “First, you kill someone. Then you show up here pretending to be a professor...and now you’re saying you want me?”

He didn’t answer. He just smiled. A slow, knowing curve of his lips that made my pulse quicken for all the wrong reasons.

“I’m not really a professor,” he said calmly, straightening his sleeves like he hadn’t just confessed to murder.

“Yeah, I figured that out,” I said bitterly. “You’re a murderer.”

He chuckled...a dark, velvety sound that made the room feel smaller. “Yes,” he said finally. “I killed for you.”

I froze. “What? I never asked you to kill for me!”

“But you did,” he countered, taking a slow step forward. “You wished he’d drop dead.”

“It was just an expression!” I shouted. “I didn’t mean it! That’s insane!”

His smirk deepened, eyes glinting with something dangerous. “If you think that’s insane, Rose… then you have no idea what I’ll do next.”

My blood ran cold.

He was beautiful. Terrifying. And completely unhinged.

“You’re a fucking psychopath!” I spat. “You’ve lost your mind. That’s it...I’m going to the police. I’ll tell them everything. I’ll tell them you killed Mr. Daniel!”

I turned toward the door, but before I could take another step, his hand shot out...grabbing my wrist and slamming me against the wall.

The air left my lungs. His grip was iron. His body towered over mine, close enough that I could feel his breath fan across my cheek.

“Don’t,” he murmured, voice low and smooth, like a threat wrapped in silk. “Don’t try anything.”

My whole body trembled. His gaze was dark, dangerous… but god, those eyes.

Why did fear feel so much like desire?

“Let me go,” I whispered, trying to push him off, but it was useless. He was too strong.

“What exactly will you tell the police, hmm?” he asked, leaning in closer. “That there’s a man named Sebastian Adams who doesn’t exist? That he killed your professor...the same man who tried to force himself on you?”

My chest tightened. “I...”

“I cleaned up your mess, Rose,” he hissed, his lips brushing my ear. “I saved you. And this is how you thank me?”

“I’m sorry,” I breathed out, my voice breaking. “Please… don’t hurt me. I won’t say anything.”

His expression softened instantly. His hand loosened around my wrist.

“Rose,” he said softly, almost tenderly. “I would never hurt you.”

He lifted his hand and gently brushed away a tear from my cheek. His touch was warm. Gentle. Confusing.

“Did I scare you?” he murmured, tilting my chin up.

I couldn’t speak. I just stared.

Then he pressed something cold into my palm...a key.

“Take this,” he said quietly. “But don’t test me again.”

He turned, walking back toward his desk with the same calm, confident grace he always had.

“See you soon, Rose.”

And that was all it took for me to bolt out of the room, my heart pounding like it might burst.

......

(Rose’s POV)

Should I just go to the police?

My thoughts tangled as I walked down the quiet street, my heels clicking against the pavement.

I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?

He said he wouldn’t hurt me… right?

But what if he lied?

What if he always lies?

Gosh, should I really report him?

It’s best if I do. I can’t risk it.

He’s dangerous...too calm, too powerful, too sure of himself.

I took a deep breath and pushed the police station door open.

...

Inside, the fluorescent lights buzzed above me as a middle-aged officer peered across the desk.

“So, what you’re saying is,” he began slowly, “there’s a man pretending to be a professor named Sebastian Adams in your school...and he’s also responsible for the murder of the late Professor Daniel? And he did this because… he wants you?”

“Yes!” I said quickly. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

He blinked, clearly trying to piece it together.

“Miss, nobody can just pretend to be a professor. You need credentials, background checks...”

“I know, I know!” I interrupted, running a hand through my hair. “But he told me he was one!”

The officer sighed, exchanged a glance with his partner, then leaned forward. “Do you have a picture of him?”

I paused. Then it hit me.

The school website.

I pulled out my phone, opened the staff directory, and scrolled until I found it. His photo.

The same sharp jawline. The same dangerous eyes.

“Here,” I said, handing them my phone.

The reaction was instant. Both officers froze. The younger one swallowed hard while the older man’s expression shifted from confusion to unease.

They exchanged another silent glance.

“Miss,” the older officer said carefully, “I’m sorry… but there’s nothing we can do.”

I frowned. “What do you mean? This man is dangerous!”

“We’re aware,” he said quietly. “But he’s not someone we can touch.”

“What are you talking about?” I demanded.

The younger officer finally spoke, his tone low. “How did you meet this man?”

“Why does that matter?”

“Because,” the older officer said, his gaze hardening, “if Rafael Santoro wants you, Miss John...then he will have you. And no one can protect you from him.”

The name hit me like ice.

Rafael Santoro.

It wasn’t Sebastian Adams. That was a mask.

Rafael Santoro...

I stumbled out of the police station feeling hollow.

The evening air felt heavy, suffocating.

Who is this man? How much power does he really have?

My phone buzzed.

Ethan: Been trying to call you all day. You okay?

I typed back quickly.

Me: Sorry babe, just busy. I’ll call you when I get home.

...

7:00 PM

Home. Finally.

I dropped my bag on the couch, kicked off my shoes, and went straight for the kitchen.

A note stuck to the fridge caught my attention.

Not sleeping over. See you in class tomorrow. Love, Sydney.

Good. I needed space. I needed rest.

I went to my room, exhausted. The moment my head hit the pillow, a chill ran down my spine.

“You disobeyed me, Rose.”

The voice...low, dangerous, and unmistakably his.

My eyes flew open. He stood in the shadows by my door. Shirtless.

His chest glistened slightly under the dim light, his expression unreadable, his presence suffocating.

“Rafael…” I whispered, barely breathing.

Before I could scream, he was on me...one hand covering my mouth, the other pressing me against the bed. His weight pinned me down effortlessly.

His breath brushed against my ear as he whispered,

“Now, I’m going to make you pay for running to the police.”

My heart thundered in my chest, but the strangest part?

I wasn’t terrified.

I should’ve been.

But when his lips grazed the side of my neck, I realized

I wasn’t scared.

I was trembling for an entirely different reason.