Chapter Fifty Nine

Monday;

I pulled into the campus parking lot and let out a long, exhausted sigh. I do not have the energy for today. Don't get me wrong—I'm excited to see Johanna, but the thought of sitting through lectures, taking notes, and actually focusing? Yeah, not in the mood.

Speaking of Johanna... I know I already said this, but our date was amazing. Even with Lea's plot twist of an appearance, it was perfect. Though, knowing Lea, I should've expected something ridiculous. That's why I love her—there's never a dull moment when she's around.

Letting out another sigh, I finally turned off the ignition, grabbed my bag, and stepped out of the car. First up; Mathematical Physics with Prof. Vargas. Great. Just what I need first thing in the morning—numbers and formulas that will make me question my existence.

Dragging my feet toward the lecture hall, I suddenly heard someone call my name.

"Valentina!"

I turned, only to see her—Prof. Vargas—speeding up to catch me.

She smiled warmly as she reached my side. "How're you doing this morning?"

I forced a polite smile as I kept walking. "I'm doing good. What about you, Professor?"

"Please," she chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "call me Carol. And I'm doing wonderful."

Carol. Right.

Hearing her first name felt... wrong. After everything I knew—after everything Johanna told me—there was something about her friendliness that made my skin crawl. Like I was having a conversation with someone wearing a mask, someone pretending to be so nice when I knew better.

"That's good," I said simply, keeping my eyes forward, not trusting myself to say anything more.

Carol—Professor Vargas—glanced at me briefly, her brows furrowing slightly. "Everything okay?" she asked, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You know you can talk to me, right?"

I suppressed the urge to flinch.

"I'm good," I replied quickly, forcing a small smile. "Just not in the mood for classes today."

She nodded, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before finally dropping her hand. "I get that," she said with a chuckle. "Mondays can be brutal."

You have no idea.

I hummed in agreement, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "Yeah, just one of those days."

As we approached the lecture hall, she slowed her pace slightly, glancing at me with something almost... expectant in her expression. "Well, if you ever need anything—advice, help with assignments, or just someone to chat with—I'm here."

I forced a polite smile. "Thanks, Professor Vargas—uh, Carol."

Saying her first name still felt wrong, like something about it didn't sit right with me. Maybe it was because I knew too much. Or maybe it was because the only professor I ever got personal with was Johanna, and that was a completely different story.

"Anytime," she said with a warm smile before pushing open the lecture hall door. "Now, let's get this over with, shall we?"

I chuckled softly and followed her inside, my mind already drifting. Mondays were always a drag, but today felt particularly exhausting. Maybe it was just the post-weekend slump, or maybe it was because my thoughts were elsewhere—on a certain professor whose class I had later today.

The moment the lecture began, I knew I was in trouble. My eyelids felt heavy, my mind foggy, and every single word coming out of Prof. Vargas' mouth blurred into background noise. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't focus. My bed was calling my name, whispering sweet promises of rest and warmth.

I barely took any notes, my pen hovering uselessly over my notebook as I stared blankly at the equations on the board. Halfway through the lecture, I became painfully aware of something else—her eyes on me.

Every now and then, I caught Prof. Vargas glancing my way, her brows knitting together slightly. She definitely noticed my lack of attention.

Just my luck.

By the time the lecture ended, I had retained approximately nothing useful. As students packed up their things and shuffled out of the hall, I tried to slip away unnoticed. Tried being the key word.

"Valentina," Prof. Vargas' voice called out just as I reached the door.

I cursed inwardly before turning around, schooling my features into something neutral. "Yes, Professor?"

"Could you stay behind for a moment?" She offered a small, concerned smile.

I sighed quietly, walking over to her desk. She leaned against it, arms folding across her chest as she studied me.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Naturally, I wanted to say, but instead, I gave her an easy smile. "Of course. Maybe I just need some caffeine or something."

She regarded me for a moment, like she was trying to read between the lines of what I wasn't saying. Eventually, she nodded and pushed herself off the desk. "I hope you feel better soon."

Without another word, she turned her back to me and walked over to her chair, sitting down.

I took that as my cue to leave. "Thank you," I said, forcing one last polite smile before making my way out of the lecture hall.

The entire walk to the fountain felt like a mission. My feet dragged against the pavement, my body heavy with exhaustion. I told myself I'd wait for Lea to arrive before heading to Midnight Mocha for a much-needed caffeine fix.

As soon as I reached the fountain, I slumped down onto the bench, pulling out my phone. My fingers instinctively opened my messages, scanning for any texts from Johanna.

Nothing.

Not that I was expecting much—she was busy, and I wasn't about to blame her for not texting. The phone worked both ways, after all. I could've texted her.

I sighed, about to shove my phone back into my bag when a familiar voice broke through my thoughts.

"Why do you look like you just got scolded?"

I didn't even have to look up to know who it was. "I need—" The words died in my throat the second my eyes landed on her.

Lea was still green.

Not just a little green. Oh no. Her entire exposed body was still covered in green paint. And she was wearing the same damn outfit from Saturday.

"What the hell?" I gawked, scanning her from head to toe. "Why are you still green?"

Lea chuckled as she plopped down onto the bench beside me, cracking open a Monster. "Bro, I can't wash this shit off," she admitted between laughs, taking a long sip.

I blinked. "You what?"

"Dude, I've scrubbed my skin raw, and I still look like Shrek's distant cousin," she groaned, shaking her head.

I stared at her in disbelief as she ran a hand through her hair and, with a dramatic flick, tossed it over her shoulder. "Don't I just look fabulous?" she grinned.

I deadpanned. "Lea, you look like you lost a fight with a bucket of food colouring."

"That's just your opinion." She smirked, stretching her legs out in front of her.

"Why did you even come to campus looking like that?" I asked, raising a brow. "If it were me, I'd have skipped the entire day. Hell, maybe the whole week."

Lea let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Regina forced me to come," she muttered. "Do you really think I wanted to walk around looking like this?"

I squinted at her. "Yes?"

She gasped dramatically. "I am offended."

I snorted. "You showed up to my date dressed like a literal sunflower, and I'm supposed to believe you wouldn't want to walk around like that?"

Lea shrugged. "Okay, fair. But I had a reason for the sunflower disguise."

I shook my head, laughing as she took another sip of her Monster. "You're actually insane, you know that?"

"And yet, you still love me." She winked, nudging my arm.

Chuckling, I stood up from the bench and motioned for Lea to follow. She groaned dramatically but got up, falling into step beside me while taking long, exaggerated sips from her Monster.

"Where are we going?" she asked, glancing at me with a raised brow.

"Midnight Mocha," I said simply. "I need caffeine."

Lea nodded in approval, flashing me a thumbs-up. "Good choice. You're tolerable when caffeinated."

"Gee, thanks."

The walk to the café was filled with her usual nonsense—Lea dramatically reenacting her attempts to scrub the green paint off her skin, complete with sound effects and tragic sighs. I laughed the entire way, shaking my head at her ridiculousness.

When we finally arrived, I made a beeline for the counter and ordered my usual iced coffee.

As I was pulling out my card to pay, a small voice behind us piped up, filled with curiosity.

"Mommy, why is that girl green?"

I turned my head slightly, catching sight of a little girl tugging on her mother's sleeve, her wide eyes locked onto Lea.

Lea, ever the mature adult, whipped around so fast I thought she might give herself whiplash. Her eyes zeroed in on the child, and a slow, wicked grin spread across her face.

"Oh, sweetheart," she said dramatically, crouching down slightly. "It's because I picked my nose and ate my boogers too much." She widened her eyes for effect. "Don't do it, otherwise you'll turn just as green as me."

The little girl let out a horrified gasp, immediately clamping a hand over her nose and taking a step back. Her mother shot Lea the dirtiest look as she gently ushered her traumatized child away.

I blinked. Then burst out laughing. "Lea, what the hell was that?"

Lea straightened up, looking smug as hell. "That was public service. That little menace will never pick her nose again."

Shaking my head, I grabbed my drink from the counter and made my way to an empty table, Lea trailing behind. "That was so unnecessary."

"I'd have to disagree," she said as she flopped down into a chair. "I just saved a future generation from becoming nose-pickers. Honestly, I should be thanked."

I sipped my coffee, side-eyeing her. "You traumatized a child."

"Semantics." She waved a hand dismissively. "The important thing is, lesson learned."

"You are so lucky her mom didn't cuss you out."

Lea just smirked, taking another sip of her Monster. "Eh, wouldn't be the first time. Won't be the last."

Before I could fire back at Lea's nonsense, my name was called from the counter. With a playful roll of my eyes, I got up to grab my iced coffee. As I took my first sip, the cold, sweet caffeine instantly lifted my mood.

Lea and I strolled out of the café, the morning sun casting soft light over the parking lot. We made our way back towards the campus, and for once, Lea seemed relatively quiet—until, of course, someone decided to question her questionable appearance.

A guy around our age stopped dead in his tracks as we passed. His eyebrows shot up as he gave Lea a once-over, his confusion evident. "Uh... why are you green?"

Lea groaned dramatically, as if she had personally suffered for his ignorance. Then, without missing a beat, she deadpanned, "My mother did the woohoo with Shrek and I came out looking like this."

I choked on my sip of coffee. The guy's face twisted in absolute horror. "What the fuck?" he spluttered, recoiling like she had just slapped him across the face.

"Yup," Lea nodded solemnly, sipping her Monster like she hadn't just emotionally scarred a stranger.

I grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away before she could spew more nonsense. "Yeah, what the actual hell was that?"

Lea shrugged, completely unbothered. "First thing that came to mind."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I'm starting to think the paint seeped into your brain."

She gasped, clutching her chest. "You wound me, Val. But honestly? This has been the most fun I've had in ages. Who knew being green came with so much power?"

"Power?" I scoffed. "You traumatized a kid and disgusted a random dude in under ten minutes. That's not power—that's chaos."

Lea grinned, completely pleased with herself. "Exactly."

The sun was climbing higher in the sky, its warmth settling over campus as students lounged on the grass, soaking up the last bit of comfort before the afternoon heat became unbearable. Some were chatting in groups, others lying down with their arms draped over their eyes, and a few were hunched over open textbooks, clearly trying to squeeze in some last-minute studying. The birds were still chirping, flitting from tree to tree, but even they seemed to be slowing down in anticipation of the approaching midday swelter.

Lea and I plopped down onto the fountain's bench at the same time, sighing in unison. It was a moment of perfect synchronization—though, knowing her, I was sure it was intentional.

"Sooooo," Lea cleared her throat dramatically, turning to me with a mischievous glint in her eye. "How was the date?"

I gave her a deadpan look, raising an eyebrow as I took a sip of my coffee. "Didn't you literally spy on us? Shouldn't you already know how it went?"

Lea grinned, completely unashamed. "Well, yeah, but I want to hear your perspective." She leaned in like she was about to receive the juiciest gossip of her life.

I rolled my eyes but humored her. "It was wonderful," I admitted, nodding as I thought back to yesterday. "I definitely stressed over nothing. Johanna made me feel at ease."

Lea smiled, but then she narrowed her eyes as if analyzing every word I just said. "That's good," she hummed, before leaning back on her palms. "You know, from my perspective—which, by the way, was from a very professional and discreet spying distance—I could've sworn Johanna looked almost nervous."

I snorted as I stood up to toss my now-empty coffee cup into a nearby bin. "She was, actually," I admitted, chuckling as I returned to my seat. "It was kinda funny, to be honest."

Lea looked so pleased with herself, a smirk tugging at her lips as she pointed at me like she had just won a bet. "See! I told you!" she announced triumphantly.

I rolled my eyes again, but I couldn't deny she had told me. While I was getting ready for the date, panicking over every little detail, Lea had offhandedly mentioned that maybe—just maybe—Johanna was just as nervous as I was. Spot on.

"Fine, you were right," I conceded, nudging her lightly with my elbow.

Lea gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Oh my goodness, did you just admit that I was right?" She wiped an imaginary tear from her eye. "This is a historic moment."

"Don't get used to it," I muttered, shaking my head with a smile.

"I knew she was nervous," Lea went on, clearly not planning on letting it go anytime soon. "The way she kept shifting around, and the way she looked at you—like, girl, she's obsessed."

I could feel my cheeks heating up at the last part, and Lea definitely noticed. She smirked even wider.

"Ohhh, you like that she's obsessed with you, don't you?" she teased, poking my side.

I swatted her hand away, glaring at her. "Would you shut up?" She cackled, clearly delighted by my reaction. "Never."

The seconds ticked by in comfortable silence as the morning buzz of campus continued around us. Then, out of nowhere, a figure appeared in front of us, casting a shadow over the bench. Lea and I both looked up simultaneously, and my stomach did a weird little flip when I recognized who it was.

Professor Vargas.

She stood there, smiling, holding two cups of coffee in her hands. "Valentina," she greeted warmly, extending one of the cups toward me. "To cheer you up."

Lea shot me a look, eyebrows nearly disappearing into her hairline. I hesitated for a second before taking the cup from her, my fingers brushing slightly against hers.

"Uh... thank you, Professor," I said, forcing a polite smile.

She gave me a small nod before finally acknowledging Lea, her expression shifting into one of confusion as she took in the green paint still stubbornly clinging to her skin.

"What... happened to you?" Professor Vargas asked, tilting her head slightly.

Lea sighed dramatically, waving a hand in the air. "I'm just trying to be one with the grass, okay?"

The professor blinked, clearly not knowing how to respond to that answer. "Okayyyy," she murmured, before turning back to me, her expression softening again. "Enjoy the coffee, Val."

I gave her another polite smile, lifting the cup slightly in thanks. "I will. Thanks again, Professor."

She smiled, but there was something about the way she looked at me that made my skin prickle slightly. "Carol," she corrected gently, as if she expected me to already be calling her by her first name.

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, disappearing into the sea of students.

The second she was gone, I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. But before I could even begin to process what had just happened, I felt eyes burning into the side of my face.

I sighed, already knowing who it was. "Stop staring at me, Lea."

"Well, excuse me for being genuinely confused," Lea scoffed, crossing her arms. "What the actual fuck was that?"

I frowned, taking a cautious sip of my coffee. "What was what?"

Lea threw her hands up in exasperation. "Bro, I will literally slap you so hard this paint will come off," she warned. "Why the hell was she so friendly with you? And why did she bring you coffee? Like, hello? That's weird."

I shrugged, still not entirely sure what to make of it myself. "I don't know. I literally mentioned to her once this morning that I needed coffee. I never asked her to actually buy it for me."

Lea narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously, rubbing her chin like she was some kind of detective. "This is suspicious," she muttered. Then, suddenly, she looked around wildly, as if expecting Johanna to materialize out of thin air.

"Just be glad Johanna didn't fucking witness this," she hissed. "Because if she did? She might skin you alive."

I choked on my coffee. "Lea—"

"And, honestly?" she continued, completely unfazed. "I literally wouldn't have cared. Because I would've taken your skin and glued it over mine just to hide the damn green."

What the actual hell? That was weird as fuck.

I shook my head, deciding then and there to completely ignore what Lea had just said. She had a special talent for saying the most unhinged things with a completely straight face, and I was not about to entertain it. Instead, I pulled out my phone, checking the time, only for my stomach to drop slightly when I realized something.

Shit.

I was supposed to be in Johanna's office after my lecture. Completely slipped my mind. I could already see her reaction in my head—her sharp eyes narrowing, lips pressed into that unimpressed line, maybe even a passive-aggressive remark about how unreliable I was. Okay, maybe I was exaggerating, but still.

Letting out a small sigh, I stood up from the bench, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Time for the next lecture," I muttered, already mentally preparing myself.

Lea, still sipping her Monster like she physically needed it to function, raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

I shot her an unimpressed look. "...Our next lecture?"

Her mouth formed a dramatic 'O' as realization hit her. "Ohhh, right. Bet you're sooooo excited to see your lovey-dovey." She wiggled her eyebrows, practically skipping beside me as we walked toward Johanna's class.

"Oh my goodness," I groaned, rubbing my forehead. "You're hopeless."

"And you're hopelessly in looooove," she sang, bumping her shoulder against mine with a grin that was way too smug for my liking.

I rolled my eyes, but I felt the warmth creep up my neck nonetheless. "Lea, please. I—"

"Hopelessly in looooove," she repeated, completely ignoring me as she clutched her chest like she was starring in some dramatic romance film.

"Lea."

She gasped, eyes wide with fake awe. "So whipped for her mean, grumpy professor girlfriend—"

I smacked her arm. "Shut up."

She only laughed, loud and unbothered. "I swear, it's actually adorable."

I sighed, shaking my head as we reached the lecture hall. I was about to enter, but before I could, Lea grabbed my arm again, stopping me just before I stepped inside. She gave me that look—mischievous, knowing. Like she was dying to tease me some more.

"Bet Johanna missed you," she whispered, voice dripping with amusement. "Probably sulking because you didn't show up at her office."

That... might actually be true.

"Shut up, Lea," I mumbled, ignoring the way my heart picked up speed at the thought.

Before we stepped inside, Lea suddenly halted, her eyes widening as she clutched her stomach dramatically.

"Oh shit, I need to pee," she gasped. "Emergency!"

I barely had time to respond before she turned on her heel and bolted toward the restrooms, disappearing down the hall like a woman on a mission.

Shaking my head, I muttered, "Dramatic as always," before finally pushing the door open and stepping inside.

The lecture hall was already filling up, students chatting amongst themselves, flipping through their notes, or mindlessly scrolling on their phones while waiting for class to begin. Some were still half-asleep, heads resting on their arms, while others looked way too enthusiastic for a morning lecture.

And then there she was.

Seated at her desk, flipping through some papers, completely lost in her own world. Her sharp gaze scanned whatever document she was holding, her long fingers gripping the edge of it with that same controlled precision that made her look even colder than usual. Everything about her screamed authority—like she owned this room, this space. Like nothing and no one could shake her.

She hadn't noticed me yet, which gave me a perfect opportunity to shamelessly check her out.

My goodness.

Her hair was pulled into a low, messy ponytail, strands slipping free to frame her face. A crisp white T-shirt peeked out from beneath a burgundy suit, the blazer perfectly tailored to her frame. And the way her pants hugged her legs? Fucking hell.

Call me a dog, because I was definitely barking over here.

I forced myself to move before I got caught staring and quickly slid into my usual seat. I was still mentally trying to compose myself when she finally stood up from her desk, gathering her papers as she walked over to the podium.

Still no sign of Lea. Where the hell was she, and why was she taking so damn long?

"Turn to page ninety-two," Johanna instructed, skipping any sort of greeting.

The students scrambled, flipping through their books in a hurry, but Johanna didn't wait. She started speaking immediately, explaining the material with that same smooth, unwavering tone.

I sighed, opening my book, but my mind was not in it. Not when my professor looked that good.

A minute or so passed when the heavy doors of the lecture hall creaked open, the sound slicing through the steady rhythm of Johanna's lecture.

I glanced over instinctively, and sure enough, there was Lea—doing her absolute best to sneak inside as if her entire body wasn't still green.

She took a few careful steps, moving on her toes like a cartoon burglar, when Johanna suddenly whipped around, her sharp gaze locking onto her like a predator spotting its prey.

"Ms. Grayson," Johanna said, voice clipped, "if you're going to be late, at least try to be subtle about it."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the room as more students turned to see what was happening. Some stifled laughs, while others just blinked in confusion, their eyes flicking between Johanna and the Hulk impersonator standing in the doorway.

Lea, completely unfazed, beamed at Johanna. "Professor! It's not my fault you have twenty-twenty vision in your ears."

I squinted at her. Vision? What the hell was she even saying?

Johanna exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You came in here looking like the Hulk and walking just as loudly as him. It's impossible not to hear you."

Lea clutched her chest dramatically. "He is my favourite Marvel character for a reason!" She took her time striding over to me, completely ignoring the growing whispers around her. "I'm just trying to be just like him."

Johanna stared at her, the muscle in her jaw twitching.

"...Give me strength," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. Then, as if finally deciding that entertaining Lea's nonsense wasn't worth the energy, she let out another breath and dropped her gaze back to her book.

But just before she did, her eyes landed on me.

It was brief—a split second, no more than a flicker of recognition—but I felt it.

And then, just as quickly, she was back to business, her attention locked onto the text in front of her like nothing had happened.

I bit the inside of my cheek, heart doing something weird in my chest.

After what felt like forever, the lecture finally ended. The moment Johanna dismissed us, Lea and I slipped out into the hallway, stretching our limbs like we'd just run a damn marathon.

Lea let out an exaggerated groan, her arms reaching for the ceiling as she made the most concerning noises I'd ever heard. "That was the longest lecture ever," she whined dramatically, dropping her arms back to her sides. "I swear it felt like six hours."

I yawned, rubbing my eyes. "Tell me about it." The weight of exhaustion was finally settling in, and knowing I still had one more lecture to sit through made me want to drop to the floor right there. "Ugh, I have another class after this."

"Not me," Lea grinned evilly, taking a step backward like she was about to escape prison. "I'm off! See you later, nerd." She threw me a wink before bouncing away toward the parking lot, leaving me standing there alone in the crowded hallway.

I watched her go for a second, shaking my head before exhaling deeply. Right. Johanna's office.

Before heading there, I made a quick detour to the restroom, just to check that I looked somewhat presentable. I ran my fingers through my hair, smoothed out my shirt, and gave myself a little pep talk in the mirror. Not that I was nervous or anything.

Liar.

Shoving that thought way down, I hurried over to her office, my heart picking up a bit as I knocked twice before pushing the door open.

Johanna was exactly where I expected her to be—seated at her desk, head down, red pen in hand as she marked a stack of assignments with a look of pure concentration.

She didn't glance up when I walked in.

"Helloooo!" I greeted her cheerfully, plopping down onto my usual seat in front of her desk.

Johanna still didn't look up. Instead, she kept marking, her grip on the pen a little too tight as she spoke.

"How was your coffee?" she asked bitterly, her voice smooth but unmistakably sharp.

Ah, shit. Okay, so she definitely saw Vargas giving me that coffee. Or maybe Vargas told her? Either way, Johanna was pissed, and I had a strong feeling I wouldn't be able to talk my way out of this.

Still, I could try.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, keeping my voice light, feigning confusion.

Slowly—too slowly—Johanna placed her pen down. Her fingers lingered over it, tightening slightly before she lifted her head, dark eyes locking onto mine. There was something dangerous in them, something sharp and possessive.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear," she said, voice as smooth as velvet but laced with steel. "I do not appreciate it when you talk to my ex..." She rose from her chair, her movements slow, deliberate. "Nor do I like it when you accept things from her."

I swallowed, shifting slightly in my seat. "I understand," I nodded, keeping my voice steady. "But...it was just a coffee."

That was the wrong thing to say.

Johanna chuckled, but there was no humour in it. It was dry. Cold. She closed the distance between us in a few measured steps, stopping just close enough that I had to crane my neck to look up at her.

"Just a coffee?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly. "From the looks of it, it was more than just a coffee from her."

I could feel the heat of her gaze pinning me in place. "It was just a coffee for me," I said, trying to sound casual. "I was just being—"

"Nice?" Johanna cut me off, her voice dark with something unspoken. Then, before I could react, she grabbed me by the wrist, yanking me up from my chair. My back met the edge of her desk with a dull thud, and she was right there—towering over me, caging me in with nothing but her presence.

Her hands found my hips, fingers digging in just enough to make me gasp. "Listen to me carefully," she murmured, leaning in until her lips hovered just above my ear. "I don't want you to be nice to her."

I sucked in a sharp breath, my fingers gripping the desk behind me for support. "S-so I'm just supposed to ignore her?"

Johanna's grip tightened—not enough to hurt, but enough to make my knees feel weak.

"Yes," she whispered, her breath hot against my skin. "Do you think you can do that for me?" She tilted her head slightly, her lips just barely brushing my jaw. "Hmm?"

A whimper slipped past my lips before I could stop it. "Y-yes."

I felt her smirk against my neck, her hands sliding higher, fingers tracing slow, agonising patterns up my sides. "Such a good girl," she murmured, her voice thick with satisfaction.

Her lips found mine, and I barely had a second to process it before she owned the kiss—deep, demanding, possessive. One hand moved to the back of my neck, fingers tangling in my hair as she tugged my head back slightly, just enough to expose more of my throat to her.

I shivered as she trailed open-mouthed kisses down my neck, her teeth grazing my skin in warning. "Remember," she murmured, her voice nothing but a breath against my pulse. "If I catch you talking to her again..." Her teeth nipped lightly at my collarbone, sending a sharp jolt of heat through me.

"...I'll punish you for it."

My knees buckled.

"I—I understand," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

Johanna didn't pull away. If anything, my barely-there breath of a response only seemed to encourage her.

Her grip on my hips tightened, pulling me flush against her. The heat between us was suffocating, intoxicating. I could feel every inch of her pressed against me—her firm body, her steady breaths, the controlled tension radiating from her like a storm barely being held at bay.

Her mouth was still right there, hovering over my throat, teasing me, setting my skin on fire without even touching me properly. "You understand," she echoed, voice a sultry whisper against my jaw. "Yet here you are, trembling in my hands like you want me to devour you."

I did tremble. It wasn't my fault. Not when she was doing this. Not when her nails dragged down my sides, not when her lips ghosted over my collarbone, not when the heat of her breath sent shivers racing down my spine.

"You like this, don't you?" she murmured, her lips brushing against my skin with every syllable.

I gasped when her hands slid lower, toying with the hem of my shirt, her fingertips barely slipping underneath. My pulse pounded in my ears.

She chuckled, dark and knowing. "You shouldn't," she whispered, nipping at the sensitive skin just below my jaw. "I should punish you for even letting her look at you like that."

My breath hitched. Like what? What had Vargas done? What had she seen that I hadn't noticed?

Johanna didn't give me time to dwell on it.

In one swift motion, she lifted me onto her desk, stepping between my legs, forcing me to look up at her. My heart hammered, and she knew—her smirk deepened, her grip firm as she tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet her gaze.

"Are you nervous?" she taunted, her thumb brushing over my lower lip.

I barely managed to shake my head, my body betraying me as I instinctively leaned into her touch.

"Liar," she murmured, her lips hovering over mine, so close yet not enough. I whimpered, fingers instinctively clutching the lapels of her suit jacket.

Johanna hummed, pleased. Then, finally, she closed the distance.

The kiss was nothing like before. It wasn't just a warning this time—it was a claim. It was punishment wrapped in pleasure. Her tongue slid against mine, demanding, relentless, as her hands gripped my thighs, spreading me further apart to pull me closer.

I moaned into her mouth, heat flooding through me as she deepened the kiss, her fingers digging into my skin in a silent command to stay right here.

When she pulled away, I barely had time to breathe before her mouth was everywhere—my neck, my jaw, the exposed skin at my collarbone. She wasn't just kissing me now. She was marking me.

My fingers dug into her shoulders, desperate to ground myself.

Johanna didn't let go. If anything, the moment I thought she'd ease up, her grip tightened, pulling me flush against her again. My back arched against the desk, her fingers trailing down my sides with agonizing slowness, teasing, testing, owning.

"You make it so easy," she murmured against my neck, her voice low and smug. "So eager. So obedient."

A shiver ran down my spine at the way she said that—like she knew exactly what she was doing to me, like she thrived off of it.

Her lips ghosted over the spot just beneath my ear, her breath warm and torturous. "Tell me," she whispered, her hand gripping my thigh, pushing it further apart, "do you like making me jealous?"

I swallowed hard, my pulse erratic. "I—I wasn't trying to."

She hummed, a sound that sent a thrill straight through me. "But you did," she continued, dragging her nails along my inner thigh, just enough to make my breath hitch. "Accepting things from her." She spat the word like it was venom. "Acting like it was nothing."

Her knee pressed between my legs, parting me further, forcing a desperate little sound from my throat. She heard it. She loved it.

Her smirk was dangerous as she tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet her gaze. "But I think you like this more, don't you?" Her fingers tightened their grip on my thigh.

I could barely think, let alone speak, but I managed a weak, breathless nod.

Johanna chuckled darkly. "Of course you do," she purred, her lips brushing mine without fully kissing me. "Because no one else can make you feel like this."

And then she kissed me again—ruined me with the way her mouth moved against mine, dominating, punishing, rewarding all at once. Her hand slipped beneath my shirt, fingers tracing the bare skin of my stomach, moving upward at an excruciating pace.

I gasped into her mouth, and she swallowed the sound greedily, her grip possessive as she pulled me tighter against her. Her thigh pressed just right, and I nearly whined, my body betraying me completely.

She pulled away just enough to let her breath fan against my lips, her smirk widening as she felt the way I shuddered beneath her.

"You're mine," she murmured, her voice dark and final, her fingers curling into my skin like a promise. "Say it."

I barely managed to whisper, "I'm yours."

Her teeth grazed my lower lip, her grip tightening one last time before she finally—finally—let me breathe.

"For now," she said, pressing one last lingering kiss against my throat, "I'll let you go."

Johanna stepped back, leaving me sitting there like a complete idiot—breathless, slightly dizzy, and wondering if my knees had always been this weak or if she'd somehow cursed me.

I exhaled sharply, giving my head a quick shake to snap myself out of it. Get it together, Valentina. With as much grace as I could muster (which, spoiler alert, wasn't much), I hopped off her desk—only to misjudge the distance entirely. My body lurched forward, colliding straight into Johanna.

"Oh, for fuck's sake—" she muttered as we both stumbled, nearly taking an unplanned trip to the floor together. Her hands shot out, gripping my arms to steady me, and I could feel the warmth of her touch seeping through my sleeves.

I cleared my throat, attempting to salvage what little dignity I had left. "Well, that was awkward."

Her lips curled into a smirk, eyes flicking down at me with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Always so clumsy, Ms. Wilson. One would think you'd have grown out of that by now."

I huffed, crossing my arms. "Not my fault. You make me clumsy."

Johanna's smirk deepened, her gaze sweeping over me with deliberate slowness before she stepped back, finally releasing me. "Glad to know I have that kind of effect on you." The way she said it—so smug, so infuriatingly pleased with herself—made my stomach flip.

Before I could come up with some sort of comeback, she turned on her heel and walked back to her chair, sinking into it effortlessly. "Alright, enough of this," she said, businesslike once again. "We have work to do."

I groaned dramatically, dragging my chair closer to her desk as I flopped into it. "Can't I just chill today?" I asked, trying my best to sound pitiful. Maybe, just maybe, she'd take pity on me. "I think I deserve a little break after... everything."

Johanna arched an unimpressed brow. "No."

I blinked. "That's it? Just 'no'?"

"Just because I have feelings for you," she said, matter-of-factly, "doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on you."

I scoffed, slumping further in my chair. "You already do."

To my surprise, she actually nodded. "That's true," she admitted, resting her chin on her hand as she studied me. "But don't expect me to be mushy."

I snorted. "Oh, gosh forbid. Imagine the horror."

She rolled her eyes, but there was the tiniest twitch at the corner of her lips, like she was fighting a smile. And just like that, the tension in the room shifted. The air still buzzed between us, but it was lighter now, teasing rather than overwhelming.

I sighed, finally giving in. "Alright, fine. What are we working on?"

Johanna smirked, flipping open a folder. "Glad you finally asked." She casually flipped through a few pages, her fingers gliding over the paper with practiced ease. She took her time, skimming over the contents until she finally found the one she was looking for. With a small nod of approval, she plucked it out and handed it over to me.

"I want you to set up an assignment for the first-years," she said, leaning back in her chair.

I blinked at the paper in my hands before glancing back up at her. "An assignment?" My voice came out more uncertain than I intended. "Professor, I've never done that before."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my hesitation. But then—oh, then—her lips curled into a slow, teasing smirk. "Professor?" she repeated, sounding almost amused. "It's Johanna, unless we're in the bedroom. There, you can call me Professor."

My brain short-circuited.

There it was again—that unbearable, insufferable ability she had to make my entire body heat up with just a few words. I shifted in my seat, suddenly very aware of how warm the room felt.

Johanna, of course, noticed immediately. The way her smirk deepened, the glint of pure satisfaction in her eyes—it was obvious she enjoyed watching me squirm.

She tilted her head, pretending to inspect me. "Do I need to turn on the AC for you?" she asked, already reaching for the remote. "You seem a little... overheated."

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral. "No," I muttered, gripping the assignment paper a little too tightly. "I'm fine."

Johanna hummed, clearly unconvinced. "Are you sure?" Her eyes flickered down, dragging over me like she was savoring my discomfort. "Or would you prefer if I removed a piece of clothing instead?"

I nearly choked on air.

My gaze snapped to hers, wide and incredulous, but she just held my stare, her expression smug and completely self-satisfied. The worst part? She knew exactly what she was doing to me.

Is this woman ovulating? She definitely is.

"It'd be too distracting," I coughed, eyes darting down to the paper in my hands like it was the most interesting thing in the world. I was too scared to look at her for even a second longer—afraid that if I did, I'd either combust or melt into a puddle right there on her office floor.

Johanna chuckled, the deep, velvety sound making my stomach flip. "Of course, it would be." She stretched, reclining slightly in her chair as if this whole conversation wasn't driving me insane. Then, clasping her hands together, she gave me a pointed look. "Now, try your best with setting up the assignment."

I exhaled through my nose, still avoiding her gaze as I pulled my laptop out of my bag. "Promise you won't scold me if I do it wrong?" I asked, hoping—praying—she'd go easy on me.

She snorted, clearly amused by my wishful thinking. "No promises," she said, picking up her pen again, "You're long overdue for a good scolding session."

My head snapped up at that. "You literally just scolded me five minutes ago?"

Johanna didn't even look up from her work. "And as I said, long overdue."

I pressed my lips into a thin line, staring at her like she'd personally betrayed me. She was already flipping through another stack of papers, her focus entirely back on her work like I wasn't still sitting there, flustered out of my damn mind.

Unbelievable.

Shaking my head, I finally turned my attention to the assignment paper in front of me. Skimming through the details, I tried to ignore the way my pulse was still a little too fast, the way my hands still felt a little too warm.

The office was filled with a comfortable silence, the only sounds being the occasional scratch of Johanna's pen against paper and the quiet tapping of my fingers on my laptop keyboard. It was nice—calm, even. Almost enough for me to forget about the way my skin still tingled from earlier.

That was, until a sudden knock at the door shattered the peace.

Before either of us could respond, the door swung open, and a familiar voice rang through the office. "Johanna! You wouldn't believe what—"

Victoria.

She came to an abrupt halt the moment her eyes landed on me, her expression shifting as if she had just noticed a cockroach lounging in Johanna's chair.

"Valentina," she greeted, her voice cool but polite. "How are you?"

"I'm good, and you?" I replied, giving her a small smile despite knowing full well she wasn't actually interested.

She didn't answer. Her attention had already snapped back to Johanna, like I had stopped existing the second she acknowledged me. Typical.

"You wouldn't believe what the hell just happened," Victoria continued, practically vibrating with excitement.

Johanna let out a small chuckle, setting her pen down and leaning back in her chair. "Do tell me."

Victoria, however, had other plans. She motioned dramatically for Johanna to get up. "Come, let's take a walk. You need to hear this properly."

Johanna arched a brow but humored her, pushing her chair back and rising to her feet. "Midnight Mocha?" she suggested, already reaching for her phone.

Victoria nodded eagerly, not even sparing me a glance as she stepped aside to let Johanna pass.

Johanna, however, didn't leave immediately. Instead, she stopped right beside me, close enough for me to feel the warmth radiating from her. "Can I get you anything?" she asked, her voice softer, more intimate.

I shook my head. "No, I'm okay."

She studied me for a moment, then smirked. "I'll see you later, sweetheart."

Before I could even react, she bent down and pressed a quick, featherlight kiss to my lips. It was over in seconds, but it was enough to send a jolt of heat straight to my stomach.

And just like that, she straightened up, winked, and walked out of the office as if she hadn't just left me sitting there, absolutely stunned.

I stared after her for a few more seconds, the door clicking shut behind her.

Then, shaking my head, I exhaled sharply and turned my attention back to my laptop.

Right. Work. I really, really hope I don't mess this up.