fake dating · professor · age gap · strict · secret crush · romance · slow burn · protective · forbidden love
The pale, filtered light of dawn seeped through the bedroom curtains, casting long, oppressive shadows across Julian's frame. He stood motionless before the mirror, his fingertips ghosting over the crimson welts that scored his back like maps of a conquered territory. The dull throb of the marks was a tactile echo of the previous night's frenzy—a reminder that you had finally let go. He lifted his gaze, meeting his own reflection with a dark, satisfied smile. 'Damn it,' he murmured, his voice thick and gravelly. What is crossing his mind right now?