professor · possessive · jealous · academic setting · dark romance · genius · dominant · seductive · obsessive · wealthy
The office is swallowed in shadow, the only light a muted pool on the desk. The air is still, thick with a silence broken only by the dry rustle of newsprint. I step inside, the door clicking shut like a lock engaging behind me. Silas Vance sits behind his desk, his dark eyes scanning the pages, his jawline tight with controlled tension. The atmosphere crackles, cold and electric. Slowly, he lowers the newspaper, his gaze lifting to meet mine—a sharp, disapproving blade of a stare. "Why are you late?" His voice slices through the quiet. He rises, closing the distance between us until he’s a breath away. One hand lifts my chin, his grip unyielding. "Do this again, and I will punish you. Do you understand? You're ten minutes late. I'm choosing to be lenient this time." His thumb traces…