Adeline

"Hey, Adeline... how are you holding up?" Bonnie asked as she slid into the seat next to me. The worry etched on her face mirrored the concern I had seen reflected in so many others over the past few days. I couldn't blame them; the recent attack had shaken everyone. I was trying to push past it, though. I wanted to focus on moving forward rather than dwelling on what had happened. Still, there was a nagging urge within me to understand who attacked me and why. But I was letting the police handle that—by police, I meant Ethan.

Ever since that night, Ethan hadn't left my side. He was always there, a steady presence, and I couldn't say I minded it. The way he was constantly watching over me made me feel safe. When he had to go somewhere, he left Beast with me 24/7. The dog had become my shadow, following me everywhere I went. At first, it felt strange, but now it provided a comforting sense of security. After everything, it was reassuring to know that Beast would alert someone if anything went wrong.

"Yeah, I'm still wrapping my head around it all, but I'm okay," I replied, forcing a smile. "Besides, I have two shadows making sure I'm safe." I gestured toward Ethan, who stood at the back of the room, arms crossed, scanning the area like a hawk. Beast lay beside him, his head resting on his front paws, ever alert. My stomach fluttered with butterflies at the thought that Ethan refused to leave my side.

Bonnie chuckled, a teasing glint in her eye. "So, a hunky man and a pup? Sounds like you're playing house!"

I felt heat rush to my cheeks. "Gosh, no! He's just being a good friend. Making sure I'm okay..." But my voice faltered as I recalled how close we had grown since the attack.

"Oh, right! And having him sleep over every night doesn't hurt," she shot back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. I froze, refusing to look back at Ethan to see if he'd heard her.

"Bonnie! It's not like that! I—" I sighed, tapping my pen against my notebook, feeling overwhelmed. "I don't know what it is... I'm still confused. He told me Katherine attacked him, but the way he insists on staying with me—it's a lot to process."

Bonnie nodded, giving me a supportive hug. "I get it. Just know that you look happier and more relaxed with him around. But I still don't want to see you hurt. I'm not sure how to feel about him kissing Katherine, either. We both know how pushy she can be."

Just then, Katherine walked in, her presence as commanding as ever, dressed like a picture-perfect Barbie.

"Well, speak of the devil..." I muttered, trying to keep my expression neutral. I turned to glance at Ethan, who was watching me, a small smirk playing on his lips. He lifted a finger and circled it, silently telling me to focus. I felt my cheeks heat up, a mix of embarrassment and thrill washing over me.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Katherine purred, her gaze landing on Ethan, who was still standing by the door, arms crossed. She flashed him a flirty smile that made my stomach twist uncomfortably. The whispers from the other women in the room had already started, and I could sense their curiosity about what was going on between us. I wanted to lean into the gossip; I wanted them to think we were dating so they'd back off. I couldn't stand the thought of losing him to someone else.

Katherine droned on about the festival preparations, her voice fading into the background as I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I pulled it out, glancing at the screen.

Ethan: If you keep wiggling like that, I'll give you something to wiggle about.

My heart raced, and I nearly gasped out loud. Was Ethan actually flirting with me? A smile crept across my face as I remembered how he used to send funny texts during class to keep me awake.

Adeline: Excuse me!!!

Ethan: You hear me. I can see you wiggling from here.

Adeline: Why are you looking at my ass like that?

Ethan: You know why ;)

Before I could respond, Bonnie snatched my phone from my hands. "Bonnie!" I hissed, trying to keep my voice down. "Give me my phone back!"

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Not until you admit that you two need to get together! At least tap that!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm only making my face heat up more.

"What?! Are you and Abby the ones saying he's bad for me? Remember ten years ago?"

"Yeah, but obviously he likes you. No man protects a woman like he protects you. He stays at your house, lets his dog watch over you, and sends you texts like that unless he's really into you," she said, matter-of-factly.

A few moments later, I noticed Ethan get up from his seat, mumbling something that sounded like, "Excuse me," as he slipped out of the room. I shot Bonnie a glare. "What did you do?"

"Just helping you get laid," she replied with a wink.

Ethan

I shouldn't have come to this meeting. I shouldn't have tried to push the boundaries with Adeline. But damn, every time I caught her eye or heard her voice, it was like a jolt of electricity ran through me. I was so close to losing control in front of everyone, and the thought of it made me wild.

The moment I got that text from her, I had to fight the urge to drag her out of the classroom and kiss her senselessly. The sexual tension between us was palpable, and it was driving me insane. I had seen the way she blushed, the way she laughed at my jokes, and I couldn't help but wonder how she felt about me.

The sound of Bonnie's laughter in the background only fueled my desire. I could hear the whispers from the other women in the room, their curious glances directed toward me and Adeline. I wanted to scream that she was mine, even if I hadn't fully claimed her yet. I didn't want anyone else to have her, especially Katherine.

I'd heard Bonnie teasing Adeline about me, and while I usually wouldn't care, the way Adeline looked at me—with those wide, expressive eyes—made my heart race. I could tell she was starting to come around, but then there was Katherine, who seemed hell-bent on trying to reclaim her territory.

As I left the room, I tried to clear my head. I had to focus on the investigation and keep Adeline safe. The attack still weighed heavily on my mind. I had spent every moment since that night strategizing how to protect her while finding the person responsible.

"Ethan!" The sound of Adeline's voice drew my attention as I made my way down the hallway. I turned, my heart pounding at the sight of her.

"Yeah, pumpkin?" I replied, trying to sound casual, but I could feel the heat rising within me.

"If this is about the text, I—"

I didn't let her finish. I closed the distance between us and pressed her back against the lockers. "I'm so fucking done with this stupid line we've been walking," I growled, feeling the tension coil tightly between us.

"Ethan—"

"Just let me do this," I murmured, leaning in closer, our faces mere inches apart. I could feel the warmth radiating from her body, the enticing smell of her pumpkin spice perfume making it harder to resist. "I need you to understand how much you mean to me."

Before she could protest, I captured her lips with mine, the kiss igniting a fire within me that had been dormant for far too long. Her body melted against me, and I reveled in the softness of her curves. I didn't care who saw us; all that mattered was her.

*** *** ***

Adeline

Kissing Ethan was like coming home after being lost for far too long. My heart raced as his body pressed against mine, igniting a wildfire of passion and desire that coursed through my veins. I felt safe, cherished even, wrapped up in the warmth of his embrace.

When he finally pulled back, we were both breathless. I could see the storm of emotions swirling in his blue eyes—relief, longing, and something deeper that made my pulse quicken.

"Ethan, we can't just—"

"Why not?" he interrupted, his voice low and intense. "You have no idea how long I've wanted this, how scared I've been to lose you."

His admission sent shivers down my spine. The connection between us was undeniable, and I could feel the weight of his words pressing against my heart. "I've been scared too," I admitted softly, looking down as I fidgeted with my fingers. "I didn't want to complicate things, especially with everything that's happened."

He reached out, tilting my chin up to meet his gaze. "You're not a complication, Adeline. You're everything I want. I care about you—more than I thought I could care about anyone again."

His confession was both thrilling and terrifying. I could feel the walls I had built around my heart start to crumble, but the fear of what might happen loomed large. "But what about Katherine? You kissed her, Ethan."

"Trust me, that was a mistake. I don't want her; I want you. I've wanted you for a long time. This isn't just about the physical; it's about us. You're the one I want to protect," he said, his voice steady and sincere.

Before I could respond, we heard a commotion down the hall, the sound of laughter and chatter echoing off the walls. Ethan glanced over his shoulder, clearly conflicted. "We should probably get back before people start talking," he said, but I could see the desire still burning in his eyes.

"Yeah, you're right," I said reluctantly, the warmth of his body lingering on my skin as he stepped back.

As we made our way back to the classroom, the weight of the moment settled between us, filled with unspoken promises. I felt like I was walking on air, yet the undercurrent of tension still lingered.

I knew this was just the beginning. Whatever was lurking in the shadows would inevitably resurface, and the bond we were forging would be tested. But I couldn't deny that I wanted to embrace this new chapter, with Ethan by my side. No matter what lay ahead, I was ready to face it—with him.