AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When the professor asks a question,Lyric raises her hand. She gives me a smirk before turning to answer in a voice full of that newfound confidence, with almost a hint of teasing. I feel all eyes drawn to her as she speaks, something prickling under my skin.
Once the professor turns back to the board, Lyric grabs her phone and shoots off a text. A moment later, mine dings and I dig it out of my pocket, glancing around to make sure no one is watching. It reads,Wanna meet in the bathroom after class?
I swallow hard, feeling a mix of frustration and intrigue. When I look at her, she's biting her lip, her eyes challenging me.
“Why?” I whisper, leaning closer, unable to resist the pull.
She shrugs, her smile widening. “You'll see.”
Throughout the rest of the class, she continues her subtle assault on my senses—tapping her pen against her lips, crossing and uncrossing her legs and brushing her fingers against my arm as if by accident. By the time the lecture ends, I’m barely holding it together.
As we pack up our things, she stands up, her movements slow and deliberate. She looks at me, her eyes dark with somethingI can’t quite name. “Don’t keep me waiting,” she says, and with that, she saunters out of the room.
I sit there for a moment, trying to collect myself. Damn, she's good. Too good. She has to be up to something. I’m starting to believe that this is all a big plot to misdirect us, something she cooked up after the punishment scene. She’s clearly trying to punish us back in her own way.
I lick my lips as I contemplate what to do. If I go meet Lyric in the bathroom, I might enjoy myself, but if I leave her hanging, I can regain the control that’s been slowly slipping through my fingers during all of class.
But on the other hand, not showing up could make things worse. She might see it as a victory, a sign that she’s getting to me. And if she’s planning something, I need to be ahead of it. I need to know what she’s up to.
I glance around the now-empty classroom, the echoes of the day’s lesson fading into the background. My gut tells me this is a bad idea, but I can’t shake the feeling that I need to see where this leads.
With a sigh, I stand up, slinging my bag over my shoulder. As I make my way out of the room, my mind races with possibilities. I need to be prepared for anything. Lyric Shaw is no pushover and if she’s playing a game, I need to be ready to outplay her.
As I head down the hall, I spot her leaning against the bathroom door, her eyes scanning the crowd. She catches sight of me and straightens up, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Determination sets in and I stride over to her, closing the distance between us in a few quick steps. Without a word, I pull her close, my hand tangling in her hair as I press my lips to hers. She stiffens for a moment, then melts into the kiss, her hands gripping my shirt. The kiss is intense, filled with a mix of anger and something else I can’t quite place.
When I pull back, she’s breathless, her eyes wide with surprise. “What was that for?” she asks, her voice a mix of confusion and desire.
“Just reminding you who’s in charge,” I reply, my voice low and rough. I see a flash of defiance in her eyes, but I’m not giving her the chance to turn this around on me.
Before she can react, I take her hand and start leading her away from the crowd, toward the dorms. She resists for a moment, then falls into step beside me, her curiosity evident.
“Where are we going?” she demands, trying to sound tough but failing to hide the tremor in her voice.
“You’ll see,” I say, not bothering to look back at her. I’m determined to turn the tables on her, to show her that I’m not the one to mess with. Whatever game she’s playing, I’m going to make sure I come out on top.
21
LYRIC
We reach the frat house and Archer pushes the door open, pulling me inside, dragging me up to his room. He closes the door behind us, trapping me in his space. I look around, my defiance waning as the reality of the situation sinks in.
“What do you want, Archer?” I ask, my voice quieter now, almost pleading.
“I want you to understand something, Lyric,” he says, stepping closer to me and backing me against the wall. My heart races in my chest and I can feel the warmth of him this close. “You don’t get to play games with me anymore.”
My eyes flicker with fear, but stubborn determination fills me. “And what if I want to play games? What if I’m done playing by your rules?” I whisper, my voice growing steadier.
He leans in, his lips brushing my ear as he speaks. “Then I’ll need to remind you of who’s really in control here.” I take a deep breath, steadying my racing heart. He thinks he can control me and bend me to his will, but he’s wrong.
I glance up at him, watching him as he eyes me with a mix of frustration and desire. He thinks he’s won, but he doesn’trealize that the game has just begun. I straighten up, squaring my shoulders.
“You think you can control me, Archer?” I say, my voice steady and strong. “Think again.”
His eyes narrow, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. I take a step closer, closing the distance between us. “You want to play rough? Fine. But don’t expect me to simply roll over and take it.”
Before he can react, I reach up and pull him into a fierce kiss, pouring all my pent-up anger and frustration into it. He stiffens, clearly taken aback, but then he responds, his hands gripping my waist. I let him think he’s in control for a moment longer before I pull back, leaving him breathless.
