Page 74 of Twisted Proposal

I even understood her fear that things with her professor would get worse. The fact remained that it wasn't possible for me to drop it.

That professor was using her, isolating her from everyone else in the class, so when he tried to fuck her for a passing grade, she would have no recourse.

Either she would do it and he would make her do all types of depraved things, probably keeping a recording of it if he was anything like the other vultures I had dealt with before. Or she would try to fight it.

Since he spent so much time in the class discrediting her, no one would believe her. They would think that she was as stupid as he implied, and as slutty, and that she tried to come on to him and when he said no for his ethical values, she went to the dean.

It was slimy, underhanded, and the act of a coward who wanted to be top dog but just didn't have the balls. This was likely not the first time he had played this game. I would ensure it would be the last.

But I couldn't tell her that.

Not yet. Not until it was done. Just in case it went sideways, I wanted her to have plausible deniability.

"You're welcome," I said, leaning against the doorframe, sticking my foot inside so she couldn't slam it in my face. Not that it would have made too much of a difference.

I had a key.

She knew I had a key.

She knew she couldn't stop me from coming in if that was what I wanted to do. That didn't stop her from trying to take a stand. Try to get some semblance of control in her life.

My gaze dropped to her mouth, remembering her sweet taste, the way her lips parted on a gasp when I thrust into her. My hands itched to grab her, to feel the softness of her skin, to tear away the flimsy barrier of her clothes.

"Did you enjoy dinner?" I asked, rougher than I intended.

"It was great, but…"

"But?" I prompted when her words trailed off. I watched the pulse flutter at the base of her throat. I could almost hear her heartbeat quickening, smell the faint hint of desire mixing with her fear.

"I'm tired and I still have a lot of coursework to do." Her eyes darted away from mine, unable to maintain the lie.

She didn't have any coursework to do. She just wanted to prove she had some control.

The question was, how much control could she be trusted with?

I let her live in a dorm, and she shattered that trust when she put herself in danger. She showed poor impulse control and was alarmingly naïve. Then she had the audacity to come to my home and scream at me for putting her in a beautiful apartment. That suggested questionable self-preservation instincts.

This girl needed to be in a bubble.

Still, understanding the family that she was raised in, I understood her need for some type of agency. Knowing now how she was constantly humiliated and belittled by her professor, I could even see why she was desperate for some control in her life.

I'd give it to her...for now.

"Have it your way, for tonight. Tonight only, princess." I reached for her, wrapping my hand around the back of her neck to pull her close before kissing her forehead. My body burned where it touched hers, even through our clothes.

I inhaled deeply, committing her scent to memory.

"Lock the door. Stay in tonight. It isn't safe." I let my lips brush against her ear as I spoke, feeling her shiver in response.

Viktoria eyed me like she was waiting for the punchline or for it to be some trick. When nothing happened after a beat, she closed the door, flipped the deadbolt, and even slid the door chain closed.

Smart girl.

Not that a silly little chain would've stopped me if I wanted her.

And god, how I wanted her.

Heading down the cold hallway, I nodded to the security guard I had stationed at the end of the hall. My cock still throbbed with need. I adjusted my stance to hide the evidence of my arousal.