Page 92 of Unapologetic Obsession

“Morning.”

My eyes widened in horror as I stared into the piercing blue eyes that had haunted me all night.

Chapter

Thirty-One

ROSE

Professor Maxwell’stowering stature ensnared me. He had always been larger than life, but now, his presence was imposing to the point of suffocation.

Oh, God. I wasn’t ready to face him. My eyes darted sideways, hoping to spot a familiar face. He wouldn’t do anything to me out in the open and in broad daylight, right?

I did a counting down exercise in my head, one Dr. Harper had taught me, before opening my mouth. “Morning, Professor Maxwell.”

He seemed amused. “Are you planning to call me ‘Professor Maxwell’ forever? I do have a first name, Rose. Start using it.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t do that. It would shatter any illusions of boundaries left between us.

He stepped forward, his gaze tracing my face before settling on my mouth. His eyelids drooped, as if recalling a particularly lewd memory about my lips. I would have moved back were it not for his ironclad hold on my elbow. Leaning closer, he said, “I’ve been inside you, and that’s where you draw the line—being on a first-name basis? It’ll be awkward to call out my last name when I have you on all fours.”

My hand flew to my mouth, not expecting the vulgarity. We were in public!

I quickly brushed him off and took a step back. Noticing my unease, he dropped the curved smile. His intuition had always been on point, and he must be aware that I was beyond uncomfortable.

Professor Maxwell tapped his fingers against his thigh, a subtle rhythm signaling apprehension. If I wasn’t mistaken, he was suddenly nervous, as though unsure whether his teasing or presence was being well received.

Odd.

He was always sure of himself.

He glanced at Bageltown, then back at me. “Have you had breakfast?”

I nodded tentatively.

“Good.” He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “That’s good.”

An uncomfortable silence befell us. At least he didn’t appear angry today. I thought he would be pissed at me for running away, but he seemed mellow. More so because he wore a casual gray jacket that hugged his broad shoulders and a plain gray T-shirt underneath. He also sported his black-rimmed specs with the blue diamond studs. I had a soft spot for his glasses because they made him more approachable. He almost seemed like a regular person with flaws, and I remembered he was just a few years older than me, and not some untouchable god.

“Miles mentioned that I’ve been acting differently,” he said at long last. “I’ve been going home at reasonable hours. It doesn’t feel as important to spend every waking moment at the lab.”

I didn’t understand what he was alluding to and merely nodded along.

“In fact, my entire team thinks I’ve changed, but in a good way.”

This conversation felt oddly familiar to the one I had with Dr. Harper and my friends. They also said that I was acting differently, but it was a good thing. I wasn’t obsessing over peculiar rituals, and he wasn’t engaging in his workaholic habits. If I didn’t know any better, I would think we were each other’s cures.

“From what I have seen, you have changed, too. It seems we’re good for each other.”

How would he know that? The image of a dirty-blond-haired figure flashed across my mind. Perhaps it wasn’t my imagination running wild this morning. Was he watching me?

“But something’s still holding you back,” he observed. “At first, I thought it was because I was your professor.” His eyes softened. “But I get it now. It’s your family.”

My brow creased. Sure, our families hated each other. However, my concerns had little to do with them and everything to do with sleeping with the wrong brother.

“You’re worried about adding to the pile when they’re already angry,” he assessed.

“What?”