Forbidden Flame

PROLOGUE

The sound of my heels clicking on the floor was the only thing that could be heard. Every other noise died down as soon as the students saw me walking down the hallway. Most of them scurried inside the room.

I held my chin up, my back upright as I walked in an imaginary straight line. Every step I took was calculated. I made sure to appear as if I was oozing with confidence. I couldn't afford to show any weakness or these students would probably eat me alive.

I am too young to be a professor. I'm perfectly aware of that. But that doesn't mean I didn't deserve the spot. I worked so hard to be where I am right now.

All my life, I have been focused on my goal. I didn't let anything or anyone sway me from the path to success. I poured every drop of blood, sweat, and tears to achieve my dream. And now that I am finally where I should be, I won't let anyone take it away from me.

"Good morning, everyone," I greeted the class in a formal tone, as always.

"Good morning, Professor Adams," the class chorused in different tunes. Very few were enthusiastic. Most weren't even looking at me, while some greeted me sarcastically, but I didn't mind. I could punish them in my own little way anyway.

"I already got your research projects," I stated, effectively getting their attention. "Late submissions won't be accepted."

I searched for a pair of hazel eyes among the crowd of students who were almost just the same age as I was. I found the owner of them staring back at me from his usual seat in the corner.

"That includes your work, Thorne," I strictly muttered while holding his penetrating gaze.

"What?" his brows furrowed as he stared back at her. "I passed it before the deadline."

"You sent it a few minutes past midnight. You can check the time if you want," I shrugged before looking away from him. He groaned frustratedly, but I didn't bother looking back at him.

Instead, I walked to my table to take the stack of papers that I brought with me.

"We'll have a test today," I announced.

Groans of complaint and disappointment erupted in the room. Well, I am used to it by now. I have been teaching here for almost a semester. Although my students still hadn't learned their lessons.

"But Miss Adams," someone wanted to raise an argument, but I looked at him pointedly. The student muttered a curse I didn't hear when he realized I would never change my mind. I clearly saw how his mouth moved though.

‘f**k it.’ That’s what he muttered. But yeah, that's life...

It can f**k you over many times.

I proceeded to pass the test papers I meticulously prepared over the weekend.

This isn't the first time I gave students a surprise test, but these people just wouldn't learn. Some of them looked prepared though.

I sat behind my table and watched everyone like a hawk as they started answering the questions.

"Damn it, why is this so hard?!" somebody whispered.

I tried to suppress a smile. I didn't want the students to think that I was enjoying their misery. I just love it when I give them a bit of a challenge.

When I got bored watching, I stood up and started walking around. One of my eyebrows skyrocketed when I saw a pair of students talking. I quietly walked towards them and then grabbed their papers without a word.

"What the-" the other one snapped.

“Cheating is strictly forbidden in my class,” I stated in a low but clear voice, not wanting to distract other students who were taking their test seriously. Unlike these two...

“But I wasn’t-“ Kairos Thorne didn’t even get to finish what he was saying before I tore their papers into shreds.

“Ms. Adams!” Steve, the other student, looked horrified as he stared into the torn pieces of paper in my hands.

“K-kairos wasn’t cheating. It was my fault! I was the one asking him,” he explained pleadingly.

“No more excuses,” I stopped him from talking.

He looked like he was about to cry, while the other one he was defending only had a dark expression on his face.

"You two, stay after the class is over," I hissed before walking away from them. I thrashed their papers and ignored them for the rest of the class.

Sure enough, they both stayed as their classmates left the room. Some of them glanced at the duo before leaving.

"I won't tolerate this kind of behavior. Especially from you, Kairos Thorne," I spat his name bitterly.

He is a candidate for receiving Latin honors. He is the talk of most professors for being one of the most excellent students in this university. And yet here he is, caught cheating.

"Ms. Adams, he didn't do anything wrong," Steve intervened.

"Are you his lawyer now?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"N-no, but... It was my fault," he stuttered. "I asked for the answer, but he didn't tell me."

I sighed.

"Is that true?" I asked Kairos, who was just staring at me.

"Well, you heard him," he shrugged. "I can take the test in front of you if you want."

Our gazes fought for a while. No one wanted to back down. I clenched my jaw while trying my best not to look away from his intense glare.

"Let's see then," I snapped. "Steve, you may leave now," I told the other student, who looked confused but relieved.

He took his bag and then started to walk out reluctantly. He glanced at Kairos. They seemed to communicate briefly through their eyes before he finally exited the room.

"So, what was that all about?" I hissed.

"I didn't do anything wrong," he uttered seriously. "I wasn't cheating."

"Are you sure?" my tone had a hint of playfulness in it, no matter how much I tried to remain formal. The corner of my lips pulled up into a smirk.

His eyes darkened a few shades while staring at my lips. Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him until our bodies collided. His arms quickly wrapped around my waist, pulling me tightly against him.

"Kairos!" I squealed. "What do you think you're doing?!"

I gasped in horror when he buried his face against my stomach. It was as if I had been punched in the gut. All the air inside me escaped at once.

"I didn't cheat on the test," he gently whispered while I was trying to push him away.

"Kairos, someone might see us!" I whispered frantically while glancing outside the room. The hallway is empty. It was already dark outside. Classes mostly ended and students must have gone out already, but I can never be so sure.

He looked up at me. There was something in his eyes while staring at me. Emotions that I can't name. Emotions I refuse to acknowledge.

"I didn't want to cheat on her either," he said while looking straight into my eyes. Bitter bile filled my mouth.

"I will break up with her. You can't stop me this time."

"Kairos, please. You can't do that," I argued. Even though, deep inside, I must admit that I liked the idea. I want him all for myself, but I should know better.

I tried hard to push him away. We can't be seen like this. He's getting increasingly reckless as we fall deeper into this mess. He groaned defiantly.

"You know you can't do that," I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment before looking back at him.

"Why?" his thick brows furrowed. "I want to be with you. Only you..."

"Kairos," I muttered his name pleadingly. "You have to stay with her. Nobody should know about... this," I sighed.

"Whatever this is, it should be kept a secret from everyone," I clenched my fists as different scenarios filled my head. I could lose everything if anyone ever finds out whatever it is that we are doing.

"But Portia..." he called.

I chewed on my bottom lip while avoiding his gaze. Why do I feel my insides melting just by hearing my name coming out of his lips? This is insane!

I need to keep myself together!

I turned my back on him, eager to escape the situation, but my body froze when I felt him hug me from the back.

"Portia," he whispered at the top of my head. "Damn it. What are you doing to me?" he asked frustratedly.

I scoffed. I should be asking him the same question!

Before I could muster the strength to push him away from me, he had already rushed to the door and closed it.

"Kairos!" I shrieked when he pulled my arm, trapping me against the door and his body.

"Let me go," I pushed him, but he wouldn't budge. My strength is nothing compared to his.

He tried to capture my lips with his, but I turned my head to the side, evading his advances.

"Kairos, please... Not here," I pleaded, trying my best not to give in to him despite the bolts of electricity coming from the brushing of our skin.

His rough hand gently cupped my face, making me look at him.

"Porsh," he groaned as if our close distance was causing him pain. "I'm going crazy. I can't take this anymore."

Before I could reply, he had already captured my lips in a searing kiss. All my objections flew out the window the moment our lips touched. He started the kiss agonizingly slow. It was sensuous. Torturous even.

I would be damned but I wanted more. And he seemed to know exactly how I felt because his kisses became more demanding. His probing tongue slipped between my lips, seeking entrance. Our tongues fought for dominance.

My arms wrapped around his nape, pulling him closer as I pressed my body against him. The fire quickly set ablaze between us, burning both of us in a sinful rage.

"Ah," a soft moan escaped my lips when his hand started roaming inside my clothes. I can feel the heat from his palm, causing wildfire to spread in my body. He expertly undid the buttons of my blouse, exposing the black lacy underwear covering my twin peaks.

"We should stop," I gasped when he left my lips only to trail wet kisses along the length of my neck. He lightly sucked on a sensitive spot which made my head spin in desire.

Damn it. I was trying so hard to hold on to whatever was left of my sanity, but he's making it incredibly hard! We can't do this. I shouldn't let him!

"Kai," I pushed him, but my limbs were so weak. If his arms weren't tightly wrapped around my waist, I would have stumbled down to the floor.

I moaned louder when his mouth latched onto one hardened bud. Every flick of his tongue over my skin causes me to sink deeper into this bottomless mire of sin.

I know I shouldn't be doing this. This is wrong on so many levels. I am his professor. He's my student. And not only that...

"Kairos!" I called his name over and over as he kept worshiping my whole body.

Every touch, every kiss makes me want to forget every logical reason why I shouldn't let him do this. He's now kneeling on the floor. My skirt is bunched up at my waist. I knew what was about to happen. But I didn't have the strength to stop him. It's hard to admit, but my whole being is burning in anticipation.

I squealed when his tongue finally dipped into my core. A sound I didn't recognize came out of my throat as he kept lashing back and forth my slit. My hands fisted on his hair. Initially, I wanted to push his head away, but I ended up urging him to go on. The electrifying sensations he is giving me blur my mind to oblivion.

I peered down just to see him looking intensely at my reaction while he kept his sensual assaults. I can feel the desire rolling off my body in waves. Liquid heat gushed out of my core, and he lapped at it hungrily while never breaking eye contact. It was hot. So hot.

I was panting when he stood up.

"Portia," he whispered against my ear. I can hear him unzip his pants despite our heavy breathing.

It's happening, isn't it?

I can't remember how we got into this. I didn't plan to take it this far, but here we are now. I could feel his throbbing c**k against my entrance but instead of fear, my whole body burned even more. I bit my lip and squeezed my eyes shut.

Fuck it. f**k the consequences! We can both burn in hell after this!