20.

-HER-

I sit up straight. The slight brush of our nose shook my body. I don’t know what it was but it felt something otherworldly. I have never felt this before.

I look at him next. He is still in his previous position. He did not move when I did. The look that decorates his face is enough for me to know that he felt it too.

He looks at me fervently. The possessiveness is still there but it doesn’t overwhelm me. I am left staring into his black eyes as I try to catch my breath. He seems to be in some kind of daze. Closing his eyes, he sighs before leaning back in his chair.

When he opens his eyes to look at me, I have composed myself.

“These are sorted,” I tell him gently as I hand him the stack of papers. He looks at my face before looking at the papers. He takes them and finds a file before putting them away.

After this, he takes out other stacks of papers before sorting them. I help him put them in whichever manner he asks me to.

His eyebrows come together as he checks the time and looks at the remaining stacks of paper. There is still a lot to be done. We have just started and it seems like it will take days. I know that this is a waste of time.

He is a senior and he must have his exams to study for.

“I am sorry,” I mutter as I hand him the arranged stack of some other papers. This makes his head snap at me. His eyes lingered on me before traveling down to my lips. It again made my stomach dip before his eyes travel back to mine.

“For what?” He smirks, getting up from the chair and picking up some cardboard files. I got up from my seat and neared him to help pick those files.

“For vandalizing your office,” I answer, going to my knees and picking up the files. These files were bound and the papers weren’t much affected.

“You didn’t tell me why you tried to frame Holly,” He speaks instead. It makes me stop. He gives me a heated look as he takes the files from my hand. His fingers lightly brush against my arm, sending those strange sensations throughout my body.

I am quick to move my hand away. A look of hurt climbs on his face before it disappears instantly. My heart is drumming in my chest due to both – what he said and what his touch made me feel.

What was he and why did he have so much effect on me?

I see him clenching his jaw as he stands up and puts the files away on the empty shelves.

“Bring me those,” He commands, pointing to the files on the table. I bring him the files before he puts them away. I find myself staring at him as he works. I couldn’t help but notice how his muscles flex when he works.

He doesn’t have trouble putting away the files on the high shelves. His shirt hugs his body like a second skin. It fails to hide his breath-taking body under.

As he lifts his hands to put the files away on the high shelves, his shirt lifts up, revealing a part of his perfect tones stomach and hip bones disappearing into his jeans. It made my core pulse. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. I don’t realize when I have started to check him out.

“You didn’t say anything,” he snaps me out of my lusty pool of thoughts. As soon as his eyes fall on my heated cheeks, he knows what I have been thinking about. I blink a couple of times before stepping away from him shyly.

I swear this is just the attraction one feels due to hormonal changes. I am sure it’s nothing serious. Though, the knowing look on his face says a different story. I am afraid that I might grow too eager to know his part of the story.

“What are you thinking?” He asks gently, stepping closer. The air changes around us. His eyes darken at me. It makes my stomach clench. He easily towers over me. His strong arms promise to hold me close to him while he’d trace my skin with his lips.

“Nothing,” I whisper and try to turn around but he puts a hand above me and traps me. Behind me are the bookshelves while he stands close in front of me. I don’t know what he is doing but I don’t dare move.

I watch him warily as he steps closer. His nostrils flare and his eyes darken even more when I thought that they couldn’t. He is so close I could feel his body heat. My breasts lightly brush against his chest.

“Jake?” My mouth speaks on its own. He steps back all of a sudden, making me internally disappointed. I see a file in his hand that he must have taken out from the shelf above me. I sigh, he just wanted to take the file.

“What?” He smirks. I could feel myself turning redder. He did this knowingly. I take me a lot of effort to compose myself.

What was I thinking?

I need to stop reading those unrealistic fantasy romance novels. I swear they’re messing with my head. I try to convince myself but the subconscious part of my mind is in denial.

“Uh…” I hesitate before I check the time. It’s evening and I need to go home. I swear mom will grill me with so many questions. I haven’t informed her about staying late in classes. It also dawns upon me that I would need to explain to her why I would be staying late after classes.

I’d definitely need to lie to her.

“Can I go home?” I ask politely while shuffling on my feet. He cocks an eyebrow at me before giving me a pointed look. He reacted to my question as if I just asked him something serious.

“You need to stay half an hour more,” He speaks sternly. A frown climbs on my face but for some reason, I feel happy internally.

I must be sick.