My eyes flutter open and I'm locked in his heated intense gaze.

"Tell me to stop," he breathes out.

"I want this... I want you."

The hunger and desire intensify in his darkening eyes. He pulls me closer to himself, brushing my hair away from my neck and planting a sweet lingering kiss just below my jaw.

I shiver from the rush of sensations and cling to him, feeling my knees going weak as my heart pounds in my ribcage.

He trails hot kisses down my neck.

My fingers find the tips of his hair as I tilt my head back and moan, "Spencer please."

His hot breath tingles my ear as he lays a gentle kiss on my earlobe. "We can't, we shouldn't." The words are rough and come out of his mouth as if he's physically forcing them out.

He inhales a deep shaky breath and that's it. Without a warning he pulls away, leaving me cold and vulnerable. I clutch the edge of the sofa to keep myself upright.

Unsteadily he retreats a step then another. In one swift motion, he takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes.

His hair is disheveled and his lips are still red and swollen. The navy-blue shirt that was smooth is now all crumpled up. But he's still breathtakingly handsome.

"You want to know why I've always been cold and distant towards you?" he stares at the window on our left for a long moment before turning to meet my gaze.

Feebly I nod. My mind hasn't broken away from the haze settled over it. His lips and his touch are worse than the strongest alcohol and drug out there, intoxicating me in mere seconds.

"I've been drawn to you from day one. The moment you sat across from me in my office. Before that day you were just a student in one of my classes, but that day, you became more." He shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair.

"Each time I got more disgusted by myself and pushed you away harder, but  you came back, breaking through my efforts harder, you just didn't get the goddamn clue." A breathy chuckle escapes him.

I tilt my head slightly, guilt eating me away. I didn't want to get the clue, because I needed him, but I never considered how it might affect him.

Nibbling my bottom lip, I gaze at him, although his confession makes me feel like shit, I can't help the little satisfaction swelling in me. He has been attracted to me from the very first moment, so I wasn't the only one desperately trying to overlook our connection.

He holds up his index finger and looks me dead in the eyes. "But it's just physical," he states and I open my mouth to object but he throws a sharp glare my way. "We- I cannot allow it to go beyond that. That's why we have to stay away from each other before this mess gets bigger and causes trouble."

My heart sinks, his statement is like a punch to the gut. I gape at him. "What!" I shake my head. "I don't understand, why are you pushing me away? I want this." With my hand, I motion at the space between us. He can choose the appropriate word for whatever I want or we are... or could be.

"I'm your professor."

"Were," I correct him sharply.

His brows draw together and the corners of his mouth turn downward. "Fine. But I can get fired and you can get in trouble too. It's not worth it, we have to stay away from each other. We can work on your research through email for a while."

"No! You'll be at risk of losing your job if someone finds out... and to be fair, you're not my professor anymore, so there are no risks."

Irritably he runs his fingers through his hair. "I'm you're adviser on this paper, of course I'm still your professor." He takes a step towards me and adds, "If you think these things don't come out, you're dead wrong."

I groan and press my head to the wall. "No one will find out, we'll be careful and why are you worried about being fired, your dad is the richest guy in the country."

He sets his jaw and a muscle flicker. "Do not make me regret telling you who my father is," he mutters through gritted teeth.

I sigh and look away. "I just know putting distance is not the solution."

"Do you know how many guidelines and laws I've broken in this very same day?"

I shrug and meet his eyes. "You're making it a big deal. It's consensual and I'm not underage."

"Unbelievable," he mumbles and walks away, towards the dining table. "If things blow out and get out of our control, I'll lose my job and probably won't ever be able to work in any other university. My entire life's work will go to waste." He turns to me, his lips set on a thin line as he rests his hand over his coat on one of the chairs.

"I never should have let things get this far. I'm far past denying my attraction to you, but I should have stopped this the moment you kissed me for the first time. I couldn't and since then I haven't been able to think straight. We need to put distance between ourselves."

Hesitantly I move to him, but stop a few paces away and wrap my arms around myself. "I think you're wrong."

He picks up his coat and shrugs into it. "I don't. In fact, distance will help us set ourselves straight and think clearly."

I open my mouth to argue but he shakes his head and takes a long stride towards me. 

"It's the only option we have, the only one I'm willing to try. If you care the slightest for me, I beg you don't ruin me and my career. I get it, this is fun for you, the excitement and everything, but if you haven't noticed till now, I'm boring. Definition of fun for me is sitting next to my window and reading a book. See the difference? I have never done anything remotely close to my behavior in the past few encounters I've had with you. This is not me. The way you make me act around you is scary, I lose myself, I don't think straight and it unsettles me. Frankly, I'm not willing to take risks over this one." He takes a step back while studying my expression.

"I hope you respect my decision," he adds after a long moment when I don't say anything.

I thrust my hands into my pockets, pondering over his words and making my mind. "Well frankly, all I'm seeing is you're forcing yourself away from me because you think that's the best and perhaps the easiest choice. You don't have the dare to act up on all the things you claim you feel towards me." I smirk at him. "I will respect your choice, but can you last in it?"

"Goodbye." He storms out of my apartment while I stand in my spot, smiling at my reflection visible on the window.

I'm done seducing Spencer Wright.

I want him. I want him bad. And I will have him. Let's see if he can resist me. He has no idea what's coming for him.

With a smug smile, I walk over to the couch and pick up my coat as I finalize my decision in my head. This is far beyond the solution.

Frankly, I can't see a single flaw in trying to have fun while solving and submitting such an important question's answer in the mathematician's world.

∞ ∞ ∞

Well, comment your thoughts! lol, whose side are you guys on? Gracie or Spencer? =)))

I'm sorry if the chapter had any typos or errors, I had two exams today and I'm really exhausted so yeah =) I'll fix the chapter when the story is completed.

Anyywayyy I hope you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to vote if you did and comment your thoughts.

Thank you so much for reading.

Next chapter will be up tomorrow I was thinking of making it a double update but one of the chapters is super long(about 4k words), I don't know if that would be convenient for you guys. I might update them about 2-3 hours apart from each other, or not, that's up to you guys, whatever that's easier for you all. So tell me, which is easier?

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading! <3