Professionalism is what Professor Spencer Wright asked from me, and it's what he gets.

Well, technically he said we should stay away but that's not possible. I have research to wrap up... and a solution to make him help me publish.

For an entire week, I was strictly professional with him, just like I had promised. At first, he didn't buy it, thinking I was messing with him, but even in his room, I stayed six feet away from him at all times, answered him in a way I would respond to my professors who are overly strict and I don't feel comfortable around them. By the end of the first day, he had concluded I was serious. On the final hours of the fourth day, he was beyond peeved.

During the two workshop sessions, I was overly nice and friendly with Brian. Yes, in front of Spencer. No, he did not enjoy it. Not one bit.

Truth be told, Spencer Wright is too adorable while being jealous. So flirting with Brian was not only to make him chase me, but rather enjoy Spencer glaring and huffing and forcefully composing himself throughout the day.

I hope an entire week is enough to get him to the point where he realizes he doesn't want to keep things professional with me and wants to take the risk as he puts it.

But an entire week of being nice to Brian resulted in a date night offer from him.

Again, Spencer Wright was in hearing range, so I had to accept. And now, while sitting in this restaurant, I'm deeply regretting it.

Ever since I've been muddling with Spencer, other men have lost their attraction. This is a first, I'm not the type to limit my options and be blinded by one man just because he's nice or whatever, but it seems like Spencer Wright is becoming an exception.

At the beginning where Brian's behavior was sweet and endearing, now it's overbearing.

I'd take a pissy Spencer Wright over a nice and sweet Brian any day, any time.

Brian drones on about one of his cool high school experiences, which frankly it's quite boring, but at least I don't need to contribute anything to it, other than nodding and smiling.

I just hope Spencer makes up his mind as soon as possible. Faking interest in other guys is getting exhausting.

The waiter comes by and places our food in front of us, but before he's two steps away, my phone rings.

Apologetically I smile at Brian and pull out my phone from my bag. My eyes bulge when I see the caller ID. Spencer.

With a frown, hesitantly I answer the call.

"Hello?" I try to greet him.

"Stewart, I emailed you, but you didn't respond," he says, the bitterness evident even from behind the phone.

I smile. Looks like my plan worked, I did see his email but ignored it on purpose. I also saw his text, telling me to check my email, I ignored that too.

Biting my bottom lip to stop my grin from widening and averting my gaze from Brian's confused one, I reply, "It's weekend, I didn't have the time."

He humourlessly chuckles and mocks, "Didn't have the time?"

"Yes."

"Come to my apartment, I want to change a few important details of the research."

I inhale sharply and sit straighter on my chair. "I'm sorry, I can't, I'm outside right now."

"Oh?" Even though I'm not seeing his face I can imagine him clearly in my head, arching an eyebrow and pretending to be surprised.

He releases a deep breath, a whooshing sound from another end. "Well, if you don't get to my place in thirty minutes, you'll be free to find another adviser for your research."

"What?"

"You heard me, get here in thirty minutes, or I won't work with you anymore."

My mouth hangs open. He has to be kidding. "Are you serious right now?"

"Why would I joke with my student, miss Stewart?"

Bastard.

When I don't say anything back, I can hear the smile in his voice as he adds, "Hurry Stewart, time is ticking." And then he hangs up.

Baffled, I stare at my phone until the screen goes black. Gingerly I look up from it and meet Brian's questioning eyes. Oh great.

I awkwardly smile at him. "I'm really sorry, I have to leave." I drop my phone into my bag and get to my feet.

He follows suit, frowning. "Who was it?"

My hand halts just an inch away from my coat. "A friend... you don't know-" I stop myself right on time with a fake cough before saying him and lie as smoothly as I can, "you don't know her." With that, I pick up my coat and shrug into it.

He watches me with suspicion but I plaster an innocent and apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry. I promise I'll make it up. Raincheck?"

Hesitantly he nods, mumbling, "Sure."

"Thank you." I sling my bag on my shoulder.

"Do you want me to drop you off?"

"No no not at all, I'll manage, thanks." With a quick wave along with a small smile, I hurry away.

Damn you, Spencer.

In the bustling street, I speed walk to the nearest subway, glancing at my wristwatch every few minutes until I catch the train.

It takes twenty minutes to get to the closest station to his apartment and as I step out, with the late January wind roaring and lashing on at every inch of my exposed skin, I push on to his building.

By the time I reach it, I'm panting and my cheeks and nose are frozen but I pay it no heed and sprint to the elevator. The receptionist guy in the lobby gives me a weird look.

"I'm meeting Wright," I tell him as I press the elevator's button and the door slides open. Without sparing another second I step inside and hit the top floor's button.

As the elevator ascends, I check my watch again and curse under my breath. I'm five minutes late.

With a ding, the door slides back open and I step out, heading straight to the door I know it belongs to Wright.

Before I can ring the bell, the door swings open, revealing a smug Spencer Wright. His hair is slightly ruffled and his glasses have slid a bit down, giving him the opportunity to survey me head to toe from above the black frame. The first two buttons of his black button-up shirt are undone and suddenly the place seems way hotter than five seconds ago.

"You're late." He leans to the doorframe, crossing his arms in front of his chest. The corded muscles of his forearm flicker and bulge.

My mouth goes dry, but I press my lips into a thin line and narrow my eyes, glaring at him. "Traffic," I mutter.

A corner of his lips twitches upwards. "All right, I'll let it slide this one time." He steps away from me and I enter his flat as he shuts the door behind me.

"Aren't you grateful?" he asks as he walks to my side, arching an eyebrow.

"Thank you," I grumble, making him smile.

I saunter to his sofas, dropping my bag on the nearest one. The soft sound of his footfalls follows me and stops right behind me.

As I move to remove my coat his warm hand grabs mine and in a deep low voice he says, "Allow me."

My heart flutters in my chest and my breath hitches in my throat as the butterflies in my stomach go mad.

Something's definitely up with him. My sixth sense is screaming at me. Though it necessarily might not bad thing. I quickly glance around, there are two candles placed on dining table that were never there on my previous visits, along with two wine glasses but rest of the house seems the same. I try not to look into these improvisers too much.

He helps me take off my coat, his warm exhales caress my hair and neck as he slowly does so. His musky scent is already making me lightheaded.

"My study," he adds in the same deep voice, nodding towards the room on his bedroom's right.

Hesitantly I nod. It's like my mind is dazed and it takes me a moment longer than justified to gather myself.

He walks around me, once more studying me from head to toe long and hard enough that makes me shuffle my feet and clasp my hands in front of myself.

"You look great. Where were you?" he meets my gaze though I can't decipher the emotion burning behind them.

Taking my chance, I twirl a lock of hair around my finger. "On a date."

His features harden. I hold back a smirk and decide to add, "With Brian."

He curtly nods, pursing his lips, he spins and marches to his bedroom.

I grin and saunter towards the study, hesitantly entering the room.

While he's not around, I survey the area. On all three walls, from floor to ceiling long racks of shelves covered with books take over. The only wall that is not covered with books is across from me, behind his study desk, with a long window, the thick curtain is pushed aside, providing a breath-taking view of the city.

I can envision him, sitting behind his desk, working on problems, and whenever it gets too much or he needs a break he can simply turn his leather chair and gaze out at the beautiful skyline.

Just like the desk in his office in the university, his desk in here is overflowing with textbooks, papers, pens, and everything in between too, with a single addition of a large monitor balanced on a wooden stand.

The books in this room are not like the ones in his bedroom, they are on maths, digging deeper into complicated matters, some I have yet to study if I continue pursuing mathematics.

"It's on the desk."

His voice startles me and I spin to glare at him before slowly making my way towards it, though I can feel his gaze burning into me, I don't turn.

I read through the papers on his desk and find the ones meant for me. I hold them up as I shift and meet his heated gaze. "Only these?"

Spencer is leaning his side to the wooden wall of the library, his hands shoved into his pockets as he nods once.

"Was it really necessary to drag me all the way to here for these? Couldn't you have waited until Monday?" I glower at him.

He tilts his head, a slow smile arching his lips. "Not really."

Even though I want to be mad at him, or even irritated for making me race to his condo on a Saturday night, I can't help but be pleased. It's the first time he's taking a step towards me instead of pushing me away.

Clearly this week has been hard on him, just as much as I wanted it to be. Not to mention, I missed him. Regardless of seeing him for four days, it still wasn't like always, I'm glad he has come to his senses... or better said as left his logic aside.

I feign annoyance. "You ruined my date night."

A mischievous glint sparks his eyes. "Is he waiting for you?"

"No... not really. Why?" I frown, holding the papers to my chest.

"Good." He straightens himself and slowly approaches me, his gaze never wavering, not leaving my eyes for a beat.

My breath hitches in my throat. He stops in front of me, towering over me.

My heart wildly beats away as I crane my neck to meet his gaze, my backside pressing into the edge of the desk.

His hand moves to my face, his thumb brushes my cheek lightly, the contact sending an electric jolt through my entire body. My lips stay parted as I focus on him and my breathing.

Leisurely he draws his hand along my jawline and down my neck then twirls a lock of my hair around his fingers, leaning slightly down to me. "It's a shame you're date night is ruined, but I was hoping if you'd want to stay... have dinner with me."

I blink a few times until his words sink in and my mind rides over the initial surprise. Oh my gosh! Dinner with him.

It shouldn't make me this happy. His offer shouldn't make my heart race with excitement and let loose of the butterflies in my stomach. Nor should it make me want to giggle and squeal like a teenage girl being asked out for the first time by the guy she has liked for the longest time.

But it's having all those effects.

I should be scared. But right now, I can't think about anything that it isn't Spencer Wright.

He arches an eyebrow. "Well?"

It takes me an embarrassingly long moment to gather my bearings and trust my voice to come out even and confident. "Didn't you say we have to keep our distance?"

The corner of his mouth lifts upwards. I try to not stare at it because I know if I do, I'll end up crashing my lips to his and all my effort during the past week will go to waste.

"Can't we pretend our obstacles away for one night?"

Oh, he's playing my cards now. Interesting.

"An astute man once told me 'by pretending we can't change the reality.'"

A full smile breaks across his face, crinkling the corners of his dark blue eyes and lighting them up, taking my breath away.

He pulls away but the ghost of the smile lingers in his handsome features. "Still, I'd like to have dinner with you tonight." He doesn't wait for my answer and spins and walks away.

I press my palm over my hammering heart and close my eyes. Pull it together Gracie.

With deep breaths I calm myself and push back my shoulders, gripping the papers in my other hand tighter. Ready to face him, I confidently stride outside of the room, and by the time I'm out, he's in the space between the dining table and kitchen island, standing in the middle and gazing into the far distance, at the twinkling lights of the other skyscrapers.

Though when I near him, his eyes latch on me. Carefully I place the papers near my bag on the sofa's armrest before getting closer to him.

"Can I know what's going on?"

He smirks. "What do you think it's going on?"

I frown with confusion.

Spencer closes the gap with one long stride, leaning down and getting in my eye level as he locks his gaze with mine. "I might not be like you, but I'm not blind, nor dumb. I can see what you're doing."

I raise my eyebrows and pull myself to my full height, innocently smiling at him. "And what am I doing?"

"You're playing with me."

I gulp noisily and he comes closer to me, his warm breath washing over my face with each exhale. The peppermint scent tickles my nostrils.

"But you're forgetting, this game is not made for one. For all this time, you've been the only one playing, it's time to change that, don't you think?"

My breath hitches in my throat, as I stare at him utterly speechless.

His tongue darts out, wetting his lips as he caresses my cheek. "I do know these games, Gracie. Just because I didn't play along with you, doesn't mean I'm clueless. Don't you think it's time to change that? Especially now that you've decided to play dirty." His lips brush mine as he speaks the last words.

His free hand snakes around my waist and his other hand slips into my hair, gently tugging my head backward and laying a hot kiss on the hollow of my neck.

I shiver from the contact, my hands automatically plant on his shoulders, heat pools in my core as another round of fluttering erupts in my stomach. My eyes close.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," I fumble and sound breathless even to myself.

A low chuckle escapes from his lips, the hot breath fans my skin, tingling it and I hold on to him tighter fearing my knees would buckle.

"Was it really necessary to pull that boy into this?" he murmurs against my neck, kissing me gently before letting his tongue draw an idle circle on my burning skin.

I tilt my head to give him better access as I moan, fisting his shirt in my hands. He pulls me closer to his body, all the hard muscles press into my soft parts.

The desire to have him has always been strong, but tonight it's unbearable. I want him to touch me in all the places he has yet to explore and has been throbbing for him.

He drags his lips up to my ear, softly kissing my earlobe. "So far, you've been the player, each round messing with my head more than the last and afterward you've left unaffected." He gently grazes the edge of my ear with his teeth. I shudder and moan his name. "Or at least that's how you've led on. How about I take the lead tonight and see how unaffected you can stay?"

I run my fingers through his hair. At this point, I think he's holding me up entirely.

"What do you say, Gracie? Do you want me?" he kisses my ear.

I feebly nod and he bites the spot he had kissed making me gasp with surprise. "Words. I want you to say it," he roughly says.

The way he's holding me along with his deep voice rough with desire sets a new blaze inside of me. One I have never experienced. So strong and consuming that if I wasn't so dazed, it might have frightened me.

"I want you, Spencer," I whisper.

∞ ∞ ∞

Uh... yeah =) so do I need to give a warning next chapter is going to be steamy and if you're not comfortable with mature content don't read the first half of the chap =)))) well, I just gave you the heads up, lol.

Lmao, I guess some of you guys are cussing me in your head right now, but that's okay =) I really like the way I've ended this chapter, hence you have to wait another 24 hours for the next update ^.^ [don't hate me :* haha]

But on the bright side, we're going to have a double update on Sunday! So hopefully that'll make up for this =)

Comment your thoughts, vote if you enjoyed.

Thank you so much for reading this crazy story of mine (never in million years did I ever imagine I'd write something like this lol)

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading <3