The final office hours of the semester felt like the edge of a cliff. Sophia stood outside Professor Hawthorne’s door at 11:00 p.m., the campus mostly dark except for the occasional security light sweeping across the quad. This was it, the last night before grades were due, before the summer break would force them apart. Her hands trembled as she knocked.
The door opened. Hawthorne pulled her inside and locked it, but his usual controlled demeanor had cracks tonight. His tie was already loosened, shirt sleeves rolled up. The blinds in the corner window overlooking the main quad were half-open. Anyone walking across campus or looking up from the right angle could potentially see inside.
“Last time,” he said, voice low and rough. He cupped her face, thumbs brushing her cheekbones. “After t
