Cornered
303 Words
Chapter Four
By the time I slipped into my seat at the back of the classroom, my heart still hadn’t settled from the hallway fiasco. His voice, that smirk, the way the entire school seemed to hold its breath when he looked at me—it was all too much.
I told myself it didn’t matter. He was my stepbrother. The last thing I needed was to get tangled in his mess. But try convincing my pulse of that.
The classroom door creaked open, and in he strolled. Late, as usual. Girls giggled, whispering his name like it was a prayer. He didn’t even glance their way.
No. His eyes found mine instantly.
I dropped my gaze to my notebook, pretending to be busy. My pen scratched nonsense across the page.
A chair scraped against the floor. My breath caught when I realized he’d taken the empty seat beside me—ignoring the crowd of admirers begging for his attention.
“You’re avoiding me,” he murmured, leaning close enough that his shoulder brushed mine.
I stiffened. “We’re in class. Don’t talk to me.”
His chuckle was low, dangerous. “You think sitting here makes you safe?”
The teacher’s voice droned on at the front, but I couldn’t focus. Every inch of me was aware of him—his warmth, his scent, the way his knee brushed mine under the desk.
Then, as if the universe hadn’t punished me enough, his hand slid across the desk and trapped mine beneath it. My head snapped toward him, ready to protest, but the words died on my tongue when I saw the look in his eyes.
Not playful. Not mocking.
Fiery. Hungry. Possessive.
“Stop running,” he whispered, his grip tightening. “You don’t get it yet… but you will.”
- Writer
