The Fall of the Ancient Pantheon

Ch. 8 Tensions Rise

My eyes widened even more—if that was possible—causing Damon to laugh again, a deep, hearty sound that sent another weird shiver down my spine. “What’s so amusing?” I huffed, crossing my arms defensively.

“Why is it such a surprise that I’m a professor?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “Is it because I look young?” He sounded way too amused with himself.

“Well, yes, but also because you were supposed to be my professor this semester,” I muttered, suddenly far more interested in my nails than I had ever been in my life. I swear, I could've stared at the cuticles for hours.

Damon’s eyes glinted, and I caught the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Oh? And what makes you think I would’ve been your professor?"

I looked up, only half joking. "The fact that you were on the damn syllabus, and I’m pretty sure you’re the only one qualified to teach something that... interesting.” I managed a small, playful smirk. If I was going to be this flustered, I might as well have some fun with it.

A devious smirk tugged at the corner of his lips—those delectable lips. Lips I just wanted to... Nope. Hold on, Beazly. Not going there.

I cleared my throat and forced myself to look away. "Anyway," I said, like that would somehow reset the conversation. Spoiler: it didn’t.

"Anyway, little flower," Damon purred, his voice thick with seduction, but there was a flicker of amusement too, like he knew what was going on in my head. “Why is it ‘were’ my professor? Are you planning on dropping my class already?”

I nearly choked on my own tongue. “No! No, absolutely not! I've waited an entire year to take this class! No way in hell am I dropping it now! I mean, there are so many benefits to taking your class!” I could feel a blush creeping up my neck, spreading rapidly down to my chest. God, I sounded like a total weirdo. The embarrassment hit me like a freight train.

Damon’s smirk didn’t fade. Instead, it blossomed into a full-fledged smile—a very knowing smile. “Benefits, huh?” His eyes glinted with mischief. Oh, great. When did this turn into "Embarrass Lilith" time?

"Well, you’re the best in your field," I blurted out, my words tumbling over each other like a bad magic trick. "As young as you are, you’re one of the world’s most renowned anthropologists! You’re famous across the academic world for your innovative achievements and your approach to a topic that most anthropologists can't even begin to wrap their heads around, let alone grasp! I can't tell you how much I—"

Oh my God. STOP.

I froze, my face flaming as I realized I was basically giving him a TED talk on why he was an academic rock star. Stop right there, Beazly. Do not, under any circumstances, continue your fan-girling.

I swallowed hard, my brain desperately trying to catch up with my mouth. "Uh... Anyway," I added, doing my best to sound casual and not like a giddy teenager meeting their celebrity crush.

I could feel his gaze on me—like a tangible weight pressing against my skin. My hormones, of course, were throwing a full-on tantrum, whispering that he was undressing me with his eyes. But let’s be real. There was no way in hell that was happening. No way at all.

“Well, little flower,” Damon’s voice cut through the air like a blade, his words laced with that unsettling charm. “I hope to see your pretty face in class next week. I expect my new... star to show herself first thing Monday morning.”

The smirk that followed should’ve been illegal. And the way it made my blush explode from my cheeks all the way to my ears? Unfair. Heat flared through my body like wildfire, and for a brief, horrifying second, I thought I might just melt into the floor. God, what is he doing to me?

An oppressive silence fell over the room. I could feel the tension thickening, almost suffocating me. If I dared look at him again, I knew it would end badly—too badly. I’d probably find myself in some ridiculous fantasy about being under him, and that was not going to happen. My mind, my core, everything screamed at me to shut it down. I wasn’t that girl. Nope. Not a damn chance.

"You know," Damon’s voice sliced through the silence like a sharp knife, his tone deceptively casual, "now that I think of it, maybe you should drop my class. That way, I can at least ask you out on a date." The amusement in his voice was unmistakable, like he was playing some game I didn’t even know I was in.

My pulse kicked into overdrive. In a split second, the anger surged, hot and relentless, pushing everything else aside. I turned to face him, fury boiling inside me as I snapped, "I beg your pardon, Professor?"

The amusement in his eyes faltered, replaced by a flash of surprise. Good. He should be scared. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked, sounding too innocent for my liking.

“Oh, I’ll tell you what’s wrong,” I shot back, my voice trembling with restrained rage. “I will not drop a class because the professor wants to do me. Nor will I w***e myself out for good grades. Now, before any more stupidity escapes that mouth of yours, I suggest you leave. This. Instant.”

My fury was a storm, rising and crashing with every word. I could feel my chest heaving with the force of it, and I wasn’t about to back down.

Damon’s eyes, which had once been playful, darkened into something far more dangerous. Slowly, he rose to his feet, each movement deliberate, predatory. My breath caught as he leaned in, close enough for his breath to brush against my skin, his fingers reaching for my chin, locking me in place with the weight of his touch.

He tilted my head upward, forcing me to meet his gaze—his eyes now burning with a depth that made my heart pound in my chest, its beat growing louder and faster, threatening to suffocate me. "I do not take demands from mortals," he growled, his voice thick with a dark edge. “Nor do I suggest you sleep your way to the top, my little flower.”

The way he said that—it wasn’t just words, it was a growl, primal, possessive, like an animal preparing to sink its teeth into its prey. And in that moment, I felt every instinct in me scream to run. But I couldn’t.

He leaned in closer, his breath now a whisper against my ear. His voice, low and dangerous, was enough to make me freeze. “You are mine,” he rasped, his words laced with a possessiveness that made my heart stutter.

My body was on fire, my veins crackling with a strange, electric pulse that I couldn't escape. His presence was all-consuming, and I felt myself teetering on the edge of losing myself to it. My heart thundered in my chest, louder, faster—it was like it wanted him to hear it.

Damon’s eyes, which had once been playful, darkened into something far more dangerous. Slowly, he rose to his feet, each movement deliberate, predatory. My breath caught as he leaned in, close enough for his breath to brush against my skin, his fingers reaching for my chin, locking me in place with the weight of his touch.

He tilted my head upward, forcing me to meet his gaze—his eyes now burning with a depth that made my heart pound in my chest, its beat growing louder and faster, threatening to suffocate me. "I do not take demands from mortals," he growled, his voice thick with a dark edge. “Nor do I suggest you sleep your way to the top, my little flower.”

The way he said that—it wasn’t just words, it was a growl, primal, possessive, like an animal preparing to sink its teeth into its prey. And at that moment, I felt every instinct in me scream to run.

But I couldn’t.

He leaned in closer, his breath now a whisper against my ear. His voice, low and dangerous, was enough to make me freeze. “You are mine,” he rasped, his words laced with a possessiveness that made my heart stutter.

My body was on fire, my veins crackling with a strange, electric pulse that I couldn't escape. His presence was all-consuming, and I felt myself teetering on the edge of losing myself to it. My heart thundered in my chest, louder, faster—it was like it wanted him to hear it.

Just as his lips were about to claim mine, a voice—sharp, clear—cleared its throat from the direction of the door. The moment shattered. A doctor walked in the door head in her clipboard as a nurse, and it looked like another resident followed her in.