My Husband's Son Wants Me

Elena’s POV The hall of St. Jude’s University was my cathedral. It was a space where I truly found happiness. It was a place where I was finally in control of everything. But that day, my control was waning. "Sociology is the study of structures," I said, my voice steady despite the prickle of heat on the back of my neck. "But more importantly, it is the study of how those structures collapse." I turned to the chalkboard and my chalk screeched against the slate. As I moved, I felt it. It was the same weight I’ve felt every Tuesday and Thursday for the last six weeks. In the front row, as always, sat Julian Thorne. He didn't have a notebook open. He didn't even have a pen. At 6'3, he towered effortlessly. His broad shoulders made him look even bigger. His hair was perfectly styled as always, making him look perfect. I turned back to the class and my eyes caught his silver-blue ones. Julian wasn't looking at the board. He was looking at me. It wasn’t the distracted stare of a bored student that I had grown accustomed to. This was different. It was the type of gaze that should never be seen in a classroom among students. It was choking and scorching me wherever it went. I tried hard to stay focused. My pulse hammered against my throat. Focus, Elena. "Mr. Thorne," I said, my voice hitching slightly. "Since you’ve found my lecture so captivating that you’ve neglected to take a single note, perhaps you can define social deviance for the class?" The corner of Julian’s mouth curved upward, revealing a smile that made half the girls in the room lose their breath. He leaned back. The movement was purely predatory and calculated. “I have no idea, Dr. Vance,” he said, looking me directly in the eyes. The silence in the hall was deafening. Something about how he said my name kept me on edge. "You’re truly disappointing," I managed to say with a dissatisfied look as I retreated toward the safety of my podium. "I suggest you open a textbook before the midterm, Julian. Or you’ll find yourself deviating right out of this degree." He didn't look away. He didn't blink. He just watched me and his sharp eyes traced my every move. My throat suddenly felt parched so I reached for my water bottle with slightly shaky hands. For the rest of the class, I tried to avoid Julian’s gaze as much as possible. At some point, I acted like he wasn't in the same room as me. Back in my office, I was flipping through a textbook when my phone lit up with a call from Arthur. I smiled as I visibly relaxed. “Hello dearest,” he said. “Hi. How are you doing?” I asked as I leaned back in my chair. “I am fine. I’ve got some good news for you.” “Really?” I asked, feeling excited. “What is that?” “Dinner tonight at the estate. I know we’ve waited for this moment for so long. I want you to meet my son.” “Oh my god, really?” I asked. We had been dating for six months and although I’d been to his house a couple of times, I never got to see his son. “Yes, I think it’s time.” “I’m really excited for this.” I smiled. The tension of the classroom finally began to fade. Arthur was my prince in shining armor. Although he was a lot older and a widower, he was all I could ever wish for. At forty-eight, he was stable, protective, and deeply in love with me. He was a CEO that took care of all my needs, even though I worked. That evening, I felt on top of the world. Knowing the kind of person Arthur was, I knew this was a bold step for him. My dress was elegant. I wanted to look professional yet undeniably feminine. I didn’t want to do too much and at the same time, I didn’t want to be underdressed. I wore a red fitted dress that dropped to the floor. It had a slit by the side that displayed a bit of my thighs. I completed the look with a black purse and black heels to match. After one final look in the mirror, I left the house and got into my car. I followed the address and about thirty minutes later, I arrived at the mansion. Arthur answered the door as I rang the doorbell. “Hi,” I smiled when he showed up. He was dressed casually but even then, he looked really handsome. "You look breathtaking, Elena," he said, kissing my hand. “You’re just in time, dinner is ready.” “Thank you.” I smiled, very excitedly. “My son is already at the table.” He led me into the house. I ran my eyes around the expensive interior decor, marveling at how good his place looked. It wasn’t my first time but it still blew my mind. We walked into the dining room and I saw a figure standing by the window with his back turned to us. "Julian," Arthur said, his voice brimming with pride. "She’s here." Julian? At the sound of Arthur’s voice, he turned around and the once warm atmosphere turned to ice. Julian, my rebellious student who made me more nervous than I would like to admit, was staring right back at me with an unreadable expression. He was wearing a tailored black suit that made him look less like a student and more like a predator. I froze. Our eyes connected and it felt like everything else in the room melted away. “Come on,” Arthur said, as he urged Julian to come to us. He was completely oblivious to the tension in the room. He moved away from the window and began walking toward us. I hoped he wasn't who I thought he was. But when he stood right in front of me, I saw him clearly. It was him. It was the nightmare from the front row. Julian Thorne didn't look shocked to see me, he looked satisfied. He stepped forward. His thumb grazed my knuckles as he took my hand in a silent, burning claim. "Nice to finally meet you," Julian said, his voice dripping with a double meaning only I understood. "I've heard so much about the woman who’s been occupying my father's thoughts." He held onto my hand for a bit too long. He gripped my fingers a bit too tight to keep me in place. I stared into the eyes of the predator. His silver-blue eyes bored into mine and dared me to flinch in front of his father.