HE SAID I WAS JUST A BET

Chapter 71: Cornered

Maria barely made it out of the Literature class before she felt that familiar presence shadowing her steps. She didn’t need to turn to know it was Daniel—his energy clung to her like static.

“Why are you walking so fast?” His voice slid over her shoulder, low and smooth, but there was an edge in it that made her heart beat quicker.

“I’m not,” she lied, clutching her books tighter.

“Liar.”

Before she could protest, his hand caught her wrist—not hard, but firm enough to stop her mid-step. He tugged her gently toward the side corridor, away from the crowd.

“Daniel—” she began, but the rest of her sentence tangled in her throat when his other hand landed on the wall beside her head. His body caged hers in without actually touching, but the heat between them was impossible to ignore.

“Do you enjoy running from me?” he asked, his gaze searching her face like he could strip away every layer of denial.

She tried to look anywhere but at him, but his smirk deepened as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

“You make it too easy to chase, Maria,” he murmured, leaning just a fraction closer.

Her pulse hammered so loudly she was sure he could hear it. “Someone might see us,” she said again, but her voice had lost its strength.

“That’s the thrill, isn’t it?” His eyes flicked to her lips, and for a terrifying second she thought he might kiss her right there in the open.

Footsteps echoed in the distance, snapping her back. She shoved past him, her shoulder brushing his chest as she slipped away.

Daniel let her go—but not before saying softly, “You can run, but you won’t hide for long.”

Maria didn’t turn around, but the shiver down her spine told her he was right.