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i-am-a-bad-influence-writes · 1 month ago

Text

Back against the wall

Masterlist Word count: 4.3 k Xavier x Fem!Reader (Established relationship) Collage!AU - Everyone is included, everyone is similar ages, anything to make this story work.

Summary: Each year before summer break the whole campus plays a game called "Murder." The rules are simple. Everyone who signed up gets a plastic dagger with the name of their targed on it. You kill that person and get their dagger until two people are left. Last time you made it in the top three, this year you're determined to win. And your boyfriend Xavier is determined to make sure you don't.

Author's note: I did a similar story 6 years ago as a 9 Percent fanfic and I remembered how much fun I had writing that. It's terrible though, but you can find it here if you want to read it. To be honest, this story is shit but I wanted to take a break from my Sylus fic sooooo... I hope its readable :)

Warning! This story is meant for mature audiences.

Mature content under the cut.

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Ah, summertime. Weeks of freedom ahead of you and sunshine on your face. No homework, no assignments, no strict professors, and no classes. Just the soft breeze in your hair and hours to waste. Truly a moment of magical bliss in the life of a college student.

But the year has not ended yet. No, no, no. For the year to truly end there must be a bloodbath first. Not in the literal sense, in the sense of a game called Murder.

Rules are simple. You sign up if you want to play, if you sign up you get a plastic dagger with the name of your target. If you kill said target you will get their dagger and so on and so forth until one person is left standing. The matches are always made meticulously by a group that organizes it each year and sends out mass updates during. That's why you sign up before the winter holidays.

Exceptions and rules to the game besides that you obviously cannot throw your dagger at your target.

Number 1, no freshmen allowed. This is due to the terrible anxiety crisis of 2018 which caused the games to be postponed until the next year. Stories still go around about some poor kid that pissed their pants because they were too scared to venture outside their dorm. Ever since the rule has been that you have to experience the game as a bystander before you can join.

Number 2, no violence allowed. This excludes traps in which you corner someone. It includes holding someone in place, though you are allowed to do so for thirty seconds. Longer than that and you're disqualified.

Number 3, naked people and sleeping people get immunity. This is to ensure people can still go the bathroom and sleep without fearing for their "life", though some people use this rule and just walk around in a towel all day.

Number 4, dorm hallways are free game, dorm rooms and school building are not. As soon as someone gets past the door of their dorm room, a friend's dorm room, a stranger's dorm room they are safe. The school building is a safe zone because some people still need to study or hand stuff in and professors don't want to be bothered with murder politics. Though some do request updates occasionally. Some of them are even in the group chat that updates on the game each night.

Number 5, it's just a game so if you start to feel anxiety, just get stabbed. This does not mean to just go stand in the grass square between the dorm buildings and school building waiting for your murderer. It means sending a text to the comity that makes the murder game possible each year and tell them you'd like to surrender. They will send your murdered a message to come get your dagger. No one minds it because it's basically a free kill.

Number 6, the game is only played on campus. Any murders off school grounds lead to a disqualification. Your murdered will get a free kill and you are disqualified from playing next year.

And last but not least, the latest addition to the rules, number 7. If you and your partner both play you are not allowed to team up. Every couple that plays the game is "broken up" until the game is over. If you do team up, you are disqualified.

Oh, and you have to send a text to the organizers when you get killed about how you got killed and by who so they can keep track of who is still in the game.

∘₊✧───────────────────────────────────────✧₊∘

You are excited to say the least. Last year you made it to the top three. It was you, your friend Sylus, and your boyfriend Xavier. Sylus managed to kill you while you were making your way to Xavier to kill him. When you called him to inform him of the news, he wanted to come avenge you, but Sylus got him first.

The other reason you're excited is because you managed to get everyone in your friend group to join. Even Zayne, who "doesn't usually bother with menial, childish games" seemed the slightest bit excited in his own way.

Tonight is the night. At around 2 am, someone on your floor screams bloody murder and you know it's begun. You run to your door to see the plastic dagger left in front of it. With an evil grin, you pick it up and look at the name scribbled on it with black marker.

Jeremiah. Oh, this is going to be good.

Not only is Jeremiah your friend, he also lives on your floor in the dorm across from yours. And not only that, he is standing in front of you, the door to his dorm on the other side of the hallway opened as he looks out onto the floor with sleepy eyes. 'Did it start,' he asks you.

'It did,' you almost squeal, 'help me unscrew the lightbulbs.' This is a tactic you also used last year. Very effective for stealth. You also taped a garbage bag to the glass door leading to your floor so that no one can see anyone coming. Last year it was such a success that people started copying you. This year, you can already see a few of the other people on your floor unscrewing lightbulbs on the other end of the hallway.

Jeremiah picks up his dagger from the floor and sighs loudly when he reads the name. 'I'm certainly getting killed before I manage this,' he grumbles to himself while he shuffles back inside to get a chair for you to stand on.

He's back seconds later and I climb onto the chair. When we get to about halfway down the hall, you take your dagger out of your pocket and push the tip against his shoulder. 'Got you,' you muse. He looks up at you with wide eyes.

'You have got to be fucking kidding me.' You show him your dagger with his name on it. He lets out another loud sigh and hands over his dagger. 'Stabbed in the back by one of my best friends. At least you get what you deserve.'

'Oh come on, better to be killed by me than Sylus or Luke or Kieran or-' I sum up while I wave his dagger in the air until my eyes land on the name written on it.

'Yeah, yeah, I get it,' he snaps at you a little annoyed, 'I just hoped to survive the first night for once.'

'You got Sylus,' I whisper scream at him, 'what the fuck?'

He shrugs. 'They were probably giving me a fighting chance. You know he likes to watch the chaos on the square the first night. He's not nearly as alert the first night.'

'A fighting chance? And they gave me your name?' He shrugs again.

'I don't know. But you better go get him now, ‘cause you won't be able to later.'

Well, you can only hope and pray now. You head back into your dorm and slip on your sneakers. 'Are you joining me outside Jeremiah,' you call out to him.

'Wouldn't want to miss it.'

∘₊✧───────────────────────────────────────✧₊∘

First night is always a bloodbath. In hopes of using the chaos from the game starting, tons of people leave their dorms to find their targets and get a few cheap kills in. You are no different, but it seems you are in the murder spirits good graces today.

The second you step out of your dorm building you are faced with Sylus’ back. To be fair, no one but you and a few of your friends would be bold enough to kill Sylus on the very first night. He won his very first year playing in a legendary way so he is basically in the hall of fame. Most people give him grace on the first night, but not you. You are playing to win this time.

So you head up to him, dagger in hand, and wrap your arm around his waist in a friendly manner. The dagger in your hand rests on his waist in a way that he can't quite see it. He looks down at you, a bit shocked, but smiles when he sees it's you and puts his arm around you. You and Sylus have always been a touchy feely type of friends. Both of you are severely touch starved (even though Xavier clings to you like a koala) and spend days and nights cuddling if you get the chance so he doesn't think anything of it.

Then, you turn your hand and press the tip of your dagger against his leg. 'Cough up your dagger, bird boy.' His eyes flicker to the dagger pressed against his leg, to you with the utmost disgust and disbelief in his eyes.

'That's foul,' he states.

'All is fair in love and war,' you tease. He rolls his eyes. That's exactly what he had said to you last year when he killed you. He hands you his dagger and you read the name on it. 'Are you kidding,' you groan, 'Rafayel? Really?'

∘₊✧───────────────────────────────────────✧₊∘

Murder update: The first night was a bloody one, bloodier than ever before. Last night 104 out of 306 people were slain. In a twisting turn of events, grand champion Sylus was slain only half an hour into the game. A video was submitted of the murder occurring. He was slain by last year's number 3. Top 3 kill count: -Jenna (7) -Rafayel (13) -Xavier (19) The game ends next Saturday when the clock strikes midnight. Happy hunting!

Of course, Rafayel is number 2 on the list. You hear he has to leave tonight because his art is being shown at some fancy gallery. He probably went ahead and tried to kill as many people as he could because he has nothing to lose.

That being said, the man's not stupid. He'd see you coming from miles away. Rafayel is a little shit and he knows people enjoy killing him in this game. He's got eyes in the back of his head in the form of Thomas. No one really knows if the two truly get along but they seem to stick together most of the time.

So you use your secret weapon.

Simone.

There are many, many pretty girls on campus. But there's pretty girls and then there's Simone. Men swarm her each and every day and you just happen to know that Thomas also has a weak spot for her. Oh, if people only knew she's a raging lesbian. (this is my head canon, shut up)

And your plan works perfectly. While Thomas tries to chat up Simone at the main entrance of the dorms, Rafayel waits impatiently for him to finish and help with his bags. That's where you come in.

'Hey Raf, are you already leaving?' He turns to you and smiles. You doubt he even cares about getting murdered anymore, but he'd be damned if it happened in a stupid way.

'I'm trying to, but Thomas is busy,' he complains and then turns to you very sweetly, 'could you-'

'What do I get out of it,' you question as you cross your arms before he can even finish his question. He sighs and rolls his eyes, dramatic as ever.

'I don't know, what do you want?'

'Bring me back a fridge magnet?'

'You and your fridge magnets,' he sighs loudly, 'fiiine~. Now come on, I'm gonna be late.' He turns around to grab one of his bags.

'Oh, just one more thing,' you note, as you take out your dagger. When he turns around, you push it against his stomach. 'You're dead.'

'I knew it would be you,' he groans, 'gods, my reputation will never recover.'

'You'll be fine crybaby. Now hand over the goods and I'll help you to your car.'

∘₊✧───────────────────────────────────────✧₊∘

Things progress rapidly after that. You kill over thirty people in the span of a few days, yet you still haven't gotten Xavier's name on your dagger like you wanted to. And then Wednesday comes around... Date night... And you've got a text from Xavier.

Xavier: "Are we still doing date night?"

You: "I think we'd better not."

Xavier: "That's unfair. I miss you... :("

You: "You miss having sex with me."

Xavier: "That too, but I haven't seen you for days."

You: "Fiiiiine, we'll go get pizza off campus. Leave the daggers at home?"

Xavier: "Deal."

You've got a bad feeling about this and said bad feeling doesn't go away, even when the date is long over and you're walking back to the dorms together hand in hand. 'We should probably spit up before we get disqualified,' you suggest. Xavier nods as he reaches into his coat pocket. Your eyes go wide as you realize what he is probably going to grab. 'Oh you are a terrible human being.'

A glint of amusement sparks in his eye, his hand still holding yours tightly to keep you in place while you start trying to get away. 'You get two minutes,' he tells you in a chilling voice, but there's something else in there. Something darker. Something sexual.

You push yourself against him, your free hand on his chest. 'You're enjoying this, aren't you?' He nods. 'Maybe we should do something with that when all this is over,' you say in a sultry voice. He nods again and dips down to press a kiss on your lips. Your whole body tingles as you feel his semi hard on press against you.

And then he lets go of your hand and you fucking run. You run so fucking fast, but you know that Xavier is faster. He always has been, always will be. However, you've got a plan for that. It's not that late and the sun is still setting, that means there's people on the grass square enjoying the evening.

You're going to use Xavier's jealousy against him and undress in the middle of the square.

When you get there, you turn around and see Xavier quickly gaining on you. You start taking off clothes. First your jacket, then you kick off your shoes, and when you get to pushing down your shorts, Xavier is already stopped a few meters away from you.

'Please don't undress,' he begs you quietly. You see his cheeks and ears turn a faint shade of pink. You've won.

'Why? I want to stay alive,' you say in the most naïve voice you can muster up. Xavier's eyes start darting around the people watching the scene unfold. A few people have their cameras out so they can update everyone on what's happening.

'I don't want all these people to see you naked,' he admits, his tone low and almost growling, 'your body is for my eyes only. I'll give you a free pass if you don't undress.'

'That might be the very first time you've ever said that to me,' you gleam. You've fucking won! Whoop, whoop! 'Promise to stay here until I get inside the building?' He nods. 'Say it.'

Suddenly, his ears go bright red and his blush is much more prominent. Seems you've found another thing to try when all this is over. 'I promise.'

'Good,' you smile, 'and if you do move, I am taking off my shirt and showing everyone your favorite bra.'

'Seriously?'

'Yeah, I thought I better be prepared for betrayal.' He shakes his head with a laugh. Reason why your relationship works so well is because you know how to relax together but you are also damn competitive when it matters. He knows you'll do anything to win this game because he'd do anything to win this game. Nothing about your threat is bluff. He'll take defeat for now.

'Go ahead.'

∘₊✧───────────────────────────────────────✧₊∘

And suddenly it's Saturday.

When Xavier gave you a free pass, you avoided him like the fucking plague and started meticulously working down your list of victims until you got to his name. After Wednesday not many people were left which made your work a whole lot easier.

Rafayel gave you Kieran, who was pretty much done with the game after his twin brother Luke got killed. Normally they'd be extremely competitive but not when the other is out, so when you stabbed him he almost looked happy.

That's how you got Zayne who you simply bumped into on the way to the library, so that was the end of his streak. Not that he really cared, it was his first time playing and he had decided it was not for him.

Zayne gave you Thomas, so you got Simone to talk to him again and got him real easy. Sadly, he gave you Jenna who you figured was going to be a problem. But a little birdy told you that she had Xavier's dagger, so you walked to his dorm building and found her camping out in a corner. She hadn't seen you yet, so it was a fairly easy kill. She wasn't happy though. You need to keep an eye on her next year for sure.

And now you've got Xavier's dagger again and it is, once again, date night. At this point you shouldn't be this gullible and believe him once more when he promised to leave his dagger at home.

And you didn't, but you brought yours with no intention of using it.

See, let's all be very frank about this, Xavier and you fuck like bunnies. At least six days per week and twice almost half of those days. Only reason you haven't this past week is because of the game. Because both of you are competitive motherfuckers and one of you would stab the other the fucking second either of you would leave the dorm room clothed.

He is fucking pent up and you are too, so you decided you are going to offer him something he can't refuse. Something you usually push away from because it's a little uncomfortable for you. Only because you know you're going to get feral Xavier out of it and if there's something you need right the fuck now, it's feral Xavier.

So here you are once more, walking back to campus hand in hand. Smiling, talking, stealing kisses like the whole game isn't going on and you two aren't the only ones still playing.

'So what do we do when we get back to campus,' Xavier asks. You look at him with feigned surprise.

'I thought we said we'd leave our daggers in our dorm,' you say. A mischievous smirk spreads on Xavier's lips. The tension rises.

'Really? I guess I forgot again.' You let go of his hand and hit his shoulder, trying to look angry while this is all, truly, going exactly as planned.

'You dick! You were planning on killing me!'

'As Sylus would say, all is fair in love and war,' he muses, 'and we are both very much in love and at war.' You pull on his arm to stop him from walking further and push yourself against his chest, making sure to look up at him with the biggest doe eyes you can muster up.

'If you love me, you'll give me a five-minute head start.'

'What do I get out of it,' he asks with a grin.

'I'll let you do me against a wall.' His eyes widen ever so slightly and there's a little twitch of his dick against your abdomen. The tension grows as you watch him look down at your lips and back up to your eyes. You can practically see his mind race behind his eyes as he weighs his options.

'Fuck it. Deal.' And you take off as fast as you can.

∘₊✧───────────────────────────────────────✧₊∘

One more hour.

You have one more hour to kill Xavier, but no one seems to know where he is. All your confidantes have gone dark, which makes sense. About ten minutes ago the murder game committee send a mass text that no one is to help Xavier or me to keep it a fair game. You still tried to contact people though. Couldn't hurt to try.

Sadly, all your friends are squares and so you have to venture out into the dark hallway outside your dorm. Turning off all those lights suddenly seems like the stupidest idea you've ever had. Until you hear something.

It's Xavier's distinctive humming.

He came here to kill you when you leave your dorm room, but he seems unaware that you've just left. Normally, you watch a show around this hour so he might think you are watching that and you'll leave after it finishes. Seeing that it's 11 pm, your show would've ended in ten minutes.

You quickly press yourself against the wall and sneak up to the corner he has to come around to get to your dorm. The second he appears in your sight, you stab him. In the darkness you can just make out how utterly shocked he looks, but then... something shifts and he smirks.

'Thank fuck,' he says breathlessly and presses his lips against yours, pressing you against the wall. He gently pushes his dagger in your hand and picks you up like you weigh nothing. 'I swear I would've died if this went on any longer.'

With his quick strides, it takes mere seconds to get you into your dorm room and the door locked. He presses you up against the wall again, pushing down your sweatpants with urgency. The hunger in his kisses makes you think he was close to dying. His hands are everywhere on your body, overwhelming your senses. You didn't even notice he took his shirt off and your sweatpants are completely off.

His hands move to the back of your thighs, lifting you up against the wall. Your hands are on his shoulders, pulling him impossibly close. He thought he was the only one missing the closeness, but your ragged breath and lust filled eyes tell him otherwise.

'I missed you so much, Bunny,' he groans as he ruts against you, his jeans providing delicious friction to your clothed clit. An almost guttural moan escapes you. He grins against the skin of your shoulder and suddenly bites down. Not enough to break skin, but more than enough to show. The tingling in your body goes on overdrive and you can't think anymore.

'Please, please, Xavier, please,' you beg him, not even sure what you're begging for but if it involves his dick inside you, you'll be alright. He quickly unzips his pants and takes his dick out of his boxers, no time to take anything else off. He just needs to be inside you right now.

Xavier pushes into you, and you gasp. Normally, you can take him well, but it's been a week and it's a stretch now. As feral as Xavier is, he does take his time with you. In the end you're still his girlfriend and he doesn't want to hurt you without consent. Inch by inch he sinks into you, treasuring every little sound that comes out of your mouth like it's the most beautiful song ever written.

You feel the uneven wall start scratching your back when Xavier sets a pace but at this point you don't care. Your nails are digging into his back as you try to hold onto him. His eyes are focused on you, looking at you like you're a painting. Then, he kisses you feverishly and quickens his pace.

He pounds into you relentlessly, the kisses on your lips have moved to your neck and shoulder along with love bites and a desperate attempt to leave as many hickeys as he can. You are trying to do the same, missing the way either of you always has a few "bruises" on your body.

Together, you dance towards the edge of pleasure. One of his hands moves to your bundle of nerves to help you get closer to your shared goal. It's all too much and you do something you've never done before.

You bite his shoulder. He groans, a combination of pain and pleasure washing over him. His lips leave your shoulder and slot back onto yours in a fight of teeth and tongues, edging close and closer and closer until you both fall over in a chorus of groans, moans, screams of either's names, far too loud to be appropriate in a dorm building. Neither of you cares though.

His hips snap against you a few more times. Sloppy, uncoordinated, passionate. Your brain is a mess and all you know is that you want to go again. And again. And again. Slowly, your breathing steadies, Xavier's hips still and slips out of you, the mixture of your fluids dripping down your thighs.

He presses a loving kiss to your forehead. 'Thank you so much, bunny. Go lay down, I'll clean you up.' Lucky for you, you are one of the few people with a sink in your room that has warm water. You lay down on the bed while he takes a towel, dampens it with warm water and helps you clean up.

'We should take a shower together later,' you tell him, stretching your arms above your head to soften the strain on your muscles.

'If you're offering,' he teases.

And suddenly there's a knock on the door, pulling both of you out of your little world. Xavier checks his phone and shows it to you. 00:00. The game is over.

Fast as you both can, you get dressed again and you open the door to see a few of your friends and others that are curious about the results standing outside. Maybe a little too fast as you feel all their gazes on your neck. Xavier looks down at his handywork and sighs.

'She won,' he announces, hoping it'll pull the attention off of your state. But the group stays quiet. There's a strange lull over the whole thing. Until, suddenly, Kieran speaks up.

'THEY BEEN FUCKING!'

Both you and Xavier look at him with fury in your eyes. Sylus, standing next to Kieran, lets out a laugh and nudges him.

'You're going to get murdered for real. Better start running.'

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aeralux · 1 month ago

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"Dumb & Poetic" - Lucerys Velaryon

(part one/part two)

Modern!Lucerys x Reader

Summary: A clash of egos. A rich boy and a scholarship girl. Sounds like a match made in hell. So, obviously, your professor pairs you up for the semester's most important project. A week alone on the sea with the entitled Lucerys... How ever would you survive?

Modern!AU; Enemies to Lovers; Collage!AU

Warnings: enemies to lovers!au; kind of a slow burn; rich boy Lucerys; explicit fantasies of each other; foul language; slight Addam x Reader

Words: in this part 18k

Notes: No description of the reader (just that she has hair). No smut in this part (yet), otherwise, it would have been way toooo long. Just dirty thoughts in this one... English is not my first language. If you do not agree with any of the warnings, do NOT read.

Blackwater Bay Maritime University stood proudly before you, its large pale building glowing under the sun. The salty sea scent and the rich smell of varnished wood greeted you as you stepped onto the busy campus. You could see sleek boats bouncing gently in the water, their polished surfaces glistening in the sunlight, while students in high-end-looking outfits strolled by. It made you feel out of place. Sure, you weren't broke, but you felt out of your league among these trust-fund kids with their private yachts and endless resources. You were here thanks to a scholarship, one wrong grade, and you are out.

Determined not to let your sharp tongue land you in hot water, you needed to win over your professors and classmates. Unfortunately, none of your friends transferred to this prestigious marine university, not caring much about sea life and biology. But you had fought tooth and nail for your spot here, pursuing a major in oceanography and a minor in Business—and you had earned it. You were determined to prove you had just as much right to be here as those silver spoon types.

With those thoughts swirling in your head, you knew you had to find your housing on campus. You followed a few random university students until you finally located your residence hall and room number.

Should I knock? No, wait—this is also my room too. I'll just go.

Pushing the door open, you stepped inside. "Hey," you said cautiously, peeking in as you entered your new home for the year. "I'm your roommate," you said with a friendly smile. The girl inside caught your attention instantly. She was pretty, with white, curly hair that framed her face. Her smooth, dark complexion and the cute gap between her front teeth gave her a model-like appeal.

Her face lit up at your arrival. "Hi! So nice to meet you!" She exclaimed, jumping up from her seat as if she couldn't contain her excitement. You barely had time to brace yourself before she flew across the room to give you a warm hug. "Sorry! I'm a hugger," she said, her smile making you feel more at ease amid the unfamiliar surroundings.

"No problem," you chuckled, setting down your bags with a soft thud on the ground. The corners of your mouth lifted as you looked at her, feeling a playful warmth in the air. "I don't mind being hugged by pretty girls," you joked lightly, letting a teasing grin play on your lips. You felt an easy-going vibe from her, making you smile even more, knowing you got lucky with your roommate. The sunlight hung low, casting a golden glow around you, adding to the atmosphere. This might turn out to be a genuinely good year.

She laughed, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment. "My name is Baela Targaryen, I’m from Dragonstone," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. You leaned in, intrigued by her presence; something was captivating about her, something that drew you in.

"Yeah, I’m not from Blackwater either," you replied, your mind drifting back to stories of your life before university.

Suddenly, you realised something, brows lifting slightly. "Wait. You’re a Targaryen?" You asked with an amused smile on your lips. "You mean to tell me that my roommate is the heiress of Fire & Flight Enterprises?" Your eyes widened in disbelief. It was no secret that the Targaryens were among the wealthiest in the realm, but it was hard to accept that with the girl before you, who seemed so down-to-earth.

"Yeah..." she replied, her tone shifting to something softer, almost bashful. "Don’t make this into a big deal, though. I just wanted a break from my family and all their expectations. My last name makes it pretty hard to find genuine friends..." Her voice trailed off as a bittersweet expression crossed her face, leaving you feeling empathy for her.

"Hey, don’t even worry about that," you quickly reassured her, wanting her to know you weren’t just another person drawn to her status. "I’m really not that kind of person, I swear. I’m just curious—why not get a single room instead? You might risk getting a roommate who snores or talks in her sleep," you added with a light-hearted chuckle, trying to lift her spirits. "Not that I do any of those things... at least not often," you said with a playful grin as you began to unpack your things.

As you glanced over, you noticed her side of the room was already neatly organised. There was a certain charm in how she had set everything up, and somehow, it made you feel more at home as you settled in.

"So uh... what do you major in, Baela?" you asked her as you carefully unpacked your clothes, folding the shirts and stacking them neatly in the drawer. Thankfully, you didn’t bring too many items, making the task manageable.

"Oh, I’m going to major in International Strategy and Security, with a minor in Business," she replied, her eyes glued to her phone as she casually scrolled through updates.

"Really? I chose Business as my minor too! My major is Oceanography," you chuckled, exchanging smiles that felt warm in the newness of your surroundings. "Did any friends come with you here, or are you alone like me?"

"Well, my cousin is here too—Lucerys. He’s in another residence building... and actually in the same major as you," Baela said, her eyebrow slightly raised in surprise. "Funny how small the world really is, huh?"

"Well, if your cousin is anything like you, I’m sure we’ll get along just fine," you replied, finishing up your unpacking and arranging your beauty products on the small bathroom counter. Each item found its place, from toothpaste to moisturizer, creating a cosy little corner.

Baela fell silent momentarily, her brow furrowing as she contemplated your comment. "Yeah, he’s okay," she finally said, her voice rising slightly. She looked away, wide-eyed, as if pondering a hidden truth. "Just needs some time to get used to. You'll definitely recognise him though, he cannot be missed," she added with a hint of caution. You could sense the underlying tension; perhaps Lucerys had a bit of a reputation, even among family. After all, he could sometimes get on Baela’s nerves, and they had known each other since they were practically babies.

You tilted your head, curiosity piqued. Was he supposed to be some jerk or something?

"I guess we will see tomorrow then," you said, a playful grin spreading across your face. With a light-hearted plop, you jumped onto your bed, bouncing slightly on the mattress after arranging your most essential items. Baela laughed at your silly antics, the sound brightening the small room, and walked over to sit beside you.

"We could check out some bars on Friday. How does that sound?" she suggested, her hopeful smile lighting up her face.

You nodded, feeling the excitement of new friendships and experiences in the foreign city. "Sure, that sounds like fun. Let’s just get through the first week," you said, rolling over to face her, the potential of the days ahead promisingexcitement.

You had braced yourself for an overwhelming first day of classes, but you weren’t prepared for the kind of guy who could set your nerves on fire with just a glance. The lecture hall buzzed with energy as you stepped inside, searching for an empty seat among rows of well-dressed students. Conversations filled the air, their posh accents swirling in a haze of privilege and entitlement.

That’s when you saw him.

He lounged at the front of the room, one arm casually draped over the back of his chair, exuding an easy confidence that seemed second nature to someone who’d never had to earn their privilege. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, igniting his tousled brown hair and highlighting the sharp angles of his jawline—a living testament to wealth and status.

You didn’t need an introduction to know who he was. Lucerys Velaryon—the heir of the Velaryon Shipping Empire, and, coincidentally, Baela’s cousin. The aura of superiority that surrounded him was nearly palpable, as students flocked to him like moths to a flame, captivated yet hesitant to sit beside him.

Annoyance simmered beneath your skin, but practicality won out. You chose the closest available seat—directly next to him. He glanced your way, his eyes skimming over you as if you were nothing more than a fleeting shadow, before returning his attention to the laptop sprawled in front of him, his things scattered all over the empty desk. Part of you was relieved; the less interaction with him, the better.

“Excuse me,” you said, sharpness creeping into your tone as you stared straight ahead. His fleeting glance turned into mild surprise as his eyebrows arched. “Is this seat taken, or are you too important to share a desk?”

To your astonishment, a grin spread across his face, a playful spark igniting in his eyes. "Sorry, I didn't realize my sheer presence was enough to make you feel unwelcome. Please, have a seat." His mock grandeur made you roll your eyes, the sarcasm dripping from his words.

With a frustrated sigh, you flopped down in the seat, pulling out your laptop. "Thanks for the permission," you muttered under your breath, trying to ignore the flicker of interest that sparked when you caught the gleam in his eye.

Leaning in slightly, he lowered his voice, almost conspiratorially. “So, what’s your deal?” His gaze bore into yours, mischief and curiosity swirling like a storm. Most girls here would be fawning over him, desperate to catch his attention. But you? You seemed blissfully unaware of the allure he held, and that intrigued him more than he cared to admit.

“My deal?” You replied, tilting your head, a bemused smile tugging at your lips as your fingers deftly powered on your computer. He was undeniably handsome, but the cockiness radiating from him was irritating. Your eyes met his, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air. “What makes you think I have a ‘deal’?” you shot back, arching one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Maybe I’m just here to learn. Have you thought about that?”

As you leaned back in your chair, your hair brushing against your shoulders, you crossed your arms defiantly. The tension crackled like electricity, an undeniable friction forming between you two. At that moment, you both recognised something deeper at play—an automatic rivalry, two egos colliding.

Lucerys scoffed, rolling his eyes at your response. "Oh please. I suggest you tone it down with the attitude. Anyone could see you're out of place here." He glanced down at his laptop, clearly trying to ignore you now.

But you weren't about to let him off that easily. You leaned in closer, your voice low and challenging. "And what exactly is my 'attitude' supposed to be? Because from where I'm sitting, it seems like you're the one with the problem."

Your words hit their mark, and Lucerys' jaw clenched. He slammed his laptop shut, whirling to face you fully. "You know what? I don't need this crap from a scholarship 'beggar'. Find a new seat, princess."

But you just sneered, not backing down an inch. "Or what? Will you report me to the dean? Please, try it. I'd like to see you explain to your daddy how you can't handle sitting next to a girl who won't fall at your feet."

Lucerys' face reddened with anger, his hands balling into fists on the desk. He was so close now, you could feel the heat radiating off his body. "You have no idea who you're messing with," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

But you just laughed, the sound light and carefree. "Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea. The spoiled rich boy who thinks the world revolves around him. How original."

The professor walked in then, and Lucerys quickly turned back to face the front, his jaw clenched tight. You couldn't help but smirk, pleased with how easily you had gotten under his skin.

"You're all talk and no action, Lucerys. Just another rich boy playing at being a man. Just cause you act like one doesn't make you a man."

Lucerys' eyes flashed with anger as he whipped his head back towards you, his voice low and venomous. "Careful, or I'll show you just how much of a man I can be." He leaned in, his face mere inches from yours, his breath hot against your skin. "You wouldn't know real power if it bit you on that smartass mouth of yours."

You held his gaze, refusing to back down, your heart pounding in your chest. "Is that a threat?" you asked, your voice steady. "Because if it is, I'm not impressed."

The professor cleared their throat loudly, and Lucerys reluctantly turned back around, muttering under his breath. But you could still feel the heat of his glare boring into you.

As the lecture droned on, you found yourself stealing glances at him. Despite his bravado, there was something vulnerable about him, a hint of insecurity beneath the superiority.

Lucerys struggled to focus on the lecture, his mind reeling from the fiery exchange with the infuriating girl beside him. Who did you think you were, talking to him like that? But even he couldn't deny the spark of interest that took over him.

His eyes flicked to your profile, taking in the delicate curve of your neck, and the fullness of your lips. He imagined what it would be like to silence you with a kiss, to feel those lips on his...

No. He shook his head, trying to dislodge the intrusive thoughts. He couldn't afford to get distracted, not by you. You were nothing but an ordinary girl, a nobody. He had to remember that.

But as the lecture ended and you both gathered your things, he found his eyes lingering, unable to tear away from your retreating form.

"Until next time, princess," he called out, a challenging smirk on his lips. You paused, glancing back at him with a raised eyebrow.

"We'll see about that," you muttered as you headed out of the lecture hall.

The rest of the day crawled by, and you found yourself counting down the minutes until you could escape back to the safety of your dorm. When you finally burst through the door, Baela was sprawled out on the plush carpet, her long curls fanned out around her like a halo.

"Hey you!" she called out, her face lighting up at the sight of you. "How was your first day? I bet you made all sorts of friends with that winning personality of yours."

You flopped down beside her with a groan, burying your face in your arms. "Ugh, you wouldn't believe the day I've had. Remember the dude you told me about, Lucerys? Turns out he's a total dickhead. Like, the worst kind of rich, entitled prick you can imagine."

Baela sat up, her eyebrows knitting together in concern. "Wait, Lucerys? As in, my cousin Lucerys?"

You nodded miserably, shaking your head. "One and the same. He's in my most important class of the semester, and let me tell you, he did not take kindly to being seated next to little old me. Threatened to get me kicked out and everything."

Baela's mouth fell open in shock. "What? That's insane! I'm so sorry. Lucerys can be a real jerk sometimes, but I never thought he'd stoop that low. I'll have a word with him, I promise."

You waved her off, sitting up and leaning back on your hands. "Don't bother. I can handle myself. I just needed to vent a little. But enough about that loser. Tell me about your day! I bet it was way more interesting than mine."

Baela sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Yeah, it was pretty uneventful. Mostly just a bunch of stuffy lectures and boring group work. I can't believe we're supposed to be here for four years."

She leaned back on her elbows, her curls tumbling over her shoulders. "But I met this cute guy during my business lecture. He sat next to me and we chatted for a bit, but that's about it."

A mischievous grin spread across her face. "Speaking of cute boys, you didn't mention meeting any in your classes. Don't tell me you were too busy fending off Lucerys' charms to notice anyone else."

She nudged you playfully with her foot, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Come on, spill. I know there has to be at least one guy who caught your eye today. And if not, well, we'll have to go on a mission to find you one!"

You couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm, despite the stress. Baela seemed to somehow know how to brighten your mood, even when things seemed bleak.

"Alright, alright, you win," you conceded, holding up your hands in mock surrender. "There was this one guy in my Marine Biology lecture who seemed pretty cool. Tall, dark hair, really intense eyes. But I didn't get a chance to talk to him much. He seemed to be too immersed in the lecture, you know?"

Baela perked up at that, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Ooh, a mysterious man of few words. I like him already! You'll have to make your move soon."

You rolled your eyes good-naturedly, but a small smile tugged at your lips. Maybe this university thing wouldn't be so bad, not with a friend like Baela by your side.

The two of you spent the rest of the evening gossiping and laughing, the tension melting away in the warmth of your friendship.

The air of peace was interrupted by your phone ringing with an email notification. "Hold that thought, babe," you said with a chuckle, reaching for your phone.

But as soon as you read the message, your heart sank. It was from your Marine Ecology professor, assigning you partners for a massive group project worth 70% of your grade. And who was your partner? You guessed it - Lucerys fucking Velaryon.

"No. No, no, no," you groaned, burying your face in a nearby pillow. This couldn't be happening. The universe was clearly out to get you.

Baela looked at you with a mixture of concern and amusement. "What's wrong?"

You shoved the phone into her hands, too defeated to even read the email out loud. She scanned it quickly, then burst out laughing.

"This is NOT funny," you whined, snatching the phone back.

Baela's laughter tapered off as she took in your miserable expression. "I'm sorry. That really sucks. But hey, maybe it won't be so bad. You two could surprise yourselves and actually work well together."

You shot her a withering look. "Yeah, right. More like we'll probably end up killing each other before the semester's over."

You flopped back onto the floor, staring up at the ceiling.

Lucerys leaned back in his chair, scrolling through his phone with a bored expression. The day had been dull, filled with uninteresting lectures and tedious work. He couldn't wait to get back to his room and forget about all this academic nonsense.

But then, he saw the email from his Marine Ecology professor. A group project, worth a significant chunk of his grade. He rolled his eyes, preparing to delete it without reading. But then he saw his partner's name.

You. That infuriating, insufferable girl from his major. The one who had dared to challenge him, to question his authority. How dare you be paired with him, as if you were his equal?

A slow smirk spread across his face as he contemplated all the ways he could make your life miserable. He could ignore you completely, forcing you to handle all the work by yourself. Alternatively, he could undermine you at every turn, sabotaging your project to watch you fail.

But then, a different thought struck him. What if he played nice? What if he acted like the perfect partner—charming and attentive, always ready to lend a helping hand? He could lull you into a false sense of security, making you believe he had changed. Then, when you least expected it, he could strike.

He could ruin you, not just academically. But also fuck with your head at the same time.

You turned up to the dreaded class, your heart pounding. The stuffy scent of the classroom mixed with the faint aroma of coffee drifting in from the corridor. You sank into your seat next to your 'partner', the one person you hoped to avoid for the entire semester.

The tension crackled in the air like static, each of you acutely aware of the silence between you—a silent standoff, similar to gladiators readying for battle in an arena.

Lucerys Velaryon sat with casual arrogance, leaning back in his chair like he owned the room. His dark hair fell perfectly as if the wind itself wouldn’t dare ruffle it, and his sharp jawline only served to emphasize that infuriating smirk he always wore. He was everything you despised: cocky, self-assured, and irritatingly handsome in a way that made you want to both punch him and… well, something else you refused to entertain.

It was apparent that neither of you was content with being partners for the entire semester. Yet here you were, forced into this arrangement that had your stomach churning.

The first part of the project was mercifully straightforward—strictly planning—which meant you could work at a distance, avoiding the hostility that flared whenever you were too close. You could pour over charts and maps, tapping out your ideas on the laptop while he could occupy himself with his own proposals.

But the real dread loomed in the shadows—the end of the project. Spending several nights on a boat. Alone. Just the two of you.

Your heart raced at the thought. The project required you both to venture out into the open waters, taking shifts to monitor navigation and keep the vessel on course. Being confined to a small space, away from others, with him made your palms sweat.

The thought of sharing space with him, and the way your different personalities might clash, made you feel like you were losing your grip on reality. But part of you was definitely curious. You wondered if your heated exchanges could turn into something else.

Whatever happened you were determined to hold your ground, to endure it no matter what. After all, failing was not an option; not for you.

Lucerys couldn't help but smirk as he watched you fidget nervously beside him. The sight of you so flustered was almost enough to make him forget his anger from earlier. Almost. Your discomfort was like a drug to him, an aphrodisiac that only fueled his desire to rile you up even more.

His gaze flicked to you, his smirk deepening as if he could sense your annoyance. “Lucky me,” he drawled, his voice low and smooth, with a hint of sarcasm that made your skin prickle. “Looks like we’re stuck together for this project. Should be fun.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” you shot back, narrowing your eyes. “I’m only with you because I have to be.”

Lucerys let out a low, mocking laugh, the sound curling between you like smoke. “Oh, I can tell. That scowl you’ve been wearing since day one is so inviting.” He leaned forward slightly, resting an elbow on the desk as his gaze swept over you. “Tell me, princess, how do you plan on surviving a week stuck on a boat with me? Going to throw yourself overboard to escape?”

Your jaw clenched, anger bubbling in your chest as you turned back to your laptop with a loud clack of keys. “I’m not worried about surviving, Lucerys. I’m more concerned about how you’ll handle being away from your precious daddy and all his money for so long.”

"Ah, the daddy card,” he said, tilting his head with an amused expression. “How original. Remind me again—what’s wrong with having money?”

You huffed, refusing to look at him as your fingers flew over the keyboard. “Nothing, if you’ve actually earned it. But I wouldn’t expect you to understand that.”

Lucerys chuckled, the sound infuriatingly warm, as if you’d just told him a joke. “Careful, you’re starting to sound jealous.”

Lucerys leaned back in his chair, his eyes flickering over to you. He could feel the tension radiating off of you in waves, and it only served to fuel his amusement. He knew you were just as unhappy about this arrangement as he was, but he couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement.

You turned to glare at him, your temper flaring. “Jealous? Of you?” You leaned closer, your voice dripping with venom. “Trust me, Velaryon, there’s nothing about you I envy. If anything, I pity you.”

“Oh, do tell,” he said, his smirk unwavering. “What part of my charmed existence do you find so tragic?”

You paused, letting your words sink in before delivering the blow. “The part where you think that dumbass smirk of yours is going to get you through life. Not everyone happens to be impressed by it.”

For a split second, his smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing as if you’d hit a nerve. But just as quickly, he recovered, leaning back in his chair with a shrug. “Good thing I’m not trying to impress you, then.”

Your lips curled into a tight smile, your voice calm but laced with steel. “Perfect. Then stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours. Maybe we’ll actually get this project done without killing each other.”

He watched as you busied yourself with the laptop, your fingers flying over the keys as you poured over the project details. He couldn't help but admire the way your brows furrowed in concentration, the way your tongue peeked out slightly as you focused on the task at hand.

The words hung between you like a gauntlet thrown to the ground. Lucerys held your gaze for a moment longer, his eyes dark and unreadable. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he leaned back in his chair, waving a dismissive hand. “Fine by me, princess. But don’t say I didn’t warn you when things get… complicated.”

As the class went on, Lucerys found his mind wandering to the prospect of being stuck on a boat with you. The thought of being confined in such a small space, with no escape, sent a shiver down his spine. He knew that his patience would be tested, that his temper would likely flare on more than one occasion.

But there was a part of him that looked forward to it. He imagined the way your eyes would flash with anger, the way your cheeks would flush a pretty pink as you argued with him. He envisioned the heated exchanges, the way your voices would rise until you were both shouting, your chests heaving with exertion.

And then, in the midst of it all, he pictured a different sort of exchange. A moment where the tension between you would shift from anger to something else entirely. A moment where your eyes would meet, and the air would crackle with a different sort of energy.

Neither spoke as the lecture began, but the tension between you remained, a simmering heat that neither of you knew how to extinguish.

And deep down, a small, traitorous part of you wondered if you even wanted to.

You gathered your things and quickly exited the classroom as the lecture ended, eager to put some distance between you. Not that you had much luck, with the universe seemingly conspiring to throw him in your path at every turn.

You sighed as you entered the math classroom, spotting Lucerys already two rows back like a dark cloud looming over your day. But your spirits lifted when you saw who would be sitting next to you - Addam. Tall, dark and handsome, with a kind smile that made his eyes crinkle at the corners.

As the lecture began, you found yourself stealing glances at him, admiring the way his dreads fell over his forehead as he bent over his notebook. You wondered absently what it would feel like to run your fingers through them, to lean your head on his firm chest...

Suddenly, you heard a soft whisper and turned to see Addam looking at you, a shy smile on his lips. "Psst, you got a ruler?" he asked, his voice low and slightly rough. You felt a shiver run through you at the sound of it.

"Yeah, here you go," you stammered, rummaging through your pencil case and pulling out the ruler. As you handed it to him, your fingers brushed, and you swore you could feel the spark of electricity at the contact. He smiled at you, and you couldn't help but smile back, a blush rising to your cheeks.

Addam grinned at you, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Thanks," he whispered, his fingers lingering on yours just a second longer than necessary. "I'm Addam, by the way."

He paused for a moment, his gaze drifting over your features before meeting your eyes once more. "I have to admit, I've been hoping for an excuse to talk to you. Looks like fate just handed me one."

Lucerys sat two rows back, his brown eyes fixed on you. He watched as you flirted with the boy next to you, his jaw clenching with barely restrained jealousy. How dare you act so familiar with another man, when you had been so cold to him?

He shifted in his seat, his gaze never leaving you. He couldn't help but notice the way your cheeks flushed, the way your eyes sparkled with mirth as you interacted with your new 'friend'. It only fuelled his anger.

As the lecture droned on, Lucerys found himself growing more and more agitated. He couldn't focus on the equations scrawled across the chalkboard, his mind consumed with thoughts of you and Addam. The way your fingers had brushed, the way you had smiled at each other.

He scoffed, turning his attention back to the front of the class. He didn't care who you sat next to, didn't care who you flirted with. You were nothing to him, a mere nuisance to be dealt with.

But a small, dark part of him knew that he would never be able to forget you, no matter how hard he tried. You had gotten under his skin in a way that no one else ever had, and he knew he would never be able to truly move on.

You couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. Part of you didn't want to look, already knowing the source of such intensity. But curiosity got the better of you.

Turning slowly, you locked eyes with Lucerys. His gaze was piercing, almost accusatory, sending a shiver down your spine. You glared back, your brows furrowing in annoyance. Of course, it was him, Throwing daggers at you with his looks, his jaw clenched tight.

Great, just what you needed. The one person who seemed determined to make your life miserable, now glaring at you across the classroom. As if being forced to be his partner for that damn project wasn't bad enough, now he had to interrupt your attempts to actually enjoy yourself?

You turned back to Addam, trying to focus on his kind smile and the soft rumble of his voice. But the damage was done. Lucerys' glare had already left an imprint on your mind, a dark cloud hovering over your thoughts.

You sighed internally, knowing that no matter where you went or who you talked to, Lucerys would always find a way to get under your skin. His mere presence was enough to set you on edge, to make you question every little thing you did.

You were your own person, and you would act like it, no matter how much it annoyed the arrogant bastard scowling at you from across the room.

Lucerys couldn't believe his eyes as he watched you turn to face him, your brows furrowed in annoyance. The sight of your scowl only served to fuel his anger further, his hands clenching into fists on the desk in front of him.

How dare you act so carefree and happy when you were supposed to be partners? How dare you flirt with another man when you should have been focusing on your project? He felt a surge of jealousy and rage as he watched you turn back to Addam, your smile bright and uninhibited.

As the lecture ended, Lucerys quickly gathered his things, slamming his textbook shut with a loud bang. He couldn't wait to get you alone, to have it out with you in private.

Lucerys stormed out of the classroom, not even bothering to hold the door open for you. Let you struggle with it. He didn't care. He was too focused on his anger, too consumed by the need to confront you.

He waited for you outside, his arms crossed over his chest, his foot tapping impatiently against the ground. When you finally emerged, he stepped in front of you, blocking your path.

“What the hell was that about?” Lucerys demanded, his voice low but laced with a sharp edge that could cut through steel. He stepped into your path, blocking your escape as the afternoon sun casts a golden glow over the dock. “You said we’d focus on the project, but then I catch you batting your eyelashes at Addam like you’ve got nothing better to do? That’s low, even for you.”

You froze mid-step, turning slowly to face him, the incredulous look on your face enough to stop him in his tracks. “Wait. Hold on.” You held up a hand as if to physically halt his nonsense. “You can’t be serious right now. This was Math class, Lucerys, not Marine Ecology. I wasn’t exactly about to break out our project notes in the middle of calculating derivatives.”

You rolled your eyes with enough force to see your past life. “And you waited through a full 90-minute class to give me this half-baked lecture? Cute. How very dedicated of you.”

As you brushed past him, you couldn’t resist throwing one last dagger over your shoulder. “Oh, and about Addam? Get over yourself. I’m allowed to talk to whoever I want. I don’t need your permission, Velaryon. Shocking, I know.”

His jaw tightened, and you didn’t need to turn around to feel the heat of his glare boring into the back of your head. You heard his quickened steps as he caught up to you, his hand snagging the strap of your bag and tugging just hard enough to spin you back around.

“Don’t walk away from me,” he growled, his eyes blazing as he stepped closer, the space between you shrinking to something suffocatingly intimate. “Watch your tone.”

“My tone?” you shot back, wrenching your bag free from his grip with a sharp tug. “You’re the one throwing a tantrum because I dared to exist within three feet of another human being. Here’s a tip: maybe focus on being a decent partner for once instead of some overgrown hall monitor.”

His lips curled into a frustrated sneer. “A decent partner? Maybe I’d focus on that if you weren’t busy flirting around campus with every pretty face that crosses your path.”

You let out a disbelieving laugh, shaking your head as you crossed your arms over your chest. “Oh, poor Lucerys,” you said, your voice dripping with mock sympathy. “Did my casual conversation with Addam hurt your fragile little ego? For the record, I wasn’t flirting. But even if I was, it’s none of your business.”

Lucerys opened his mouth to retort, but you weren’t finished. Leaning in just slightly, you stared him down with an infuriatingly smug smile. “Here’s a reality check for you, Velaryon: I can juggle my social life and this damn project just fine. Multitasking. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Or does your silver-spoon upbringing not teach you that skill?”

His eyes narrowed, his jaw ticking as he stared at you, his anger palpable—but a different kind of heat lingered beneath it. “You think you’re so clever,” he said, his voice dropping into a dangerously soft tone. “So self-assured. But you’re walking on thin ice.”

“Thin ice?” you repeated with a scoff, stepping even closer. “Funny. I didn’t realize ice was part of this project. Must’ve missed that memo.”

For a moment, neither of you moved. The tension crackled like static electricity, your eyes locked in a battle neither of you wanted to lose.

Then, in a voice that sent a shiver down your spine, Lucerys said, “You talk a big game, don’t you? Always ready with a comeback. But I wonder...” His eyes flickered briefly to your lips, just long enough for you to notice. “Are you as tough as you act? Or is it just a front?”

Your breath hitched, but you refused to back down, narrowing your eyes at him. “Try me, Velaryon,” you said, your voice low and steady. “You’ll find out exactly how tough I am.”

The corner of his mouth twitched—whether it was irritation or amusement, you couldn’t tell. “Fine,” he said, taking a step back, though his intense gaze stayed fixed on you. “Have it your way. But don’t come crying to me when you realise this project isn’t as simple as you think. I won’t go easy on you. Not because you’re a...” He hesitated, his eyes briefly flicking downward before returning to yours. “A grown woman,” he finished, the sarcasm dripping like venom.

Your lips twitched, fighting the urge to smile. “Oh, I’d never expect you to go easy, Velaryon,” you said, your voice as sweet as honey but sharp enough to cut. “Frankly, I’m counting on you to keep up.”

You turned on your heel, leaving him standing there, his jaw set and fists clenched at his sides. But as you walked away, you couldn’t help but feel the weight of his gaze lingering on you, and for a brief, maddening moment, you wondered if you’d struck a nerve—or if he’d struck one in you.

Sighing, you flopped down on the couch, scrolling through the mess of notes and printouts scattered across the desk. The stupid project outline was more challenging to get a handle on than you thought it would be. For over a week now, you had been struggling with the navigation plan and practical math part of the assignment. You swear, Lucerys was probably doing the bare minimum, just to make things difficult for you. The jerk.

You glanced at the time on your phone and realized Baela was still MIA, probably out with her twin, Rhaena, for the night. You couldn't blame her, but it left you with no one to bounce ideas off.

Rising from the couch, you hit play on your phone and cranked up some Nu Metal playlist, the aggressive rhythms and screaming vocals filling the small dorm room.

Trying to approach the assignments with pure anger and hatred. Maybe that would do the trick.

Without a care in the world, Lucerys made his way to his cousin Baela's dorm. She still had his Apple headphones, which she had borrowed a while back and conveniently forgotten to return.

Lucerys hesitated for a moment behind the door, hearing loud music blaring inside. Had Baela changed her taste in music, or was her roommate some kind of crazy rocker chick? He wondered to himself before slowly opening the door, not even bothering to knock.

Lucerys stepped into the dorm room, immediately drawn to the loud, aggressive music pounding through the speakers. He spotted you standing in the middle of the room, your movements sharp and agitated as you paced back and forth.

His brows furrowed as he surveyed the chaotic scene before him. Papers were scattered across every surface, and empty cans of energy drinks were strewn across the coffee table. You looked as if you were ready to tear your hair out in frustration.

"Well, well, well," Lucerys drawled, a smirk playing on his lips as he leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest. "What do we have here? Looks like someone is having a tough time focusing on our little project."

He allowed his gaze to wander over you, noting how your clothes clung to your curves and the flush of anger colouring your cheeks. Part of him felt a twisted sense of satisfaction at seeing you so worked up.

Oh my god, not him again?! Your heart sank, caught completely off guard by his presence. You couldn’t believe it—you just couldn’t catch a break! Your frustration boiled over as you spun around, ready to confront Lucerys.

"You've got to be shitting me," you exclaimed, your voice rising in pitch as you threw your hands up in exasperation. "Is nowhere safe from you? I swear, you're like the fucking plague!"

You stormed across the room, your heart pounding in your chest as you approached him, his posture relaxed as he leaned nonchalantly against the doorframe. With all your might, you attempted to slam the door shut right before him.

But Lucerys moved quicker than you expected, catching the door before it could slam shut. He stepped into the dorm room, his brown eyes flashing with amusement and annoyance as he took in your exasperated expression.

"Careful now," he chided, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You don't want to damage university property." He kicked the door shut behind him, the loud music still blaring.

"And I'm not the plague, I'm just... persistent," Lucerys retorted, his voice rising over the aggressive beat. "Besides, I couldn't help but hear all this noise from the hallway. What are you trying to do, alert the whole dorm that you'restruggling with this project?"

Sighing loudly, you rub your temples, trying to ward off the headache that's been building from staring at these project notes for hours. You glance over at Lucerys, annoyance flashing in your eyes.

"This just happens to be my taste in music, jackass," you mutter, storming over to Baela's side of the room. You bend down to fish out the headphones from under her messy bed, your short shorts riding up to expose more of your thighs and the curve of your round ass. But you are too preoccupied to even notice, let alone care.

Lucerys let his eyes linger on your exposed thighs and ass for a moment before snapping back to your face as you turned around. He couldn't help but feel a rush of blood going south at the way your short shorts clung to your every move, the way your toned muscles flexed as you bent over.

"I know you're probably here for these headphones. Baela mentioned something about someone stopping by. So, stop trying to torment me, and we can move on with our lives... for now." You retort and straighten up, tossing the headphones at Lucerys. "There, are you happy now?" You ask sarcastically, crossing your arms over your chest.

Lucerys caught the headphones with a smirk. "Yes, I am," he replied, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he held up the headphones. "But you seem to be forgetting one thing..." He stepped closer to you, backing you up against Baela's desk. "You're not moving on until we finish this project."

You scoffed, leaning back against Baela's desk and eyeing Lucerys with annoyance and grudging respect. "Oh please, don't pretend like you're here to help. We both know that's the last thing on your mind," You retaliated, raising a brow. You let your gaze rake over his tall, lean frame, lingering just a moment too long on his lips.

"Is this really your idea of helping me? I have to say, your methods could use a lot of improvement," I quipped, a smirk playing at the corners of your mouth. You crossed your arms under your soft breasts, causing them to lift and draw his attention.

Lucerys felt his heart rate quicken as he noticed your gaze lingering on his lips. He took another step closer, standing inches from you, his tall frame looming over your smaller one.

"Maybe you just need a different perspective," he murmured, his voice low and intimate. "Sometimes, all it takes is just two heads together." He stepped closer, one hand coming up to grip the edge of Baela's desk, caging you in.

“And if you’re curious, yes, this is my way of offering help,” Lucerys continued, his gaze flickering between your eyes and the tempting neckline of your outfit. "Someone has to ensure you stay focused and on track with things."

His voice took on a playful tone as he added, “Do you always choose such... distracting attire when you’re trying to work? I must admit, it’s quite captivating.”

He leaned in further, the faintest hint of his breath brushing against your lips, making the air between you crackle with tension. “But for today, I’m willing to overlook it—just this once. How about you slip into something a bit more... modest?” His smirk was teasing, inviting. “Then we can finally concentrate on getting this project finished.”

You leaned back against Baela's desk, your heart pounding as Lucerys invaded your personal space. You could feel the heat radiating off his tall, lean body, his piercing gaze sending shivers down your spine.

"Oh please, you're not fooling anyone with this 'helping' act," I smirked, letting my eyes brazenly roam over his chiselled jawline and full lips. "But if you insist on sticking around, the least you could do is make yourself useful."

You crossed your arms, deliberately drawing his attention down again, the flimsy fabric of your top straining. You watched his eyes flick down to your cleavage, a thrill rushing you at catching him staring.

Lucerys' eyes darkened as they flicked up to meet your teasing gaze. He felt a rush of conflicting emotions surge through him - annoyance, frustration and a deep, carnal desire that he couldn't suppress.

"Unless you'd rather I give you a private show first?" You mocked him, your voice dripping with false innocence. "I could always change into something... more comfortable. For both of us."

Lucerys smirked at your mocking words, a glimmer of mischief sparkling in his eyes. "A private show, huh?" He shook his head slowly, chuckling softly. "As tempting as that offer is, I have a feeling we wouldn't be getting much work done if I agreed."

You continued without missing a beat. "But you've made it clear that you don't think much of me," you added, your voice barely a whisper. "It seems I’m just the 'scholarship girl.'"

"Is that what you think this is?" he murmured, his voice low and husky, sending a shiver down your spine as he leaned closer. His chin was a breath away from yours, eyes locked onto yours with challenge.

With deliberate slowness, he brushed a stray lock of hair from your cheek, his fingers grazing your skin with a warmth that ignited a flicker of desire within you.

"You're wrong," he said, his voice thick with tension. "This isn't about your background or your scholarship status. This is about..."

He paused for a moment, allowing the tension between you to grow. Then he leaned in and murmured heatedly against the shell of your ear, "And trust me, sweetheart, I have come to think very highly of you."

You eyed Lucerys sceptically as you called his bluff. "Oh really? From where I'm standing, it feels more like you're just here to torment me... and maybe cop a feel," you retorted, a sneer on your lips. You uncrossed your arms and planted your hands on your hips, inadvertently giving him an even better view of your front.

"But if you genuinely want to help, prove it. Sit down and actually assist me with this damn project already," you demanded. You turned and bent over to gather the scattered papers on Baela's desk, your butt thrusting out accidentally towards him as you did. The short shorts ride up even higher, exposing more of the smooth, soft skin of your thighs.

You could feel Lucerys' gaze burning into your backside as you worked, and a shiver ran down your spine at the intensity of his stare. Part of you revelled in the attention, while another part wondered how far he planned to take this little game. Only time would tell if he was actually here to help or to make your life more difficult in his own infuriating way.

Lucerys felt his heart race as you bent over in front of him, the sight of your perfect ass in those sinfully short shorts making his pants feel tighter by the second. He had to clench his fists and take a deep breath to keep from reaching out and grabbing a handful of your tempting curves right then and there.

But he held himself back, knowing that giving in to his base instincts would only lead to disaster. Instead, he forced himself to focus on your challenge, a smirk on his lips.

"Alright, I'll play along," he murmured, moving to the edge of Baela's desk. He leaned back, his long legs stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed. "But don't think for a second that this means I'm not still going to give you a hard time," he added with a smirk. "It's just too much fun to see you get all riled up."

You felt your cheeks flush and your pulse quicken as you caught yourself staring at Lucerys while he was talking, admiring the strong line of his jaw and how his hair fell rakishly into his piercing eyes as he focused on the project notes.

Why was he having this effect on you all of a sudden? You hated it.

"Let's start by going through what we have so far," Lucerys said, his voice tinged with a hint of huskiness that he couldn't shake. "It looks like you've got most of the research done, but the analysis is a bit... lacking." He paused, glancing up at you with a smirk. "I guess that's where I come in. I may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but I know my way around numbers."

"Uh yeah, sure, I'm gonna go make some coffee," you mumbled, turning away and moving towards the small kitchen corner. You needed a damn minute to yourself before you completely lost your mind and threw yourself at him.

Don't think about how tall and handsome he looks, lounging on Baela's desk like that, you told yourself firmly, rummaging around the cabinets for the coffee grounds. Focus on the caffeine, not the way his eyes crinkle when he smirks at you.

"My, uh, you want some coffee too?" You asked, trying to keep your tone casual and friendly, even as your hands shook slightly pouring the water into the Moka pot.

Just a minute alone, and then you can pull yourself together and get this project done.

He's just a guy. There are plenty out there, no need to fall for the first one with big brown eyes.

Lucerys watched as you made your way to the kitchen, admiring the sway of your hips and the way your shorts hugged your ass like a second skin. He couldn't help but smirk to himself, feeling a thrill of satisfaction at the way you seemed to be flustered by his presence.

"Sure, I'd love some coffee," he replied, his voice casual and friendly even as his eyes followed your every move. "You're not the only one who needs a pick-me-up to focus on this boring project."

As you poured the water into the Moka pot, Lucerys couldn't resist the urge to torment you further. He stood up and wandered over to the counter, leaning against it and invading your personal space again.

"Careful now," he murmured his warm breath tickling your neck. "If you spill that, I might have to take off my shirt to help clean it up." He chuckled mockingly.

His sleazy remark made you snort. "Oh please, like you'd ruin your Ralph Lauren polo, pretty boy."

Lucerys's smirk deepened at your quick comeback. "Oh, you never know," he said, his voice low and teasing. "I might just surprise you in more ways than one." He winked playfully, his brown eyes glinting with mischief, making your heart race a little faster.

As the coffee finished brewing, Lucerys reached around you to grab two mugs from the cabinet. His chest brushed against your back as he did, his scent invading your senses - a mix of expensive cologne and the faint, lingering aroma of his hair products.

You had to bite back a sigh that threatened to slip out as Lucerys invaded your personal space, his chest brushing against your back and sending a jolt of electricity through you. You could feel the heat emanating from his body.

Truth be told, it had been far too long since you had been intimate with anyone, and now even Lucerys' mere presence was enough to make you feel like a cat in heat. You could feel a familiar ache beginning to throb between your thighs, and you had to clench them together to try to alleviate the sudden discomfort.

Lucerys felt a rush of excitement as you pressed yourself against him, your soft curves moulding perfectly to his harder planes. He could feel the heat radiating from your body, and it made his own core temperature rise sharply.

As you both stepped back, Lucerys found himself face to face with your flushed cheeks and wild eyes. And he felt a surge of masculine pride at knowing that he was the cause of such agitation in you.

"So, um, about that coffee," you said, your voice husky as you tried to regain your composure. "I don't have any cream or sugar, so it's gonna be pretty strong."

Lucerys smirked, knowing full well that the only thing making your cheeks flush and your voice tremble was his proximity and the undeniable chemistry crackling between you. "No worries about that," he murmured, his eyes gleaming with a hint of hunger as he leaned in closer, his face mere inches from yours.

He watched as you poured the dark, rich coffee into the mugs, the aroma filling the small kitchen. Lucerys couldn't help but let his gaze wander over your body, taking in the way the fabric of your top did little to hide anything, the way your shorts clung to every curve.

You raised your brows defiantly as you looked at him, his cheeks flushed with frustration and a touch of embarrassment at being caught ogling you like a horny teenage boy. "Can you stop staring at my tits and ass? Thanks." You snapped, your voice dripping with sarcasm and annoyance.

Lucerys felt his face flush redder at your blunt words, a mix of embarrassment and lust swirling in his gut as he tore his gaze away from your tempting curves. "Sorry," he muttered, though the smirk tugging at his lips suggested he wasn't truly sorry. "I can't help it. You're just so..."

This endless game of push and pull had to stop; it was becoming absurd. This happens when two hormonal young adults are left together in a room late at night.

"I thought we were going to focus on the project," you said, trying to steer the conversation back on track as you handed him one of the mugs. "Or do you have no intention of actually getting anything done?"

Lucerys took the mug from your hand, his fingers brushing against yours and lingering longer than necessary. He could feel the warmth of your skin, the softness of your touch. It sent a jolt through him, reminding him of the electricity that seemed to constantly crackle between you two.

"I have every intention of getting this project done," he murmured, his voice low and smooth. "But you make it so hard to concentrate when walking around looking like that." He gestured vaguely at your body with the mug, his eyes roaming over your curves once more.

“Are you admitting that you find me distracting?” you said with raised brows. “I thought I was just another pest in your life, someone whose presence annoys you. And yet here you are, flirting with me as if nothing is wrong. What is your deal? Do you think I’m some easy target?” You grew angrier with each word, his mind games making your head spin.

Your cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment and annoyance as you stared him down. "Is fucking with my head some sort of fetish of yours?" You demanded, jabbing a finger at his chest.

Lucerys caught your wrist before you could jab him again. "No, you're not an easy target," Lucerys said, his voice suddenly serious and intense. "Far from it, in fact. You're the most infuriating, frustrating, and maddening woman I've ever met."

At that moment, Lucerys felt the weight of his predicament pressing down on him like a storm cloud. He realized he was in deep waters, far beyond what he could handle. The pact he had made with himself—to make you suffer—was slipping from his grasp.

Every attempt to ignore you or provoke you only intensified the emotions he tried to suppress. Your fleeting glances and unexpected smiles stoked a fire he wished to extinguish, indicating the conflict within him. With each tense encounter, Lucerys found himself questioning his motives and the depth of his feelings for you, trapped in a tumultuous sea of regret and longing.

He stepped closer, backing you up against the counter, his body now flush against yours as he looked down at you with darkened eyes. "This isn't a game to me," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "Trust me, the last thing I want to do is fuck with your head. Believe it or not, I actually want to help you with this damn project."

At that moment, Lucerys knew that his obsession with you was no longer a game or a way to prove dominance. It had become an addiction, a desperate need that consumed his every thought. He craved your presence, your touch, your laughter - anything that would allow him to be close to you.

"Then help me," you demanded with a measured calmness, your voice barely above a whisper, but sharp enough to slice through the air between you. You held his gaze, refusing to look away.

As you stared into his eyes, a fierce fire ignited within you, mingling with the heat radiating from the slightest brush of his fingers against yours. It was maddening—the way he could infuriate you and yet draw you in at the same time.

The tension crackled, hanging heavy in the air around you. You wanted to hate him, to push him away, but there was an undeniable allure in your conflicting emotions, a magnetic pull that kept you rooted to the spot.

Lucerys's heart pounded as he gazed into your fierce, defiant eyes. The fire within them ignited a matching flame within him, consuming any lingering doubts about his true feelings. He knew he should back away, and put an end to this dangerous game before it was too late.

But he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Instead, he leaned in closer, his lips a mere breath away from yours. "I will," he promised, his voice low and intense, "I'll help you with everything you need." His gaze flickered down to your mouth, lingering there for a long, charged moment before drifting back up to meet your eyes.

As he leaned in, Lucerys caught a hint of your scent—a blend of the coffee you brewed and a touch of perfume. It was intoxicating, and he felt an overwhelming urge to bury his face in the crook of your neck, wanting to breathe you in until your essence was imprinted on his very soul.

Your pulse pounded in your ears, cheeks flushed and breathless. Lucerys' hold kept you rooted on the spot, rendering you speechless and breathless. You could feel your chest heaving.

You found yourself leaning closer, inexplicably drawn to him like a magnet. Your body ached to close the distance, to feel his lips against yours, his arms around you...but you couldn't bring yourself to do it. The tension crackled.

Seconds before your lips met, Baela's cheerful voice rang out, shattering the charged moment. You staggered back, tearing your wrist from Lucerys' grasp. The sudden movement sent a mug flying on the counter, shards of ceramic and dark coffee splattering across the floor.

You gasped, pressing a hand to your racing heart. The sudden sounds felt like a shock after the scorching heat radiating from Lucerys' body. You blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze of lust from your mind.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry," you stammered, bending down to start cleaning up the mess. Your hands shook as you grabbed paper towels, dabbing at the spreading puddle of coffee. "I'm just... it's been a long day. I didn't mean to be so clumsy."

You couldn't bring yourself to look at Lucerys, scared you might tear up from the embarrassment you felt. The tension still hung heavy between us, the unspoken desire almost palpable.

Lucerys stepped back sharply as if burned by your sudden movement. The sound of shattering ceramic jolted him out of the lustful haze that had consumed him moments before. He blinked rapidly, trying to regain his bearings as he watched you bend down to clean up the mess, your ass sticking up in the air, and felt his cock twitch traitorously in his pants.

For a moment, Lucerys felt a pang of guilt for allowing things to go so far. He hadn't meant to overwhelm you like that, to push you to the point of breaking. But the sight of you bending over, your body trembling and flushed, only served to reignite the desire that coursed through his veins.

But as he watched you bend over, trying to salvage the shattered mug and spilt coffee, Lucerys felt a pang of concern. He couldn't leave you flustered and embarrassed like this, not with how his body thrummed with unleashed tension.

Lucerys picked up a roll of paper towels, kneeling down to help you mop up the spill. "It's okay," he said softly, crouching beside you. He gently placed a hand on your shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "I'll help you clean this up. There's no need to be upset."

To his surprise, you flinched slightly at his touch, as if his fingers were made of fire and could burn you. Lucerys felt a twinge of regret for allowing things to go so far, for pushing you to the point of breaking. But as he looked down at your form, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to your sudden dismissal than just a spilt mug.

You couldn’t bring yourself to look at Lucerys, terrified that you might completely lose the little composure you had left. Your heart raced, and your cheeks burned with embarrassment as you crouched on the floor, fiercely gripping the damp paper towels.

“No,” you snapped, your voice harsher than you intended. “Just send your analytics to my email, and I'll create a shared file. We can discuss this more in class…” You trailed off, unable to meet his gaze.

You could feel Lucerys’s presence looming over you and practically sense the questions and confusion radiating from him. Your hair fell forward, shielding you from view as you focused intently on cleaning up the mess you had made.

You couldn’t let yourself get lost; you couldn’t allow yourself to be pulled back under by the tidal wave of lust and longing that threatened to drown you.

So you simply nodded curtly, your voice tight as you dismissed him. “Just go,” you said, still unable to look him in the eye. “Please.”

Lucerys felt hurt by your dismissive tone and obvious dismissal in your voice. He could sense the tension radiating from you, the embarrassment and confusion that hung heavy between you.

"Alright," he said softly, standing up slowly. "I'll send you the analytics. We can discuss it more in class, like you said." He wanted to reach out, to grab your chin and tilt your face up so that you had no choice but to meet his gaze. He wanted to demand an explanation for your sudden cold shoulder, to understand what had just happened between you.

But he didn't. Instead, he turned to leave, pausing at the door to glance back at your still bent-over form. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry," he said, his voice low and rough with barely suppressed emotion. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Just focus on the project. I'll see you tomorrow."

As he walked away, Lucerys couldn't help but glance back at you one last time, his eyes filled with longing and regret. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew one thing for sure - he wouldn't stop until he had you, no matter the cost.

“Bye, Baela,” Lucerys said dismissively, his tone cold as he brushed past her. He didn’t spare her a glance, focusing on the door ahead as he exited the room, leaving an air of unresolved tension behind him. The silence that followed felt heavy, a stark contrast to the words he had left unspoken.

Baela stood by the doorway, stunned, with her lips parted in confusion. "Wh-what just happened?" She rushed over to help you with the spilt coffee, grabbing more paper towels and crouching down next to you.

You couldn't meet her gaze, tears streaming down your burning cheeks. You felt utterly humiliated and confused.

"I...I don't know what happened," you choked out, your voice shaking. "One minute we were arguing, and the next..." you trailed off, unable to put into words the intense, charged moment that had passed between you.

Baela's brows furrowed with worry as she gently pulled you into a hug, being careful not to cut herself on the broken ceramic scattered around us. "Shh, it's okay," she murmured, rubbing your back soothingly. "Did he say something to upset you? Or do something? You can tell me. You know you can always trust me."

You buried your face in Baela's shoulder, your tears soaking into the fabric of her shirt as you tried to regain your composure. The truth was, you didn't know what had happened.

Lucerys stalked out of the room, his mind reeling with confusion and frustration. He couldn't understand why you had suddenly pulled away, why you had rejected him so harshly after the charged moment you had shared.

As he walked down the hallway, he tried to push away the memory of your flushed cheeks and heaving chest, your body against his. But it was no use - the image was seared into his brain, taunting him with what could have been.

He knew he should focus on the project as he had promised. But all he could think about was you and the way your lips had been a hair's breadth away from his before Baela had interrupted.

By the time he reached his dorm room, Lucerys was in a foul mood. He slammed the door behind him and collapsed onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling as he tried to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him.

He couldn't stop thinking about the way your body had felt pressed against his, the way your breath had mingled with his own. He could still feel the heat of your skin, the softness of your curves. It was driving him crazy.

But most of all, he couldn't understand why you had suddenly pulled away, rejecting him so harshly after the charged moment you had shared. It made no sense to him, and it left him feeling confused and hurt.

Lucerys tossed and turned in his bed, unable to find a comfortable position. He kept seeing your face in his mind's eye. The memories made his cock throb and strain against the confines of his boxers.

Damn it, why did you have to be so fucking irresistible? He cursed under his breath, punching his pillow in frustration. He had promised himself that he would help you with the project, but all Lucerys could think about was how badly he wanted to bend you over the desk and fuck you until you screamed his name.

He imagined pinning your wrists above your head as he drove into you from behind, grunting with each powerful thrust of his hips. He envisioned the way your tits would bounce as he pounded you, your pussy clenching tight around his thick, aching cock.

Lucerys groaned aloud, palming himself through his sweatpants. Fuck, he needed to get a grip. He couldn't keep lusting after you like this, couldn't keep letting his dick dictate his actions. He had to focus on the project and get through the first year of university, not imagine all the filthy things he wanted to do to your sexy little body.

You arrived at class much earlier than Lucerys, the nervous anticipation gnawing at you, an incessant feeling that threatened to unravel your composure. You took a deep breath, trying to calm your racing heart, while your fingers hovered nervously over the keyboard, clammy with anxiety. Lucerys had sent over the analytics just as he had promised, but the brevity of your exchange left a lingering silence between you two. Ever since that day last week, you hadn’t seen him at school, and perhaps it was for the best—distance had its advantages.

As the theoretical part of the project drew to a close, you could take relief in your performance: an impressive 84% on the research. However, the practical segment loomed ominously over you like a rain cloud threatening to burst. A week alone with Lucerys, confined in a boat of all places—your skin prickled at the thought. You despised small, enclosed spaces; they made you feel trapped and vulnerable. And yet, even more unsettling was the reality of spending so much time with Lucerys. You repeated the mantra in your mind: you hated confined spaces, you hated moisture, and most importantly, you hated Lucerys. But deep down, you weren’t sure if your feelings were that simple.

Lucerys strolled into the classroom, his eyes immediately drawn to your tense form hunched over your laptop. He could see the way your shoulders were hunched, your fingers trembling slightly as you typed away. It made his heart ache in a way he couldn't quite understand.

As he approached your desk, he hesitated, unsure of how to greet you after the charged encounter you had shared. He settled for a gruff "Morning," before taking his seat beside you.

"Morning," you replied, your eyes fixed on the glowing screen in front of you, deliberately avoiding his gaze. The soft hum of the computer filled the air as you immersed yourself in the task at hand, the distant clatter of keyboards and muted conversations fading into the background.

Throughout the lesson, Lucerys found it impossible to concentrate on the lecture, his mind constantly wandering to the tension that still hung heavy between you. He could feel the weight of it, the unspoken words and lingering glances that passed between you both.

As the class drew close, their professor reminded them of the impending practical assessment - a week-long trip aboard a research vessel where they would put their theoretical knowledge to the test. Lucerys felt a thrill of anticipation at the thought of being trapped in close quarters with you for so long but also a flicker of trepidation.

He turned to face you, his brows furrowed with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice low so that only you could hear. You seem...nervous." He wanted to reach out, to take your hand in his and give it a comforting squeeze, but he held back, remembering your harsh dismissal of him last week.

Instead, he watched you, his eyes searching your face for any clue as to what you might be thinking. He could sense the fear and uncertainty emanating from you, and it made him want to pull you into his arms and promise that he would protect you from whatever demons haunted you.

But he didn't. He just sat there, waiting for your response, his heart pounding as he tried to steel himself for the challenges ahead - both in the assessment and his own battle to resist his growing feelings for you.

You jumped slightly at Lucerys' voice, your heart leaping into your throat.

"Oh," you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, I'm...I'm fine." You lied, not wanting to admit the truth.

Your hands trembled slightly as you snapped your laptop shut, a blush creeping across your cheeks. You could feel Lucerys' gaze on you, intense and searching, and it made your stomach flutter nervously.

You avoided his eyes, focusing instead on shoving your things haphazardly into your bag. "I'm just...nervous about the practical assessment," you admitted, biting your lower lip. "Being stuck on a boat for a week..." you trailed off, mind reeling at the thought of being trapped in such close quarters with Lucerys. "I don't like open water that much..."

You knew you should say more, and acknowledge the tension that still crackled between you after your encounter last week. But you couldn't bring yourself to do it, couldn't bring yourself to put into words the confusing tangle of emotions that Lucerys always seemed to evoke in you.

He nodded, his expression softening with understanding. "I get it," he murmured, his voice low and gentle. "Being stuck on a boat for that long... it's not exactly my idea of a good time either."

He hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his tone carefully neutral. "But we'll get through it together," he assured you, his gaze finally meeting yours. "I promise, I won't let anything happen to you."

"So..." he said, breaking the tension slightly as he gestured towards your bag. "Need a hand with that?"

He stood up and reached out to help you gather your things, his fingers brushing against yours as he took your bag from your trembling hands. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through him, and he had to resist the urge to lace his fingers with yours.

Damn it, why did you have to be so enticing? He cursed under his breath, trying to will away the growing ache in his pants.

You glanced up at Lucerys, your heart fluttering nervously in your chest. "Thanks," you murmured softly, a faint blush colouring your cheeks as you avoided his intense gaze.

"But wait," you began, biting your lower lip anxiously as you rambled on, "where exactly are we supposed to find a boat from for this assessment? I know the school has some, but they always look so... unreliable. And I heard there's already a long waiting list with other groups signed up."

"I don't want to be stuck on some rickety old boat for a week," you confessed, your eyes wide with apprehension as you looked to Lucerys for a solution.

Your heart raced in your chest as you waited for his response, the warmth of his proximity making your skin prickle with a confusing mix of nerves and anticipation. You couldn't help but notice the way his arm brushed against yours as you walked out of the classroom, sending a jolt of electricity through you that made your toes curl in your boots.

Please, you silently prayed, hoping he had a plan.

Lucerys smiled reassuringly at your anxious question, his eyes softening with understanding. "Don't worry," he said calmly, "I've already taken care of it."

He paused momentarily, considering how to break the news to you. Finally, he spoke up, his voice low and slightly tentative.

"My grandfather owns too many private yachts for one man," he explained, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "And he's agreed to let us use one for the assessment. It's not exactly a 'rickety old boat'," he added with a cheeky smile.

Lucerys could see the relief washing over your face, and he felt a swell of pride knowing that he had been able to set your mind at ease. He knew how much this assessment meant to both of you and was determined to do whatever it took to help you succeed.

Your eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of excitement sparking in your eyes. "Really?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper. "That's...wow, that's great. Thank you, Lucerys."

Lucerys just shrugged nonchalantly, playing it cool even as his heart raced at your grateful smile and the way your eyes sparkled with excitement. "Don't mention it," he murmured, trying to downplay his role in ensuring your assessment went smoothly.

As you walked out of the classroom together, Lucerys couldn't help but let his gaze linger on your form, admiring the sway of your hips and the way your hair bounced with each step. He knew he should keep his eyes on the path ahead, but he found himself drawn to you like a moth to a flame.

Damn, but you were gorgeous. And not just on the outside - though fuck, the way your ass swayed in those jeans was enough to make a grown man weep. No, it was your spirit that truly captivated him. Your intelligence, your passion, your fire...it was everything he could ever want in a partner.

You glanced up at Lucerys, your heart fluttering nervously in your chest as you clutched your bag tightly. You knew all too well about his family's immense wealth and power, their name synonymous with the Velaryon Shipping Empire. It was almost impossible to fathom that someone like him, with roots tracing back to one of the most influential and richest families in the realm, would even give you the time of day.

"So, your grandfather... Corlys Velaryon, right?" You asked awkwardly, your voice barely above a whisper as you avoided his intense gaze, your cheeks flushing slightly at the mention of his wealthy grandfather.

Lucerys felt a flicker of amusement at your question, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He knew all too well the reputation that his family had, the way that people often treated him with a mix of awe and trepidation simply because of their name.

Lucerys chuckled softly, his purple eyes twinkling with mirth as he glanced down at you. "Ah, so you've heard of him," he teased, his voice low and playful. "I suppose it's hard to miss."

"He's agreed to let us use one of his yachts for the assessment," Lucerys said, changing the subject slightly. "It's a pretty big one, with all the latest amenities. You don't have to worry about being stuck on some rickety old boat."

Lucerys could see the surprise and disbelief in your eyes, the way your grip tightened on your bag as you processed this information. He knew it was a lot to take in, the realization that someone like him, with all his wealth and power, would go out of his way to help someone like you.

You glanced up at Lucerys, your heart fluttering nervously. You could hardly believe what you were hearing - a private yacht, owned by none other than the famous Corlys Velaryon himself! It was like something out of a movie.

"I've never been on a private yacht before," you admitted shyly, feeling your cheeks flush at the thought of being on such a luxurious yacht. "I can't believe you have access to something like that..."

As you walked side by side, you accidentally brushed your hip against his, the contact sending a jolt of electricity through your body. You felt a warmth pooling low in your belly, a longing for him.

Being this close to Lucerys had that effect on you - your body seemed to respond to his presence in ways you couldn't control.

You tried to focus on your conversation, but it was hard to concentrate with Lucerys' arm brushing against you with every step. You could smell the clean, masculine scent of his cologne, and could feel the heat radiating off his skin.

It was distracting, to say the least. The idea of being confined with Lucerys for a week, just the two of you...

You knew you shouldn't, but all you could think about was Lucerys... and the way his long fingers would feel around your neck.

Lucerys felt the brush of your hip against his, and it took every ounce of his self-control not to pull you flush against him, to feel the soft curves of your body melding with his harder planes. He could feel the heat of your skin even through your clothes, and it made his blood run hot in his veins.

He could see the longing in your eyes, the way your gaze kept flicking down to his lips before darting away again. He knew that you felt the same pull towards him that he felt towards you, the same undeniable attraction that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day.

Fuck, he wanted you. He wanted to take you right then and there, to bend you over and fuck you until you screamed his name. He wanted to feel your tight little cunt clenching around his cock as he drove into you again and again, wanting to fill you up with his hot, thick cum until it was dripping down your thighs.

But Lucerys knew he had to rein himself in, had to focus on the task at hand.

So he simply smiled, his gaze softening as he looked down at you. "It's not as impressive as it sounds," he said, trying to downplay the extravagance of it all. "My grandfather has so many yachts, he's probably forgotten half of them."

He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. "But I'm glad you're excited about it," he added, his voice lowering slightly. "I have a feeling this trip is going to be... memorable for more reasons than just the assessment."

Lucerys knew he was treading on dangerous ground here, but he couldn't help himself, not when being near you felt like this - like a live wire crackling with electricity, ready to ignite at any moment.

He desired you, plain and simple. Wanted to feel your naked body writhing beneath his as he fucked you senseless, wanted to hear his name falling from your lips as you came undone around his cock.

The weeks drifted by in a surprisingly mundane fashion, each day blurring into the next. You and Luke were acutely aware of the tension simmering between you, an unspoken energy that crackled in the air. Yet, for reasons unknown, neither of you dared to confront it; perhaps it was a silent agreement that some things were better left unresolved.

Baela, however, remained ever-watchful, her gaze sharp and prying. She pulled each of you aside, her curiosity palpable as she probed about your feelings for one another. It seemed her inner matchmaker was desperate for a confession, but you both skillfully sidestepped her efforts, exchanging vague reassurances that only fueled her frustration.

“He’s fine. We get along now, kinda,” you answered her pestering, the words feeling futile even as they left his lips.

“Yeah, she’s okay. I don’t know… we just mostly talk about the assessment and other homework,” Luke said, trying to downplay the complexity of your relationship.

Baela's exasperation was almost comical; you could practically see her wanting to tear her hair out in frustration. But instead of succumbing to that impulse, she turned her matchmaking energy toward a different target. Through a chance conversation in one of their shared lectures, she got you a date between you and Addam.

And so, here you found yourself, seated at a lovely restaurant, the soft glow of candlelight flickering in the dim ambience. Across from you sat Addam, effortlessly charismatic with a smile that could rival the sun. His striking features seemed almost ethereal as if he had stepped out of a fashion magazine. The rich, velvety Dornish wine cradled in your glass offered a welcome distraction, its warmth swirling in your stomach, soothing your nerves as you awaited the arrival of your food.

As you stole glances at Addam, you couldn’t help but marvel at how easy it was to feel drawn to him. The rustle of conversation around you faded into a gentle hum, while thoughts of Luke lurked just beneath the surface, complicating what was meant to be a straightforward evening. Could a simple date with someone charming ease the tension you had with Luke, or would it make the feelings in your heart more complicated?

As the evening wore on, Addam regaled you with fascinating stories of his travels and adventures, his love for life infectious. He had a way of making you feel like the only person in the room, his full attention focused solely on you. It was a pleasant change of pace from the charged silences and loaded glances that had become the norm with Luke.

Yet, even as you laughed and flirted with Addam, you couldn't shake the persistent thought of Lucerys from your mind. His smile, his scent, the way his hand had felt brushing against yours a hundred times a day... it all lingered, a ghostly presence intruding upon your date.

Addam seemed to sense your distraction, his smile softening slightly as he reached across the table to gently cover your hand with his own. "Is everything alright?" he asked softly, his thumb brushing lightly over your knuckles. "You seem a bit preoccupied tonight."

His gaze was warm and concerned, inviting you to unburden yourself to him. Yet even as you looked into his striking eyes, you felt guilty, knowing that your thoughts were consumed by someone else.

You startled slightly as Addam's fingers brushed against yours, his touch a grounding force that pulled you back from the tangled web of thoughts swirling in your head. You flashed him a small smile, giving his hand a gentle squeeze in return. "I'm sorry, I'm fine," you reassured him, hoping he couldn't hear the slight tremor in your voice. "Just a bit stressed about the impending exams, I'm afraid I have a tendency to get rather anxious..." you trailed off with a nervous little chuckle, taking a sip of the rich red wine.

You gazed into Addam's striking eyes, feeling almost hypnotized by their intensity. You silently thanked Baela for orchestrating this date, for giving you a welcome distraction from the constant pull you felt towards a certain someone else.

Shaking off the intrusive thoughts, you smiled at Addam and asked, "I'd love to know more about you, beyond your sailing adventures. What do you enjoy doing for fun, when you're not out on the open sea?" You leaned forward slightly, genuinely interested in his response and desperate to lose yourself in his charming presence. The candlelight flickered, casting a warm glow on his handsome features, and you found yourself wanting nothing more than to get lost in conversation with him, to forget about everything and everyone else.

Addam's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm at your question, a boyish grin spreading across his face. "Well, when I'm not out exploring the world, I have a few hobbies that keep me busy," he said, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of his own wine. "I'm quite fond of playing the lute, though I'm not nearly as skilled as my brother. He's a true maestro with the instrument."

He paused for a moment, considering his following words carefully. "I also enjoy reading, particularly stories of ancient history and mythology. Something is fascinating about the way our ancestors perceived the world, the gods and monsters they created to make sense of the unknown."

Addam's gaze softened as he looked at you, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "But I must admit, I find the most enjoyment in the company of others. A lively debate over a good meal, a walk through the gardens in the evening, a cosy night in with a book and a warm fire... I believe the best moments in life are the ones shared with the people we care about."

As he spoke, Addam reached out to take your hand, his fingers intertwining with yours. "And I must say, I'm quite enjoying this moment," he murmured, his voice lowering slightly as he held your gaze. "You have a way of making even the most ordinary evening feel... extraordinary."

You felt a flutter in your chest at Addam's words, a warmth blossoming within you that had nothing to do with the rich wine swirling in your glass.

Almost as if compelled by an unseen force, you found yourself leaning closer to Addam, drawn in by the magnetic allure of his personality. "I feel the same way," you confessed softly, your thumb brushing over the back of his hand in a gentle caress. "It's rare to connect with someone like this, to feel so at ease in their company..."

But even as you lost yourself in Addam's captivating gaze, a small part of your mind drifted to Luke. Did he know you were out on this date tonight? Would he feel jealous if he saw you now, seen you through the softly glowing candlelight of the restaurant?

The thought sent an unexpected thrill through you that you quickly tried to push down. You had to focus on the present moment, on the charming company of the man before you. Luke, with his constant brooding and his unspoken words, would have to take a backseat tonight.

Addam's heart raced as you leaned closer, your soft confession sending a surge of excitement through his veins. He felt the gentle brush of your thumb against his hand, a feather-light touch that ignited a flame within him. The candlelight flickered in your eyes, casting a warm glow on your beautiful face, and Addam felt a sudden urge to reach out and caress your cheek, to feel the softness of your skin beneath his fingertips.

He had always been drawn to your beauty and admired the way your eyes sparkled with intelligence and wit. But it was your kindness, your gentle heart, that truly captivated him.

As the evening wore on, Addam found himself growing more and more enchanted by your company. Your laughter was music to his ears, your thoughts and opinions fascinating him in a way that few others had. He hung onto your every word, devouring each story like a man starved.

But even as he lost himself in the bliss of your presence, a small part of Addam couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else on your mind. He had seen the way your gaze sometimes drifted, a faraway look in your eyes as if you were miles away, lost in thought. Addam had a suspicion about what, or rather who might be occupying your mind so thoroughly.

The thought of Lucerys Velaryon sent a flicker of something dark and unpleasant through Addam's chest. He had never been one to shy away from competition, but the idea of losing you to that brooding, enigmatic fool was a bitter pill to swallow.

As the enchanting evening drew to a close, you found yourself standing outside your campus residence, the cool night air a pleasant contrast to the cosy warmth of the restaurant. Addam, ever the gentleman, had insisted on walking you home, a charming smile playing on his lips as he gazed down at you with those mesmerizing eyes.

You couldn't help but return his smile, your own eyes crinkling at the corners from the sheer enjoyment of our date. "Thank you, I had a lovely time, really," you murmured, meaning every word. It truly had been a wonderful evening.

Yet, even as you stood there, bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights, you couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was amiss. It was like a small voice at the back of your mind, whispering a secret you couldn't quite comprehend. You tried to push it down, to focus on the present moment and the handsome man before you, but it persisted, an itch you couldn't scratch.

Still, you didn't want Addam to know that a part of your thoughts were elsewhere. He had been such a perfect gentleman, a charming and attentive date, and you didn't want to diminish the wonderful time you had shared. So you simply smiled up at him.

Addam's smile softened, a tender look entering his eyes as he gazed down at you. "It was my pleasure entirely," he murmured, his voice low and warm in the cool night air. "Seeing you smile like that, hearing your laughter... it's a sound I could get used to."

He reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind your ear. His fingers lingered, lightly tracing the curve of your cheek, the delicate line of your jaw. Addam's heart raced as he leaned in closer, his gaze dropping to your lips. He wondered if they would be as soft and sweet as they looked, wondered how you would taste...

But then he paused, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. He sensed that you were distracted, your thoughts preoccupied. The realisation that it might have something to do with Lucerys Velaryon sent envy through him, but Addam was determined to be patient. He wouldn't rush this and wouldn't risk scaring you away.

Instead, he stepped back slightly, a rueful smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I hope we can do this again sometime," he said softly, his voice tinged with a hint of hopeful anticipation. "Perhaps dinner, or a walk through the gardens... whatever you like."

Addam's thumb brushed lightly over your lower lip, a feather-light touch that sent a shiver down your spine. "Goodnight, my lady," he murmured, his voice a husky whisper in the darkness. "Sweet dreams."

You could hardly contain your excitement as you practically floated into your shared room, your heart racing from the incredible evening you had just spent with Addam. You kicked off your heels with a contented sigh, a giddy grin spreading across your face as you turned to face Baela.

"Baela, oh my goodness, you won't believe how amazing tonight was!" You exclaimed, your words tumbling out in an enthusiastic rush. "Addam was the perfect gentleman, opening doors, paying for everything, even walking me all the way home. And let me tell you, that man is seriously gorgeous. Like, next level, ridiculously handsome. I swear I saw a few girls practically swooning as we walked by!" You giggled, still in awe of his devastating good looks.

You plopped down on the bed, your cheeks flushed and your eyes sparkling with joy. "I mean, I know you set this up, but seriously, thank you so much. I can't remember the last time I had such a wonderful time on a date. Addam is charming, funny, and so easy to talk to."

You couldn't wipe the grin off your face as you rambled on about Addam, your heart fluttering at the mere mention of his name. You knew you were gushing, but you couldn't help it. Tonight had been magical, and you were already looking forward to seeing him again.

Little did you know, Baela had been on a FaceTime call with Lucerys the entire time, and he had heard every single word...

Lucerys sat on the edge of his bed, his face illuminated by the glow of his phone screen. He had been chatting with Baela for the better part of an hour, catching up and lamenting the monotony of their shared lectures. But as he listened to his cousin, a sudden burst of feminine excitement caught his attention. His brows furrowed slightly as he realized that you were the one speaking, your voice high-pitched and breathy with barely contained glee.

"...let me tell you, that man is seriously gorgeous. Like, next level, ridiculously handsome...". Lucerys felt his gut clench at the mention of Addam, a surge of something dark and ugly rising up in his throat. He listened intently as you recounted every detail of their date, from the charming restaurant to the gentlemanly gestures to the sparkling conversation. With each word, Lucerys felt his blood run hotter, his jaw clenching tighter until it ached.

Lucerys had always known that Addam was a threat, a rival for your affections. But hearing you sing his praises so readily, so eagerly, made Lucerys question his own sanity. Had he been blind to the depth of your feelings for the other man? Was there even a chance for him anymore?

He didn't realize he was in love with you until that moment. Didn't realize that he had fallen somewhere between the charged silences and loaded glances, the constant pull he felt towards you. But as he listened to you gush about another man, he knew with a sudden, sickening certainty that he loved you.

As if sensing his presence, Baela turned to face the camera, her eyes widening as she saw the dark look on Lucerys' face. "Oh, sorry Luke," she said, a slightly cheeky expression crossing her face. "I didn't realize you were still on the call."

Lucerys forced a smile, trying to ignore the tightness in his chest. "I heard every word," he said simply, his voice carefully controlled.

He watched as Baela tried to contain her own grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she listened to you gush about Addam and saw Lucerys' reaction to it. She knew exactly what she was doing, the little matchmaker, and it was clear that her plan was working perfectly.

"I'm so glad you had a good time," Baela said, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "Addam is a great guy." She paused for a moment, letting the words sink in before adding, "Though I must say, I'm surprised you're so eager to talk about him. I thought you and Lucerys had something special going on..."

That was the last thing he heard before the screen went blank, and Baela disappeared. Did she really just hang up on him? Lucerys felt the urge to throw his phone against the wall, but he reminded himself that he wasn’t 16 anymore, and this was a campus dorm.

You stared at Baela in shock, your eyes widening as you processed her words. "What? Me and Lucerys?" You asked, your voice pitching higher with disbelief. "For the most part, I thought your cousin hated me. We've only recently begun to tolerate each other."

You shook your head, grabbing a makeup wipe to begin taking off your evening look. "No, don't be ridiculous. Besides, you're the one who set me up with Addam. Why bring up Lucerys now?" You questioned, tossing the used wipe into the trash.

As you scrubbed at the dark smudges under your eyes, you couldn't help but think about how different Lucerys had been acting lately. There was still tension between you, sure, but it had shifted somehow. The constant scowls and snide remarks had faded into charged silences and lingering glances. You had caught him staring at you more than once, his eyes dark and intense in a way that made your heart race.

Baela's eyes narrowed as she studied your reflection in the mirror, a knowing smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "Hate is a strong word," she pointed out, her voice taking on a teasing lilt. "I wouldn't say Lucerys hates you. Quite the opposite, in fact."

She leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms over her chest as she considered her following words carefully. "Lucerys has always been... intense. Especially when it comes to the people he cares about." Baela paused, letting the implication of her words sink in. "He's not great with expressing himself, but he's a lot more sensitive than he lets on."

Baela's gaze turned speculative as she watched you, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. "Tell me, have you noticed anything different about Lucerys lately? Like, how he's always sneaking glances at you when he thinks you're not looking? Or how he gets all tense and broody whenever Addam is around?" She arched an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Face it, the man is smitten. And he's been smitten for a while now."

You rolled your eyes, a sceptical smirk playing on your lips. "Oh please," you scoffed, crossing your arms over your chest. "That man is always broody. It's like, his defining characteristic." You exited the bathroom, with Baela hot on your heels.

"It just isn't going to happen, Baela," you said firmly, your eyes flashing with determination as you began to rummage through your dresser for a cosy pair of pyjamas. "He doesn't like me, and quite frankly, I don't like him either. We're even." You shrugged, pulling out a soft cotton nightgown and holding it up for inspection.

Baela watched with amusement as you dug through your dresser, a sceptical look on her face. She couldn't believe how stubborn you were being about the whole Lucerys situation. Didn't you see the way he looked at you? The way his eyes followed you around the room like a lovesick puppy?

But Baela knew better than to push the issue further tonight. She could see the determined set of your jaw, the flash of stubbornness in your eyes. You were a hard nut to crack, and it would take more than a little teasing to get you to see sense.

Instead, Baela leaned back against the wall, a playful grin spreading across her face. "Alright, alright, I can take a hint," she said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "I won't say anything more about your little love triangle tonight."

She paused, then leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But don't think you can hide from me forever. I've seen the way Lucerys looks at you."

Baela chuckled softly as she watched you change into your nightgown, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Goodnight," she said softly, a hint of laughter still colouring her voice. "Sweet dreams... and try not to think too hard about my cousin's brooding good looks while you're at it."

You scoffed loudly, rolling your eyes at Baela's persistent teasing. "Oh, stuff it, Baela," you muttered, feelings of annoyance and unwanted arousal warring within you. Her words echoed in your mind, planting seeds of doubt and desire that you tried desperately to ignore.

As you slipped under the soft covers, you couldn't help but picture Lucerys' chiselled face, his tall, lean body, the way his long fingers would feel skimming over your skin... you sighed, trying to dislodge the forbidden fantasies taking root in your thoughts.

Your heart raced, and your breathing grew heavy as you imagined scenarios that made your core throb with need. But the sound of Baela shifting in the bed beside me brought you back to reality, and you knew you had to push those dangerous thoughts aside.

You pulled the covers up to your chin, trying to focus on anything other than the persistent ache between your thighs. But it was no use—Lucerys' face haunted your mind, and you knew you were in serious trouble. Eventually, something would have to give.

Lucerys stared at the dark screen of his phone, Baela's parting words echoing in his mind. He couldn't believe she had hung up on him, leaving him with nothing but the echo of your voice raving about Addam's many charms. The thought of you falling for someone else, of losing you to another man, filled Lucerys with jealousy he had never known before.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms hard enough to leave red crescent marks on his skin. The thought of you with Addam, laughing and smiling and gushing about his every word, made Lucerys feel physically ill.

But more than that, Lucerys felt a bitter, twisting resentment.

Lucerys couldn't shake the sickening feeling in his gut as he pictured you in Addam's arms, your lips pressed against his in a passionate kiss. The thought of another man's hands roaming your curves, caressing the soft skin that Lucerys had been desperate to touch himself, made him want to put his fist through the wall.

He knew he shouldn't care all that much about Addam and you dating. But the selfish, possessive part of him couldn't bear the idea of losing you to anyone else. You belonged to him, even if you didn't know it yet. He had known it from the moment he first saw you in class.

Lucerys had always been a man who took what he wanted, and he wanted you more than he had ever wanted anything in his life. He wanted to make you scream his name in passion, to feel your nails digging into his back as he brought you to the peak of ecstasy again and again. He wanted to mark your body as his own, to make sure that everyone who saw you knew that you belonged to him and him alone.

But more than anything, Lucerys wanted to make you fall in love with him. He wanted you to look at him with those stunning eyes filled with adoration and desire, wanted to hear you whisper words of love and devotion as he made slow, passionate love to you.

He was determined to make you his, no matter what it took. Even if it meant playing dirty.

Lucerys' phone lit up suddenly with a text from you.

"Pick me up from my campus at 9am, it shows clear weather for Saturday"

"We should be good to go this week???"

"Let me know!"

Lucerys felt a smug smirk curl at the corners of his lips. This moment was a golden opportunity, perhaps the best he would ever have. It was his chance to prove just how much he outshone Addam. He revelled in his advantages: he was not only wealthier, but he had also graduated at the top of his class, a feat that set him apart from the rest. To cement his superiority, his grandfather owned a shipping empire, a titan of industry. The very thought filled him with a sense of entitlement and pride, as he envisioned himself as the clear victor in this unspoken competition.

With fast fingers, Lucerys typed back a reply.

"9am. Consider it done. I'll have the ship ready. The Sea Dragon, she's a fast one and beautiful."

"And don't worry about the weather - I've sailed through storms far worse than any limits your boy could imagine."

As he hit send, a wicked grin spread across his face. Lucerys couldn't wait to see the look of awe and wonder on your face as he welcomed you aboard the Sea Dragon, the magnificent ship a symbol of his family's power and prestige. He would have to make sure everything was exactly as you needed it to be - from the cabin he would be sharing with you to the breathtaking views you would behold as the ship sailed across the Narrow Sea.

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hamburgerndsprite · 7 days ago

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Sprite's Favourite Fics {Bangtan Fics} Part 2

Note: Part 1, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12 (completed)

(Also, all the collages are edited by me and therefore I request everyone not to repost them as theirs.)

[OT7]

{ONE SHOT}

➺ Hormonal by sm-entertain-me

Synopsis: Being pregnant is usually a wonderful experience as you are gifted with the ability to have a child with the love of your life, but you had no idea what kind of side effects would come along with it, let alone the new hormones racing through your body. (For argument’s sake, you’re about four months pregnant with their child so you have a tiny bump, not too big.) Contains: Smut, ot7 x (f) reader, pregnant sex, pregnancy hormones, adult language

{SERIES}

➺ Getting back into the swing of things by jellifysh

ot7 x reader / exes to friends to lovers / strangers to friends to lovers / light angst / fluff / slow burn / roommates au / polyamory Or, Namjoon falls back in love with his ex (and his boyfriends do too)

➺ Abundance by angelicyoongie

— pairing: hybrid bts x human f!reader — genre: fluff, angst, eventual smut — word count: 5.2k — summary: You never expected that you would end up adopting a hybrid, and if someone had told you that you would end up with seven? Well, you would have thought they were crazy. But here you are, with three different packs of hybrids that don't get along – but all want to stay with you. Yeah, turns out crazy is an understatement.

[KIM NAMJOON]

{ONE-SHOTS}

➺ Baby Fever by 95rkives

parings: bf!namjoon x fem!reader genre/warnings: established relationship, fluff, namjoon is in love wc: 1.7k summary: what was supposedly a peaceful morning stroll in the park, an unexpected encounter triggers namjoon’s intense desire for a baby, turning him into an adorable, baby fever-filled mess.

➺ Enchanted by hueseok

pairing: namjoon x reader word count: 5.6k content: fluff | smut | little angst | harry potter au | established relationship au | domestic au | ft. husband!namjoon (and short dad!namjoon too hehe); wizard!reader Summary: being married for almost a year now, namjoon thinks it’s time for you and him to start trying to build your own family together. so, to introduce the concept to you as enticing as he can, he prepares a romantic and cozy date night where he intends to drop the idea to you, his lovely wife, unaware that when he does, he’ll be getting the biggest and most shocking news in his life.

[KIM SEOKJIN]

{ONE-SHOTS}

➺ Last Christmas by xjoonchildx

pairing: seokjin x reader word count: 9.0K genre: exes to lovers, smut, snark, snarky smut, extra snark summary: it was bound to happen, eventually. after months of near misses at barbecues and birthdays, there’s no avoiding your ex-husband at hoseok’s annual christmas bash. but it’s fine, totally fine, because you’re both adults – and you’ve both brought dates and booze. what could go wrong?

➺ Love Potion by btsinned

Pairing: Kim Seokjin x Reader Genre: Fluff words: 5 k

➺ Syncope by ughseoks

— pairing; seokjin x reader — genre; fluff, a little angst — word count; 2.4k — warnings; description of blood being drawn, needles, fainting, unedited, jin is a sweetheart — summary; you decided to donate blood for the first time, and your nurse is... really cute, to put it nicely. it’s just too bad you had to go and embarrass yourself by fainting in his arms.

➺ Wash 'n Dry by seokoloqy

➳ PAIRING: seokjin x y/n ➳ GENRE: college!au, RA!seokjin ➳ WORD COUNT: 1.1k ➳ WARNING: mentions of smut, the worst pickup line ever ➳ SUMMARY: The one where Seokjin is the cute RA who catches you doing laundry at 1 AM and you both have time to kill.

➺ Daydream by joonie-beanie

Pairing: Jin x Reader Genre: Smut Words: 8,240 Summary: Your literature professor has a bit of a...gift. A gift that let’s him see other peoples thoughts when he wants to. And despite the fact that he warns his class openly about this gift, one day you forget, and find yourself in a bit of pickle when Kim Seokjin reads your mind, and finds you imagining some not so school appropriate scenarios...involving him.

[MIN YOONGI]

{ONE-SHOTS}

➺ Friendship Over by borathae

Pairing: Yoongi x f.Reader Genre: best friends to lovers!AU, Smut Summary: “You and Yoongi have been best friends for years and yet your friendship is build on perhaps the biggest misunderstanding on earth. You, totally into inexperienced guys, think that Yoongi steers away from romance because he is ace and therefore you keep quiet about your huge crush on him. While Yoongi, very eager to get sexy with you, thinks that you are only interested in experienced guys and therefore he sucks up his major crush on you. When one night, you accidentally run in on him touching himself to the thought of you, the foundation of your friendship crumbles irreparably and you are forced to make sense of the rubble.”

➺ Drabble by illegirl1

pairing: yoongi x reader Genre: established relationship!AU dad!yoongi + the pawful experience

➺ Arcades after dark by ughseoks

—pairing; yoongi x reader — genre; fluff, friends to lovers au — words count; 1.6k — warnings; none, just lots of fluff! — summary; you and yoongi had been best friends since the day you were born, nothing more. but when you sneak off to an arcade together in the middle of the night, sparks begin to fly.

➺ Bad Pranks by btsqualityy

Pairing: Yoongi x Reader Genre: Established relationship, Temporary angst, fluff Warnings: The bad prank does involve faking a death and consequent discussions of death so please, don’t read this if that makes you uncomfortable. Summary: Yoongi’s reaction would be to his wife pulling a fake death prank on him.

➺ Drabble by 1rosex

Summary: Pranking him with a fake hickey Genre: Idk tbh 1% angst 99% fluff *Not smut but a lil suggestive* Pairing: Yoongi x reader

➺ Tsundere by dovechim

⇢ pairing: resident advisor! yoongi x reader, college au ⇢ word count: 11.2k ⇢ summary: according to the rumours, min yoongi is a bad apple- doesn’t take grades seriously, drinks as if he has two livers, a certified bad boy™. when you get paired up with him for a project, you’d never expect that someone like him would have a thing or two to teach you about life itself- and how it should be lived. ⇢ warnings: angst, smut

➺ Home by hyungieyoongi

Pairing: Yoongi x Lawyer!Reader Genre: Fluff (literally nothing but domestic fluff) + dad!Yoongi + married au + one teensy tiny little suggestive/flirtatious comment, but nothing crazy Word Count: 1.0K

➺ Two Pink Lines by hyungieyoongi

Pairing: Yoongi x Reader Genre: Fluff + Valentine’s Day + Dad!Yoongi (more like Dad to be tee hee) + Pregnancy + Married AU Word Count: 590 this exists in the same universe as Home

➺ Never Enough by hyungieyoongi

Pairing: Yoongi x Reader Genre: Fluff (literally some of the fluffiest content I have ever produced) + Dad!Yoongi + married and parent au + appearance by ot7 Word Count: 1.2K+ this exists in the same universe as Home

➺ Hiding by hobipost

pairing: yoongi x f. reader genres/tropes: established relationship; fluff; slight comedy words: 0.8k summary: Of course, the baby had to be Yoongi's son. Otherwise, why would he be a little prick? Just like his dad.

{SERIES}

➺ The Truth Between Us by Jimlingss and Gukyi

⇒ enemies to lovers au with various other au’s thrown in there ⇒ word count: 14k ⇒ genre: fluff, angst, drama ⇒ summary: a book deal should be the most exciting time of your life, but there seems to be a constant and omnipresent damper on your mood in the form of a certain min yoongi, who you would just cut out from your life, if he weren’t your editor. but then, the world shifts beneath your feet, and you begin to wonder if maybe you’ve always been looking at life from the wrong angle.

[JUNG HOSEOK]

{ONE-SHOTS}

➺ Madeleine {M} by kpopfanfictrash

Pairing: Hoseok x Reader Rating: 18 + (explicit sex - public, dirty talk) Word Count: 20,968 Summary: It was supposed to be a one-night thing. Just one, perfect night to remember forever. Life, it seems, has other plans.

➺ War & Peace by out-of-jams

Pairing: Hoseok x Reader Word Count: 9.9k Summary ↞ “Your rivalry with Jung Hoseok first began at the tender age of five, right after you’d beamed a cardboard box of crayons straight at his forehead. He’d bled and it’d later left behind a thin scar that sliced clean through his right eyebrow. You should’ve felt guilty, but you hadn’t. Still didn’t. He’d had it coming for trying to Compel you to hand them over anyway. And technically, you did hand them over. Just not in the way he’d probably wanted. At least, that was what you’d told the teacher after Hoseok had growled wildly at you from across the playroom table. But you know what they say; all’s fair in love and war.”

➺ Stolen Sweatshirts by ughseoks

— pairing; hoseok x reader — genre; fluff — words count; 1.1k — warnings; none — summary; hobi doesn’t mind when you steal his sweatshirts-- in fact, he loves it. however, he’s steadily running out of clothes, and it’s time for you to return some of his stuff.

➺ Evergreen by ughseoks

PAIRING; hoseok x reader x taehyung GENRE/AU; hallmark au, fluff, angst, strangers to friends to lovers, businessman!tae WORD COUNT; 30.4k SUMMARY; Kim Taehyung hates Christmas, and he has no doubt that this holiday season will bring the same feelings of dread and discomfort that they always do. But when he’s forced to spend time with a couple struggling to keep their beloved Christmas tree farm business afloat, he begins to realize that money and prestige aren’t the most important things in life after all—and that a little love can go a long ways.

➺ Lover by ughseoks

— pairing; hoseok x reader — genre/rating; romance, fluff / PG — word count; 1.3k — warnings; none, unedited — summary; you discovers that hoseok is in love with you upon finding a playlist named after you on his mp3 player.

[PARK JIMIN]

{ONE-SHOTS}

➺ Cherry Flavored by ppersonna

♡ pairing- park jimin x reader ♡ word count- 10.7k ♡ genre- fluff, smut, comedy ♡ summary- when a secret admirer begins to leave messages and treats on your desk at work, your mind runs wild with 'who-dun-it's. you'll stop at nothing to determine the identity.

➺ Call me baby by hueseok

pairing: jimin x reader word count: 12.3k content: fluff | light angst | smut | college au | friends to lovers au | roommates au | fake dating au | fic is written in first person point of view !! Summary: sparked by the will to help you turn an annoying situation into your favor, jimin pretends that he's your boyfriend. but what's supposed to be a one time thing happens more than once when you get invited to a party and he has to come with you, and suddenly unknown feelings start to reveal themselves and a platonic relationship begins to get pretty awkward.

➺ Perks by drowsymochi

PAIRING: park jimin x reader GENRE: mafia au, office au ish, everything? WORD COUNT: 1.8k SUMMARY: “Working has its perks.”

➺ Laundry Mishaps {M} by hobibliophile

Pairing: RA! Jimin x reader Word Count: 3.9k Warning: Smut, oh dear god Summary: You just wanted to do some laundry, but an encounter with the RA leads to a private session in his dorm room.

➺ Distracted by parkdatjimin

pairing: idol!jimin x reader W.c: 2.5k Genre: angst and fluff Summary: where reader is pregnant but their manager told her to not tell jimin since they are having 3 months tour and doesnt want jimin to get distracted by her.

➺ Cookies (M) by clouditae

Pairing: Jimin x reader Genre: neighbors au | smut | oral | roleplay | swearing Word: 3.2k Summary: You made cookies, and it’s only fair to share it with your neighbors

➺ The Rooftop by mikrokosmoslove

Pairing: Jimin x fab! reader Genre: Smut, humiliation, dirty talk, slight degradation?, enemies to lovers. Summary: Jimin is a thorn in your side, and you hate his guts. But sometimes there's a thin line between hate and like.

[KIM TAEHYUNG]

{ONE-SHOTS}

➺ Until I Found Her by spideyjimin

⏤ pairing: football/soccer player!taehyung x female reader ⏤ genre: best friends to lovers, idiots to lovers, angst, fluff, and smut ⏤ words: 17,145 ⏤ summary: taehyung is your best friend, he’s been part of your life for as long as you can remember. his love life is a complete chaos. there is only one girl he has truly ever loved. that girl is you. but how would things turn out when he finds out that you love him back?

➺ Consequences {M} by cupofteaguk

pairing: taehyung x fem!reader genre: hogwarts au, friends with benefits au | smut word count: 18k summary: according to Hogwarts tradition, the Head Girl is meant to serve as a role model of academic achievement, outstanding reputation, and having a honest, good, and hard-working personality. you have no trouble with that; however, you’re not too sure if (regularly) sleeping around with star Quidditch player Kim Taehyung is part of the rules.

➺ I'm Smitten by jimlingss

➜ Words: 4.1k ➜ Genres: 100% Fluff, Tsundere!AU, Police!AU ➜ Summary: You and Taehyung are hated for opposing reasons. It's not your fault that everything you say is a LIE! And it's not his fault that everything he says is the brutal truth. But what's worse is that Kim Taehyung can always see through you and he knows to twist your deception into honesties.

➺ Eight Weeks by jjungkookislife

↬ pairing: taehyung x f. reader, maknae line x reader ↬ genre: fluff, parent!au, ex-poly!au ↬ summary: Jimin and Jungkook take care of baby Eun-Ae while you and Tae struggle to leave her home to go out to lunch for the first time since she was born. ↬ wc: 1.3k

➺ Saving You by bebejungkook

‧✧̣̇‧ Pairing: Taehyung x yn ‧✧̣̇‧ Genre: Yandere au, ceo!taehyung, dilf!Taehyung. ‧✧̣̇‧ Summary: Your very over protective husband finds out you’ve been kidnapped and he was going to take the matters into his own hands. ‧✧̣̇‧ Word count: 1.7k ish

[ JEON JUNGKOOK]

{ONE-SHOTS}

➺ Drabble by hayjeon

Summary: where he and his mate have pups to take care of and they’re quite a mischievous bunch!

➺ You Make Me Begin by yukheii

genre & warnings: just another addition to the of pacifiers and patience collection; husband!jeongguk, dad!jeongguk, fluff, [gif cr.] summary: jeongguk’s learned that starting over is as simple as that, because every day with you all feels like a new beginning; or five times jeongguk learns what it means to be a father

➺ Payback Time by krreader

pairing: jeon jeongguk x reader warnings: mentions of cheating ; language genre: crack ; angst ; fluff summary: it was time to give jeongguk a taste of his own medicine.

➺ Speeding Ticket by minstrophywife

⇢Pairing: Officer!Jungkook x Business Woman!Reader ⇢Genre: PWP ↳[smuuuuut] [crack] [fluff] ⇢Word Count: 3,456 ⇢Summary: Caught speeding to get home in time, you find yourself pulled over by a very delicious cop. Perhaps you can talk your way out of the ticket. Or, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to do a cavity search ma’am.”

➺ Have a Nice Day by lookingforluna

☾Pairing: Doctor!Jungkook x Reader ☾Word Count: 2.3k ☾ Genre: smut, medical, established relationship!, doctor!au ☾Summary: With your doctor out of town you’re scheduled for a check up with a different doctor. The visit however turns into an unexpected one and you have no problem with that.

{SERIES}

➺ The Third Wheel by smoljimjim

Pairing: boyfriendJJK x OC named Siri Genre: angst with happy ending Description: What do you do when you realise you're standing in the way of your partner being with their true love? Siri is faced with this predicament, and she's not sure whether to stay with Jungkook, or let him go.

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