25. Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

Insatiable Curiosity

Daisy

I tiptoe down the grand staircase, my heart pounding in my chest. The modern chandelier overhead casts a soft glow, guiding my way. I’m almost at the front door when a deep voice cuts through the silence.

“Going somewhere?”

I freeze, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Cormac stands in the shadows, his tall, muscular frame leaning against the wall. His eyes, dark and intense, meet mine.

“I, uh, was just going to catch the bus,” I stammer, my cheeks flushing. I’m not usually one to be at a loss for words, but something about Cormac leaves me flustered.

He pushes off the wall and steps into the light. His rugged features, usually set in a stern expression, soften slightly as he looks at me. “It’s late,” he says, his voice a low rumble. “And it’s not safe.”

I lift my chin. “I can take care of myself.”

A small smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. “I don’t doubt that.” He takes a step closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “But you don’t have to. Not while you’re here.”

I swallow hard, my heart fluttering in my chest. This is dangerous territory. Cormac is Anne’s professor’s brother, and I’m...well, I’m just Daisy. The engineering student with dark secrets and insatiable curiosity. That’s what drives me to learn about electrical currents and gears. It’s also what makes me fascinated with this man.

“Look, I appreciate your concern,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “But I really need to go.”

He takes another step closer, his proximity sending a shiver down my spine. “Why are you running?”

I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out. The truth is, I don’t know why I’m running. Or maybe I do, and I just don’t want to admit it.

Cormac reaches out, his hand gently cupping my cheek. His touch is warm, his thumb brushing softly against my skin. “You don’t have to run. Not from me.”

My breath hitches, my heart pounding wildly. This is wrong, isn’t it? He’s forbidden, off-limits. But then why does it feel so right?

I lean into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed. When I open them again, Cormac is even closer, his breath mingling with mine.

“Daisy,” he whispers, his voice husky.

My heart skips a beat, my body yearning for his touch. But before I can respond, a noise from upstairs startles us both. We jump apart, our moment shattered.

Cormac clears his throat, his expression once again stern. “You should stay here tonight,” he says, his voice gruff. “We can talk more in the morning.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“Don’t I?” His eyes glint dangerously in the dim light of the foyer. His voice is a low growl, a warning that sends a shiver down my spine. “I told you what happens to lost little lambs who don’t stay with the flock.”

I should be afraid, and I am, but there’s something else coursing through my veins. Excitement. A thrill that I can’t quite explain. Maybe it’s the remnants of my upbringing, the echoes of domination and submission that were drilled into me from a young age. Or maybe it’s just the raw, primal power that Cormac exudes.

“Well, you certainly took your sweet time rounding up this little lamb,” I retort, my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest. “Anne was in trouble, and you were nowhere to be found.”

Cormac’s jaw tightens, a muscle twitching in his cheek. “I had things to take care of,” he says, his voice a low rumble. “And I’m not the one who let her wander off in the first place.”

I bristle at the accusation, but I can’t deny the truth in his words. I should have been more careful, should have kept a closer eye on Anne. But I won’t let him see me flinch. “Well, you’re certainly making up for lost time now, aren’t you?” I snap back. “Playing the big, bad wolf.”

A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth, and he takes a step closer. I can feel the heat radiating off his body, can see the stubble that lines his jaw. “You have no idea, little lamb,” he murmurs, his voice a low growl that sends a shiver down my spine.

Defiance sparks. I should be intimidated, should be cowering in the face of his power. Fuck that. “And you have no idea what I’m capable of.”

Cormac’s eyes flash, and for a moment, I think he’s going to pounce. “Pray that I never find out.” A veil drops over his dark eyes. “You’ve been a good friend to Anne.”

The sudden shift in his demeanor catches me off guard. I blink, taken aback by the unexpected kindness in his voice. “She’s been a good friend to me,” I say, my voice soft. “Thank you for helping her. For helping both of us.”

“For helping,” he repeats, his voice flat.

“You know, for letting her stay here to recuperate. And for rescuing her.”

Cormac’s voice is a low rumble, a warning that sends a shiver down my spine. “It wasn’t a rescue, little lamb. We were capturing her for William. He should know better than to touch a student. He might not want to let her go.”

I glance up at him, my heart pounding in my chest. There’s a darkness in his eyes, a hunger that sends a thrill coursing through my veins. As if he’s thinking about touching a student. Not just any student. Me.

I take a step closer, my breath hitching as his scent fills my nostrils. He smells like pine and earth, a wild, untamed scent that makes my heart race. Cormac growls, a sound that vibrates through me, and suddenly, I’m pressed against the wall, his body caging mine.

I look up at him, my eyes wide, my lips parted. I hope he’ll kiss me. I want him to kiss me. But when he leans down, his lips press against my forehead, a chaste kiss that leaves me aching for more.

He sets me gently, but firmly, away from him. “Run home, little lamb. You won’t like what will happen if I catch you.”

I swallow hard, my body trembling with a mix of fear and desire. I know I should run, should flee from this dangerous man and the wild, untamed feelings he stirs within me. But my feet remain rooted to the ground, my eyes locked on his.

Cormac’s gaze sweeps over me, his expression darkening. “I said run,” he growls, his voice a low rumble that sends a shiver down my spine. “Now.”

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. And then, with a burst of speed, I dart past him, my feet flying over the ground as I race toward the safety of the bus route, of campus, of the empty dorm room.

What would have happened if I stayed?

I glance back over my shoulder, my heart racing. But Cormac is nowhere to be seen. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart, and step inside, the door closing behind me with a soft click.

I lean back against the door, my body trembling with a mix of fear and desire. And as I close my eyes, all I can see is Cormac’s face, his dark eyes burning into mine. All I can feel is the press of his lips against my forehead, the rumble of his growl vibrating through me.

And I know, without a doubt, that I’m in deep, deep trouble.