Spend The Night With Me

The moment his final class for the day ended, Ethan remained in his seat, watching as the other students fled out of the classroom, excited to leave and go home.

He sighed and looked over the clock on the wall. Just then, he received a message from Celeste, reminding him about their meeting.

Well, she didn't need to remind him of their meeting.

He already knew where he was going.

With a slow stretch, Ethan slung his bag over his shoulder and made his way toward the faculty building, back to Celeste's office. The hallways were quieter now, with only a few lingering students and professors scattered throughout.

Ethan's footsteps were light and casual, yet there was an undeniable sense of purpose in his movements. When he arrived at Celeste's office, he didn't even hesitate to go inside.

Etan turned the knob and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click. However, before he could close it fully, his fingers brushed against the lock, subtly turning it, sealing the door without making a sound.

A smirk tugged at his lips as he moved further into the room. He just locked the door without Celese's knowledge.

"Professor," Ethan kindly greeted her.

Celeste was behind her desk, her back was straight and her hands folded neatly in front of her. Her dark brown hair was pinned up in a bun, a few loose strands framing her face.

Her eyes were sharp and intelligent as she studied Etan with an unreadable expression.

"Sit," she said evenly, motioning to the chair in front of her desk.

Ethan obeyed, sinking into the chair with an ease that bordered on arrogance. His sharp gray eyes never left hers.

For a moment, silence settled between them, thick with unspoken tension. Then, Celeste spoke, her voice softer than usual, lacking the usual ignorance it carried in class.

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened yesterday," she began, her tone was soft and measured.

"I believe we may have started on the wrong foot, Mr. Cross."

Ethan arched a brow, amused at the sudden shift in personality.

"Oh? And what foot would that be, Professor?"

Celeste's lips twitched slightly, almost as if she were forcing a smile.

"You're a bright student, Ethan. I don't want there to be any misunderstandings between us."

Ethan let out a soft chuckle, resting his chin against his knuckles.

"Misunderstandings? Now that's an interesting way to put it."

Celeste ignored the taunt, instead she leaned forward slightly.

"I know you're new here. You've been here just a few months. Adjusting can be difficult, and perhaps I haven't been as accommodating as I should have been."

Ethan tilted his head.

'Ah, so that was her approach. Kindness.' He almost laughed.

She must have thought he was naive enough to be swayed by a sudden change in demeanor. It was almost insulting, really. But at the same time, it was entertaining.

Ethan's lips curled into a slow smirk. "Accommodating?" he repeated.

"That's a nice way of saying you never gave a damn about me before."

Celeste's expression didn't falter. If anything, she looked more composed, as if she had expected his reaction.

"I may have misjudged you," she admitted. "I'd like to correct that."

Ethan let out a low laugh, shaking his head.

"Professor, you don't actually think this will work, do you?"

"What do you mean?" Celeste blinked in surprise..

Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at her with amusement.

"Come on. A sudden shift in attitude? Do you think a little bit of kindness would make me lower my guard? If you really wanted to play this game, you should have at least built up to it."

Celeste's lips pressed into a thin line. For a brief moment, something flickered in her gaze—was it frustration? Annoyance? It was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said smoothly. "I simply want to have a proper student-teacher relationship. One without animosity."

Ethan chuckled again, shaking his head.

"You're good. I'll give you that. But you're underestimating me. It's insulting pofessor."

Ethan leaned back in his seat, exuding nothing but confidence. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he spoke again, his voice dropping into something softer, something more dangerous.

"You see, Professor," he mused, "I like this little dance we're doing. But let's not pretend you're doing this out of the kindness of your heart."

Celeste remained silent, her expression unreadable.

"You're doing this because you want something from me." Ethan smirked.

He saw the way her jaw tensed, the way her fingers curled ever so slightly against the desk. She wasn't as unaffected as she wanted him to believe.

"And what is it you think I want?" she asked, her voice deceptively calm.

Ethan's gaze darkened with amusement.

"Oh, I don't think. I know."

He let the silence stretch between them, watching as she waited for his answer. Then, he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"You want me to delete the video."

Celeste's expression didn't change, but Ethan could see the way her fingers twitched against the surface of her desk. Even if she refused to acknowledge it, he knew he was right.

He let out a low chuckle.

"But here's the thing, Professor…" He tilted his head, his smirk widening. "I don't feel like it."

Celeste inhaled slowly, her hands now clasped tightly together. "Ethan," she said, her voice controlled, "this isn't something fun."

"Oh, but it is." His eyes gleamed with amusement. "And I'm having so much fun."

Celeste exhaled sharply, the first sign of irritation slipping through. She opened her mouth to respond, but Ethan cut her off.

"You know," he mused, "there is something you could do to change my mind."

Celeste narrowed her eyes, instantly on guard. 

"And what would that be?"

Ethan's smirk turned almost lazy as he leaned back in his chair, watching her reaction carefully before he spoke.

"Spend the night with me."

The words hung in the air, thick with implication.

Celeste's entire body went still. Her expression remained neutral, but Ethan didn't miss the slight widening of her eyes or the way her breath hitched ever so slightly.

Finally, she spoke, her voice calm but dangerously low.

"You're crossing a line, Ethan."

"Oh, I crossed that line the moment I locked the door behind me." Ethan laughed softly.

He watched as Celeste's fingers curled into fists. Despite her outward composure, he could tell she was struggling to keep control of the situation.

"Think about it, Professor." His voice was light, teasing. "Just one night. We talk, we negotiate. Who knows? You might even enjoy yourself."

"You're out of your mind." Celeste slowly exhaled, her eyes burning with restrained fury.