The hallway outside the rooftop was quiet, but Elizabeth's mind wasn't. Her skin still burned from Aiden's touch, her heart still echoing his words, Yes, I do, like a sinful prayer.
Why did it hurt so much to be wanted, but not touched?
She smoothed her dress with trembling hands, wiped under her eyes, and pushed the ballroom doors open again. Music pounded through the floorboards.
"Liz!" Amara waved her over, already half through her second cup of suspiciously fizzy punch. "There you are. I thought you'd dipped."
"Just needed air," Elizabeth mumbled, grabbing a cup from the table.
Amara narrowed her eyes. "You look like you got more than air. What happened?"
"Nothing." She sipped too quickly, trying to kill the memory of Aiden's voice in her head. "Absolutely nothing."
Amara's brow lifted. "Your face says otherwise. Did you cry? Your mascara's running down your face."
Elizabeth ignored her and downed another gulp. Sweet. Fizzy. Too sweet.
"Shit," she muttered, blinking. "There's alcohol in this."
Amara shrugged innocently. "Don't look at me. It was already like that."
She spotted Jay near the drinks table, leaning against the wall in his dark green suit, laughing at something a junior girl was saying.
Elizabeth walked straight up to him, lips curled in something that wasn't quite a smile.
"Hey," she said, "Still wanna dance?"
Jay smirked. "Thought you'd never ask.
As Jay led her to the dance floor, she caught Kacey watching from across the room, arms folded like a queen surveying her kingdom. Her icy smile faltered.
Good.
Let her watch.
Her eyes flicked to the edge of the room.
Professor Stone was back.
Leaning against the far wall in his black suit, watching.
She threw her head back, letting the alcohol and adrenaline swirl in her veins. If Professor Stone wouldn't let himself want her, she'd make him regret it.
Jay leaned down, his lips grazing her ear. "You really trying to make someone jealous, or are you into me?"
"Does it matter?" she murmured.
Jay's hands landed on her waist. The music shifted to something pulsing and low. Elizabeth moved automatically, swaying, turning, letting the buzz dull her nerves. Jay leaned closer, whispering something about how good she looked.
She nodded and smiled but she didn't hear a damn word.
All she could think about was a pair of storm-grey eyes and a velvet voice saying, I want you.
"Want to get some air?" Jay asked, his mouth too close to her ear.
Elizabeth stepped back. Her head spun.
"Actually…" she blinked, the lights blurring. "I need to sit down."
Jay's arms steadied her. "Whoa. Okay. Let's get you some water."
He half-walked, half-guided her to the chairs, where Amara rushed over.
"She's not looking great," Jay said, setting her down.
"No shit." Amara knelt. "Liz? How much did you drink?"
"Just one…" Elizabeth frowned. "One and a half… three?"
"Perfect." Amara groaned. "She's punch drunk."
"Literally," Jay muttered.
Elizabeth giggled. "I'm fine. The floor's just… dancing too."
"Alright," a deep voice cut through the buzz.
"Professor Stone" Amara muttered.
His eyes landed on Elizabeth. Dark. Unreadable.
"You need to come with me," he said, voice calm but commanding.
Elizabeth didn't argue. She rose, stumbled slightly, and felt his hand close around her elbow.
"Jay," Aiden said tightly, "you're excused. I've got her from here"
Jay opened his mouth. Thought better of it then vanished.
Elizabeth blinked, frowning up at him. "You're not my babysitter."
"No," he said calmly, wrapping a steady hand around her elbow. "But you clearly need one."
She opened her mouth, to argue, but the warmth of his touch short-circuited her thoughts. She stumbled again, and suddenly he was lifting her off the floor.
"Put me down," she mumbled, her voice muffled against his chest.
"In a minute."
"I hate you."
"No," he murmured, carrying her out of the ballroom, "you don't."
"Put me down," she murmured, squirming a little.
He didn't respond. His grip only tightened slightly as he carried her through the quiet halls of Bridgerton Academy.
Inside her dorm room, he helped her sit on the edge of the bed.
"You shouldn't have done that," he said, closing the door behind him.
"Done what professor? Drank a lot of punch or grinded on Jay?" she slurred. "Did it bother you seeing me with him?"
He didn't answer.
She sat up, slowly, swaying. "You looked angry."
"I was," he admitted.
Their eyes met. The heat that had simmered on the rooftop returned tenfold.
"Why?" she asked, voice soft now. "Why were you angry?"
"Because you were drunk. Because you were careless. Because that boy had his hands on you like you were his to touch," he said tightly, jaw clenched.
Elizabeth's breath hitched. "I wanted it to bother you."
He stepped closer. "It worked."
She tilted her face up to him, lips parted, eyes daring. "Then do something about it."
His hands balled into fists at his sides. "Don't tempt me, Elizabeth."
"You like me."
"You're drunk." He muttered, his voice tight
"I'm honest."
Aiden ran a hand through his hair, turning his back to her. "This conversation is dangerous."
"So is liking me," she whispered.
He turned. "You're seventeen."
"For five more days."
She stood, swaying slightly. He caught her arm to steady her again.
"I'm not a little girl."
"I never said you were."
"Then stop treating me like one."
Her hands slid up his chest. slow and seductive.
"Elizabeth," he warned.
She leaned in. "Tell me to stop."
He didn't.
For one heartbeat.
Two.
Then his hand caught her waist, grounding her.
"This is a mistake."
"But you still want to kiss me."
"Yes," he said hoarsely. "God, yes."
She tilted her face up. Their lips brushed.
Just once.
Then he pulled back like he'd been slapped.
"No," he said, breath ragged. "Not like this."
She blinked, dazed. "Why not?"
"Because you've been drinking. Because this isn't you thinking clearly."
"It is me," she insisted.
He shook his head. "You don't get it. If I cross that line, if I touch you the way I want to, I won't stop."
Silence.
He stepped back. "Get some sleep, Elizabeth."
She didn't stop him when he walked to the door.
But her heart broke a little when it closed.
Just outside the dorm room, in the dimly lit hallway, Kacey stood silently, arms folded, lips pressed into a thin line.
She'd seen everything. Professor Stone carrying Elizabeth into her dorm, the way he lingered after shutting the door behind him.
Something wasn't right.
There was something between them. Something more than a teacher protecting a student.
And Kacey intended to find out exactly what it was.
A cold smile played across her lips as she turned on her heel, the sharp click of her heels echoing down the corridor.