“You’re falling behind again.”

Elias said it quietly, but the words still landed like a grade I hadn’t earned. We were in his office after hours, door locked, my skirt already around my waist. His hand was between my legs, two fingers stroking slowly, keeping me wet and restless without letting me get close. The usual hunger was there — I could feel how hard he was against my hip — but something else sat underneath it. Tension that had nothing to do with sex.

I braced my hands on the desk and tried to keep my voice light. “I’m here, aren’t I? Extra credit in progress.”

“Your last essay...