WHAT THE FUCK DID I DO?

JUNIPER’S POV

My breath hitches, heart pounding in my chest as my fingers graze over the ugly marks on my neck. Where did they come from? And that pain.

“June!” The voice I dread echoes through the hallway.

I slap a hand over my mouth, pressing my back to the bathroom door.

“I know you’re in there, June, so come out or let me in.” Cillian’s voice echoes in the hall, followed by the door handle rattling.

I force myself to breathe, trying to steel my expression as I yank the door open. But he knows me too well, and my expression isn’t enough to hide the lie in my eyes.

“What happened? I heard you scream.” His eyes narrow as he tries to grab me, but I slap his hands away.

“It’s none of your business, Cillian!” My voice is harsh as I grit my teeth. “You lost that right!”

I try to walk past him, but his hand grabs mine, pulling me back.

“June, please,” he whispers, pulling me into his chest.

When I look into his eyes, my heart sinks as emotions I thought had died flare back to life.

He cups my face with desperation written across his. “I would do anything to get you back. Just tell me what to do. It’s still your birthday. Tell me, and I’ll make it happen—”

“Cillian, stop!” I push his hands off, shoving him away. “You had your chance.” I turn to walk out of the hallway, throwing words over my shoulder. “And for the record, what do you think you have? It’s gone. I lost my virginity last night at a ba—”

Before I can finish, he slams me against the wall, wrapping his hand around my throat. Pain explodes from the marks on my neck as I gasp for air.

“Who is he?!” Cillian’s eyes blaze with fury. “Tell me now!”

I claw at his hand, my heart hammering as his face twists in rage. “So, you’re a whore now?”

‘Whore?’ For someone who doesn’t know how it feels to have a dick in me, I have gotten that a lot.

Fear shoots through me at the monster he’s become, but then—

“Leave her alone.” A cold and commanding voice pierces through the hall.

Cillian’s grip loosens, and we both turn to see Professor Hiram standing at the end of the hallway.

Cillian glares at him with his fists still clenched.

“And who the hell are you?”

“Hiram,” he says, unfazed by Cillian’s demeanor, his eyes boring into Cillian. “I’m her professor, and it’s my duty to protect my students from bullies like you. Step aside.”

Cillian loosens his grip on me, then steps back, a smile forced on his face as he glares at me.

“This isn’t over, June,” Cillian spits, before he storms off.

His shoulder brushes Hiram’s as he passes.

“Watch your back, professor.” He growls before disappearing from my view.

I stand frozen, choking as I massage my neck, struggling to let out some air.

“Are you alright?” Hiram’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. He’s closer now, and his hand reaches for mine. “Come on.”

For a moment, I hesitate, but the fear of Cillian lurking pushes me forward. I let Hiram lead me to his office, my thoughts swirling about what Cillian might do. His family has money and power; he could easily do anything and get away with it.

I don’t notice we are in the office until the door slams shut, jolting me from my trance. I look up to see Professor Hiram staring at me.

“Did he hurt your neck?” Hiram asks, his eyes narrowing as I quickly cover the marks with my hand.

He is totally different from the man who threw me out this morning, which makes me wonder if I’m cursed to only attract bipolar men.

“It’s fine,” I mutter, stepping back. But he grabs my wrist, gently pulling me toward him, turning me so my back is nearly against his chest.

He is irresistible.

“Let me see.”

I shake my head, but he lifts my hair.

“I’m stating, not asking,” he whispers, inching closer, his breath warm against my skin.

I stay silent while he examines it, making me uneasy in the stretched silence. Before I can speak, his lips brush against the marks on my neck, and a calm feeling runs down my body as his hands curl around my waist, pulling me toward him until my butt rests against his crotch.

Heat rises in between my legs, and I feel the bones in my spine crumple as he kisses the length of my neck.

“Hiram—” I gasp, pulling away from his grip, turning to confirm that he’s actually there and I’m not daydreaming.

I know he is bad for me, but staring into those blue eyes makes me lose every home training I have. I grab his face, and every nerve alights as his mouth finds mine, our lips crashing together. His grip tightens and his hands tug at my skirt as he lifts me onto the table, positioning himself between my legs.

He pins both of my hands to the table with one of his. His other hand slips under my skirt, then his fingers brush dangerously close to my panties as he leaves a burning trail of kisses down my neck.

At that moment, someone knocks on the door.

‘Thank God.’ I sigh inwardly in relief.

He pulls away sharply, his breath ragged as he presses one hand over my mouth.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Lola Baker, and I’m a third-year student. I have questions about this morning’s class. Can I come in?” Her voice is sultry, lingering just long enough to make my blood boil.

I try to shake off the jealousy creeping in. He is not mine, but how dare she!

Hiram’s expression hardens. “I’m not available right now. Come back later.”

Lola huffs, but after a moment, her footsteps fade.

Hiram’s eyes return to me, locking me in place. He places his hands by my sides, caging me on the table.

“You didn’t tell me today’s your birthday.”

I roll my eyes. “What does that matter to you?”

His expression hardens, his brows nearly touching his nose.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me,” he warns, stepping back slightly, but still close enough that I can feel the heat between us.

“What do you care?” I slide off the table, straightening my skirt. “You threw me out of your place this morning, and now you’re acting like you care,” I say to him, but he ignores me, walking to his desk.

He flips open his briefcase.

“Well, someone got a little careless last night, and we ended up here. Until we find a way out of this mess, I believe we are stuck together.”

He tosses a paper onto the table.

I frown, staring at it. “What’s that?”

“Take a look, Mrs. Hiram.”

My heart stops as he places two rings beside the document.

What the fuck did I actually do last night?