Chapter 181

Chapter 181
Rainey's POV

Before I could respond, Sunny's hand closed around mine.

"Come on," he said, already tugging me up from my chair. "You're coming with me."

"Wait—" I tried to pull back, panic flaring. "But I still need to finish—"

He wasn't listening. In one smooth motion, he shut my laptop and stacked it with my casebooks, tucking the whole pile under one arm like they weighed nothing. His other hand stayed locked around mine, warm and firm and completely unyielding.

"Sunny, I'm serious, I can't just—"

"My office." He turned to look at me, and something in his eyes made my breath catch. Not angry. Just... intense. "You haven't been there yet. I want to show you."

Oh.

The walk through campus felt surreal. Sunny led me across the darkening quad, past clusters of students heading to late dinners or library study sessions. Nobody gave us a second glance—just another couple holding hands. They had no idea my heart was trying to break out of my ribcage.

The building was almost empty. Our footsteps echoed as Sunny guided me up the stairwell, past the second floor, the third, all the way to the top. The top floor hallway was dim and silent, clearly not a popular spot. We walked to the very end, where a wooden door stood slightly apart from the others.

I couldn't help it—I laughed.

On the doorknob hung a hand-lettered sign, written in black Sharpie on what looked like cardboard: NO ENTRY, WAIT IF YOU MUST.

Sunny glanced back at me, and I swear his mouth twitched. "Keeps away the random knocks."

"Very welcoming," I teased, still smiling.

He pulled out his keys. The lock clicked. "That's the point."

The door swung open.

I stepped inside and... wow.

It was so Sunny. Dark gray walls, minimalist furniture, everything precisely arranged. A massive black oak desk faced the window, with a small couch area tucked to one side. In the corner sat a mini-fridge, and I could see bottled waters and energy drinks through the glass door.

"You practically live here," I murmured.

"Sometimes I do." He set my books down on the rug beside the couch, then turned to me. "Sit with me."

He didn't wait for an answer. Just dropped onto the black leather couch and pulled me down next to him—no, not next to, practically on him. His arm came around my shoulders, tucking me against his chest.

And god, I melted.

All the tension I'd been carrying for two weeks, all the stress and exhaustion and loneliness—it just... dissolved. I buried my face in his shirt and inhaled deeply, drinking in his scent like I'd been drowning without it.

"Missed you," Sunny murmured into my hair. "So fucking much."

"Missed you too." My voice came out muffled against his chest.

We sat like that for a while, just breathing together. His heartbeat was steady under my ear. Solid. Real. Mine.

Suddenly something fierce flashed through his eyes. Dark and possessive and hungry. He didn't say a word—just pulled me tighter against him until I couldn't breathe.

Then he was moving, pulling me up with him. "Come here."

He led me back to the door. I watched, confused, as he pulled out his phone and started messing with the electronic lock.

"What're you—"

"Hand."

He grabbed my right hand and pressed my index finger to the sensor. Beep. Green light.

"Other one."

"Why do you need—"

"In case you cut yourself. Or can't remember which finger I programmed." He was already pressing my thumb down. Beep. "I want you to get in here no matter what."

By the time he was done, he'd registered both thumbs and both index fingers. Four different prints, like he was planning for some disaster scenario where I'd lose three fingers but still desperately need to access his office.

"You're insane," I said, but it came out soft. Almost tender.

Final confirmation beep. Sunny lowered my hand but kept holding it, thumb drawing lazy circles on my wrist.

"You can come whenever you want now," he said quietly. "Don't wait for me. Don't knock. This place is yours too."

Something inside me cracked wide open.

Before I could second-guess myself, I pushed up on my toes and kissed him. Quick and grateful and—

Sunny pulled back, thumb catching my bottom lip. That dangerous gleam sparked in his eyes.

"What was that?"

"Um. A kiss?" Heat flooded my face.

"Hm." His thumb traced my mouth again, slower this time. "Funny how you throw yourself into everything else—all those classes, moot court prep, trying to prove you belong. But this?" He leaned in until our mouths almost touched. "This gets zero effort."

Oh shit.

"That's not—" I stammered. "Maybe you can show me a better one!"

The words escaped before my brain could catch them. Sunny went completely still.

Then his eyes went black.

"Oh, baby." His voice dropped into that low, dangerous register that made everything inside me clench. "You really wanna push me right now?"

He moved like lightning. One second I was by the door, the next I was pinned to the wall beside it, his hand cradling my skull, his mouth claiming mine.

Not gentle. Not sweet. This was raw and hungry and two weeks of separation finally snapping.

My knees buckled. I sagged into the wall and Sunny's arm immediately locked around my waist, trapping me between cold plaster and the hot, solid weight of his body.

Then his other hand slipped under my shirt.

I gasped. His palm was scorching against my bare skin, rough fingertips skating up my spine—

Stopping. Hovering. Right below my bra.

Sunny broke the kiss. We were both panting. His forehead dropped against mine.

"Still think I'm a shit teacher?" His voice was absolutely wrecked.

I couldn't speak. Could barely think.

His hand moved again. Slow. Deliberate. Up my back, over the band of my bra, then sliding around to my front.

Oh god oh god oh god—

His palm cupped my breast through the thin cotton. A gentle squeeze.

I whimpered.

Sunny's breath hitched. His lips found my ear. "Fuck," he whispered. "Have they..." Another soft squeeze. "They feel bigger."

"Sunny—"

Whatever protest I had dissolved into a moan when his thumb brushed over my nipple through the fabric.

His other arm tightened, basically holding me up now since my legs had stopped functioning.

"Better?" His whisper ghosted across my ear.

And somewhere in the haze of my brain, a thought surfaced: Yeah. Definitely better.