Chapter 21 21
The next day, Sofía was restless from the moment she stepped into the academy.
Every nerve in her body felt stretched tight.
The thought of facing Mr. Ruiz alone made her stomach twist painfully. And just her luck after break, it was his class.
From time to time, she could feel his eyes on her.
What terrified her most was how professional he appeared in front of everyone.
Calm.
Composed.
As though he wasn’t the same man who had cornered her in his office and whispered that he wanted her.
She sat stiff and unmoving throughout the lecture, her body rigid like stone.
When only five minutes remained, she suddenly stood up and grabbed her head.
“I-I’m n-not feeling well,” she muttered weakly.
Miguel was instantly on his feet, rushing toward her.
“Can I take her to the nurse’s clinic?” he asked.
Fernando’s gaze turned icy.
Seeing Miguel so close to her ignited fury in his chest.
“Ms. Rodríguez, go to the clinic,” he said coldly.
Then sharply, “And you, Miguel sit down.”
Sofía wasted no time leaving the room, pretending her head throbbed.
She went straight to the nurse’s clinic and waited quietly until the final class ended.
She was the first student to leave the academy grounds.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips.
She’d missed her last class but thank God she had escaped his torturous “lessons,” which felt more like fear sessions than studying.
The following day, Sofía had Noelia call the academy and report an emergency so she could leave early.
Once again, she slipped away before Mr. Ruiz could drag her into another tutoring session.
By the third day, she still hadn’t been alone with him only seeing him during class.
Noelia had helped yesterday.
But today, Sofía had to manage on her own.
After the first three periods, break time arrived.
She placed her things in her locker and swapped books for the last two classes.
Once she was sure the corridor was empty most students gathered in the cafeteria she headed toward her sacred place.
The abandoned classroom on the top floor.
She set her bag down and pulled out tissues, carefully wiping the dusty desk where she planned to sit and eat lunch.
It was something she did every day.
No one ever cleaned this forgotten room.
So she did it herself.
She was so focused on cleaning that she didn’t notice the sudden shift in the air.
Her breathing stilled.
A presence loomed behind her.
Her body froze completely.
Hot breath brushed the back of her ear.
A familiar masculine cologne filled her senses.
Fear shot through her.
She tried to step away without turning
But a strong muscular arm wrapped tightly around her waist, yanking her back against a solid chest.
All the air rushed from her lungs.
Sparks exploded where his arm pressed into her.
Her back burned with strange tingles.
Her hands flew up, gripping his arm, trying desperately to pry it away.
She didn’t even realize she wasn’t breathing.
“L-let me go,” she whispered shakily, struggling.
He pulled her even closer.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips as her entire back lit up with sensation.
Her heart slammed wildly against her ribs, beating so fast she thought it would burst.
“Let go!” she cried, pinching and punching at his thick tattooed arm.
“Shhh,” he hushed softly in her ear.
Electric chills shot down her spine.
Suddenly she froze.
Her eyes widened in horror when she felt something hard press against her upper back.
Her blood turned cold.
She knew exactly what it was.
Fernando had had enough of her avoidance.
For two days, she had escaped his tutoring sessions.
First by pretending to be sick.
Then by claiming an emergency at home something about her grandfather.
And he knew she planned to do it again today.
So he followed her.
Instead of heading to the cafeteria, she slipped toward the stairs, carefully making sure no one saw her.
Then it clicked.
He remembered catching her watching him from the window of the empty classroom upstairs before.
Why hadn’t he realized it sooner?
He went straight there.
And stopped.
The sight nearly drove him insane.
She was bent over the desk, cleaning.
The curve of her hips was maddening.
Her body moved softly, her skirt riding up just enough to reveal her upper thighs.
Blood rushed straight to his groin.
She had a thick, tempting ass the kind a man could lose his mind over.
His feet carried him toward her like he was pulled by gravity.
All he wanted was to bend her forward, tear her skirt apart, and take her.
Maybe that would be her punishment for avoiding him.
He stopped inches behind her.
His hands burned to grab her hips.
But he wanted her to feel him first.
And she did.
Her body went stiff instantly.
She froze for a few seconds before trying to move away.
Too late.
He wrapped his arm around her slim waist and dragged her soft body against his hard one.
The sparks were overwhelming.
She struggled helplessly.
Her pleas only amused him.
He pulled her closer so she could feel his arousal and when she did, she went completely still.
“You deliberately avoided me for two days, Ana,” he growled darkly.
“You need to be punished.”
Her entire body trembled in his arms so violently even he could feel it.