Professor Adrian Cross is a man of strict rules, disciplined, and utterly untouchable. A past scandal forced him to start over, and he won't risk his career again. But when Celeste Monroe walks into his lecture hall, all sharp edges and reckless temptation, and the rules start to blur. 'He won't touch her.' 'He won't fall for her.' 'But she's daring him to lose control.' What starts as a slow, forbidden game soon spirals into dangerous games of stolen glances, whispered command and a moment caught on camera that should have never existed. Now, the whispers are turning into threats. Jealous rivals, a scorned professor and a dean waiting for Adrian to slip. If their secret gets out, it will destroy them both. But some temptations are worth the risk. Some obsessions can't be denied. 'And some rules are meant to be broken.'
Celeste's p.o.v.
The first time I hear his name, it's from the girl in the seat next to me, it's whispered like a secret, laced between curiosity and warning.
"Did you hear about the new professor?" Mia leans in, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "The one taking over for Dr. Whitman?"
I glance up from my barely-touched coffee. "No. Why?"
She smirks. "He's insane. Strict as hell, doesn't take bullshit from anyone." She pauses for an effect. "Oh, and hot. Like, ridiculously hot."
That catches my attention. Not that I care much, I didn't exactly enroll in Columbia University's Literature and Media Studies program for eye candy but after three years of lectures from professors who look like they were born in a library, a little visual interest wouldn't hurt I guess.
At the same time, across the room, another girl chimes in. "I heard he left his last job because of a scandal."
Mia's eyebrows lift, and she tilts to face the girl. "What kind of scandal?"
The girl shrugs, lowering her voice like the walls might be listening. "No idea. But he was at NYU before this, and now he's here."
I hum, quite uninterested as professors get fired for all kinds of things, plagiarism, departmental politics, bad tenure reviews. It's probably nothing too serious.
Shortly after, the door opens and at that point, I realize just how wrong I was.
In an instant, the room goes silent as he walks in.
He was tall, dark-haired, sharp-featured, with a strong jaw and glasses that did nothing to soften his intensity.
He moves with purpose, quite controlled, and precise with his gaze sweeping over the room like he's already assessing which of us will waste his time.
"Good morning," he says, his voice low and commanding. "I'm Professor Adrian Cross. If you're in this class because you think 'Contemporary Literature and Critical Analysis' will be an easy A, you're in the wrong place."
His eyes flicker over the rows of students, and for a second, they land on me, and I hold his gaze.
Immediately a sharp glint flares in his expression before he looks away.
'Interesting.' I huff, straighten in my seat, and at the same time, the rumors suddenly become a lot more intriguing as this semester just got a whole lot more interesting than the last ones.
On the contrary, by the time my next class rolls around, the rumors about Professor Cross have reached full-blown urban legend status.
"He got fired from NYU for sleeping with a student."
"No, I heard he exposed some department scandal and they forced him out."
"He's married. Or was. Left his wife for-"
"-a grad student."
I roll my eyes as Mia slides into the seat next to me, dropping her bag onto the desk.
"People are acting like he's some kind of dark academic antihero," I muttered, flipping through my notes. "It's pathetic."
Mia smirks. "You have to admit, it's kind of hot." I give her a look.
She shrugs. "What? Mysterious, and broody professor with a questionable past? If this were a novel, he'd be the morally gray love interest."
I snort. "This isn't a novel."
"No, but it's definitely getting interesting."
I scoff and don't answer her, in as much as I hate to admit it but she's right. My interest sharpens the next time I see him.
It's Friday morning, the second lecture of the semester, and Professor Cross is every bit as intense as the first time.
He's dressed in dark slacks and a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal the lean muscles of his forearms. His glasses rest on the bridge of his nose as he writes something on the board in quick, efficient strokes.
"Literature is about subtext," he says, voice smooth but firm. "What isn't said is just as important as what is."
On the contrary, I should be listening and taking notes. But instead, I watch him effortlessly.
The way he moves, and commands the room without trying. The way every girl in this class is pretending not to be just as fascinated as I am.
Suddenly, he turns. "Monroe."
It takes me a second to realize he's talking to me.
I blink, sitting up. "Yes?"
He studies me for a moment, his expression unreadable. "What's your interpretation of this passage?"
I glance down at the book open on my desk. It's an excerpt from The Age of Innocence-a scene crackling with unspoken desire, and tension simmering beneath polite conversation.
I should say something smart or analytical. Instead, my mouth betrays me.
"They want each other," I say, my voice steady. "But they can't have each other," I say and a beat of silence covers the hall.
His gaze flickers-just the slightest shift, the briefest moment of something I can't quite name.
Then he nods. "Good. Next time, elaborate."
He moves on before I can react, calling on someone else, but my pulse is still thrumming.
Because for a second I swear I saw the same tension in his eyes, that I feel creeping into my bones.
Suddenly, I understand why the rumors won't stop.
Meanwhile, the next time I see Professor Cross outside of class, it's by accident.
I'm leaving the library late, the sky outside a deep shade of blue, when I spot him standing by the faculty building. He's alone, leaning against a sleek black car, phone in hand. His expression is unreadable, his brows furrowed, and jaw tight.
For a second, I consider walking past him without a word. But something about the way he's standing stiff, and guarded, makes me pause. Like he's waiting for something or someone.
Or maybe I'm just looking for an excuse.
Either way, my feet move before my brain can stop them.
"You know," I say as I approach, "you look way too serious to be texting."
His head snaps up, eyes locking onto mine immediately. For a brief moment, surprise crosses his face. Then in a split second, it's gone, replaced by his usual cool detachment.
"Monroe," he says, slipping his phone into his pocket. "Shouldn't you be studying?"
I smirk. "Shouldn't you be grading?"
His lips twitch, like he might almost smile. But he doesn't. Instead, he pushes off the car, straightening to his full height. He's taller than I realized and way broader, too.
wolfless, alone and rejected by her mate the alpha of pearl pack Ashlyn White. Whitney Cole was was taken captive, brought down to an omega slave in the pearl pack and was treated like crap not until the lycan king who she had a one night stand with came to claim her as his mate slapping Ashlyn on the face. However thinking that she was given a second chance mate, she soon realized that the lycan king was the man she loathed, the man that caused her parents death and wanted to eliminate her. She could only think of escaping while pregnant, therefore faking her death.
Adriana Yale was arranged to marry the eldest son of the McKenzie’s even when she was obsessed with the boy that saved her from bullies in her childhood. Adriana who has restrained herself from the worldly life, however decided to party with her best friend Alicia Walton and classmates at the Walton Mansion. ‘Since I can’t marry my benefactor, I’d better have some fun or be miserable in my whole life’ Adriana had said. Meanwhile she was raped by a strange man in a dark room thereby changing her fate. Continue to read to find out more about Adriana Yale.
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!