*Lily*

"Adrian, can you please focus?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the low hum of our classmates discussing their own projects. The Bioethics and Medical Law classroom felt smaller than usual, as if the walls had inched inward over the weekend Adrian and I spent together.

Adrian's gaze lingered on me with undeniable warmth. "I am focused, Lily," he replied, his voice smooth like dark velvet, his eyes intent on my face. "Very focused..."

My ...