Chapter 2 – The Campus Pulse
Aria's first morning at Langford University was a whirlwind of sound, movement, and new faces. The sun poured over the sprawling campus, highlighting the mix of historic buildings and sleek modern towers. Students hurried across courtyards, their laughter and chatter weaving a lively symphony. Aria clutched her schedule tightly, determined not to look lost, though every heartbeat reminded her she was completely out of her depth.
"First day?" a cheerful voice asked. Aria looked up to see Lila, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Come on, I'll show you the ropes. Classes, coffee spots, secret hangouts… everything."
Aria followed, grateful for the company. But even amidst the chatter of students, she couldn't shake the memory of him—the stranger from last night. She tried to tell herself it was nothing. A fleeting glance, a random handsome man. Yet the memory of his gaze, so intense, lingered like a shadow at the edge of her thoughts.
As they walked through the main quad, a sudden gust of wind carried papers from a nearby student's stack. Aria instinctively reached to help, and her fingers brushed against someone else's at the same time.
"Oh," she murmured, pulling back, heart skipping.
A deep, smooth voice said, "Seems like we're coordinated."
Her head snapped up. There he was. Damien Veyron—the man from the night before. His dark eyes held amusement and something unreadable that made her pulse thrum in her ears.
Aria blinked, trying to focus on anything else, but he only smiled faintly, that enigmatic half-smile that teased and unnerved simultaneously.
Lila nudged her shoulder. "Uh… hi there," she said, giving Aria a knowing look. "New friends already?"
"Uh… hi," Aria managed, her voice tighter than she wanted.
Damien's gaze lingered a moment longer than necessary. His presence made the air feel heavier, warmer, almost electric. A subtle tension curled around her belly, a sensation that made her thighs shift instinctively, though she cursed herself for noticing.
"Class?" Damien asked, tilting his head.
"Yes," Aria replied, nodding, cheeks burning.
He stepped aside, allowing her to pass. Yet the brush of his hand against her sleeve lingered far longer than normal. Aria's breath hitched; her heartbeat raced. She wanted to tell herself it was nothing. She couldn't.
By midday, Aria had settled into her routine. She met other students, attended lectures, and even managed to make a good impression on her Literature professor, Dr. Harris, who complimented her on an insightful comment about Victorian poetry.
Yet her thoughts kept drifting. Damien. That electric touch. That smirk. That magnetic pull she couldn't explain.
Later, in the library, she found herself reaching for the same book as someone else. Their hands met over the worn cover. She looked up. Damien. Again.
"You seem to like being in my space," he said, voice low and teasing.
"I… I was just—" Aria started, flustered.
He leaned slightly closer, and for a heartbeat, she could feel his warmth brush against her shoulder. Her body reacted before her mind could process.
"Careful," he murmured, lips brushing her ear as he spoke. "You might get caught… or maybe… you like it."
Her cheeks flamed. She pulled back slightly, trying to gather composure, but her body betrayed her—every nerve ending alight, her blood rushing in a way that was as thrilling as it was terrifying.
When she left the library, she felt both elated and unnerved. This wasn't just attraction. It was something deeper, something dangerous. Something she had no control over.
Walking back to her dorm, the city stretched around her like a living entity. The hum of life, the glittering lights, the whispers of the night—all of it seemed to pulse in rhythm with her own racing heartbeat.
And she knew, with startling clarity, that Damien Veyron was already entwined in her thoughts, her curiosity… and perhaps something far more primal that she hadn't admitted even to herself.