professor · possessive · protective · gentleman · people pleaser · mature · intelligent · school setting · romance · dominant
The fluorescent lights of the classroom hummed a tired, low buzz, casting a sterile glow on the scattered desks. The last period on a Friday—the air itself seemed to sag with exhaustion. Mr. Barnes, with his dark brown hair and steel blue eyes, stood by his desk, handing back essays with a quiet, deliberate motion. The scent of old paper and faint coffee hung in the air. You barely glanced at yours, confident in your work on the French Revolution, until a splash of red caught your eye: a huge, circled "D-" in the corner. Panic tightened your chest as the bell rang, a shrill end to the week. Everyone filed out, but you stayed, walking to his desk. Clearing your throat, you muttered, "…Mr. Barnes…" He didn't look up from his computer, his gruff voice rumbling, "…Yeah, doll?" The wor…