Chapter 1
Cassie’s POV
The glaring 42 on the test paper was a stinging slap across my face.
I stared at the sheet, riddled with red crosses, my forehead thudding heavily against the desk as I let out an exasperated groan.
Human Physiology. A mandatory sophomore course. The reproductive system chapter. I’d only scored a 42. The professor had made it crystal clear to the entire class: fail it once more, and I’d have to retake the whole damn course.
My mom, as always, couldn’t care less.
When she dragged her dark green LV suitcase down from the second floor, she didn’t even spare a glance at the study.
A moment later, the roar of her Porsche’s engine filled the air, tires crunching over the driveway, and then she was gone.
A hastily scribbled yellow sticky note was plastered on the fridge: “Sweetie, Mom’s off to Sedona for the weekend. If you need anything, go to Arthur.”
I ripped the note off, crumpling it into a ball, and threw it viciously into the trash.
I knew she wasn’t just “going on vacation.” Last night, I’d heard her in her bedroom, calling whoever was on the other end of the phone “baby” with that syrupy, coquettish lilt in her voice.
But it definitely wasn’t my stepfather, Arthur.
Ever since she brought me with her to marry into this mansion with a pool three years ago, she and Arthur had been sleeping in separate rooms.
She only cared about her own pleasures, even secretly grumbling that I was a drag.
In this cold, detached house, only my stepfather, Arthur, truly cared about me.
He was a university professor, refined and gentle.
The door creaked open, and Arthur walked in, carrying two mugs of hot cocoa.
His brows furrowed slightly when he saw my test paper. He ruffled my hair. “Don’t be sad, Cassie. This chapter is notoriously hard to grasp. I’ve already contacted my best friend, Professor Jeff from the medical school. He’s coming over tonight to give you one-on-one tutoring.”
“Professor Jeff?” I looked up.
I remembered him. From a family gathering last year, the man, in his early forties and a solid 1.88 meters tall, had pushed open the door, dressed in a black overcoat. He had broad shoulders and eyes as deep as fire in winter.
The way he’d looked at me then had made my skin prickle with heat.
“Yes, he’s an authority on anatomy.” Arthur patted my shoulder. “Drink up, it’s still warm. He’s already here. It’ll just be the two of you in the house this weekend, so study hard.”
…
The doorbell rang just as I’d finished showering.
I’d deliberately changed into an extremely baggy pink hoodie and a pair of slightly faded denim shorts.
Jeff stood in the entryway.
He was wearing a form-fitting dark Polo shirt, his collar slightly open.
His short hair was meticulously trimmed, and the defined lines of his arm muscles were subtly visible beneath his rolled-up sleeves.
He carried a heavy black medical satchel.
Jeff looked at me. His gaze lingered on my face for two or three seconds before a gentle smile bloomed on his lips.
He extended a hand. “Hello, Cassie. Your father has mentioned you many times. Said you were... a very obedient girl.”
“Hello,” I replied, awkwardly shaking his hand.
His palm was rough, dry, and incredibly warm. It almost completely engulfed my small hand.
That startling difference in size and overwhelming sense of strength made my heart skip a beat.
Arthur said he was going to the kitchen to prepare some snacks. Suddenly, it was just Jeff and me in the study.
Jeff adjusted the study’s lighting to a dim, warm yellow.
He turned off the main light and switched on the projector.
In an instant, a stark white beam of light hit the white wall. A massive, detailed anatomical diagram of the female reproductive system was magnified to an immense size.
Jeff settled onto the soft fabric sofa, patting the spot beside him. His voice was low and magnetic. “Come closer, Cassie. Sit a little closer to me. Let’s begin the lesson.”
I obediently sat down. The sofa dipped, leaving less than twenty centimeters between us.
The faint scent of cedar cologne mixed with the warmth of a mature man’s body enveloped me, overwhelming my senses.
“A forty-two?” Jeff took my test paper and glanced at it. He wasn’t stern like a typical university professor; instead, he chuckled softly and turned his head to look at me.
“It’s alright. A girl’s body structure is inherently more complex and mysterious than a man’s. Of course, you won’t remember by just looking at these cold models and textbooks.”
As he spoke, he pulled a purple medical marker from his black satchel.
The tip of the pen gleamed faintly under the warm yellow light.
“I have a suggestion. In medical school, the most effective teaching method isn’t just looking at diagrams, but ‘surface anatomy live localization’.”
Jeff’s tone was utterly professional, calm, as if announcing a sacred medical experiment. “We’ll use your body for marking. I’ll use this pen to directly draw the precise projection lines of the uterus, ovaries, and vagina onto your skin. Don’t be afraid, this is purely for teaching.”
I was utterly stunned.
Draw lines on my skin? That meant...
“But...” My fingers clenched tightly onto the hem of my hoodie. My heart hammered, threatening to burst from my chest. My face was burning hot.
“What’s wrong? Feeling shy?” Jeff regarded me calmly, leaning forward slightly. The immense masculine presence made it hard to breathe.
He stretched out a thick, broad finger and gently tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his deep, possessive gaze. “During gynecological exams, you also need to be open, Cassie. Do you want to fail and retake the course?”
His voice was low, almost hypnotic, carrying an undeniable, almost magical pull.
Thinking of my mother’s coldness, the humiliation of that 42, and then looking at this handsome, tall, mature man whose gaze was entirely on me—something rebellious and desiring within me was thoroughly awakened.
As if possessed, I slowly nodded.
“Good girl.” Jeff smiled, satisfied. He withdrew the hand that had cupped my chin and pointed at my pink hoodie. His voice was soft, almost a command:
“Now, take off that hoodie. Lie down on the sofa, baby.”
