Count to three: My affair with my dynamics professor (teacher x student)

Chapter 6

She chuckled. "But this is a ladies' dressing room. And we're both ladies."

I turned around slowly — and immediately regretted it. She was topless, holding her riding top in one hand, completely unbothered. I spun back around like a malfunctioning robot.

"I'll go prepare Versailles," I said, not waiting for a response, and practically bolted out of the room.

Outside, I let out a deep breath and smacked my forehead. "What the fuck," I whispered to myself. I hadn't meant to react like that — now she was going to think I was some awkward little idiot, and the dynamic we'd been building was probably going to shift into something weird.

I shook my head and tried to collect myself, heading toward the stable to get Versailles ready. About fifteen minutes later, Inés appeared with Shagya just as I finished gearing up. We mounted in silence and lined up beside one another.

Karimov turned her head to look at me. Her eyes searched mine for a moment, like she was trying to read something in them.

"Both of you ready?" she asked, serious now.

I nodded.

"Follow me," she said.

I did.

We rode out of the stables to the rhythmic sound of hooves against the dirt path. The chirping of birds grew louder as we entered the forest, leaving behind the open fields. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, painting golden patterns on the ground. Everything felt quieter here — like the rest of the world had pressed pause.

She led the way with her usual poise, sitting tall on Shagya's back, her movements so fluid it felt like she and the horse were a single being. Every shift of her weight, every small adjustment of the reins was deliberate and graceful. I couldn't help but admire the way she moved — like she belonged on horseback, like this was the truest version of her.

As we rode deeper into the woods, the air grew cooler and tinged with the scent of damp earth and water. Soon, the trees parted to reveal a small lake, still and clear like polished glass. I slowed Versailles and let myself take it in, the beauty of it momentarily quieting the noise in my head.

Inés dismounted first, sliding off Shagya's back with practiced ease. I followed suit, my boots sinking slightly into the soft ground. She walked toward the water's edge and stopped there, her gaze fixed on the lake's surface. For a while, she said nothing.

"Does this place mean a lot to you?" I asked eventually, my voice hushed without meaning to be.

She glanced at me, then back at the water, folding her arms over her chest. "Maybe," she said. Her tone was unreadable, but I was sure the answer was more than just maybe.

I stepped closer but didn't push. She stayed silent, staring across the lake, her features unreadable.

After a long pause, she exhaled. "I used to come here when I needed to think. It's... quiet." She tilted her head slightly. "It reminds me of something. Someone."

Her words hung in the air like a half-open door. I watched her fingers trail absently over her forearm, her jaw tightening just slightly.

"Someone?" I asked softly.

A faint smile tugged at one corner of her mouth, but she didn't look at me. Instead, she crouched by the water's edge, tracing invisible lines into the soil.

"You ask a lot of questions," she said.

I let out a small laugh. "Only because you never give straight answers."

That made her look at me — really look. Her eyes lingered, and something shifted in the space between us.

"Some things aren't meant to be answered easily," she murmured.