Dr. Adrian Holt sat across from his student in his office, the late afternoon sunlight filtering through the half-drawn blinds, casting a warm, golden hue over the room. The clutter of books and papers on his desk contrasted with the neat rows of mathematical equations on the chalkboard behind him. They had been working through a particularly challenging problem, but as the session wore on, the space between numbers and theories seemed to be filled with an unspoken tension.

Adrian leaned forward, pointing to a section of the problem set. His proximity brought him closer than usual, and the subtle scent of his cologne mingled with the dry chalk dust in the air. The student's eyes met his, and for a brief moment, the world outside the office walls ceased to exist.

His voice, usually steady and composed, wavered slightly as he spoke, "You're doing really well with these integrals. Your approach is... quite impressive." The words hung in the air, laden with an unintended intensity that caught them both off guard.

The student shifted slightly, their knee brushing against his leg under the desk. A current seemed to pass between them, sparking an electric awareness of their closeness. Adrian felt a rush of warmth spread from the point of contact, a stark contrast to the cool rationality of the numbers on the page.

As they continued to discuss the solution, Adrian couldn't help but notice the way the student's lips moved as he spoke, the curve of a smile that seemed reserved just for him. His own responses grew slower, more deliberate, as he fought to maintain his usual professional demeanor.