He was never supposed to want him. And Roman Vale was never supposed to stay. Elias Mercer has spent most of his life trying to make himself smaller. Quieter. Easier. Safer to love. At Blackthorne University, he keeps his head down, buries himself in graduate work, and pretends the anxiety clawing beneath his skin is something he can control. But one reckless night changes everything when he finds himself drawn into Obsidian, a secret underground club hidden beneath the city's elite nightlife scene. And straight into the orbit of Roman Vale. Brilliant. Cold. Dangerous. Roman is the university's most feared psychology professor, a man known for sharp intelligence, impossible standards, and emotional walls nobody has ever managed to break through. The moment he notices Elias trembling beneath the noise and pressure of Obsidian, something inside him shifts in ways he cannot afford. Because Roman doesn't trust himself with attachment. Not after the relationship that nearly destroyed him. What begins as curiosity quickly turns into something far more consuming. Late-night office sessions. Dangerous eye contact across crowded rooms. Quiet praise that leaves Elias unraveling in ways he doesn't understand. And a connection so intense neither of them can keep pretending it isn't real. But Blackthorne is watching. Rumors spread across campus. Secrets buried inside Obsidian begin surfacing. And when Roman's past crashes violently back into his life, Elias becomes trapped in the fallout of a world built on power, fear, and control. Now Roman must decide whether loving Elias means letting him go… or finally learning how to stay. AFTER HOURS is a dark emotional MM college romance filled with forbidden tension, hurt/comfort, emotional healing, protective obsession, dark academia atmosphere, found safety, and two damaged men learning that love should never feel like something you have to survive. Perfect for readers who love: MM college romance Dark academia vibes Emotionally intense slow burn Protective love interests Hurt/comfort dynamics Anxiety and healing representation Forbidden romance Praise and trust-based relationship dynamics Deep emotional tension Trauma recovery and found safety Some people run from love because they're afraid of being abandoned. Others run because they're terrified someone might actually stay. After Hours is an emotional, addictive slow-burn romance about fear, trust, obsession, healing, and choosing love anyway.