Results!

|| Author Pov ||

The final bell rang, and the classroom slowly emptied until Rosa was the only one left. Rosa remained seated for a long moment. Everyone had gone. Now she had no choice but to face him. Drawing in a shaky breath, she gathered every scrap of courage she possessed and began walking toward his office with hesitant steps. Her pulse thundered in her ears with every stride.

She stopped right in front of his door which was situated beside the principal’s office, and froze completely. Her fingers twisted anxiously into the fabric of her skirt. Fuck. She’s not feeling her heartbeat.

First of all, she had arrived late and failed the exam as well. Both mistakes pressed down on her poor little heart.

Rosa let out a sigh, lifted her hand and knocked softly on the door. Her throat felt like sandpaper and breathing quickened. She knew exactly what awaited her on the other side.

“Come in.”

The deep masculine voice resonated through the wood. Rosa’s knees weakened instantly. Even in her fear, she fell for that voice all over again. It felt dangerously magnetic.

Rosa gulped down the lump in her throat and gently pushed the door open. Her eyes landed in and there he was seated behind the large desk with his back facing her. His powerful frame dominated the room even in stillness. Her fingers twisted tightly into the fabric of her skirt as she stepped inside. “Professor?” Rosa mumbled fearfully.

A slow demonic smirk tugged at the corner of Killian’s lips as her sweet voice reached him. His long elegant fingers drummed once against the armrest unhurriedly. He inhaled deeply. Her floral fragrance floated around him like a forbidden temptation.

“Take a seat.” The words escaped like ice.

Rosa’s lashes fluttered rapidly. Her wide, innocent eyes darted nervously around the space before she pulled the chair closer and carefully lowered herself into it.

Suddenly, Killian stood. Rosa jolted in her seat when his towering figure casted an imposing shadow completely over her existence. The sheer size and presence of him made her feel trapped. But the moment Killian stepped closer, Rosa’s eyes sparkled with helpless awe. His devastatingly handsome features, sharp jawline, piercing blue eyes, and that raw masculine intensity stole the air from her lungs. Her throat turned bone-dry as he walked forward toward the shelf with measured steps with his hands tucked casually into his pockets. The sharp magnetism of him made her dizzy.

She instantly dropped her gaze to her lap, fidgeting nervously with her fingers. ‘He’s going to scold me now… maybe even punish me.’

“Here are the results of your last six months.” His voice came out stern and cutting. Rosa flinched when he dropped the thick bundle of papers onto the desk in front of her with a heavy slap.

Her fingers froze mid-fidget. She bit down hard on her lower lip. She could feel him standing right behind her now.

Rosa stared at the exam papers. Fear swam in her gaze and her lashes flickered rapidly. She didn’t have the courage to speak. She just reached forward to take the papers, but just as her fingertips brushed the edge, a rough hand suddenly gripped the back of her chair and spun it around with precision.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips as the world blurred for a split second. Rosa instantly gripped the armrests tightly while her gaze fixed on his broad, clothed chest. Now she was facing him directly and couldn’t bring herself to look any higher.

“I see no improvement at all.” Killian’s deep, velvety voice resonated with quiet menace.

Rosa slowly raised her head and froze. He was leaning down toward her. His dark blue eyes bored straight into her wide lavender ones. Her innocent gaze sparkled with quiet curiosity as she stared back, searching for even the smallest trace of warmth but there was nothing except the cold endless depth.

“I’ve noticed you hardly pay attention during my classes.” he said, “So tell me, Miss Sinclair, why exactly do you bother showing up?” Rosa held her breath and stared up at him with those big, helpless eyes.

Killian arched a dark eyebrow. His expression hardened. “Perhaps is it simply to stare at me?”

The question hit her like a spark. A rush of heat flooded her cheeks and her breath hitched.

Killian’s pupils dilated darkly as he watched her reaction. His fingers tightened possessively around the armrests. That frightened look on her face stirred something vicious inside him. A dark hunger to ruin that sweet purity and replace it with breathless pleasure as he buried himself deep inside her. He wanted to take her without mercy, until nothing else existed.

His eyes went dead. “So scared, aren’t you?”

Rosa released a shaky breath. Her heart ached with feelings she could never dare voice. Unable to bear his piercing gaze any longer, she quickly looked down. Killian watched her for a moment before slowly removing his hands from the armrests and straightened up to his full height.

“Stand up.” he commanded.

Rosa blinked twice before slowly pushing herself up on legs. She didn’t want to push him any further. Her fingers automatically grasped her skirt. The memory of how close he had been just moments ago still made her skin tingle.

Killian cocked his head, observing the timid girl with dark interest. And before Rosa could even lift her gaze, his strong arms caged her in. His hands planted firmly on the desk behind her. Rosa’s back pressed against the hard edge as he stepped closer.

She looked up instantly. He was impossibly tall. Rosa only reached his lower chest like a kitten standing before a towering beast. Embarrassment burned across her cheeks.

Her thoughts scattered the moment she felt his warm breath fanning over her face. Rosa’s delicate eyebrows drew together as she stared at his devastatingly handsome features. His gaze froze her in place. Her heartbeat skipped wildly. She tried looking away.

“I..I..” she stammered, trying to find words, but nothing escaped. She felt so vulnerable before him. She wasn’t mature like the other girls. She could never be enough for someone like him.

“Eyes up.”

When she hesitated, Killian leaned in closer. “You always stare when you think I’m not watching. Yet now you can’t even meet my eyes?” He squinted his dark gaze. “What are you so afraid I’ll see?”

“I’m... not afraid.” Rosa blurted out without meeting his eyes. Killian clicked his tongue in clear disapproval.

Rosa fisted her hands. Her eyes had paled.

“You failed again.” Killian changed his tone “Explain.” the silver piercings of his eyebrows glinted under the faint light “What is the actual problem?” His tone sharpened. Rosa grew nervous. She had never been this close to him before.

“I’ve noticed something very interesting, you know?” Killian paused while straightening up and stepped back slightly.

“You like me.” The words came out as a blunt, emotionless statement. “Don’t you?”

Rosa’s head snapped up instantly. Shock flashed across her face. How does he know?

Killian’s piercing blue gaze drilled into her lavender eyes, reading her like an open book.

Rosa twisted her skirt. If he finds out how deeply she actually loved him, he will scold her. She couldn’t confess. Rosa knew exactly what she should say, but her mind was a storm of anxiety.

“Answer me.” Killian growled lowly which sent chills down her spine.

Rosa’s brows drew together. She couldn’t force a single word past the lump in her throat. She gulped, then slowly shook her head. Killian’s eyes darkened, shifting through layers of emotion as he watched her denial.

A total lie.

“Really?” he questioned skeptically this time. Rosa felt nauseous.

“Look at me.”

Rosa lifted her gaze, but she avoided his eyes. The darkness in them always terrified her.

Killian tilted his head. “Veux-tu être ma petite amie?” (Translation: “Do you want to be my girlfriend?”) The French words rolled off his tongue with icy elegance. Rosa looked at him confusedly, trying to process the unfamiliar words. She understood nothing but it sounded extremely addictive.

Killian’s eyes flashed a glimpse of amusement. He knew the French would be meaningless to her ears and that was precisely why he enjoyed it.

“Huh?” The small confused sound escaped her before she could swallow it.

“Who am I to you?” he asked next, maintaining a cold space between their bodies. Silence stretched. No answer. That void gnawed at him. He despised waiting and ignorance.

“Answer me the moment I ask you something.” Killian barked and Rosalie’s body jolted in place. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes. She knew that once he discovered her forbidden feelings, the consequences would be devastating.

“I’m sorry.” she breathed as the first tear escaped and traced down her cheek. Killian’s jaw tightened until bone met bone, staring at the girl before him.

“P-Please.” Rosa’s lips trembled as she stared fixedly at the black fabric stretched across his chest, too terrified to lift her eyes. Tears clung to her lashes and glistened under the dim light.

She swiped at her cheeks, but the tears kept falling faster.

“I will study harder. I’ll never be a bad girl again, please–” She brought a shaky hand up to her face, trying to hide the mess of her emotions. Killian watched her with a bored expression. Only now did he realize how painfully sensitive she is.

“Who. Am. I. To. You?” Killian rasped each word out with slow emphasis. The intensity drove deeper fear into her bones. Rosa hastily wiped her face again before forcing her head upward.

“Professor.” she whispered breathlessly.

Killian straightened to his full height while scanning his eyes across her soft features with sharp intensity.

“So weak, aren’t you?”

Rosa swallowed, fighting to calm her frantic heartbeat. She had ruined everything. He would despise her now. He would only see her as a pathetic, weak little girl.

Killian poked the inside of his cheek with the sharp tip of his tongue. “Next time, I won’t accept failure. Otherwise, you’ll be punished.” he skipped before opening his mouth again “–brutally.”

Rosa’s gulped and gave a nod.

“You may leave now.” At his dismissal, Rosa stared at him with quiet curiosity. Killian stepped away from her space. Rosa looked away. Her hands twisted tightly into her skirt. She forced herself to take slow steps.

Killian watched her figure retreat until it disappeared through the door. Only then did he drag the sharp tip of his tongue over his bottom lip.

“Fuck.”

The curse slipped out rough. He tore his gaze from the empty doorway and looked down at her result sheets.