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The sight wasn’t exactly encouraging, but he repeated firmly, “I love you, Kassia. More than you’ll probably ever believe me, but it’s the truth. I love you more than life itself, and...” His smile was crooked. “The thing about the world I live in, we usually face such dangers every day that we have all the chances to prove it.”

It took more than a few seconds for Kassia to understand what he was saying, and when she did, she cried out. “Don’t joke like that, Professor,” she wailed.

He stole a kiss from her lips, murmuring, “I promise to live long if you tell me you trust me.”

“Unfair,” she protested, but her voice was weak and she could feel her cheeks flushing with heat at the way the professor was looking at her so...lovingly.

“I can wait,” he said magnanimously.

Kassia fought back a smile at the words. “How generous of you—-oh!” The professor had lifted her up and she found herself plopped down on the table, legs dangling over the edge.

His hands still on her small waist, Alessandro swung his seat to face her. Catching the bemused look on her face, he said soberly, “We have to talk.”

Her smile faded at his serious tone, and she asked nervously, “A-about what?”

The scent of her anxiety reached him, and shaking his head, he tugged at a lock of strawberry blonde hair, using it to have her bend forward. Surprising her with a quick, gentle kiss, he pulled away, murmuring, “Stop thinking the impossible.”

“W-what’s impossible?”

“Impossible things like I’d ever consider leaving you.” His eyes bored through her.

Kassia’s cheeks flushed anew. She couldn’t believe the professor had seen through her so easily.

He tipped her chin up. “Every time you have these thoughts, you just need to call me, and I’ll say it as many times as you want.I will never let you go.”

Her heart slammed against her chest at the words.God. Wow. God. Wow.Wanting to be as honest as the professor was even though she knew she couldn’t be as eloquent, she said haltingly, “T-thank you. I n-needed to hear that.”

His answering smile left her blinking dazedly.God. Wow. God. Wow.

“I want to talk to you about a few things now.” The professor’s tone had turned sober. “We need to set some ground rules. You understand why, right, baby?”

“Yes,” she answered dreamily.

The professor bit back a groan at the way Kassia was looking at him. God, she made him want to make love to her again and the hell with playing grown-up. Forcing his mind back to important matters, he said, “If we’re to see each other without getting caught, we need to adhere to two simple rules.”

She nodded obediently.

“The first one is...” His voice turned wry. “You must remember to act like my student and not my girlfriend.”

Kassia couldn’t answer. The professor had called her his girlfriend! It terrified her. It excited her. It made her want to scream. It made her want to throw up in sheer panic.

The professor frowned. “Kassia?”

She started, realizing she had spaced out on the professor. “S-sorry,” she mumbled. Clearing her throat, she asked, “C-could you give me an example of how I act like—-”

“My girlfriend?”

Oh my God, he had said it again!

“Umm, yes, like—-” She paused.

The professor repeated obediently, “My girlfriend?”

Excitement won over panic. Oh my God, his girlfriend! “Professor, are you sure there’s ever a time I acted like—-” She paused and looked expectantly.

Instead of giving her what she wanted, the professor bent forward and reached for something behind Kassia. By the time she realized what the professor had taken from the table, it was too late. He had a piece of paper rolled in his hand, and he was smacking her forehead with it.

“Ouch,” she cried, purely out of habit since getting swatted on the head with paper didn’t really hurt.