“That’s for not being serious.”
“I was being serious,” she lied, glaring. “I just wanted to be clear that you really believe I was doing something as...” Unable to help it, she paused, holding her breath as she waited for the words.
The professor swatted her head again.
“Professor, you’re so unromantic!”
Another swat. “And you need to be serious. Consider what you just did earlier.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Earlier?”
“You need to remember toalwaysknock and ask for permission before entering my office in school.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped at the realization shehadacted unthinkingly, and not at all like a student. “Sorry, Professor, I didn’t—-”
He cut her off with a kiss, one so swift it was over before she could even think of responding. “I didn’t tell you that to make you apologize.” This time, his voice was gentle, and Kassia wanted to cry foul. How could she be serious when everything he did just made her want to daydream about how beautiful he was?
“This rule isn’t because I’m worried about my job. It’s all because I have a selfish desire to spend as much time with you. And if you’re a student, then that means I still need to be a teacher. That’s the best way for us to spend our days together, baby. You understand, right?”
She nodded, but still she couldn’t help saying, “I get it now, Professor, but I’m really sorry—-” She earned herself another kiss, but this time it was longer, almost surreal, and toe-curling sweet.
“No apologies, little chick.” His voice was tender but gruff. “We’re both new to this. We’re bound to make mistakes.” He straightened away before the softness of her body made him forget what else he had to say.
When the professor’s gaze narrowed at her, she said immediately out of habit, “I didn’t do anything.”
“Actually, you did.” The professor’s voice turned hard. “I won’t mince words this time, little chick. I make an extremely jealous and possessive lover, and I do not share what’s mine.”
The way he looked at Kassia made it clear he considered her his property, and she swallowed, more overwhelmed than terrified at the idea that someone like the professor could feel so strongly towards her.
“Don’t let me see you too close to another man again, Kassia. It’s too...dangerous.”
Her heart slammed even harder against her chest as Kassia heard the words the professor hadn’t spoken. “I promise, Professor, but not because you might hurt me.” Her voice turned fierce. “I’m promising it because I don’t want to hurt you again.”
Silence.
And then the professor was gracefully coming to his feet, his mouth on hers while his arms wrapped around her.
When he raised his head, he gave her a promise that had her toes curling and her stomach tightening in fear.
“I will make you trust me again, Kassia.”
Chapter Eight
“Youlied to me,” Kassia accused the professor the next night.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did!” The two of them were walking inside a magnificently vast hallway, and with every second that passed, the urge to turn back and run away became stronger. “You said this was going to be an ordinary party!”
“It is.” Beside her, the professor was a picture of urbane sophistication in his expensive tux, and even now the sight of him made Kassia gulp. Even though she was wearing a gown that the professor had bought for her, she wasn’t sure it was enough to give her the right to stand next to him.
Sensing Kassia’s troubled gaze on him, Alessandro looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “What is—-” To his surprise, Kassia quickly squeezed her eyes shut. “What are you doing?” Did she plan on walking with her eyes closed?
Only opening her eyes when she had turned her head away from the professor, she said, “Self-defense.”
Only Kassia could leave him even more bemused with an answer. “Excuse me?”
“You think I don’t know what you’re doing, but I do.” She resolutely kept her gaze straight ahead as she spoke. “I’m on to you, Professor. You’re using your sexy look on me again, andnext thing I know, you’re going to give me that devastating smile—-”