Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“But nothing,” Kassia said with self-disgust, “was as stupid as forcing myself to believe that you loved me, too. You just didn’t know it.” She lifted her eyes to him, her gaze haunted with so much torment that Alessandro could no longer stop himself.
“Kassia.” He didn’t give her any time to react, unfairly using his Lyccan speed to take her by surprise. He had her in his arms before she could draw her next breath, and when she tried to struggle, he used one arm to clasp her to him while he freed the other to cup her chin and force Kassia to look at him.
The moment she did, he let her see for one moment how much he needed her. Let her see how the strength of his own desire made him feel out of control while giving her power over him—-
Her lips parted in a silent, shocked gasp.
Alessandro seized the chance to kiss her, an open-mouthed fusion that left no doubt about the carnality and urgency of his feelings for her. His tongue drove inside her mouth, a deep, forceful stroke that staked his claim on her. And after – when he made sure she understood just how much he wanted her and that he considered her as his – Alessandro’s lips gentled. Again and again, he brushed his lips over hers, the movement feather-soft and tender, conveying the last of his intentions, a promise that he knew Kassia deserved to hear.
Raising his head, he looked down into her dazed eyes, saying quietly, “I am sorry for hurting you, Kassia. There are no words to express how deeply I regret hurting you. I know that the right thing to do is to leave you alone, but it is too late. This between us has become inevitable the moment you walked into my classroom and told me you wanted me.” He sensed her about to protest and halted it simply by pressing his finger on her lips. “I will make it up to you, little chick. I will woo you the way I should have done from the start. I will show you how much I treasure you, how much I desire you, and I promise that I shall wait until you are ready to surrender yourself to me.”
With those words, the professor released her and stepped back. She felt conspicuously empty the moment their bodies lost contact with each other, and she would have hated herself for it if she weren’t so terrified. Oh Lord, how she still loved this man. He had made a fool of her, and here she was, still so easily swayed by his words.
“I don’t want you to woo me,” she said desperately.
A beautiful smile curved on his lips. “Of course you do,” he said ever so softly.
His smile invited her to be dazzled, and Kassia quickly averted her gaze. “No.” She lifted her chin. “I’m going out with Jacob now.” A lie, but one she could easily resolve as soon as she left the professor’s office. Around her, the atmosphere became fraught with danger, and Kassia gulped.
“You do not mean that.” Still soft, but lethally so.
“Yes, I do—-” She wasn’t able to say anything else, the professor whirling her back into his arms.
“You. Belong. To. Me.” Such an icy voice, but there was nothing cold at all about the way his mouth suddenly latched to the side of her neck. He sucked hard, and she cried out. She tried to struggle out of his hold, but it didn’t stop the professor at all. By the time he released her, she knew she had to have the biggest hickey on her neck.
“You’re a jerk!” She instinctively covered the spot with her hand, all the while trying to deny how much her body still tingled in the aftermath of the professor’s branding kiss.
Again, his lips curved in a beautiful smile that sought to mesmerize her. “Without a doubt, Ms. Summers. But at least I freely admit to being your jerk.”
Kassia absolutely refused to let the professor see how much pleasure it gave her to hear him say such a thing. He’s playing with you, she chanted desperately to herself. Always and forever, he’s playing with you!
“You’re not mine, and I’m not yours.” She stalked to the door. A part of her wished that he would stop her from leaving, but he didn’t. Her heart sank as she held the knob. See, Kassia? He really was just playing with you. She twisted the knob open. “Goodbye, Professor.”
Just as she stepped out of his office, he was suddenly behind her, his breath caressing her ear as he said, “Remember, Kassia. Tomorrow, I will woo you.”
She turned around to tell the professor he would do no such thing, but instead she found the door being slammed in her face.