My Werewolf Professor (11 page)

“Umm, I...”

The professor didn’t let her continue, his mouth covering hers as he whispered, “I’m going to make you come again, little chick.”

No. Yes. No. Yes. No.

She couldn’t quite make up her mind and in time, she didn’t have to, the professor making it up for her as his mouth moved down and clamped around her nipple.
 

And so it started all over again.

****

When Kassia woke up, it was late in the morning, and she was alone in the bed. Memories of last night were hazy except for the parts where she and the professor did…
things.
After that, though – did the professor carry her back to his study? Probably, Kassia thought groggily. She didn’t think it was possible for her to walk soon after those…
things.
 

Pushing herself up, she rubbed her eyes and stretched luxuriously. Her body ached in many places, even in some that had never ached before.
 

Her gaze then fell on a note folded neatly on top of the center table, and Kassia’s heart leapt with a sense of foreboding sweeping over her.

Dear Ms. Summers,

On the table is your review guide for Psychology. I hope it serves you well.

I shall be away until tomorrow because of certain responsibilities to my family, and I fear I will not be able to see you in school anytime today, either.
 

I have instructed Ronnie to be at your beck and call. It would be my greatest pleasure if you would also stay another night in my home.
 

Yours,
 

Alessandro

****

Alessandro carefully wiped the blood from his knuckles, staring coldly at the carnage before him. None of them were dead, but none of them were conscious, either. It didn't bother him either way. All the wolves before him were rogues, either exiled by the Lyccan Council or criminals on the loose. All of them had also been paid to ambush his brother, with the highest reward paid to whoever was able to behead Domenico Moretti.

Alessandro looked up when he heard his twin approaching.

"How did you find out about the ambush?" Alejandro asked as he stopped next to his brother. The two of them were both bloodied and battered, their fighting prowess put to the test by having to fight off three dozen Lyccans intent on gatecrashing Domenico's supposedly secret meeting with the Castellano pack leader.

"My spies," Alessandro answered briefly. "You?"

"The same. Do you think Domenico knows about it?"

"It doesn't matter if he does." Alessandro's lips twisted. "I'm afraid our big brother still wouldn't have fought them off even if they had come at him armed with knives and guns."

Both of them fell silent after. It was strange, the way they were identical in almost every way. And yet, when Domenico Moretti had his downfall, the twins’ way of dealing with it had been completely different. Alejandro exacted retribution against the men who attempted to shame the Moretti’s heir apparent by fucking their wives, girlfriends, or any other woman who mattered to them. Alessandro, on the other hand, didn’t bother with something as subtle. He simply used his fists, and if he didn’t have the Lyccan Council riding on his back and watching his every move, he would have happily kept using them.

Above them, the sky continued to change colors, dawn making way for morning. The sight made Alessandro shake his head. They had been fighting for almost twenty-four hours.
 

“You should go. I can take care of this.” One of the men on the ground started to stir as his twin spoke, but Alejandro promptly kicked the man back to unconsciousness. "I'll make sure the Council doesn’t have any reason to believe you’re involved.”

Having his twin cover up for him didn’t sit well with Alessandro. “I can handle them.”

"I know you can," Alejandro said impatiently, "but that's not the point here. You’re already treading on dangerous ground with the Council. I’m not. I can afford a sanction, but you...it might not be enough for them.”

When his twin didn’t continue, Alessandro said grimly, “You mean they could cage me.” It was one of the worst punishments meted out for their kind and was reserved for the most grievious offences.

Alejandro nodded shortly. “We can’t afford to lose any one of us. This intended ambush on Domenico is proof of it, and I have a feeling it won’t be the last.” He paused. "Also, I heard from the girls—"

Alessandro groaned.
 

It had his twin raising a brow even as he continued, "You brought a girl home last night?"

Alessandro didn't answer.

His twin smirked. "That's usually not your style, brother."

"Shut up."

“What excuse did you give for leaving her in the middle of the night?”

“I didn’t.”

Alejandro’s eyes whistled. “That’s cold.”

He bristled at the insult. “I did leave her a note.”

“That’s crass.”

He scowled. “Are you itching for a fight?”

Alejandro laughed. “That’s always been your role, not mine.” Not at all bothered by the menacing glint in his twin’s eyes, Alejandro started circling the men on the ground. “All I’m saying is that you must have felt something more than usual for the girl to have brought her home.” Spotting another man starting to stir, he landed a swift but powerful kick to the man’s temple.

Alessandro crouched down on one knee. “What’s your point then?” As he spoke, he did his share of knocking everyone back to unconsciousness with quick jabs to the wolves’ foreheads. He didn’t have to ask what Alejandro was doing since this was SOP for cleanup. Captives were easier to transport to prison when they were immobilized or, even better, insensible.

Alejandro landed another kick before answering. “That
was
my point.”

Alessandro glanced up at his twin with a frown. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“Domenico’s wife left him because he was an asshole. Now, heartbreak’s turned him into a lovesick fool.” Alejandro looked at him meaningfully. “You’re about to tread on the same path. Either cut yourself loose now before you fall too hard…or stop being an asshole if you think it’s too late.”

****

“He hasn’t answered any of your calls?” Ellie tried but failed to imagine how the oh-so-proper Professor X could ditch her friend just like that.

Kassia gave her a small nod.

“Oh, Kassia, I’m sorry.” Even now, she still didn’t know what to say to make things right for Kassia. As soon as Ellie heard her friend’s shaky voice over the phone, she had come dashing to Kassia’s side, armed with ready sympathy and medication.
 

She had a feeling that Kassia’s fever had more to do with heartbreak than walking in the rain for over an hour, and when she heard her friend’s story, Ellie knew she was right.

Although she would never admit it to Kassia, Ellie believed the professor was just playing with her friend’s feelings. It was the only reason she could think of to explain the professor’s hot-cold treatment.

Ellie sighed as Kassia let out another sneeze. “You should have let his driver take you home.”

“
No
.” Kassia sneezed again. “It didn’t feel right.”

“Are you crazy? Can’t you hear the rain and howling wind outside? We’ve got a freaking hurricane on our doorstep, and you insisted on walking." She reached up to touch her friend's forehead. "Now, you're the one who's not
all right.
You're burning up with fever."

Kassia's mouth was set in a mulish line. "I don't care." Pain shot through her temple, and she closed her eyes to ward it off. "I just don't understand him, El. If he only wanted me for sex, then he could have had me last night. So why didn't he?"

Ellie winced. “Show a little restraint, Kas.”

Kassia turned on her side, facing Ellie. "What if I'm overthinking this? What if he really had family stuff to do and that's why he had to leave in the middle of the night? What if he's not really avoiding me?"

Ellie was torn. One part of her wanted to lie, just so she could see her friend smile again. The other half of her, however, wanted to be practical and truthful. Professor X was a jerk. It didn't matter if he had a reason or not for disappearing on Kassia. It was Kassia's first time to spend the night with a guy, and even if nothing had happened, the professor should have been there when she woke up.

But he wasn't, which meant he was a jerk and Kassia was better off without him.

"Ellie?"

She opened her mouth to tell the truth.

Then she saw Kassia's eyes swimming with tears.

Crap. She was such a sucker for tears.

Clearing her throat, Ellie said, "I think it's how you feel that matters, Kas. If you think he had a reason to do what he did, well, then...he did."

A relieved smile touched Kassia's lips. "I think so, too."

Ellie returned the smile weakly, thinking that she never wanted to fall in love like Kassia did.

****

Three more flights to go, Kassia. Just three more flights. That translated to thirty-six steps or a total of ten minutes spent climbing the stairs. It should sound easy, especially since she tackled the same set of stairs practically every day, but it didn't. 

It sounded like hell, considering how her temperature was still over 100.

Taking another deep breath, she climbed another step. She felt heavy and sluggish, and it felt like she had weights around her ankles. Around her, the world started to dance, but she forced herself to ignore it. She mustn't lose her focus. She just had one test to go. One last test, and it was really important since it was for one of the two subjects she was in danger of failing. She had to pass this one last test, and Alessandro Moretti would be hers.

Another deep breath.

Another step.

Kassia looked up.

Thirty-four more steps to go.

God, she wanted to cry.

A second later, and she realized that a tear had already escaped her eye, trailing down her cheek. Just one teardrop, and it weakened her immensely, making Kassia lean against the wall and clutch the handrail desperately.

Oh God. Thirty-four more steps. THIRTY-FOUR!
 

"Are you okay?"

She recognized the voice. It was Jacob, coming from behind. She could only wait for him to reach her, having no strength left to even turn around and say hi. 

Kassia saw his eyes widen at the sight of her, and she almost found the strength to smile. Almost. "That bad?"

"Umm, yeah. Kind of." He reached to touch her forehead and yanked his hand back. "Kassia, you're burning up."

"I've already taken meds, don't worry."

He frowned. "I don't think you should go to class—"

She shook her head. "I can't. I've got one last test."

"But you can be excused—"

She grimaced. "Not when it's Professor Vincent's class."

His protest died. "Damn." The professor Kassia mentioned was notorious for her strictness, and it was more than possible that she would refuse to give Kassia a make-up test even if she was in danger of dying from pneumonia.

Kassia looked back at the flight of stairs ahead of her.

Thirty-four, Kassia. Just thirty-four more to go. You've already climbed 24 steps. You can do this.

Jacob followed her gaze. "Fifth floor, right?"

She nodded.

"Should I carry you?"

It just showed how desperate she was that she seriously considered Jacob's offer. He was a football player, anyway. He was used to heavy lifting. He could probably get Kassia to her class in five minutes.

But...

What if other people saw them and misunderstood?

Kassia slowly shook her head. "No, but..." Biting her lip in hesitation, she took another deep breath before asking, "Is it okay if you let me lean on you while I head up?" By the time she finished her question, she could feel her face turning completely red. It wasn't like her at all to be this forward, but she didn't have a choice. She needed to take that test. Her life depended on it.