#Chapter 5: A Stolen Kiss

[Elara’s POV]

Oh, God. What the hell was I doing?? Why am I subjecting myself to this? Me and my damn big mouth...

Friday night had come quicker than I wanted, and there I was dressed in what had to be the most revealing piece of clothing I had ever dared to wear.

My nerves were on edge as I arrived at the party with the firm intention of staying for no more than an hour. But Ava had been right. The rumor about there being a new dark-haired stranger on campus had circulated around in booming waves.

It seemed to be all that anyone was willing to talk about. Mostly everyone was huddled up in their respective groups. Many were eagerly chatting away about who they predicted this person to be.

“Ooo, I hear he carries a mature and complex air about himself,” one girl hummed.

Another snorted into their red solar cup. “If that’s the case, then there’s no chance he’s an undergraduate.”

“No, he’s definitely a graduate student.”

God, I felt so out of place. Ever since Brad threw away our relationship, I’d gone back to my usual introverted habits. I was never one to hustle up to gossip to begin with, let alone go to frat parties.

Deep down, I knew I didn’t belong in a place like this. And I was even more out of my depth having worn this ridiculously short skirt. All I had to hang on to was the slim hope that Killian would actually make an appearance.

Christ, I really am delusional, aren’t I?

Why would I have ever thought that Killian would have shown up? To a friggin’ frat party, no less. Regret began to stir in the back of my mind.

I had to stop trying to trace every coincidence back to Killian. This newcomer to campus could literally have been away one, but least of all him.

There’s no way that he would be a grad student, I thought angrily to myself.

I slowly began to brace myself for yet another miserable, pathetic case of mistaken identity.

Without wasting another moment, I turned on my heels to leave. But before I could even leave the main room, I heard Brad calling out my name.

“Elara!”

I cursed under my breath and turned back to find his arm hanging intimately around Jasmine’s shoulders. The girl wore a smug smile on her painted lips, easily relishing in my obvious discomfort.

“So, where’s this incredible new boyfriend of yours?” she inquired sharply.

“He got held up,” I said through clenched teeth.

Jasmine scoffed in disbelief. “Yeah, right. I bet he doesn’t even exist, and this is your sad attempt at putting on an act.”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “You can think whatever you want, Jasmine. But I seriously don’t really care what you think.”

Brad wore an amused look on his face; however, I found it all the more unsettling how his eyes kept running over my chest and bare legs.

Jasmine pursed her lips in challenge. “Well, why not join us in a few shots until he decides to show up?”

Every voice in the back of my mind was screaming at me to decline. But, instead, I put on a smile and agreed. A few others joined us over at one of the refreshment tables, where Brad began to pour out several vodka shots.

I knew what my limit was. Two shots usually did nothing to me—and, yes, I was just nerdy enough to be secretly proud that even I had that particular skill.

The last time, with Killian...That had been an exception. A miscalculation on my part.

One round turned into two and so on until the room started to grow blurry. Every time I thought about stopping, someone would pressure me into downing the next one. By the fourth shot, I came to the frightening realization that something was off about these drinks...

They seemed off. Especially that last shot Brad had handed to me.

I barely noticed that mischievous glint in his eye as he watched me down the clear liquid, and proceeded to smirk with knowing mirth.

My vision had grown incredibly spotty, and my legs felt like they could hardly bear to keep me upright.

“Can’t believe it actually works on you too,” Brad muttered under his breath.

My brows drew together in confusion, but I felt too disoriented to really bring myself to question him. I needed to leave. When I tried pulling myself away from the table, my body swayed in protest.

Brad seized his moment and grabbed hold of my arm. He led us down a hallway into the nearest empty room, away from everyone else.

For the first time, I felt as though I was finally seeing his true colors. A menacing grin gradually spread across his face, causing hundreds of chills to race down my spine. Before I could do anything, Bread crowded me against the closed door and pinned my arms above my head.

“All this time, you had me and everyone else thinking that you were some innocent and shy girl,” he sneered. I felt the nauseating heat of his breath in the inner curve of my neck. “Yet, here you are, dressed up like some easy slut.”

Brad’s repulsive behavior had my stomach churning. “Get off me,” I whimpered.

He let out a nasty, mean chuckle. “You know what I think? I think this whole new boyfriend of yours is nothing more than a lie and that you came here looking to capture my attention.”

If I had my rational wits to myself, I would have laughed in his face. What an utterly outrageous, presumption thing to say. Right after the breakup with Brad, I'd been truly heartbroken.

But lately, my thoughts were completely consumed by Killian. Seeing my ex with his new girlfriend didn't hit me as hard as I had feared.

Brad’s intentions were getting fearfully daring. My very skin crawled with disgust as I felt the tips of his fingers dip beneath the hem of my skirt and try to wedge between my thighs.

A shrilling cry tore from my throat. “Stop! Get off of me!”

Anything I once felt for him—any last lingering affection had ultimately vanished and was now replaced with disgust.

A brief window of opportunity came when Brad shifted his body, allowing me to take the chance to get away. In one swift move, I slammed the hardest part of my knee into his crotch. Brad let out a tortured howl in pain.

When he tumbled back, I threw the door open and bolted down the hallway. My head was still swimming, and my bones felt like they were filled with lead. But I kept moving. I had to get away.

Brad snarled out in rage behind me. I could feel him chasing after me, furious from my rejection.

I quickly hid behind one of the large bushes around the side of the house. My lungs were burning from the frantic breaths I was taking. Just as I believed Brad had discovered my hiding spot, I found myself coming face-to-face with Killian.

He appeared as if out of nowhere and ushered me into his car. The man noticed my disheveled and unnaturally flushed complexion. Killian leaned closer and took my cheek in his hand for a closer inspection.

“Look at me,” he said roughly. “Are you alright?”

Tears filled the corners of my eyes, and my breathing was still an erratic mess. My senses were frayed, and I’d become consumed by his familiar scent.

Safe. I’m safe.

Between that and whatever was coursing through my system, it sparked an intense burning within me. My gaze dropped to his lips that were only a few inches away. Unable to resist any longer, I pushed myself forward and pressed my lips against his.

The next thing I knew, everything went dark.

--

I woke up to find myself in an unfamiliar room, along with a terrible, mind-splitting headache. When I glanced down at myself, I was momentarily shocked to find that I was wearing nothing more than a large man’s dress shirt.

Broken fragments of my memories came filtering through.

Killian found me... I was clinging to him like my life depended on it... I’d fallen back onto a bed... Our lips were locked in a searing, passionate kiss.

I sucked in a sharp breath and buried my face in my hands. “What have I done?”

I glanced out the window to find that it was now morning. Shit! I was expected to join an online seminar with Professor Abram. Frantically looking around for my phone, I only ended up growing more flustered.

I slipped out of the bedroom and glanced around. Killian was nowhere to be found. As I came upon the next door, I unknowingly stepped inside what had to be his study.

My body froze as Killian’s voice spoke out while he sat in front of his laptop.

“Good morning, everyone. I'm Professor Abram, and I will be covering your honors Biology course this semester.”

My heart clashed in my chest. Killian...Was my new professor.

I stood paralyzed for a few seconds, wanting to slip back through the door. But another voice spoke through the laptop’s speaker, followed by a wave of comedic laughter.

“Well, well, Professor...Looks like you had quite the night. But wait—that girl in your shirt...Is that...Elara?”

I'd know that voice anywhere. It was Brad.