Chapter 5

[Elara’s POV]

“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?”

I easily heard the contempt and mockery in her words. She was certain I was lying. Oh, the only thing that damn girl had learned from our brief friendship was how to successfully piss me off.

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.

I tried to steady myself, fumbling for my phone to text Ava, but my vision swayed violently, and I nearly dropped it. A deeper sense of dread pooled in my stomach—a liquid heat beginning to burn.

What the hell was in that drink?

Brad wouldn't just let me walk away. Agony and need twisted inside me. I clenched my jaw, drawing blood to stay present, but my sight was already swirling into a haze. Then, a tall, solid shape suddenly cut through the blur.

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.

Yes. This was it. This was all I wanted. I felt something deep within me stir in response, a deep, purring thing rumbling to life.

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.

A chorus of voices erupted from the speakers as students rushed to comment.

"I think I just saw a girl in nothing but a man's shirt pass by!"

"Unacceptable! She can't have stolen our incredibly hot professor."

"Doesn't she look kind of familiar though...?"

Professor?!

I went utterly rigid when Killian settled in front of the webcam and began to talk.

"Good morning. I am Professor Abram. Professor Schultz was temporarily covering my class last week. I will be leading your Honors Biology course this semester."