I'm A Jealous Lover

POV: Kimberly

"You're joking."

"I'm not." I said firmly. But he turned away, ignoring me. I followed him, refusing to back down.

"Can you at least hear me out?" I called out.

"Don’t fuck with me, Kimberly!

If I can tell correctly, you are practically engaged to Raymond yesterday. Your families have a deal. Everyone knows about the party you're planning." He scoffs. My stomach tightened. I had almost forgotten that part.

"I don't want to marry Raymond."

"That's between you and him."

"I'm telling you because I want you to know that I want to be with you."

"I don't know what game you're playing, Kimberly, but I'm not interested."

"It's not a game."

"Then go home."

He slung his bag over his shoulder and my eyes burned. I had promised myself I would never cry over another man, yet a single tear slipped out before I could stop it.

Caspian saw it, and he stopped walking. For a few seconds, he just stared. Then he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"You caught them, didn't you?" He asks me and I froze.

"What?"

"Raymond and Valerie, you finally caught them fooling around, right?" My mouth fell open, I was too ashamed to answer. So everyone knew the truth except me. God I’m such an idiot!

"Last night." His voice dropped.

"Was that the reason you were with me?" I didn't answer.

But as I looked into his eyes, I saw something I hadn't expected. Pain. It was quickly hidden behind his usual coldness, but I had seen it.

"Don't look at me like that," he said.

"Everyone knows he's an asshole. We all knew he was playing both of you. I tried to warn you in science class, didn't I?"

"When did you try to warn me?"

"I told you to stay away from Raymond. That he wasn't good for you." He reminded me.

I remembered that day. He had walked past my desk one day and said something about Raymond being bad to me. I had thought he was trying to provoke me because of their rivalry.

"That's not a warning," I snapped.

"That's a comment from a stranger who wouldn't even look me in the eye." I told him. He shrugged.

"Whatever." He scoffs and walked away. But I hurried after him, annoyed and out of breath.

"You're incredibly rude, you know that?"

"Good. Maybe you'll stop following me."

"Not until you hear me out." He turned around, his expression hard.

"What do you want from me?"

"I want to help you win the next game." His eyebrows rose.

"No, thank you. I've got that covered. Raymond never stood a chance against me."

"I helped him strategize. I know how he plans to win, and I can tell you..."

"Are you trying to use me to get back at your boyfriend?" His glare pinned me in place.

"Well, it sounds rude when you put it like that, but..."

"No, thank you, Kim." He adjusted his bag.

"I won't be your rebound or your tool for revenge. Try another guy." He told me before turning to leave.

"But last night..."

"Was a fucking mistake!” He growls at me.

“Don't ever speak about it to anyone. Ever!" his voice was low and fierce.

"It's bad enough that I gave my first time to a girl who's still in love with her ex. I won't be dragged into your lovers' fight." He said angrily and he stormed off.

I stood there, frozen...

“His first time?” I thought in my head as I ran after him. He didn’t stop, so I hurried after him.

"Your first time?” I asked when I caught up with him.

“How is that even possible? Girls literally throw themselves at you, and you were so skilled last night... You made me..."

"Stop talking about it, and stop following me around, Kimberly."

“It was my first time too and...”

“You think I don’t know that even with the stains on my beddings?” he asked finally looking at me as if he’s still trying to figure me out.

“Is that why you left without a word, did I hurt you?” he asked, his tone gentle again. For the first time since we started this conversation, I looked into his eyes and all I saw was warmth and concern.

I thought they said he’s cold and heartless. Why do I feel like he doesn’t want me to go?

I looked into his eyes and I felt weak. I should have let him go, I have already given my word to my father and there is no turning back. But there was one question I couldn't swallow.

"If last night was your first and mine too, what does that mean for us?" I asked him. His jaw tightened, and I saw something that looks like regret in his eyes as he looks at me for a few minutes before looking away.

I thought he would ignore me again. Instead, he walked back and my leaned to kiss my lips softly. He stopped so close that I had to tilt my head up to look at him. The anger was gone from his face. He looked serious this time.

"Last night meant so much to me, Kim." he confessed. My heart skipped as he lifted his hand and brushed his thumb across my cheek.

"That's why I won't let you ruin it for both of us. If you want me, you have to let go of him completely. I'm a very jealous lover. I don't share, and I treasure what's mine."

I couldn't look away, all I could think of is Dad’s warning about the marriage proposal and the family he couldn’t afford to offend.

"If you want us to be together, you have to choose me and cut off all contact with that loser. And once you're mine, there's no going back." He warned.

God, he sounded just like dad!

What is it with these rich guys and total commitment?

He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. It was barely a kiss, more like a promise, but it sent a shiver all the way down my spine.

"Let me know what you decide." He tells me as he picked up his bag and walked away. This time, I didn't follow. I stood there with my fingers pressed to my lips, watching until he disappeared around the corner.

He didn't want to be used, he wanted me to choose him. And God help me, I want to choose him. But I already gave dad my word. How was I to know that I would fall in love with the baddest guy in school just hours after promising to marry the man my father chose for me. How did I find myself in this situation?

I had been so busy thinking about revenge that I hadn't asked myself what I actually wanted. Will I let go of this feelings I have for him, can I forget everything we shared so soon?

I have just six weeks to decide...