Chapter 6

CRYSTAL POV

Come Monday morning, and I grimace while racing down the long hallway heading for my first lecture which I was embarrassingly and awesomely late for, for perfect solid 27minutes. By the time I reached the door, I was a heaving mess, panting uncontrollably as I tried to calm my breath down.

I stood against the door and listened for any sound that may come out from the inside, but it was awfully quiet. With a shaky hand, I reached for the doorknob and then turned it, pushed the door, and then made my way inside. A whole arena of eyes shifted towards me, and I felt myself shrinking against the entrance, becoming impossibly smaller.

But that's what I get for being late. I chanced a nervous glance at the lecturer to find…

Holy crap!

The new professor. Oh My God. Could this get any more embarrassing?

With wobbly legs and skin flushed from embarrassment, I clutched my belongings and started to make it to the only remaining chair which had to be right at the back of the class. My back shuddered involuntarily at the feel of a very penetrating gaze, and I prayed to the God who gave me legs to strengthen them so they can carry me to the last column of seats at the back of the class without planting myself face first and embarrassing myself to further extremities.

After sitting down, I looked straight ahead, then gasped when I found that the undisturbed gaze has been coming from none, but our new professor. 

Oh, God. This was on a different level of horrible. He looked more than displeased with the fact that one of his students was almost half an hour late, and her grand entrance disrupted the peace and quiet I found in there. Honestly, I didn’t blame him.

“May I know your name?” He raised his mouth to speak, and something about the way he sounded made me know he wasn’t asking. The way he spoke sparked something at the back of my mind that coaxed me to reply in an instant.

“Crystal, sir. Crystal Cassidy.” I said, my voice being carried out by the silence that reigned in the room.

“This is how it is going to work out, Miss Cassidy. You don’t have to bother yourself with taking the class if you are more than 10 minutes late.” He addressed me in a stern voice, making me shiver in my seat. There was not even a small smile to accompany his words and make them lighter, making me aware that he was as serious as death. If I didn’t ruin my pants right there, then I had to be a master of my own game.

A few moments later, I was too absorbed in the topic that I had forgotten about my unbecoming entrance and first impression of the professor who seemed to know his shit. I gave myself a chance to look at him, like thoroughly looked at him. He was explaining some serious jurisprudence and legal theory which was rather fascinating itself. Add a hot professor to the mix and make it even more fun. 

The man in front of us was, without a doubt, the most handsome man I have ever laid my eyes on. His style complemented his domineering aura and he knew it.

He didn’t seem to be any day older than 35, and he was the kind of a guy whom you’d compare with wine. Aging perfectly and flawlessly. However, there was something about him, something oddly familiar that made me shiver whenever his eyes flashed past mine, making me bothered in all the possible unholy ways. Whenever he caught me staring at him or vice versa, his face would darken, so badly that his eyes would gleam dangerously, and I would gasp. Just like that. 

A small part of my subconscious, probably that little one below my medulla that controls all of my thoughts, revered back to Saturday night at Club 69, but I slapped it so hard that it went straight into a coma when the thought came unbidden to the front of my mind.

It couldn’t be. 

There was no way in hell.

But what was with the suppressing aura that I felt whenever our eyes met? That still didn’t mean they were one person. There could never be that kind of a coincidence in this life. I refuse to acknowledge the possibility of it happening and cursed my mind for even thinking of such an unholy thing. Just how…

“Miss Cassidy?” His tone had transitioned from slightly mad, to 'I am going to smother you and roast you' kind of mad. And I knew I was in deep shit.

“Yes sir?” It came out as a breathy whisper, and I could have sworn his throat moved slightly when he swallowed some air.

“My office, please.” He commanded, causing a wild series of murmurs to erupt from all around the class. My face flushed insanely as I erupted from my seat, then started to walk down the narrow aisle of small stairs, heading for the entrance. I knew I was in deep trouble but I didn’t think for a second that it was this bad.

I passed him with my face to the floor, not daring to look at him, and went straight for the door. I opened it and took a step outside, then let out a loud puff of breath I didn’t know I had been holding. I heard his stern, yet clear voice as he addressed the rest of the class, and the hum of the students as they agreed to whatever it was he said. A few seconds ticked, and the door opened, revealing his expensive shiny dress shoe first. My eyes remained glued to the floor, and I took off behind him without being told.

Only when he was facing forward did I dare glare at his back. Although it was covered by the cloth of his white shirt, I swear I have seen it at one point in my life. But that didn’t mean it was on Saturday. There was no way I was going to acknowledge that the man I masturbated with the thoughts of his hands on me just this last night was the one in front of me.

Saturday had been blurry and confusing enough because of the things I felt when I mounted that man and danced on top of him, and I wasn't going to let that kind of confusion rever back to me again.

We walked silently to his office, and he opened the door before holding it ajar, ushering me in. I got in after him and stood stoic to the side, watching as he got in behind me, closed the door, and locked it. He fuckin’ locked it. 

Oh, holy Mary or whoever that was watching from above…

He walked gracefully to his desk, placed the small folder he was carrying down on it, and then leaned against the edge of the table, then stared intently at me. His gaze once again forced my eyes back to the floor.

“Miss Cassidy?” That voice… goodness that voice. I know it was not it, but it reminded me of the 'TAKE THEM OFF' from Saturday. 

“Yes sir?” I replied, still refusing to look at his face while praying to my mind to stop referring back to Saturday

“You were late.” He pointed out, his voice as sharp and pointed as the edge of a sword, slicing through any kind of distraction and forcing my mind into one state. And that was giving him my full attention.

“I was, sir. And I apologize.” I said after finding my voice.

“May I know the reason?” Again, he made it sound like a question even though it was a command, his gaze daring me to say otherwise. But at least if I told him why I was late, he would hate me less for disrupting his class.

“I have two young siblings that I should take care of every morning before driving them to school. I had a serious problem with one of them this morning since she wasn’t feeling well.” Rosey still couldn’t find her bunny. We slept so late after turning the house upside down in search of it, and I had to sleep with her just so we could all get some rest. I had no idea she would have a breakdown in the morning because of it. Broke my heart more than anything.

“Where are your parents?” He asked, his voice laced with a tinge of surprise in it. And I wanted to lie and say intrigue.

“They are no more. I am their sole guardian.” I said with a shake of my head.

“I am sorry to hear that.” a spark of adrenalin shot into me and I whisked my head upwards, then stared at him for a single second before facing down again. Was that sympathy? I didn’t know he was capable of such a thing.

“It's okay. Time has healed us mostly.” I said and then rocked my knee.

“Do you have any relatives?” What was this? An interrogation?

“If you don’t mind me asking of course.” He smoothed, causing his probing to be less annoying. Although I couldn’t defy him even if I had the guts.

“I have never been one with extended families. But we did live without an aunt for some time after our parents’ accident. She moved to El Paso.” After finding her one true love and disappeared into the sunset and since then, it has been me and my two cubbies. 

“Hmmm…” Hmmm, what? 

“I will try to be lenient with you.” Why thank you!!! I didn’t know he had some compassion buried somewhere inside the tough, cold exterior. 

“Thank you, sir.” My neck craned even further as I attempted to lower my head respectfully, but it couldn’t lower any further.

“Is that a tattoo on your wrist?” His eyes were indeed as sharp as a hawk. I gave him a small nod and tried to hide it with my other hand. I always made sure I cover up any kind of spot that would link me back to Club 69 when I wasn't there, but that didn't stop him from seeing it.

“Words, Crystal.”

“Yes sir.” I breathed almost instantly and then looked at his face. Big mistake. His eyes were hooded as he sat there, dominating the small office and looking like a real god. I know I was just trying to be a dummy and refusing the reality that was right in front of me, but this man here… it could only be HIM.

“Can I see it?” He said softly, his eyes still fixed on me. My breath hitched when I made out the color. Gray. A very interesting hue that had my lips parting. He cocked his eyebrow when I didn't respond, then tilted his head to the side, patiently waiting for me to decide.

"Of course." I was thankful for my brain since it was coordinating with my mind. Slowly, I took off to where he was standing because something told me he would be royally displeased if I showed it out from where I was. I stood a healthy distance from his body, then slowly rolled the black fabric of my vest up, revealing an infinity symbol with two words scribbled beneath it. 

"May I?" I didn't know what he was referring to, but at this point, he might as well ask me to dagger out my own kidney and give it out. 

"Yes sir." My voice shook, terribly, and a loud gasp tore through me when his fingers circled around my wrist, then forcefully yanked me forward until I was standing very unhealthy at a very unhealthy distance from him. 

As soon as my nose picked on his cologne, I knew damn well I would be a fool to not acknowledge the truth that was right in my face.

"Jace and Rose." He read the names on it, and I nodded. I was staring anywhere but at his face, and I felt it that I was going to die from the depressing aura. It felt like I couldn't breathe, and he was so painfully heady on my senses. 

"Your siblings?" 

"Yes sir." It came out as a small whisper. 

"Interesting." I wish I knew what he was referring to.  

His hold tightened gradually on my wrist, causing me to stare at him in shock. He glared back and didn't let go of my hand or apologize. Instead, his eyes darkened as he applied more pressure until I felt a slicing bite where he was touching.

"Aaaah..." I stared back at him with my lips parted, a small restrained scream coming out of me. He was doing it on purpose.

My whole body turned crimson as a rampage of heat spread throughout my system, and after a long moment, he released his tight hold before breaking the stare, then glanced at the red ring around my wrist. His lips curled in a smirk at the sight of his masterpiece, then dropped my hands.

He was a very odd human. If he was even human...

"I am expecting you to be early for tomorrow's class." Right, he was still my professor, despite that he was the man who I gave a lapdance just the day before yesterday. It will all be okay if he didn't recognize me. 

"Of course sir," I replied rubbing the throbbing spot around my wrist, then took retrieving steps backward.

"One more question." He said as he tapped his chin with his forefinger, and I nodded. 

"Do you work?" 

Oh, no!

"I... its..."

"I am expecting an honest answer." He commanded yet again causing me to swallow hard.

"I work nightshifts at the club." I let it out to that far, didn't want to give out much because I was as good as dead if he knew I was the one moaning to his hard-on some time back.

"Amethyst." He whispered, causing my eyes to snap wide. Horror flashed across my face, and I stood there looking like a dying fish.

He knew!

"I shall not keep you any further Miss Cassidy." He motioned with his hand to see myself out, and I didn't waste a single second. In an instant, I was outside his office heaving out for air. 

He recognized me. He fuckin' recognized me.