Chapter 108 Yearning!
|| Author POV ||
“Stay.” Killian breathed.
Rosa blinked, clutching herself even tighter. But Killian tilted her chin up with the pad of his finger. “Stay.” he repeated deeper this time. It was almost a pleading.
His eyes searched hers, “Don’t leave me. You don’t have to be scared. I won’t hurt you.”
Rosa shook her head, tears still falling. Killian’s gaze fixated, fighting to stay focused on her face. His eyelids threatened to close.
Rosa jolted when his lips brushed hers–a fragile peck that broke her into more tears, streaming down her cheeks in endless strings.
Killian’s eyes darkened as they swept over her face–her fear and her tears. “You can’t leave me. Don’t even try. You’re mine. I won’t let you go.”
Rosa’s desperate cries and his ragged breaths filled the room, thickening the air until it felt impossible to breathe. Every word that left him only made her sob harder.
If only he hadn’t turned into this monster.
If he hadn’t betrayed her.
Only if she could still believe him.
“Say it... say you’ll stay.” Killian whispered hoarsely. His thumb brushed away her tears that wouldn’t stop falling.
Rosa shook her head. Killian’s palm cupped her wet cheek, his thumb stroking blindly as if even he didn’t know what he was doing anymore.
“If you stay...” his voice faltered and dark eyes locked on her fragile state, “I’ll give you everything.”
His lips brushed her temple as if he could convince her through closeness.
“I’ll let you go out. I’ll let you study. Work. Go anywhere you want. I won’t lock you up anymore.”
His manipulative words hit her chest, her brain. Trying to consume her fragile heart.
Her chest burned. The ache spread like wildfire through her heart, suffocating her.
“You are l-liar. You lied... you–you k-killed.” her words shattered into sobs, pushing weakly at his shoulder.
“I won’t... won’t forgive you.”
Killian’s eyes dimmed at her words. Each syllable pierced him. She wouldn’t forgive him?
His expression hardened. A storm brewed behind his gaze.
“I’m sorry. Don’t be scared of me. I will never lie to you again. I promise.” His thumb brushed her chin and he pressed another soft kiss to her quivering lips.
“No. Let me go–”
Killian’s jaw tightened. His eyes glistened with something wild. Suddenly, he attacked her lips, kissing her with a desperate hunger. Hoping she would melt. Hoping the old Rosalie would come back.
Rosa only cried at his harshness, trembling beneath him, trapped with a beast she couldn’t understand.
Killian pulled away, letting a single finger brush lightly over her lips. “You are mine.”
“No! I’m not yours. You are not my professor.” Her voice cracked, and Killian’s gaze snapped between her tear-streaked face and the fragile emotion he saw.
“You lied to me. You betrayed me. You used me. You killed humans. I don’t.. I don’t believe you! Y-you bad man.” she threw her fists at him.
Killian slid his arm behind her, pulling her body impossibly closer.
His lips brushed her tear-streaked cheeks. Another quick peck to her wet cheek. Her cries sounded like a twisted lullaby in his ears. A music he could listen to.
Rosa’s nostrils burned with the acrid scent of alcohol. Her head spun slightly. It was too strong. She was already feeling dizzy.
She knew deep down that this wasn’t truly him. He was desperate, pleading but only because he was drunk. If he were sober, he wouldn’t do this.
He’s not even guilty. Instead he’s trying to manipulate her by the greed of freedom.
Rosa struggled against him but every movement seemed futile. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest.
She will never forgive him for the cruelty he had shown and for the way he had broken her as if she were nothing more than a fragile pet.
“Let go. I said let go.” she pounded weakly on his shoulder. Her voice quivered with helplessness.
“Please, rabbit. I can’t. I told you before I don’t let go of what’s mine.” his voice was cold. Not even gentler.
Her eyes met his, finding the same deep, familiar gaze she had once trusted.
Her professor.
Rosa’s lips curved downward in anguish. Hiccups spilled from her throat as sobs wracked her fragile frame.
“Stop this.. pleasse. Just stop. Let me go. You c-can’t force me. Don’t hurt me. Please. I don’t want to stay with you. I will never.” Rosa’s sweet voice broke under the weight of her tears. Streams flowed faster than ever, drenching her cheeks. She was choking.
“I want you to stay, bunny. I can’t.. breathe without you.”
Rosa gulped and pushed at his arm “G-go away.”
“Go away.” she repeated, mumbling lowly.
Killian’s gaze stilled on her. On his little rabbit. His possession.
Her words made his chest twist. A weird sensation creeped deep within him.
He ruined everything!
No matter how much he tries to make her understand, she’ll not listen to him. Ever.
Killian’s eyes dropped. His eyebrows knitted tightly. Like he had been thinking of something upside down. He had frozen completely.
Rosa’s moist eyes traced his features, taking in the chaos of his messy hair falling over his forehead and the sharp angles of his jaw clenched so tight it threatened to crack.
He looked.. different.
Rosa knew it was all a calculated trap, another one of his manipulations to bend her to his will. But this time, she wouldn’t fall. She wouldn’t let him manipulate her.
He’s a beast!
He’s heartless.
Her chest heaved. And yet, she couldn’t look away, couldn’t stop staring at the man who held her world in his hands.
A predator and a paradox, dangerous and magnetic all at once.
Rosa chewed on her salty tears, trying to swallow down her sobs. When his hand finally released her–a sharp pang of emptiness shot through her.
Rosa blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision while he slowly moved away. Killian didn’t glance at rosa, making her heart pound harder.
Rosa tilted her head, swallowing hard. Her throat turned dry and tight as she watched Killian button his shirt with meticulous calm as if nothing had happened.
He got off the bed, gripping his coat in one hand, letting it hang loosely so the edges scraped against the floor. Without a word, he walked out, disappearing from her room, leaving only the cold empty room.
\---
Killian stumbled into his room, grabbing the doorframe to steady himself. He ran one hand through his hair and forced himself toward the washroom.
He needed to clear his mind, needed to control the storm inside. His mind. His veins. His desire.
Rosa’s words kept replaying in his mind like knives. He left his coat crumpled on the floor and tore at his half-buttoned shirt, ripping it apart in frustration.
A string of curses left his lips before he tossed the shredded fabric aside and turned on the tap of shower, letting water run cold against his burning skin.
Inside, he felt consumed by a fire he couldn’t quench.
His chest tightened.
The cold water slid down his toned body, soaking his pants. His mind spun in a dizzy haze, the alcohol, the tension, everything crashing together. His fists dug into the tiles and his mind raced.
He let his gaze fall down through half-lidded eyes, noticing the way his pant was holding back the needy monster.
Killian tilted his head upward, letting the water crash over his heated face. The icy flow was doing little to cool the fire burning within him. It wasn’t enough to sober him after all the drinks he had chugged down.
He realized he was actually pleading....
He never acted this athetic or desperate.
“Damnit! What the fuck is wrong with me?!” Killian muttered under his breath.
His nails dug into his palms, leaving crescent marks. Anger, frustration, obsession, all swirled inside him.
He tried to manipulate her, control her but she wouldn’t listen. And he only has limited time before Albert tries something.
To take her away.
Killian’s mind suddenly goes blank. His eyes bore into the wall, then to the locket hanging around his neck.
What if she actually leaves him?
What will he do then?