Chapter 61 Always craving my attention

Chapter 61 Always craving my attention
Chapter 061

RAVENNA

The library was my sanctuary today, quiet and peaceful in a way that let me actually concentrate on the mountain of work ahead of me.

I sat at my usual corner table surrounded by stacks of business books, all opened to different pages with sticky notes marking important sections.

The business speech assignment loomed over me like a dark cloud, and I had made the decision that it did not concern Darius anymore.

I was done waiting for that asshole to decide whether he wanted to be a partner or an enemy.

I would prepare this presentation myself and not waste another second hoping he would suddenly become a decent human being.

I had to start completely fresh, building a presentable speech from scratch that would attract potential buyers to our theoretical products.

Professor Bonn had made it clear that this assignment counted for a significant portion of our final grade, so failure was not an option. Darius father was influential and holds a pamel among the school directors, so I was hundred percent sure his sons grade won't be tempered.

But me, I was just a girl on scholarship. No one to back me. No, not no one, I've got a father but well...

I was midway through memorizing a particularly complicated section about consumer engagement strategies when a loud slam of books hitting my table made me jump so violently that my pen went flying across the surface.

My heart leapt into my throat as I looked up sharply, ready to tell whoever it was to kindly bugger off.

But it was just Darius standing there and staring at me with an expression I could not quite read.

His eyes were intense, boring into mine with an unsettling focus that made my shivers ran through my skin.

I pressed my hand against my chest, feeling my heart hammering beneath my palm. "You scared the absolute shit out of me," I hissed at him, trying to catch my breath.

His lips curved into a smirk that made me want to throw something at his stupidly handsome face. "That is the disadvantage of being human. Your senses are dull and slow."

I glared at him, irritation flooding through me hot and fast. "If you were human yourself, maybe you would understand basic courtesy."

Darius's grin widened into something wicked and challenging.

Then, right there in the middle of the library where anyone could see, he half-shifted.

His eyes flashed that brilliant golden colour that always made my breath catch.

His canines lengthened into sharp points, and I could see the faint ripple of fur beginning to emerge along his forearms before he pulled it back.

He leaned forward slightly, that infuriating smirk still plastered across his face. "I am not fully human. Why don't you do the same then. Show me what you can do."

I looked away deliberately, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "Being an animal does not impress me in the slightest, Darius. You are still just as annoying in either form."

To my absolute horror, he pulled out the chair directly across from me and sat down like he owned the place. "Where are we in the assignment so we can continue working on it together?"

I blinked at him in disbelief. "We are not continuing anything together. I am working on this alone now."

He completely ignored my statement, reaching across the table to grab my notebook without asking for permission.

His eyes scanned over everything I had written so far, occasionally reading bits and pieces out loud in that deep voice that should not affect me the way it did. "Innovative marketing strategies. Consumer engagement metrics. Brand loyalty cultivation."

He looked up at me with something that might have been approval flickering in his eyes. "You actually tried this time. This is not half bad."

Heat crept up my neck, though whether from anger or something else entirely, I refused to examine too closely. "I am starting to think you low-key enjoy being in my presence, Darius. Otherwise, why would you seek me out like this?"

His expression shifted immediately, that wicked grin returning full force. "I would never enjoy being in your presence, Ravenna. You are just a mere pest that I cannot seem to get rid of no matter how hard I try."

"You will take those words back one day," I shot back, lifting my chin defiantly.

"That will never happen," he countered smoothly. "Not in this lifetime or any other."

Before I could formulate a cutting response, his attention shifted to the small pile of books stacked on my left side.

These were not business texts but rather my personal reading material that I had grabbed on my way to this table. Romance novels, mostly.

A few paranormal fiction titles. Things I read for pleasure when my brain needed a break from academic torture.

Darius picked up the top book, turning it over to examine the cover with raised eyebrows. "What is this rubbish? Paranormal romance? Werewolf love stories?"

He laughed, the sound mocking and sharp. "Your reading choices are absolutely terrible, Ravenna. How do you consume this drivel?"

Anger flared hot in my chest. "They are not terrible, and you have no right to judge what I read in my free time. Now leave my books alone and go bother someone else."

But he refused to leave, continuing to flip through my novels with commentary that grew increasingly insulting.

When I finally could not take it anymore, I stood abruptly, intending to walk away from this entire infuriating situation and find somewhere else to work.

Darius moved faster than I expected, standing and blocking my path with his larger frame.

He leaned forward slowly, deliberately invading my personal space until his nose nearly brushed against my ear.

His breath was warm against my skin, sending involuntary shivers racing down my spine. "You are becoming hotter every day, Ravenna," he whispered, his voice dropping to a low rumble that I felt more than heard.

"And I cannot seem to break your spirit fully no matter what I do to you."

My heart was pounding so loudly I was certain he could hear it. Two could play at this game, I decided recklessly.

I leaned forward as well, letting my lips brush feather-light against his cheek whilst I whispered directly into his ear. "All you are doing is making me stronger, Darius. Proving over and over again what an absolute asshole you truly are."

He snarled low in his throat, the sound vibrating through both of us. Then he moved even closer, effectively trapping me between his body and the bookshelf behind me. His legs bracketed mine, caging me in whilst his hands came to rest on either side of my head against the shelf.

"You make me lose control," he murmured, his voice taking on that slow, seductive quality that made my knees feel weak. "Every single time I am near you, you make me lose every bit of control I have built up."

My eyes snapped to his face, searching for the lie or the trick I knew had to be coming.

But there was sincerity in his voice that I had never heard before, a rawness that made my heart race for entirely different reasons.

My breath came faster, my chest rising and falling rapidly as we stared at each other.

Then he grinned, that devilish expression I had come to recognise as a warning sign. "I am going to destroy you completely before I even realise what I have done. You will not survive being close to me, Ravenna."

The warmth that had been building in my chest vanished instantly, replaced by cold anger and hurt.

My expression shifted into a deep frown as I shoved hard against his chest, forcing him to step back. "You will never change, will you? This is who you are, and who you will always be."

He smiled as if I had just confirmed something he already knew, straightening himself and adjusting his shirt. "Never claimed I would change."

There was an uncomfortable pause before he spoke again in a more casual tone. "Bonn called us to the ice for an important meeting. Since I was coming from the library anyway, I thought I should inform you."

I nodded stiffly, still angry but knowing I could not skip a meeting called by our coach. "Wait for me then. I need to gather my things."

"No," he replied simply, already turning to walk away.

"Darius, wait," I called after him, but he was already moving down the aisle at a leisurely pace.

I cursed under my breath and began frantically shoving books and papers into my bag, not caring about organisation or order.

I slung the heavy bag over my shoulder and hurried after him, my footsteps echoing in the quiet library as I rushed towards the exit.

I could see him ahead of me in the corridor, walking with that confident stride like he had all the time in the world. "Darius, wait up," I called out again, picking up my pace.

He glanced over his shoulder, saw me chasing after him, and his face split into a wide grin.

Then he took off running, actually running down the corridor like we were children playing tag. "Catch me if you can, Ravenna," he yelled back at me, laughter evident in his voice.

"Asshole," I shouted after him, but I was already running too, unable to resist the stupid challenge he had thrown down.

My bag bounced heavily against my hip as I ran, and I could feel my ankle beginning to protest the sudden strain.

It had not fully healed yet from the accident, still tender and weak when I pushed it too hard.

But I refused to give up and let him win this ridiculous race he had started.

"Wait up," I called out breathlessly as my lungs began to burn. "I am tired, Darius. I cannot chase you like this."

He did not slow down, did not even acknowledge that he had heard me. Just kept running, turning corners and putting more distance between us.

My ankle was screaming now, sharp pain shooting up my leg with every step.

I knew I should stop, knew I was being stupid by continuing to push myself like this.

But something stubborn and proud inside me refused to give him the satisfaction of giving up.

Then my ankle gave way completely.

One moment I was running, and the next my leg simply stopped supporting my weight.

I screamed as I fell, my hands reaching out desperately for something, anything to catch myself with, but it was completely useless.

My face connected with the hard ground with a sickening crack. Pain exploded through my skull blinding.

Then everything went dark and silent.