Chapter 15 Episode Fifteen
Chapter 15 Episode Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
Diana’s POV
Three days had passed since Calum tended to my injuries. Three days since that kiss in his room
And I had been avoiding him ever since…crazy, I know
And it’s not because I didn’t want to see him. Goddess, I wanted to see him so badly it hurt, but its because I was scared
I was scared of what would happen if we kept doing this, I was scared of us losing control. Scared of losing everything I had worked for…scared that I might end up never saving Amaryllis
So I changed my schedule at the mansion. I woke up even earlier..like 1 am earlier, just to finish my chores long before he came downstairs. I ate my meals in the kitchen when he was in his study. I stayed in my room whenever I wasn’t working, not ever making the mistake to come out
It was exhausting, to be honest, and it wasn’t even working
Because every time I turned a corner, there he was. Every time I walked into a room, he was already there. It was like the universe was conspiring against me
Or maybe it was the mate bond. Pulling us together no matter how hard I tried to stay away
Today was no different
I was in the library on the second floor, dusting the shelves just as Madelyn had instructed
And since It was late afternoon, I assumed he would be at the college. But I was wrong
The door opened just when I was at the last shelf and he walked in
I froze with the duster in my hand
“Diana,” he said quietly…very casually
“Professor Blackwood,” I said, keeping my voice formal. “I’m almost done here. I’ll be out of your way in a minute”
“Stop calling me that when we’re alone”
“It’s your name”
“You know what I mean” He walked closer. “And you don’t have to leave, this is your workplace”
“I know” I turned back to the shelf and continued dusting “But I’m sure you came here to read or work. I don’t want to disturb you”
“You’re not disturbing me”
I didn’t respond. I just kept dusting, pretending to be focused on my work
I heard him move closer. Then I felt him right behind me
“Why are you avoiding me?” he asked softly, playing with strands of my hair
“I’m not avoiding you”
“Yes, you are” His hand came up and gently took the duster from me “You haven’t looked me in the eye in three days, you leave every room I enter….you won’t even eat dinner when I’m home” he listed lazily and I shit my eyes
Then finally turned to face him “I’m just trying to be professional”
“Professional” He laughed but there was no humor in it. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“Yes” I lifted my chin “You’re my employer and my professor. We need boundaries”
“We tried boundaries” He stepped closer, backing me against the bookshelf “They didn’t work” the way his eyes assessed my from under those lashes, made my nipples perk
“Then we need to try harder”
“Why?” His hand came up to cup my cheek “Why are we fighting this?”
“Because it’s wrong”
“It doesn’t feel wrong” His thumb brushed across my bottom lip “Does it feel wrong to you?”
No actually, It felt very right. And that was the problem
“Calum, please” I whispered
“Please what? Please stop? Or please don’t stop?” He drawled still stroking and arranging strands of my hair
I didn’t answer because I didn’t know which one I wanted
He leaned in slowly, giving me time to push him away, he always gave me time to rethink my choices and I never do
Then ever so gently, his lips touched mine and everything inside me melted…all the resolve…the reasons why I thought this was wrong, all came flying out of my head
I kissed him back without thinking. My hands came up to grip his shirt, pulling him closer
He groaned and pressed me harder against the bookshelf, his tongue sweeping into my mouth and I opened for him eagerly
This was what I had been avoiding, this exact feeling, this ferocious need
This complete loss of control
His hands were everywhere, I barely had time to register the exact spot, but I felt the impact
In my hair, on my waist, sliding down to grip my hips
I pulled away, gasping for air “We can’t do this”
“Yes, we can” He kissed my jaw, then my neck “We are doing this”
“Someone could walk in”
“I locked the door” His teeth grazed that sensitive spot below my ear and I moaned “No one’s coming in”
“Calum” I tried to sound firm but it came out breathy and weak “This is crazy”
“I know” He pulled back to look at me. His eyes were dark with desire. “I’ve tried to stay away from you, Diana. I’ve tried to be professional, to keep my distance, but I already told you, I can’t”
“You have to”
“Why?” His hand cupped my face “Give me one good reason why we should fight this”
“Because I could lose my scholarship and you could lose your job….everything we’ve worked for would be gone”
“I don’t care”
“Well I do!” My voice rose “I have someone depending on me, someone who’s waiting on me to save them, I can’t afford to lose everything because of this”
His expression softened “Your sister”
I blinked in surprise “How did you know?”
“You mentioned her the other day, that you needed to save someone” did I ? I don’t recall
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear “Tell me about her”
I hesitated. I had never told anyone about Amaryllis. Not even Lily
But looking into Calum’s eyes, I felt safe. Like I could trust him
“Her name is Amaryllis,” I said quietly “She’s nine years old and when I was thrown out of the pack, they kept her” I said
“What was their reason?”
“The Alpha heir claimed her as his future mate”
Calum’s jaw clenched “Isn’t it absurd to let a nine year old be picking a future mate?”
“Oh! He’s not nine…he’s…he’s about my age, twenty three years old” his hands paused
“And they’re letting a grown man claim a child?” He looked disgusted “That’s not a mate bond. That’s predatory”
“I know” Tears burned in my eyes “They’re keeping her until she turns ten, then they’ll force her to be with him. I have one year to get custody of her, one year to prove I can take care of her”
“And that’s why you need the scholarship”
I nodded. “That’s why I can’t risk anything, that’s why we can’t do this”
He was quiet for a moment. Then he pulled me into his arms and just held me
“I’ll help you,” he said into my hair
“What?”
“I’ll help you get your sister back” He pulled away to look at me “I have resources…money…connections, everything you need. Let me help”
“I can’t ask you to do that”
“You’re not asking, Diana, I’m offering” His hands framed my face “Let me help you, mate, Please” sometjing about the way he said mate sent a delicious shiver down my spine
I wanted to say yes, I wanted to let him help. But I was so used to doing everything alone that it didn’t feel right
“Why?” I whispered “Why would you do that for me?”
He stared at me for a long moment. Then he said the words that changed everything
“Because you’re my mate, and I take care of what’s mine”
My breath caught. We had both felt the bond but neither of us had said it out loud until now
“Calum”
“I know you feel it too” His thumb brushed away a tear that had escaped “I know you’re scared, and I’d be lying if I said I’m not too. But I’m not fighting this anymore, I can’t and I won’t ”
“But…”
“No buts” He kissed me softly “We’ll be careful and smart, but I’m not staying away from you anymore”
“What about my scholarship? Your job?”
“I’ll handle it” He kissed me again “Trust me”
And looking into his eyes, I realized I did trust him. Maybe that was stupid and maybe I would regret it
But in that moment, I didn’t care
“Okay,” I whispered
His smile was beautiful “Yeah?”
“Yeah”
He kissed me again, deeper this time. I kissed him back, pouring all my fear and hope and need into it
When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathing hard
“I should go,” I said reluctantly “Before Madelyn comes looking for me”
“I know” But he didn’t let go of me “One more”
He kissed me one more time. Slow and sweet and full of promise
When I finally left the library, my lips were swollen and my heart was full
I knew we were playing with fire, I knew this could end badly
But for the first time in my life, I was choosing to be happy instead of just surviving
And that had to count for something, Right?