Chapter 33 Possessive!
|| Author POV ||
“What the fuck do you think he was doing?”
He growls, leaning in closer and his breath ghosted over her skin.
“You smiled at him like you forgot who’s watching!” His eyes flicked down to her lips, then back up.
“Next time he touches you, I’ll break his hand!” he rasped dangerously.
Rosa’s wide eyes stared at him terrified. The sudden outburst was something she didn’t expect.
But why is he acting like this?
Her lilacs shook, heart pounding as if it would burst. Killian’s eyes were darker than ever. They were burning into her like he wanted to own the air she breathed.
Then she realized it... his arm was wrapped around her waist. Her eyes dropped down, cheeks flushing red.
He touched her?
The space between them vanished. Their bodies almost pressed together.
“Look at me.”
His voice was calm.
Rosa’s heart pounded against her ribs before she slowly looked up. Her face was pale, but her cheeks burned crimson.
Killian’s jaw was tight, his expression cold and his eyes--They were burning.
The image of Max touching her hand clung to his mind like poison. And he hated it.
Killian didn’t blink. His other hand slowly rose up and rested on her cheek which startled her to the core.
“Did you like it?” he asked, “When he held your hand like that? When he smiled at you like a gentleman?”
Rosa’s held her breath. Her pupils trembled at his touch. The first ever time, he touched her like this.
“Answer me!” he demanded, tightening his grip around her waist. “Or should I make sure he never even looks your way again?”
Rosa stared at him, dumbfounded.
He’s angry… because Max touched her?
“Wh-why?” she whispered with her wide fearful eyes.
Killian’s gaze didn’t soften. “You really don’t understand, do you?” his voice was deep.
The surrounding chased cold air, brushing against them.
“Don’t test me. Stay away from him... or you’ll regret it.”
Rosa stopped breathing for a moment.
This sounded like a threat? A warning? What’s wrong with him?
Was he jealous?
No, why would he?
Maybe he’s just concerned. Maybe he thinks it’s not safe for her to be around boys. Right?
She couldn’t be imagining it, could she?
But the surge in her heart was undeniably wild and uncontrollable. The way he held her so close, his hands warm against her soft cheeks. It was confusing. But somehow, she felt safe. Felt sparks she never wanted to resist.
Killian brushed his thumb over her soft cheek.
His voice dropped colder than ice. “I don’t like being disrespected.”
His eyes didn’t blink. “Don’t make me repeat myself or-” he whispered coldly. “Next time, I won’t be this gentle.”
Rosa’s heart shuddered, her throat nearly too dry to swallow. He didn’t even give her a chance to speak, not that she had the courage to. She stood stunned.
Killian released her slowly while Rosa remained still like a doll.
Killian opened the car door and grabbed the jacket before draping it over her shoulders which swallowed her small frame.
“Get in the car.”
.............
A few days had passed.
Everything had returned to the way it was before. She still went to him for study sessions, he remained cold and detached just as he always had.
But Rosa hadn’t forgotten that night.
It taunted her in the quiet. The way his arms wrapped around her. The heat of his body. The danger in his voice. That night she kept tossing in bed, unable to sleep.
It was nearly ten in the morning now.
Rosa sat on a polished wooden bench in the heart of the vast garden. The cold air nipped at her skin but the soft morning sunlight gave some comfort.
Around her was nothing but an endless sea of trimmed grass and silence.
Earlier, Lilia had come by and asked if she wanted to step out for some fresh air. Rosa agreed too quickly. She just needed some fresh air.
“I’ll prepare some juices.” Lilia said with a kind smile before walking into the mansion.
Rosa remained seated silently.
She often wondered why does he work as a professor when he seems to own everything? His presence, his aura, even the mansion, it all felt too powerful and too secretive.
Does he own a business?
But she shook her head. It wasn’t her place. It wasn’t her concern.
Still... the way her heart throbbed at the thought of him haunted her. Loving someone like him, someone so far out of reach was foolish. Wasn’t it?
Suddenly, her gaze caught a flicker of movement. A tiny butterfly danced through the cold morning air, flitting just in front of her.
A smile bloomed on her lips. Without thinking, Rosa stood up, watching it fly for a moment, then it fluttered away.
Rosa chased the butterfly with careful steps with her eyes focused on its fluttering wings.
A quiet laugh almost escaped her lips until her foot struck a hidden stone.
“Ah—!”
Her balance faltered.
She fell forward. Her knees scraped the rough earth and her chest hit the damp grass. A muffled groan slipped past her lips as her face pressed against the muddy soil, strands of hair sticking to her cheek.
The pain struck her chest first, then her nose, and finally her knees. She lay flat on the cold ground for a moment. Her breath was stolen by the sudden fall.
Slowly, Rosa pushed herself up, trembling slightly in pain, her eyes were already glassy with tears. The sting in her nose was sharp.
A quiet whimper slipped from her lips as she sat back on her legs, folded beneath her before wiping her dusty palms on her dress.
Mud clung to her cheek. She wrinkled her nose only for a sharp pain to shoot through it. She winced and cupped it gently.
Her lips quivered slightly. For a second, she felt like the same timid girl who once clung to her mother’s dress after every stumble. That helpless and fragile part of her hadn’t gone.
A tear slipped down her cheek unnoticed as her eyes followed the butterfly fluttering away and vanished into the distance.
Rosa let out a shaky breath and forced herself to stand. Her knees were trembling and her palms were dirty. But just as she turned to walk back, she bumped into something hard.
No, someone!
Rosa looked up slowly, and her heart dropped. Killian stood there, his eyes already on her. Her face flushed in horror.
Had he seen her tripping down?
It would be embarrassing if he did.
Killian said nothing. Just stared down at her with those dark eyes.
Rosa quickly looked away, brushing her cheeks with her muddied hand, only making the mess worse.
“I-I’m fine.” she stammered.
Then, in a voice so low it nearly melted into the wind, he murmured, “You shouldn’t run after things that won’t come back.”
Killian raised his hand to touch her muddy cheek and softly brushed his thumb over her cheek.
It moved slowly, almost painfully gentle against her soft skin.
“You’ll only end up getting hurt.” he added, eyes flicked to her quivering lips then back to her eyes.
Her cheeks wet with tears. He slowly grazed his fingers to wipe the tears away.
Rosa stood frozen with her shallow breath.
“Where does it hurt?”
Her lavender eyes flicked between him and the ground, unable to meet his gaze. Was that... concern?
She stayed silent, biting her lip. “Don’t be stubborn. Tell me.” His tone softened.
“I-I’m fine.” she stammered again but Killian leaned closer, fingers curled gently around her small face and thumb brushed her cheek.
“I hate disobedience.” he whispered like a warning.
He held her face steady and his eyes bored into hers.
“I don’t like silence when I ask a question.” he murmured. Rosa swallowed hard.
“Show me.” he demanded.
Then almost hesitantly, Rosa whispered, “It h-hurts here.” pointing a trembling hand to her scraped knee.
His hardened eyes traced the line of the injury.
“You won’t chase after silly things.”
“Understand?” Rosa nodded her head.
“Roaming around without thinking. What were you chasing? A butterfly?”
Rosa’s lips pressed into a thin line and she looked down, her face hot with shame.
So he had seen it. The fall, the dirt clinging to her skin and the mess she had become.
Killian exhaled through his nose quietly before pulling his hand away from her cheek.
“Pardon the interruption, Master.” Lilia’s calm voice came from behind. She bowed slightly but he didn’t respond.
“Are you okay, dear?” Lilia asked, reaching out toward Rosa with genuine concern. Rosa gave a small nod, cheeks still burning with embarrassment.
Lilia crouched beside her and brushed dirt gently from her arms. “Your knees are scraped. You should be more careful, dear.”
“Take her inside and treat it properly.” Killian ordered.
“Yes, Master.” Lilia bowed her head respectfully. She guided Rosa inside the mansion while Killian stood there.
He sighed.
Earlier, he was in his room, standing by the window when he noticed Rosa walking in the garden with the maid. His sharp gaze watched her delicate frame.
Moments later, the maid left and she was alone. He didn’t look away. He gawked at her like a creep.
She was sitting quietly, then suddenly stood up and began running after something. He narrowed his eyes, realizing it was a butterfly.
At first, it was almost amusing, watching her smile to herself, reaching out like a child lost in wonder.
But then—
She stumbled down really hard. The sound of her fall echoed faintly even from that distance. His brows furrowed. He didn’t see that coming.
His jaw clenched when Rosa didn’t move for a while. She was laying flat just how she had fallen. A flicker of unease crossed his face.
She hadn’t lost consciousness, had she?
Without wasting another second, he turned from the window.
By the time he reached the garden, Rosa was sitting up slowly, her back facing him. Small gasps and quiet whimpers filled the silence, and Killian stood behind her without a word.
She looked breakable. Like a doll dropped too hard.
Rosa stood up quickly, and stumbled right into his chest. The contact froze her. When she finally looked up, her tear-stained face tilted to meet his gaze, he saw the mud smudged across her cheeks, wet lashes and parted lips from the pain.
And something in him shifted. It was subtle but it was there. A twitch in his jaw. The way his eyes darkened. The way his hands clenched at his sides like he was restraining something dangerous.
Killian sighed.
Those innocent eyes, full of startled trust had looked at him like he wasn’t a monster. Like he wasn’t made of the very darkness she should be running from.
He knew he should’ve controlled himself.
Because if he didn’t... he’d ruin her.
She didn’t belong in his world. His world was filled with blood and shadows.
He knew he fucked up the moment he lost control that night.
Because he saw it.
He saw Max holding her hand. That pathetic smile he gave her like he had the right to. The way he looked at her like she belonged to him.
It made Killian’s blood boil.
She wasn’t someone to be shared. She wasn’t someone to be touched.
She was his. And no one else had the right to touch what’s his.
He didn’t like the way Max always tried to cling to her. He had noticed that boy staring at her continuously during the classes without leaving a single chance.
Rosa didn’t belong in those harmless little fantasies Max seemed to have.
She didn’t belong to anyone else but him!