Chapter 50 Manipulative devil!
|| Author POV ||
“Where the hell were you?!” Killian’s shout thundered through the beach.
Rosa flinched, her whole body jolted at the sudden roar in his voice. She stared up with her timid eyes. Then she opened her mouth, clutching the flower tighter behind. “I-i was her-”
“Did you tell me before coming here?!” Killian barked, taking a step closer and towered over her.
“Do you think this is a fucking joke? You disappeared without telling me and I had to find you like a madman?!”
Rosa flinched harder. She can understand his concern. Maybe he was worried. She should explain.
“I know this place-” she said in one go “Don’t wor–”
His chest heaved with every furious breath, eyes blazing like fire. “Are you fucking crazy?”
“Did it not cross your dumb mind that you should’ve tell me?!” His voice exploded this time rudely.
Rosa’s chest ached. The petals of the rose trembled in her fist. Her lips quivering in fear “I-I just wanted to see the sea. I didn’t mean–”
“You didn’t mean to make me lose my mind looking for you?!”
She flinched again as he shouted again. “Listen t-to me–”
She took a shaky breath, her eyes beginning to glisten. She didn’t expect him to behave like this. “I’m s-sorr–”
“SORRY? YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WAS?!” His voice cracked through the shore like a thunderclap.
Rosa stepped back. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears and fear. Her chest tightened painfully. The weight of his rage pressed against her.
“DO YOU HAVE ANY FUCKING IDEA?!” Her heart plummeted. The rose in her hand trembled. The sea no longer sounded peaceful.
“Argh!” Killian groaned, turning his face away for a second dragging a hand over his face in frustration.
He was spiraling. The fear of losing her had twisted into reckless fury. He clenched his teeth “Next time, if you ever–”
He stopped. His breath caught.
She was staring at him like she couldn’t recognise him. Like he’d just shattered something fragile between them.
A lone tear slipped down her cheek. She stood still, eyes looked back and forth on his with a hollow sort of ache.
The red rose slipped from her trembling fingers, landing softly on the sand. Killian’s eyes snapped down. His eyes joining together.
A rose?
His gaze traveled back up, catching the tremble in her lips and the shake in her shoulders.
Small choked noises escaped her lips, barely held in. Her chest heaved erratically as if she were trying to keep the sobs down. She bit her trembling bottom lip hard, trying to stop it but more tears spilled out and rolled down her flushed cheeks.
She stepped back. Tears cascaded freely now, running down her face and her whole frame began to shake.
She looked utterly destroyed. And it was him. He did this!
Killian’s throat tightened and he swallowed the lump rising inside. Was this what they called a heart?
He shook his head, trying to push the feeling away but it lingered.
“Hear me out.” he whispered, stepping forward to reach for her, hoping to steady her trembling form but Rosa flinched away. Her small frame was trembling with quiet sobs.
Her soft sobs broke the silence before she turned away, footsteps quickening over the sand.
“Rosalie, wait!” Killian’s came out in desperation and he quickened his pace to follow her.
Frustration overwhelmed him. A knot of guilt tightened deep in his gut. He knew he’d lost control in his anger. He could have made her understand calmly. But the beast inside refused to listen.
He closed the distance with long strides, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and pulled her close, yet Rosa struggled against him. Leaning down, he whispered softly into her ear “I’m sorry, my rabbit. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He held her small frame gently from behind but Rosa pushed at his hands, her warm tears spilling onto his inked arm. “Listen to me, rab–”
“L-leave m-me. Don’t tou-touch me.” she mumbled, her hands struggling to break free from his grasp, her body trembling violently with every hiccup.
Killian reached to turn her back but she clung to him desperately to escape.
“Don’t follow m-me. Leav-leave me alone.” she sobbed, pushing away and she tried to run.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I made a mistake. Don’t be angry.” he whispered against her ear desperately.
“I said leave me.” Rosa cried out. Her voice cracked and a sob tore through her chest. She struggled harder but his strength overpowered her trembling frame.
Killian stood frozen, guilt flooding his veins. He didn’t know how to console her now, didn’t know how to fix what he broke.
Rosa tried to run again but his arms wouldn’t let her go. She let out a frustrated cry, her emotions crashing down all at once. She was hurt, disappointment, scared... everything tangled into the tears streaking down her cheeks.
Without caring for her protests, Killian spun her around, holding her firmly. She pushed against him weakly but he wouldn’t let go.
Killian cupped her tear-streaked face, jaw clenched tight as he took in the mess of her emotions. She avoided his gaze, eyes shimmering with hurt.
“I lost my mind when I couldn’t find you.” he confessed “I was worried.”
Rosa stood frozen with fresh tears slipping down her cheeks.
Slowly, his thumb traced the path of her tears, gently wiping them away. Ross hiccuped softly, trembling in his hold.
“I was worried. Worried about where you’d gone without telling me. You should’ve told me, didn’t you?” His voice remained cold.
Rosa looked away, her tears pooling against the skin of his hand.
“Tell me, what do I need to do to calm you down?” His gaze remained cold but searching.
Killian sighed, frustration mixing with tenderness as she stayed silent.
“I swear, I’ll never raise my voice at you again, bunny.”
Rosa sniffled “Y-you will. Yo-you always do.” She avoided his eyes, her words breaking with sobs.
Killian felt the rage surge through his veins yet this girl... this fragile girl was the one who made him weak. For someone like him, apologizing wasn’t natural.
He was known to his obsession, aware of it but he never imagined she would unravel him like this.
Gently, Killian pulled her into his embrace, his palm curling around the back of her head. Rosa’s fingers clasped his shirt loosely and her tears soaked into the fabric.
He’d done it again. Lost control. Rage always lurked under his skin but this, this was different.
When it came to her, it surged without warning. The thought of losing her, of not knowing where she was twisted something violent inside him.
How could she be so reckless? So unaware that her absence would drive him to the edge?
His thoughts drifted back to the rose. Was it for her? Or for him?
He was aware of her feelings for him. He’d seen it in her eyes, how she looked at him like he was both danger and safety. Her feelings weren’t a mystery.
Killian lowered his lips and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. Her body trembled against his chest, rising and falling in hiccuped sobs. He held her tighter, silently hating the part of him that always ruined things.
He held her face gently letting his thumb brushing away the remnants of her tears.
Leaning down, his voice dropped to a soft murmur, “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I won’t do that again.” and he pressed a featherlight kiss to her cheek.
Rosa closed her eyes but her heart didn’t melt this time. She couldn’t fall for this again. He’d only hurt her the next time he lost control.
Killian kissed her cheek again. Then another. Then her temple, her jaw, her forehead, peppering her skin with soft apologies disguised as kisses. Rosa clenched her fists, letting him continue for a moment. Letting him try.
But he had to pay. He had to learn.
Before his lips could find her cheek again, her hand suddenly clasped her mouth, blocking him. Her wet defiant eyes met his.
Killian frowned. Her message was clear: kisses weren’t enough this time. He couldn’t charm his way out of this.
Killian sighed “Tell me what do you want. I will get you anything, everything.” he spoke with concern trying to manipulate her.
He doesn’t know how else should he deal with her. He wasn’t used to this, the way she pulled away and her eyes refused his gaze.
Her heart hammered, betraying her calm facade. Deep down, she understood him somehow. The thought that he truly cared, that he worried for her made a strange warmth fill her sense.
“So this is your way of punishing me?” he murmured. His hand slid down to rest possessively on her hip. “Tell me, bunny. Then do you want me to make you forget your anger in bed?”
Rosa’s eyes widened and cheeks flushed deep crimson. She opened her mouth to protest “No-”
Killian took the chance. A dark wicked smirk tugged at his lips and he suddenly lifted her off the ground and his hand cradled her head. Before she could react, he pressed his lips to hers.
“Mmm-ahm-” she squirmed, legs kicking in the air desperately to pull away.
His kiss was gentle and almost apologetic. Soft enough to confuse her. Rosa whimpered softly against his lips before he pulled away with a soft pop. Her tear-filled eyes locked onto his cold blue ones.
“You’re mine, rabbit. I was worried...more than you could ever understand. When I couldn’t find you, madness took over me. I don’t care how stubborn or reckless you are, losing you isn’t something I’m willing to accept. So don’t ever do this.” He swallowed, “I won’t let anyone take you from me. Not fear, not anger, not even you.”
“You’re my curse and my salvation all at once. I lose control. You don’t get to test me like that ever again.”
Rosa listened, her heart sinking in a strange mix of confusion and relief. No matter how harsh he seemed, everything he did was because he cared for her.
She understood this is his nature. He won’t stop behaving cold with her. Her Cold Professor.
Rosa thinned her lips, her eyes lowering with guilt “I’m sorry. I-i thought i would tell y-you when you come back. I got excited and left alone because I k-know this place.”
Killian sighed, placing her gently back on her feet. His expression didn’t change. It was still cold. But as he looked at her lowered head, something sinister flickered in his eyes.
She was too easy to break. Too easy to make up with. Too easy to forgive him, even when he didn’t deserve it.
He knew, she was melting again. And that’s exactly how he liked her.
Manipulative bastard!
“Come.” he muttered and took her tiny balled-up fist into his large hand. He tugged her gently behind him.
Rosa pouted faintly but she followed without resisting. Just silent obedience with eyes downcast and watched the sand slip by under her feet. Rosa was lost in her own mind, chewing her lip. She didn’t notice the shift in his stance. Her eyes were fixed on the sand unaware of him until a sudden shift pulled her back.
A bouquet of dark red roses was held out in front of her, stopping just inches from her face.
Rosalie flinched. Her breath caught and her eyes widened locking on the velvety petals. Slowly, she looked up.
Her heartbeat rose the moment she saw him. Her eyes searched for some emotions in his eyes but nothing showed up. Rosa confusedly looked beside her, the same flower stall.
“I’m sorry for making you cry, rabbit. This is an apology.”
Her gaze lowered, her heart pounding loudly in her ears. Her cheeks flushed deeply and her fingers trembled while wrapping around the bouquet’s stems just enough for him to notice.
Killian Salvatore buying roses for her. It felt unreal.
Rosa bit her lip and took the flowers slowly. The man she loved, showing her this kind of tenderness was far beyond anything she had ever imagined.
Butterflies erupted in her chest and fluttered fiercely beneath her skin. A smile unfurled on her lips as she stared down at the delicate roses in her hands.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. That soft, almost otherworldly smile illuminated her beautiful face. Her glistening swollen eyes were now shimmering with stars.
As Killian gazed at her, his world tilted. His gaze froze on her lavender eyes which were glimmering with innocence and trust.
That same soft smile, too familiar, in this same place, under the same sky and by the same seaside-
His eyes locked on her violet depths and the flood of memories crashed in.