15. Kiss Me Not

I rolled over with a grumble, giving the blinding rays of sunlight streaming through my window the stink eye. Why was it that morning only decided to come after I'd finally begun to get some shut eye?
I grappled blindly around for my phone, finally retrieving it from under my pillow. The screen lit up, past nine. Time to get up.
No, stay right where you are. You deserve some more sleep, you deserve all the sleep in the world, Ember.
I sighed. "And skip class twice in a row? You do know we get our asses whooped on several occasions in order to pay for those classes?"
Hey, what do I care? I'm your conscious, I just wanna sleep some more.
I scoffed, threw the covers off of me. "Talking to myself. The insanity begins."
You'll regret getting up.
"Yeah, yeah. Shut it," I drawled, stretching.
I left my room, sluggishly brushed my teeth and took a quick shower. By then I'd regained some of my senses and washed my hair as well. I blow dried the damp locks carefully, used some hairspray and went back to my room feeling-thankfully- less like a zombie. I put on one of my favorite shirts, the front read: Hey demons, it's me... ya girl.
Smiling then, I pulled on a pair of ripped jeans and my grey sneakers went next, along with my trusted knife.
After yesterday, I had a feeling I'd be needing it sometime soon. And since I had to actually use the knife, I stuffed my wolf mask into my book bag as well. It was old, the first mask I'd bought-battered from one too many fists- but it was better than nothing. I'll have to go down to Walmart and get a new one.
After work, I promised myself, putting my glasses on.
I exited the house cautiously, anticipating another run in with the trio of my self-proclaimed protectors-except Darius- but the street was free of any supernatural beings. I plugged in my headphones with relief, started towards campus. In no time, the dreadful looming walls that was Newbury College was in front of me.
An exaggeration, the college was eco-friendly and modern, full of greenery and clean pathways, not the jail I'd just pictured it to be. And yet, I couldn't shake off the strange feeling that today was going to be a lot different. And not in a good way.
I took off my headphones, hesitated.
Was everything going to be different from now on? Until recently everyone had been pretty much ignoring me, not snubbing but more like they didn't really notice me. It could still be that way. Please stay that way.
Nope, the universe laughed.
I walked through the gates and every pair of eyes within the mile radius zeroed in on me. The air stirred with whispers, several words ringing out among the buzz. Alpha's mate, chose her, weird, who is she? Heck, even the professors were staring shamelessly.
This was a hundred times worse than high school, I thought with dismay. Once again Kane had thrown the headlights right at me, blinding me like a baby deer that's stumbled onto the road at night.
But this time there was a way out of the jerk's headlights. This will be all over by tonight, when I reject him. They'll all go back to minding their business and the nightmare that was Kane Wilder will finally become a distant dream.
Soon, I thought, power walking to my class.
The reaction from my art class was the same as outside, heads whipped my way so fast I was surprised a few didn't fly off their bodies. The faces were curious, judgmental and worse... Some hostile. Particularly the girls. Only two people didn't spare me a glance: Ms. Jessica, who was sleeping in her reclined chair- bless her soul- and the center of all my problems himself. The alpha who was currently occupying the chair beside my seat. A seat no one sat in other than Ian when he snuck into the class.
A quick look around revealed no salvation. There were no other spare seats.
"She looks like she's about to run," a voice snickered.
I flinched, realized I was still standing at the door.
Schooling my features, I avoided the nosy glances and shuffled over to my seat. Kane was leaned back in his chair, fingers flying rapidly over the screen of his phone. He was a sight for sore eyes, the planes of his face sensuously sculpted and obsidian hair glinting with what I assumed was dampness from a shower. He wore all black today, an ominous color I suppose, for the troublemaker.
He didn't acknowledge me as I planted myself in my chair, fingers still moving. Discretely, I scooted my chair away- and was dragged sideways, chair and all, until there wasn't an inch of space between us.
"What are you doing?" I whispered, very much aware of the faces turned our way.
He arched a brow. "Rather sit on my lap?"
Discussion closed. "No," I said indignantly, at first.
Then my brain fully processed his words, heard the promise in them and the embarrassment came. Blinking, I dipped my head, my braids cascading around me and creating a curtain between us. It didn't make me any less conscious of the arm beside me, the muscles firm and way too close. His scent wafted around me, spinning my thoughts- and when I thought it couldn't get any worse, his leg shifted, and thigh touching mine.
Touch him, the little devil in my chest whispered.
I fixed my curtain, took out my paints with a sigh. Maybe doing the class work would keep my mind off of him.
I was studying my shades of blues when a hand gripped my chin, jerked my head upwards.
There was a tick in Kane's brow as his other hand swept the hair away from my face. "Don't hide your face," he said.
My skin tingled where his fingers touched. Annoyed, I narrowed my eyes at him. "I'm not hiding."
He narrowed his eyes right back. "Stop lying."
"Stop bothering me," I hissed, attempting to remove my chin from his grasp.
He held on. "You don't mean that."
I scowled. "Who's lying now?"
His blue eyes drew closer, flickering over my face with surprise and I thought wow, for once I left the idiot speechless. My triumph didn't last, in fact, it all but crumbled when he lowered his face.
"What the-" was all I got out before his lips swallowed the rest of my sentence.
Rough. His mouth wasn't gentle, lips moving over mine ruthlessly, demanding- oblivious to the fact that I was shock still and taking greedily anyway. The hand in my hair curled, dragged me impossibly closer.
I was drowning.
Or maybe it was the breath I was losing. I gasped- something slipped inside my mouth- and that was it. I smacked the side of his face with my paint pallet.
He released me immediately.
My lips stung. Did he bite me?
Head still swimming, I touched my throbbing mouth the same time Kane touched the side of his face. His fingers came out blue, but there was a rainbow of colors on his cheek. He studied his fingers disbelievingly. Then laughed.
His arm slung around my shoulders pulled me forwards until I was draped over him- heaving chest to heaving chest. His eyes sparkled, his cheeks flushed.
He tugged at my hair. "You think a small stain like this will keep me away from you?" He grinned. "Go ahead and dirty me all you want then, little wolf, it won't keep my hands off you."
Won't stop him? Look at him, staring at me as if he actually wanted me when not only a week ago he'd been locking lips with Helen in public any chance he got.
I clenched my teeth, fury overcoming shock and desire. "Oh I know exactly how to stop you," I gritted out.
I grabbed my bag, fingers closing over my mask.
Enough was enough.