Chapter 3 I want you

I stared at the lifeless body on the ground, my breath catching in my throat. My hands shook so hard I could barely feel them. This couldn't be real. That man...the one from earlier...he just killed someone. I just witnessed a murder.

My chest tightened as I tried to breathe, tried to calm myself, but I couldn't. The blood...his blood...was splattered across my shoes, my hands, my clothes. It was everywhere. My vision blurred, my knees gave out, and the world went black.

******

Gasp.

I shot upright, lungs burning, clutching my chest like I'd just surfaced from underwater. My head spun, pounding like a drum. I blinked hard, trying to understand what was happening.

I was home. In my bed.

"When...?" I whispered. When did I get here?

"Rose! Are you awake?" My roommate's voice called from the kitchen. Sydney. That was her name. That meant...yeah, I was home. But how?

The pain behind my eyes sharpened like a knife.

"Rose! Finally! You're awake," Sydney said, stepping in with her usual dramatic sigh. "You left me with all the chores again."

I groaned and sat up, holding my head. "Oh, my God... my head feels like it's going to explode."

"I brought painkillers," she said, tossing a packet onto my lap.

I swallowed them dry and asked, "Someone brought me here, right?"

"Yeah," Sydney nodded. "Some guy carried you in."

"Who?"

"I don't know him. Tall. Dressed too well for a student. He said something about you owing him...i didn't really see his face clearly...He said you passed out from alcohol"

A chill crept up my spine. A man? The memory flickered...dark eyes, a cigarette, a deep voice that made my knees weak. But I just couldn't remember

My temples throbbed as the fragments came rushing back. "Argh," I groaned, gripping my head.

"Hey, don't force it," Sydney said softly, patting my shoulder. "You'll remember when you're better."

"Right," I muttered, rubbing my face. "Did you at least make breakfast? I'm starving."

"Rose... it's four p.m."

"What?!" I jumped from the bed, panic flaring. "I missed all my classes!"

"Who cares about classes?"

"I do! I have assignments to submit!" I scrambled for my clothes just as the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Sydney called.

A moment later, a familiar voice echoed through the apartment. "Babe?"

I froze. Ethan. My boyfriend.

He walked in, smiling. "There you are! I've been calling you all day."

He said giving me a quick hug

"I just woke up," I said, trying to sound casual.

"Just woke up?" He frowned. "What happened?"

"I don't know, I had a long night, I'll tell you later if I remember, but I need to go see my professor. I have an assignment due."

Ethan's expression darkened. "Rose... didn't you hear?"

I turned to him. "Hear what?"

"Professor Daniel passed away."

The room went silent.

"What?!" Sydney and I said at the same time.

"Yeah. The school sent out an email. They canceled all classes for the day...to mourn him."

The words hit me like ice water. My memories snapped into focus. The alley. The car. The headlights. The impact. The man in the suit.

I pressed a hand to my forehead as the images flooded in. "Oh God..."

"Rose, don't push yourself," Sydney said quickly. "Just rest, okay?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah, babe. Sit down."

But I couldn't sit. All I could think about was that man...the one who appeared out of nowhere, the one who killed Mr. Daniel. And somehow, he knew my name.

****

Two days later.

"We lost a good professor, and it saddens our hearts..."

I sat in the lecture hall, barely hearing the Vice Chancellor's voice as he gave his speech. The rest of the class listened, but I couldn't stop replaying that night.

I saw it happen.

I saw him die.

"I can't believe I shared a cigarette with a murderer," I whispered to myself.

"Mr. Daniel was a great professor," the Vice Chancellor continued.

I scoffed under my breath. "Yeah, right."

"A great husband."

I rolled my eyes.

"And a great father."

I muttered, "Sure he was."

The Vice Chancellor smiled tightly. "For now, we have a temporary professor who will take over his classes for the next few weeks."

The class clapped half-heartedly.

"Let's welcome Mr. Sebastian."

"Stupid name," I mumbled.

Then the door opened.

And my heart stopped.

He walked in...tall, sharp suit, that same confident calm that had both scared and drawn me in.

That jawline. Those eyes. That voice that could shatter me with a word.

It was him.

The man from that night.

The man who killed Mr. Daniel.

******

It couldn't be.

There was no way.

But as soon as he spoke, that voice ... low, rich, commanding ... I knew I wasn't crazy.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Professor Sebastian Adams, your temporary instructor. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

Applause filled the room, but all I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat.

He smiled, confident, untouchable... and then his eyes found me.

My stomach dropped.

That smile ... that smirk ... I'd seen it before.

The man who killed Mr. Daniel was now standing in front of me, wearing a professor's suit and a charming smile.

Why was he here?

What did he want?

And why did his gaze make my body react like this?

***

The class went on as if nothing was wrong. He spoke like any other teacher, and within minutes, the entire room was hanging onto every word.

"He's so hot," Wendy, one of the girl in front of me whispered to her friend.

"I'd let him pin me down and teach me a lesson," the other giggled.

I rolled my eyes, but my pulse betrayed me.

He was hot.

Too hot.

Tall, broad-shouldered, those long fingers gripping the desk as he spoke. His voice slid through my veins like smoke.

"Focus, Rose," I muttered, tapping my head to snap out of it.

When I looked up again, his eyes were already on me.

That same smirk curved his lips ... dark, knowing ... before he looked away and continued his lecture.

By the end of class, everyone was enchanted.

Everyone but me.

"Alright, class dismissed," he said finally.

Students began filing out, laughter filling the hall.

I grabbed my bag, ready to bolt ... but his voice stopped me cold.

"Miss Rose John."

The way he said my name... it wasn't just a call. It was a command.

I froze.

"Just a minute."

He added

Everyone had left except me

"I...I have plans. I need to go," I stammered without turning around.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Rose."

That tone ... low, dangerous, irresistible ... made my knees weak.

I glanced at the door.

"Relax," he murmured. "It's already locked."

Locked?

My heart started to race.

I turned slowly, only to see him watching me, leaning casually against the desk, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He was beautiful in a way that should've been illegal ... sharp jaw, dark hair, eyes that could see right through me.

I took a cautious step forward.

"Are... are you going to hurt me?"

He rose from his seat, unhurried, eyes burning into mine.

"I would never hurt you," he whispered, voice laced with something sinful.

Then immediately, he walked right past me towards the door, the click of the door echoed through the empty room.

He had locked it.

"I thought you said it was already locked," I whispered, watching the keys dangle from his fingers.

His smirk deepened.

He didn't answer. He just stepped closer... and closer... until my back met the edge of his desk.

"What do you want from me?"

My voice trembled.

He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.

"You," he whispered. "I want you, Rose. To be mine."