Chapter 12: Chapter Twelve
Rhea’s breath hitched at the sudden sound of Tia’s voice. Rhea stepped forward, pulling from Zeenare’s grip. But he pulled tighter.
"You don’t even know what you do to me." A chill in contrast to the hot air from him ran up her spine as he breathed down her nape. "You walked in the room, and every instinct I’m trying to bury deep inside keeps erupting." His gaze fixed on her revealed neck, "To claim you." He moved his head forward, his lips inches from her burning skin.
"Don’t touch me!" she said in a soft voice barely above a whisper, her gaze fixed on the door, directly on Tia’s shadow under the door, struggling to pull out of his arms confinement, but he didn’t budge.
"You think I’m touching you?" He pressed himself to her, letting her feel his erection. "No! I’m fighting every second not to ruin you. Because if I touch you the way I want to... You won’t walk away." He let out a soft growl. "And I... I won’t know how to stop once I start. I won’t let you go, Rhea." His grip softened. "All I want is you not dying. I can’t bear to lose you—not this time."
Rhea flinched, her heart pounding not because of the erection but from Tia’s footsteps growing closer. She sharply turned to him, her eyes holding a plea, for him to let her go. Her breath became shallow, puffing softly, and she moved her eyes back to the door. The handle of the door twisted.
Then Zeenare released his hands, letting her go, as he leaned back on the table, his jaw clenched, running his fingers through his hair as he watched her leave.
Rhea grabbed her bag rushing to the door, reaching it before it opened, without looking back once.
"Oh Tia, you are here." She said trying to steady her pounding heart. "Done with classes already?" she asked, closing the door as she stepped out, causing Tia to step back.
"Yeah." Tia glanced into the office, catching a glimpse of Zeenare on the table as the door closed shut. She scanned over Rhea but saw nothing. Taking a deep breath as she tried to even her breath.
What does he mean by all those things he was saying?
"Rhea," Tia called.
He keeps going on about me dying. And how did he come to know about my health? She sighed inwardly.
"Rhea!" She called again.
Ah! Was I just falling for that creep’s mind game? He literally told me he was a stalker a moment ago. Avoiding him now is out of the question. WHY DID HE HAVE TO BE MY SUPERVISOR! She gently pulled at her hair.
"RHEA!" Tia shouted.
"AHHHH! Why are you shouting? You scared me."
"What were you thinking about, that you didn’t even hear me call you several times?"
Rhea moved her head sideways frantically, as she gasped, scanning her surroundings. "When did we get home?"
"How would you know when you are obviously in a daze?" Tia’s voice softened, laced with growing concern as she finally took in the full extent of Rhea’s dazed state.
"I’m sorry. I was really in my head." Rhea settled onto that couch as Tia walked over to their fridge.
"Wasn’t difficult to see." She handed Rhea a bottle of water. "What happened in that office that you were so preoccupied?"
Rhea exhaled loudly, "That was needed." She turned to Tia at her side after dropping the bottle. "You won’t believe the effrontery of that man. He kept spouting out rubbish. That creep....."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
Rhea recounted the harrowing moments in the office, carefully omitting the parts about soulmates and two centuries, unsure if even Tia would believe such wild claims. Tia listened, her face growing paler with every word, her expression shifting from confusion to growing horror.
When Rhea finally fell silent, the quiet of the apartment pressed in. Tia sat motionless for a long moment, her eyes wide, before finally inhaling a sharp, shaky breath.
"That man is insane! Did he say more than that! And who is he calling ’Love’?" Tia chuckled bitterly. "He’s not only a criminal. He’s a psycho. I bet that man needs some meat on his face." Tia hit her fist on her palm.
Rhea gasped, placing her palm over her mouth, giggling, "I thought he was something. Not knowing he was just a dude with some delusional problems." Rhea scoffed. "If he should try that again, I swear I would report him to the Disciplinary Board."
"Of course! But I think he’s really from the 15th century." Tia blurted.
They both laughed.
"Anyway, I’m extremely hungry right now." Rhea stood up, making her way to the kitchen, then suddenly stopped, glancing at Tia. "I noticed you were puffy last time... at his office. What happened, were you running?"
"Oh, that. Luke called me, informing me about where you were and that you seemed anxious to him but you said you were fine. Since I know the actual reason, I immediately rushed to his office after my class."
"Awwwwww, mommy." Rhea walked back to Tia, arms stretched out, hugging her. "Come here, let me give you some kisses."
"Aha! Rhea, it’s enough! I can’t breathe! Aha. RHEA." Tia sprang, running away from Rhea, around the couch. "Don’t come any closer now."
Their giggles echoed in the room as Tia kept running from Rhea.