Nat reels off the answer, as she always does, and the rest of the lesson goes by quickly as he assigns an essay that I can hardly focus on. The bell sounds, and Gavril claps his hands. “I want the essay on my desk by the morning if you haven’t finished them yet.”
The class grumbles in response.
I stare down at my notebook and groan, as I’ve barely written ten sentences.
Nat glances over and arches a brow. “Seriously?”
“What?” I ask, despite knowing she can’t believe how little I’ve written in just over half an hour.
She gathers three full pages of writing and shakes her head. “You need to focus more on class.”
Instead of responding, I gather my books into my rucksack as Nat goes up to the front to deliver her paper. A few other students do as well, but most haven’t finished.
Gavril glances at me as I remain seated, waiting behind as he instructed. A smirk twists onto his lips, which only makes me angry. I scowl back at him and break his gaze.
The rest of the students filter out of the room and I watch them, keeping my attention anywhere but on Gavril. Eva slips out of the room and shuts the door behind her and the tension increases, swirling around me like a thick cloud of smoke.
I keep my eyes anywhere but on Gavril, even as I feel his attention on me, burning a hole through me.
“What do you have to say for yourself, Miss Morrone?”
I clench my jaw. “Nothing, sir.” I rake my fingers through my hair. “I’m not entirely sure why I’m being punished when Natalya was as late as me and talking as well.”
He stands suddenly and walks over to my table slowly, a predatory look on his face. “Because after two weeks apart, I am ready to devour you whole, malishka.”
I straighten. “Perhaps I don’t want to be devoured.”
He shakes his head and continues to advance toward my desk. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Well, you should.” I raise my chin and look him in the eye. “I’ve got no time for someone who can’t be bothered to contact me for two weeks.”
His nostrils flare as he comes to a stop. “I made it very clear before the break that I wouldn’t be in touch.” He moves closer and then sets his hands flat on my desk and leers over me. “I made it very clear what this was before we fucked. Don’t you remember?”
His words sting even though he’s right. It’s my fault for getting attached and expecting more than he ever offered. I look down at the desk. “Yes, but it doesn’t mean you can’t text me or something.”
A soft growl makes me shudder as I look back at him. “This is why I don’t do virgins. You look at me like you are hooked on me, and this is what I feared.” His eyes search mine. “And yet I couldn’t stay away during Spring break, even if you think I did.”
My brow furrows as I try not to let his words wound me too deeply. “What do you mean?”
“I broke my own rules and went to Chicago during the break.”
Anger floods my veins, hearing that he was in Chicago but didn’t come to see me. “And you didn’t bother to visit?”
“How would that look, Camilla?” He raises a brow. “Your professor turning up at your family’s home.” He shakes his head. “Instead, I watched you from afar.”
“You stalked me?” I ask, goosebumps forming over every inch of my skin.
“Call it what you want.” He spins around and pins me with his gaze. “I needed to see what you were doing and make sure you weren’t with any other men.”
I gape at him for a moment, wondering if I heard him right. “Are you serious?”
“Deadly.”
I stand. “You are more insane than I believed.” I move around my desk to leave, but he grabs my wrist and yanks me forcefully to a stop.
“Where the fuck do you think you are going, Miss Morrone?”
“I’m leaving.” I tilt my chin up and look him in the eye, trying not to cower in front of this beast. A beast who is clearly unhinged for stalking me instead of contacting me.