Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Goodbye, Professor.
Him
THE PROFESSOR COULDN'T remember feeling this empty before.
He knew this was saying a lot, considering his past. He knew, but there was no doubting the gaping blackness threatening to swallow him whole, and the truth made him feel volatile and unstable.
Damn her. Damn her. God damn her.
Sixty-five minutes had passed since his class ended, sixty-seven since she asked to be excused and he had been forced to watch her walk out of the room, the sight of her tearstained face making most of the other students look away.
He had promised everyone civility, but confronted with the strength of his obsession, he had fucking lost it instead. In the eight years he had been teaching, not fucking once had he gone back on his word. But with her, he hadn't just fucking failed her as a student. He had fucking failed her in every damn way.
And if he didn't do something now, he knew it would be as he planned.
It would be over, and he would lose her for good.
It would be over, and one day she would forget.
One day, she would find someone else—-
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
He was on his feet before he even knew what he was doing, was already standing tensely in front of his confused-looking secretary as he heard himself say, "I need you to get a hold of Ms. Leventis."
"Of c-course, sir. What time shall I schedule—-"
"As early as you can manage. I don't give a damn what excuse you give her. Just get her in my office as soon as you can."
"As you wish, sir."
He grimaced at the look she gave him, which told him his secretary already had a fairly good idea of how much he had screwed things up. "I'm sure you've seen this coming."
"I'm afraid I did, but I also have every confidence in your ability to turn things around." A pause, and then she said gently, "You're a good man, Professor, and I'm certain she knows this, too." She saw his lips twist and asserted firmly, "You are, sir. You always do the right thing eventually, and I have no doubt it shall be as well with Ms. Leventis."
Her faith in him was touching, but because life had long made him a cynic, a part of him believed that his secretary's good opinion also had much to do with how well he compensated her.
Didn't matter either way, the professor thought edgily. All he cared now was that she proved to be as efficient as she always was, and twenty-five minutes later, Mrs. Montez delivered on her promise.
She knocked on his door once before opening it, saying simply, "Ms. Leventis is here." The older woman pushed the door open and stepped back.
Doe eyes met his, and the professor sucked in his breath.
Mijn obsessie.
Together
THE PROFESSOR SPOKE as soon as the door closed behind his secretary.
"I'm sorry."
Two words, just two words, and the walls Diana had foolishly thought were impenetrable crumbled in an instant. She wasn't even given a chance to fight back. Just two words, and it was all over, the tears falling, her promise to never be a fool over him crumbling into ashes.
She saw him stiffen. Heard him curse. Felt him coming.
And then he was there, standing just a whisper away. Tall, strong, and proud, but at the same time, a humbled, somber figure, the harsh regret in his leonine gaze reflected in the grave edges of his face.
The tiniest (sensible) part of her wished she could make herself hate him. But she couldn't. Maybe it was her genetic makeup at fault (she truly hoped it was), but Diana simply couldn't find it to be mad with him, and when he spoke again—-
"I'm sorry, Diana."
She could only cry harder, body shaking, throat tightening to the point of pain. The raw agony in his voice was unbearable, but it was hearing him say her name the very first time that ended her.
I'm done for, Saint M.
She was his to fool, his to possess. She was...his.
Matthijs slowly drew her into his arms, and it was like finding his way home when he felt her cheek press against his chest. But her tears still fell, wetting his shirt, and his arms tightened around her.
"I'm sorry," he said hoarsely. "I never wanted...I'd never want to hurt you—-"
"Then why did you?"
He heard the fragile catch in her voice, and his chest threatened to cave in under the weight of his self-contempt. Lips brushing against the silken crown of her head, he whispered, "You know why, my darling."
The endearment made Diana press closer, and feeling his lips brush against her hair once again was a painfully sweet pleasure.
Please God. Please let this last.
"You're the first...the only one I've ever liked this way."
"It's no different for me." His voice turned rough.
Diana wished she could believe him. But she couldn't. And even worse, she realized that she no longer cared. Now that she was in his arms, it was no longer possible to hide from the truth, no longer possible to pretend that she would do everything just to keep him in her life.