by Marian Tee
“Kassia.” He roared her name, and in his arms, she shuddered again, the sound of her name on his lips prolonging her pleasure.
Pulling her closer when both their bodies were sated, Alessandro pressed a kiss on her forehead.
Kassia.
My love.
Beside him, Kassia froze, and he realized that he had spoken the words out loud. Tension electrified the air, and the scent of her anxiety reached him. Frowning, Alessandro tipped her chin up. “What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing.”
His eyes narrowed, but his voice was pleasant when he asked, “Have I mentioned that Lyccans possess an extraordinary sense of smell?”
Kassia shook her head, thrown off by the unexpected question.
“We do.” He paused, and added gently, “It’s good enough to detect human emotions.”
Her eyes widened when the import of his words sank in.
“So, I ask you again, little chick. What’s wrong?”
Kassia’s heart felt like it was a second away from exploding. Oh. Crap. Why. Now. She swallowed. “Y-you said…” She couldn’t make herself say it, didn’t feel she deserved to say the words.
“My love?”
A small nod.
“And you are,” he stated simply.
She wanted to cry.
The light in Alessandro’s eyes disappeared. “Hearing the words trouble you?”
She couldn’t make herself answer. She was so scared she’d lose him if she did, but she couldn’t make herself lie either.
Coldness settled in the pit of Alessandro’s stomach as he took in the misery in Kassia’s brown eyes. “Kassia.” He struggled to keep his voice level even though a large part of him warned him to desist if he didn’t want to see his entire world crumbling.
The sound of her name on his lips seemed to break her, and she choked out, “Don’t ask, please.”
He wished, God, he damn well wished it were that easy. But he was done deliberately blinding himself to the truth and constantly taking the coward’s way out through denial.
”Just say it,” he said, and it was even harder now to keep him from sounding harsh.
More tears brightened Kassia eyes. “Y-you seem t-to think this changes things.”
“And?” he heard himself ask even as his chest started to constrict.
“It doesn’t.” A tear slipped. “I w-want to be with you. I thought I’d eventually c-change my mind…but w-when you called me my love, I wasn’t…happy. I was…” She inhaled unevenly. “I was terrified. All I could think about was, no, I have to get away before you hurt me again.” She lifted pain-darkened eyes to him. “And I don’t think the fear’s ever going to leave, Professor.”
****
Kassia woke to the smell of bacon and eggs…and the sight of a big, black wolf next to the bed. Even though it was silent and motionless while staring at her with unblinking, vividly green eyes, the power and danger emanating from it was unmistakable and palpable.
“Holy cow!”
It was enough to make Kassia sit up in shock, her mind transitioning from the hazy depths of sleep to instant, panic-stricken wakefulness.
The hotel bedroom, which she had thought gigantic last night, now felt claustrophobic. Fear deprived her of rational thinking, and all Kassia could think was that she was alone with a wolf.
A wolf!
Kassia wanted to scream.
The wolf was going to eat her.
No matter where she went, no matter how fast she moved, the wolf would still catch her, and she was—
Being laughed at.
Kassia blinked, squinted, and rubbed her eyes several times, but when her gaze narrowed back at the wolf, she realized she hadn’t imagined the amusement gleaming in its green eyes.
Holy cow, but the wolf was laughing at her.
Common sense returned in a flash, together with crucial memories. Swallowing, she ventured, “P-professor?”
The wolf’s head moved down.
Her eyes widened. It had nodded at her, hadn’t it?
“Y-you’re really the professor?”
Another nod.
A sigh of relief escaped Kassia, and when the gleam in the wolf’s eyes blazed more brightly, she knew the professor was laughing at her still. “It’s not funny,” Kassia protested. In fact, she could feel how her heart was beating like a madman pounding a hammer, and even now her mind was reeling—
The wolf was the professor.
The professor was the wolf.
Her fingers curled tightly against the sheets as she worked to get past the anxiety-inducing truth. In front of her, the wolf suddenly moved, and Kassia stiffened instinctively.
At her response, the wolf stilled and inclined its head, as if asking if she was okay.
Forcing a smile, she stammered, “Sorry. I’m still adjusting.” It was pathetic, but it was the truth, and she didn’t want to lie to the professor.
The wolf slowly nodded. Then it inclined its head towards the bedside table, and following its gaze, Kassia saw the note lying on top. Taking it, she recognized the professor’s handwriting, which was almost old-fashioned in its precision and beauty.
Fresh change of clothes has been prepared in the bathroom for you.
Breakfast is also waiting.
When you’re done, I’ll be accompanying you back to school in Lyccan form.
Yours,
Alessandro Moretti
Kassia’s fingers itched to trace the penultimate line, and if the professor hadn’t been there, she would have.
Yours, the professor had written.
Alessandro Moretti, one of the world’s most sought-after bachelors – the sexiest man alive in her eyes – considered himself hers.
Something nuzzled her palm, and only the slightest frisson of fear ran down her spine at seeing the professor’s Lyccan form so close.
Their eyes met, and when Kassia saw the question in its gaze, as if the professor was silently asking why it took her too long to read a relatively short message, she shook her head with a faint smile. “It’s n-nothing,” she murmured, emotions she didn’t want to label making her voice husky.
Swallowing past the last remnants of her fear, Kassia tentatively reached for the wolf.
Its green gaze remained steady as she did, and even with its formidable body motionless, it still cut a dauntingly lethal form.
Finally, her fingers grazed the top of the wolf’s head, and her breath caught. Its fur was silky soft, almost luxuriously so. Which was a beautiful thing, Kassia thought, but even she knew she couldn’t stop there.
Sucking her breath in as her trepidation came back in full force, she forced her hand to move. Up. Down. Her fingers moved cautiously, the cowardly, irrational part of Kassia expecting the wolf to turn around and chomp her fingers off in any moment.
But it didn’t.
Her courage grew, and after a moment of hesitation, she ran her fingers through its fur, combing down on its flanks. Her fingers paused on the spot where she could feel its heartbeat against its chest.
She blinked in surprise.
The wolf’s heart was racing.
No, the professor’s heart was racing.
It made her own heart race as well, and even though she still had trouble reconciling that both wolf and the professor were one, she determinedly swung her legs off the bed to bend closer towards the creature.
As she touched the wolf’s head, it turned towards her, nuzzling her hand. The action made her tremble, but she didn’t pull away. A second later, the wolf licked her hand, and a surprised giggle escaped Kassia. “That tickles!”
Its green eyes gleamed before the wolf licked her hand again.
A thought strayed into her mind – that it was the professor licking her hand right now – and Kassia gulped, a forbidden thrill sweeping over her at the realization.
When she pulled her hand away, the wolf looked at her before padding towards the bathroom. Stopping in front of its door, it glanced back at h
er and let out a single bark when she remained unmoving.
Get ready, the bark clearly said.
She couldn’t help smiling at it, murmuring ruefully, “Even when you’re in Lyccan form, you’re still ordering me around, Professor.”
The wolf rolled its eyes at her. Naturally.
She rolled her eyes back. Tyrant. Shaking her head, she started to stand but immediately wobbled at her first step, and a gasp slipped out of her mouth as ill-used muscles of her body protested. “Oww.” Why was she in sudden pain? Had she been injured—
Memories suddenly assailed her.
The professor’s muscular form naked on top of hers—
His hands rushing over her body—
His cock sliding into her—
“Oh.” Desire flared, even just by remembering, Kassia’s cheeks turning red as the reason behind her aching body became clear.
At the same time, she heard the wolf sniff and when she glanced at it guiltily, the creature’s nostrils flared. It was as if the wolf had detected the carnal nature of her thoughts by its scent, and she covered her face in embarrassment. “Stop staring at me, Professor.”
The wolf growled, but she knew it was more in amusement than anything else.
Oh dear. Even with the professor in wolf form, it was still able to make her feel like a lovesick fool. The knowledge should have depressed her, but instead a sense of giddiness swept over Kassia.
She didn’t really care if the professor kept embarrassing her. All she knew was that she had never felt closer to the professor than she did now. He had revealed his secret to her in face of so much risk, and knowing this made her feel oh so special.
Could the rest of the day get any better than this, Kassia wondered.
As it turned out, it could and it did.
After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she came out of the bedroom to find the wolf waiting for her by the dining table. A helpless smile tugged at her lips when she saw what was for breakfast, which consisted of simple but sumptuous-looking fare artfully presented on porcelain dishes. Aside from bacon and eggs, there were also pancakes, toast, and a platter of fruits. A selection of imported tea bags was also laid out in a velvet tray, next to a pitcher of freshly squeezed juice.
Kassia knew most girls would have probably preferred room service or dining in one of the hotel’s posh restaurants, but for Kassia, everything here was her fantasy come to life.
Breakfast, prepared personally by the man she loved.
She glanced at the professor, stunned and overwhelmed. “How did you know?” she whispered.
The wolf only blinked at her. Why wouldn’t I know?
It was a very arrogant answer, but then that was the professor she loved.
Taking a seat at the elegantly set dining table, Kassia picked up the note lying next to her napkin.
It’s my greatest pleasure to serve you.
Thank you for last night.
The words were bittersweet, the way they reminded her at the same time about the last words she had told him last night. Biting her lip, she asked without looking at the professor, “D-do you want to talk about last night?”
When the wolf leapt into the chair next to her, she caught her breath, telling herself that whatever it communicated to her, she would…accept it. After all, it would be unfair if she still stayed with him if her inability to love started to—
Kassia’s thoughts were interrupted when the wolf nudged her plate closer to her with its muzzle, as if urging her to eat.
Relief slammed into her as she realized that, for now at least, the professor didn’t seem too keen to talk about last night either. “Yes, yes, I’ll start eating.” As she turned her attention towards the dishes, Kassia missed the pain that flashed in the wolf’s eyes.
While munching on a piece of buttered toast, a thought occurred to her, and she asked, “Aren’t you going to join me, Professor?”
The wolf shook its head.
“Are you sure? Aren’t you hungry?”
Another shake of its head.
“But if you were hungry…” She paused then, succumbing to her curiosity, asked, “Would you be eating dog food?”
The wolf growled.
“Right,” she said hastily. “Sorry I asked.” But the fierce glare in the wolf’s green eyes didn’t disappear, making Kassia finish her meal in a hurry. She didn’t want to be the first thing the wolf saw in case it changed its mind about not eating.
After taking a quick shower, she headed to the adjoining walk-in closet, where Kassia found a third note placed next to the fresh change of clothes the professor had told her about.
It would be a sight for sore eyes to see you wearing something of my choosing.
Kassia grinned. How very primitive of the professor. But then she saw what was under the pretty lilac-colored frock, and her grin vanished. It was a limited edition, hand-sewn pair of lingerie from a world-famous fashion house, one that cost thousands of dollars because of its combined use of pearls and leavers lace.
Kassia put the bra on with trembling fingers, terrified she’d accidentally damage the intricate lacework stitched to the low-cut cups. The panties, on the other hand, felt sinfully good against her skin. When she faced the full-length mirror next to the closet, Kassia couldn’t help noticing how the sight of the tiny, pink silk ribbons at each side was likely to turn any man into, well, a wolf.
After doing a little twirl and finding herself overwhelmed yet again at how everything fit so perfectly and made her body more voluptuous than it really was, she planted her hands on her hips and made a sexy pose. Pouting, she pretended it was the professor in front of her, and after blowing a kiss to her imaginary lover, she purred, “Come eat me—”
Outside the bathroom, Kassia heard the distinct sound of a wolf barking, and she froze.
Had something happened?
Or maybe they were running late and the professor was telling her to hurry—
No, wait a minute.
Didn’t the professor tell her yesterday how Lyccans had an extraordinary sense of smell? Wouldn’t that mean the professor would possess exceptional hearing, too?
She watched her face whiten on the mirror as the truth hit her, and she moaned in embarrassment.
Oh my God, the professor had heard her!
When she finally joined the professor, she had her serious face on, her back straight, and her movement stiff. She absolutely didn’t want to give the professor any chance to tease her.
They left the suite in silence, but when they entered the elevator, Kassia couldn’t help sneaking a glance—
The wolf was gazing her way, as if knowing it was only a matter of time before she did. When their eyes met, the wolf…howled.
Kassia was no expert on wolves, but she had a pretty nasty feeling the wolf’s constant barking was the Lyccan version of ROFL.
“Shaddap,” she muttered ungraciously, but this only made the wolf how longer.
At the lobby, the professor’s chauffeur immediately stepped forward, bowing his head as he greeted her good morning.
“G-good morning,” Kassia stammered, the man’s display of deference making her so nervous she forgot about holding a grudge against the professor. She found herself sidling next to the large wolf, not realizing how her actions made other guests at the hotel gaze at her oddly. How could a young woman be so visibly awkward with a limousine driver when she was foolhardy enough to have a huge wolf-like dog as a pet?
When they were inside the limousine and the vehicle started to move, the wolf immediately padded towards her and licked Kassia’s hand, as if comforting her.
She said morosely, “I’m being silly, I know. But I’m just not used to being treated like royalty.” As the wolf laid its head on her lap, she sighed, continuing, “I grew up in a farm, Professor. The only time people bow there is when they’ve been declared winners of the Town’s Biggest Tomato in the annual fair.”
The wolf didn’t bark or raise its head, but in a w
ay its silence felt like an answer already. You’re not being silly, the comfortable silence between them said.
As the limousine drove past scenic views of the highway, Kassia absently stroked the wolf’s head from time to time, unconsciously seeking the lush feel of its fur. A full half hour had passed when another truth came to her, and she exclaimed, “I’m no longer afraid of you in this form.”
The wolf lifted its head this time, its green gaze gleaming in approval.
Kassia let out a laugh, unable to help it. “I’m so happy!” On impulse, she bent down and threw her arms around the wolf’s neck. “I’m not afraid!”
The wolf nuzzled her hair in return, and when it stretched once again on the seat while laying its head on her lap, Kassia sighed happily. “It’s like having the most magnificent beast as a pet—”
The wolf bared its fangs.
She hastily wiped the smile off her face. “Sorry, Professor.” Closing her eyes, Kassia only meant to avoid the sight of the professor’s frightfully sharp canines. Instead, she fell asleep completely.
She woke to the sensation of the wolf nuzzling her hair, and yawning, she gave the wolf a sleepy smile. “Sorry I slept on you.”
The wolf shook its head. It is no bother.
Pushing herself up, Kassia saw through the windows that they had already reached the school.
Her heart sank.
School meant they had to part since they were professor and—
No, wait – she was forgetting something again.
Kassia started in her seat when she remembered that the professor was in Lyccan form, which meant no one would care even if they saw Kassia and the professor walking together today.
By the time the chauffeur opened the passenger door, Kassia was feeling light-hearted as she followed the professor out of the limousine.
“Heel,” she teased the professor.
Again, the wolf bared its fangs, and she laughed. They fell into step with each other, and when they were about to cross the college’s gates, she half-expected the guards on duty to stop them. Instead, they lowered their heads slightly.