DARIEN
I growled and glanced at the clock. 17:55. I snapped the cap of the pen in my hand too hard. I restacked the papers that were already stacked with military precision. Every tick of the clock irritated me.
"You're angry because she's late", Onyx said, obviously having a field day.
"She's not late".
"Then why're you counting the seconds?"
" Because I've got a schedule".
"Cute name for obsession".
I pushed out of my chair and walked over to the window. The same window I watched her play with her friend like a toddler.
"She knew you were watching her yesterday".
"Good".
I paced the office, counting down the seconds.
"Relax Darien".
I raked my fingers through my hair and blew out a breath of frustration.
"I've never seen you like this before. Definitely not because of a girl".
"She's not just a girl. She's…"
"What? Ours? Finally you admit it".
"Ahh". I glanced at the clock, "It's six".
Onyx chuckled in my head.
"Shut up motherfucker".
A knock sounded on the door and it opened a second later. Aria stood at the door, breathless but beautiful in a fitted long sleeve sweater tucked into pleated beige trousers.
"You're drooling"
"Shut the hell up".
"Yesterday you were early. Today you were on the second. Don't do that again".
She blinked, confused. "Sir?"
"If I say six, I mean you're ready by six. Not walking in at six. Learn precision, Miss Winters", I crossed the room in six strides and I gripped her jaw- not roughly, "When I ask you to do something Aria, I expect you to do exactly as I said. Capiche?"
She nodded.
"Use your words princess".
"Yes sir".
"Good girl". I smirked as I heard her heart rate quicken. I let go and went over to my desk. I heard her whimper out a sigh.
° ° ° °
"What're the courses you're studying this semester?"
She glances up to the ceiling and rattles off a list of eight courses.
I jot them down as quickly as she calls them out.
"Crisp and calculated", Onyx remarks about my handwriting.
"I'm going to create a timetable for you. You'll study whatever aligns with it. No distractions. If you miss a day-"
"I fail. I know".
"Good . Then we understand each other".
I clicked open my MacBook and typed in the timetable I drafted.
"Someone's meticulous".
I glanced up at her and watched as she twiddled with her fingers.
"Are you scared?"
"Yes", she responds honestly.
"Of what exactly?"
"You. But I'm also intrigued", she looked up at me and I saw the sincerity.
I didn't say anything. I typed it out and printed it there. I walked over to the printer and handed it to her.
"Here".
She took it from me, timidly. Our fingers brushed and our heartbeats synched. Her breaths came out shallowly and her cheeks were flushed. I leaned down and brushed my knuckles over them and rubbed her lower lip with my thumb.
She reached up, closing the distance between us, but I pulled away.
"You're a student", I murmured but she heard me. I caught a whimper of disappointment fall from her lips.
"Did you hear that, it sounded…"
"Like an animal in pain?"
"She's not human?"
"I'm not sure. But I have a feeling".
"You should be able to detect a she-wolf Onyx".
"So should you. But if she isn't human, then her wolf is dormant".
"Sir?" She called me out of my conversation with my wolf, "I wrote the essay".
She handed me a file of papers. I opened it and her scent flooded my nostrils. I didn't mean to, but I inhaled it deep into my lungs. It was faint, but just enough.
"Even her ink smells like her".
I ignored him and sat at my desk. I flipped through the reflection journal and despite myself, I was impressed. Her thoughts are scattered, but sharp.
"Our mate's got potential".
° ° ° °
I didn't know when I stopped reading her essay and started staring at her. The way her eyes roved the page, how her brows crinkled when she was confused and how her fingers dexterously forms looping, clean letters.
"You're staring".
I let my eyes scan her essay. "I'm proofreading".
"The Nile is the longest river in Africa".
I rolled my eyes and went back to 'proofreading'.
"This part," I said in my head, pointing to a paragraph about emotional decision-making, "is actually insightful".
"See, she's smart".
I didn't realize the words that slipped out under my breath- "Good girl".
Aria stiffened; her pencil pausing mid-stroke, a flush creeping up her neck.
I noticed immediately regretting it, but I don't retract it. "Keep working".
Onyx chuckled. "You keep stoking the fire and act shocked when it burns".
"Enough", I snapped out loud.
Aria blinked, flinching a little. "Sir?"
"Nothing. Focus". I closed my eyes and took measured breaths deep into my lungs.
Aria nodded and returned her attention back to her books.
° ° ° °
By eight, the air was thick with unspoken tension. She gathered her books quietly.
"Tomorrow, five fifty-five", I told her quietly.
"But you said-"
"Five fifty-five Miss Winters", I cut her off, "I'll see you then".
She snapped her mouth shut and nodded. She left, but her scent lingered.
"Did you just move up the time so that you could spend five minutes with her?"
I pressed my palm to my forehead, letting out an exasperated breath. "God help me I did".