The Power Academy

Chapter 36- Tear Drops in the Coffee

Kayla's PoV:

I look up at Damien as his hand rests on my cheek. Rather than his typical strong demeanor, he stared at me softly, as if to see if I truly meant my question. "Little one, you just spent the last hour or so in tears, this is not the memory we are going to share our first kiss with." I sigh and dramatically fall onto the bed face down beside him.

"You know, Damien, for something to happen between us, you gotta stop being so uptight and let things-" before I could even finish my sentence I was rapidly rolled over and pinned down, Damien's body above me holding me into place. If I wasn't already laying down, my legs would have given out simply from the shock and arousal I am overcome by.

"Princess, do not mistake my intentions to woo your heart before your quivering and needy little body as being uptight. I said we would go at your pace, but in order for you to truly submit, you need to think with that beautiful mind of yours and decide if I am the one you will submit to. As much fun as the chase is, Little One, I do not play games," He quickly backs off me and stands up, readjusting his shirt and his hair. "I think tonight was... productive. Meet me here after your classes tomorrow as well and we will start again." Before I could get a word in or even formulate a sentence, Damien walked out the door. I roll back over as I watch him leave, completely stunned at the dominance and restraint he showed simultaneously.

I walk mindlessly towards the dining room as that brief moment plays on repeat in my mind. I try to memorize the desire in his piercing green eyes, the way his hair fell into his face, casting these shadows that just made his chiseled jaw look even more angular. I know that I will dream of every second I felt him above me, craving for even a second longer to feel his power and control. This is something new, something I have never felt before now. The balance of respect and romance to the knowledge of his utter ability to obliterate my body and have me submitting in mere moments- the balance and harmony between everything is nearly unbearable to be around.

As if I was a robot, I grab my food, sit alone, and start to compare my feeling for Jasper to what I am experiencing with Damien. I think back to the first moment I came to this academy. Jasper stood out to me, was kind to me. Was that why I have had such a strong attraction to him? Was it because in the midst of all of these new and confusing factors, he felt safe? Sebastian warned me to not fall for the first dominant that was kind to me, was that what I did with Jasper? He is such a sweet and kind man, and I know he truly cares about me. However, any time I think of him, I have to factor in Gemma.

Gemma surprised me, she definitely was a curveball for me. I never expected her to understand my attraction to Jasper, let alone be attracted to me as well. If I had been put in that dynamic originally, maybe it would have grown into something beautiful, something to be treasured. I find myself wishing to go back, having never been partnered with Gregory, but I stop myself. If I had not been partnered with him, someone else would have. Maybe that person wouldn't have been able to stick up for themselves, or worse, may have thought that was what was to be expected in the community.

However, now that my experience with Gregory is a part of me, I don't think that I can handle the crazy that comes from a throuple, especially one consisting of Gemma. She is an amazing friend, maybe even like a sister, but she has so much energy and brattiness, I would be completely focused on her, whether I wanted to or not.

My heart twinges working through the fact that I am not the girl that Jasper was initially attracted to. I may have survived what happened, but it has changed me in ways I am still trying to understand on my own. I am not the same person I was that thought I was falling for Jasper. I go to bed questioning everything I know, everything I have learned since coming here, trying to piece together how I feel about Damien and what it means for me.

The next morning I walk down the halls to Jasper and Gemma's room and knock. Gemma opens up the door in a towel with her hair dripping, clearly just getting out of the shower, "Hey hot stuff, how'd you sleep?" she asks as she opens the door more.

"Hey Gems, I just need to talk to Jasper for a little bit."

"He's in the shower, wanna come in?"

"That's okay, could you have him find me when he gets out? I'll be at breakfast," Gemma nods as I turn and walk back down the hall, heading to breakfast to grab some coffee and a little bit of breakfast to help me find the words I needed. I am about halfway through my cup of coffee when Jasper walks into the dining hall and turns to find me. He looks serious and concerned as he sits down next to me.

"Gemma said you came by the room this morning. Did you need to talk?" I nod and I turn towards him slightly.

"You two are really good together," he smiles and shakes his head, laughing to himself at something that popped into his head.

"She is definitely a handful, but yes, we have been getting along quite well."

"Jasper, look-"

"Don't say it, Kayla, I know you're going to say it's too much for me to handle the both of you, but I can do it."

"Jasper, no. It's not about Gemma, this is about me. This.... This thing between us started before everything happened. I am a completely different person from who I was before. I love that you care about me so much, and I know you want to protect me... but Jasper... unless you are acting jealous or petty, I mostly see you staring at me like I am fragile and am going to break."

"So what? You.... you go out on one date with someone else and suddenly I'm not enough?"

"Jasper, don't do that. You know this isn't about you, it's about who I am, what I need isn't a factor in the fact that we simply do not work anymore." Rather than giving me time to talk, he stands up and marches out of the room, clearly upset at me. I sit silently at the table drinking my coffee, doing everything in my power to stop myself from crying.

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A/n

Big chapter coming next!