Seraphine

six

Seraphine

Seeing Derek standing in front of her makes her heart race, but not in an excited way; in a please-don't-see-Liliana way. She's terrified of what he'll do to her if he finds out that she went behind his back and made a new friend, and her stomach twists with regret.

Luckily, she doesn't sense any anger coming off of him; only mischief and lust.

Oh no.

"Hi, Derek," Seraphine greets him, taking a step back as her eyes dart back and forth. They're fairly close to the Philosophy building, the Psychology building a hundred feet behind her. There are students walking all around them, yet that doesn't stop Derek from closing the distance between them and kissing her roughly.

Seraphine fights the kiss, her eyes wide as she watches the people around her glance over at them. She'd never been one for public affection, always wanting to keep her relationship to herself. But Derek never understood or respected that--he was constantly showing her off, making sure everyone knew what was his.

It feels like an eternity has passed when Derek finally pulls away, and Seraphine immediately takes a step back, fighting the urge to wipe her mouth with the back of her hand. She feels dirty, and she hates that Derek has made her feel this way.

"Derek, I--"

"I was thinking, my sexy girl, that we could have a quickie in the bathroom," his voice is hoarse, and his hungry eyes drop to her chest, scouring over the small amount of cleavage she has showing. She watches his brown eyes and her lips part as she wonders why his gaze doesn't have the same effect on her that Dr. Michaels' does.

She licks her lips and glances away, chastising herself for thinking of her professor when her boyfriend is right in front of her.

"Um, maybe not," she says, looking around at the students bustling around them. She can only imagine how disgusting the bathroom is, how easily it would be for someone to walk in on them, how she could miss class...Seraphine shakes her head, readying an apologetic smile for Derek, who shoots forward and grabs her arm tightly.

"Great, let's go." He tugs on her arm, leading her towards the large Philosophy building. Her eyes widen with alarm as she stumbles after him.

"Derek, I said no. Plus, I have class in a few minutes," Seraphine says, trying to be loud and assertive. She rips her arm from his grasp and stops walking, panting. Derek's eyes flash with anger, and he steps towards her. This time, she doesn't step back, not wanting to piss him off further--no matter how much her body is screaming for her to run away.

They'd never done this before, not when they were dating in high school. They had met at a football game, when his school was going against hers, and he'd asked her out that night. The rest of her senior year was filled with him driving halfway across town to come pick her up and take her on cute, fun dates.

For a moment, Seraphine just stares at Derek, searching his face. She can't find any sign of love in his eyes, not the same kind of love and adoration she knew from their high school days.

What happened to us?

She doesn't have time to answer her thoughts as Derek reaches out to her, gripping both of her wrists so tightly she gasps aloud. He dips his head down to her ear, and she freezes.

"You're coming with me, and you're going to let me fuck that pussy that I own as many times as I want, understand?" He spits, and Seraphine drops her head, defiance slipping from her fingers. She finally nods, defeated, and Derek grins against her skin before biting down on her cartilage hard enough to make her knees buckle in pain.

"Good girl." Instead of swooning like she used to, Seraphine cringes at the praise. She suddenly imagines someone else praising her, someone taller, bigger, yet much more gentle. Someone like Dr. Michaels.

Really, Seraphine?

Derek tugs her along, pushing open the door of the building and navigating through the sea of students. Seraphine looks at them longingly, wishing she were a part of them, heading towards Dr. Wern's metaphysical philosophy class. She closes her eyes and tries to brace herself for the painful sex that was about to happen.

Until Derek stops in his tracks, and she runs right into his backpack, the bottom pocket digging into her ribs and making her hiss.

"Why are you taking Miss Thatch in the opposite direction of her class?"

Seraphine inhales sharply, instantly recognizing the smooth lilt of Dr. Wern's voice. The scent of cinnamon and spice fills her lungs, and her eyelids flutter.

"And who the hell are you?" Derek fires back, and Seraphine winces. She tugs on Derek's hand, drawing both his and Dr. Wern's attention to her.

"He's my next professor, Derek." She murmurs, and his eyebrows shoot up. He glances down at her before his lips part in a wide smirk and he looks back up at her professor, who has a few inches on him.

"Oh. Well, in that case, I was just taking Miss Thatch for a quick one, if you know what I mean," he holds his fist out for a bump from the professor, and Seraphine gasps as her face flushes with horror and shame.

This is the second time he's embarrassed me in front of my professors!

"Derek!" She grinds out through gritted teeth, wanting so badly to walk away, to punch him, slap him, do something, but all she can do is whisper-shout his name and glance up at Dr. Wern through thick eyelashes.

He's scowling down at Derek, not focused on her, and she feels a rush of relief that his obvious anger isn't directed at her. Derek steps back, clearly feeling uncomfortable from the negative reaction, and Seraphine hisses as his foot lands on her toes.

"Ow," she mutters, yanking her foot from underneath his, but he doesn't even bother with an apology; only glaring back at her when she stumbles forward.

"Are you okay, Miss Thatch?" A sultry voice makes her glance up at Dr. Wern, and she manages a small, fake smile, nodding.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."

"Good. Now, Dean? Was it? You really must let Miss Thatch get to her class on time, or else she might fail. And we wouldn't want that, now would we?" Dr. Wern doesn't wait for Derek's response before stepping around him and sauntering down the hall. Her eyes wander up and down his suit, deciding that the dark navy color suits him and his curled black hair well.

"Cockblock," Derek grumbles, and Seraphine whirls around, stepping away from her boyfriend. His hand drops from hers, and she crosses her arms over her chest protectively.

"I said no, Derek. And besides, he's right, I need to get to class. I'll see you later." Her hands grip her arms as she chews on her bottom lip, waiting for his response. Something like I love you, Seraphine. I'm sorry I demanded you fuck me and embarrassed you in front of your professor. I promise to make it up to you later.

Derek scoffs and walks away.

Pain stabs Seraphine's heart, but it's gone within a minute. She blinks back tears, blows out a breath, and turns on her heel to walk to Dr. Wern's class.

She thinks again about leaving him, about finally becoming her own person once more, but his infamous "lesson" pops up in her mind. I'm the only one who would ever have you, ever love you like this. Be grateful, Seraphine.

Seraphine slips into Dr. Wern's classroom, her eyes immediately finding his. His striking green gaze goes over her once, making sure nothing is out of place, before he nods discreetly at her and turns around.

For the first time in a long time, Seraphine starts to wonder if Derek is wrong.