“Eat something that I’m not,” he demanded, aware of how childish that sounded yet unable to stop himself.
“Where would the fun be in that? I wish we were the exact same size in clothing too. Then I could steal your clothes and feel a part of you against my body all—”
Zane walked away as quickly as he could, not needing to hear where that was going.
There weren’t many students here, so the line moved at a steady enough pace, and there were plenty of tables to choose from. Zane selected one in the corner, where he could sit with his back to the wall and view the rest of the room. He waited until they were both situated and Pavel had just gone to take a sip of his drink before asking bluntly, “What do you expect from this?”
He choked a little and quirked a brow, silently asking him to elaborate as he dabbed at his chin.
“Samuel was annoying and an easy enough target, and the rest of the Retinue is taken or related to you. I can see how you could settle for me if you were bored enough, but—”
Pavel let out a low rumble, the sound akin to a growl, that had Zane pausing. “Don’t play dumb, Doctor.”
“I’m not.”
“Then it’s not an act, and you actually are stupid.”
Zane’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t bother countering, waiting to see where this was going.
“I got a lecture from the dean for disrupting class, did you know that?” Pavel said. “My brother gave me a ton of shit for it too.”
“Your point?”
“My point is,” he rested his arms on the table, “I bit you specifically in front of all of those people to get the rumor going about us. The last person I need denying it now is you. The bite was as much for you as it was them. A wake-up call, so to speak. I’ve always wanted you, Zane.”
He couldn’t help but grunt. “Why wait so long then?”
“Because you weren’t ready.”
“Sure.”
“You had Kaz and Lyra,” Pavel insisted. “With them taking care of your physical needs, there was no place for me. Not yet. Not like there is now.”
“So that’s it.” Zane wasn’t sure if that was relief he felt or disappointment, but he knew which one he wanted it to be. “You want to have sex with me. That’s all. A sexual relationship is—”
“I want you.” He dropped back against the glass chair. “I want all of you, but you’re too closed off to let anyone in that way. I bet Kazimir can count on one hand all of the personal things you’ve told him over the years.”
“You have no idea—”
“I know you,” Pavel stated. “I see you. You’re desperate to be needed, but you don’t trust anyone will actually invest their time and energy into you. Despite your loneliness, you prefer surface-level relationships because it’s safer. This applies to friendships as well. If you’re the one who draws that line in the sand, you feel like the distance between you and others is your choice. I don’t just want to breed you, Zane. I want to connect with you through more than just my cock. I want everything you are and everything you’ll ever be and more, and I want all of that to be mine.”
That was…Zane swallowed, trying to ignore the twitch of his dick in his pants.
“Zane,” Professor Diar interrupted them smoothly, giving away nothing as he approached with a paper cup of coffee in one hand.
Had he overheard Pavel just now?
Wells Diar was a cousin to Kelevra and Lyra, and Zane hated the man even more than he had Samuel. Mostly becauseas his senior advisor, he held a power over him that Samuel had never been able to obtain.
The professor glanced between them before resting his attention back on Zane. “Aren’t you meant to be in the lab? I don’t believe your hours there are over yet?” He checked his multi-slate, as though he wasn’t already aware of the exact time down to the minute.
Bastard.
“Everyone’s got to eat,” Pavel quipped, crossing his legs. He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap, presenting the version of himself that ran Concealed instead of the psychotic stalker/student Zane was starting to grow more accustomed to. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. You’re the head of the science department, correct?”
“The medical department,” Wells practically sneered, looking down his nose at Pavel without flinching. “I’m Zane’s personal student advisor. We’ve been working hard on his research analysis which is due at the end of the year. I’m afraid he doesn’t have time for distractions.”
“Is that so?” Pavel cocked his head, never losing the mocking half-smile painted on his lips.
