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Rumors & Jealousy

Author: Keodiniah
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-14 22:18:31

Emma’s POV

I wasn’t watching him.

At least that’s what I told myself as I leaned against the marble pillar outside the lecture hall, pretending to scroll through my phone.

Killian Thomas was standing by the vending machines across the corridor, his laughter ringing out like a punch to my chest.

Because she was there.

Natalie Cooper. Journalism major. Annoyingly pretty. All bright eyes, bouncing curls, and a flirtatious laugh that grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard.

I watched her touch his arm like she had the right—like they were close. Like he belonged to her.

The worst part? Killian didn’t even pull away.

No, he smiled—smiled—in that crooked way that used to be mine. His lips curved just enough to make her giggle, and my chest tightened.

What the hell was happening to me?

It wasn’t like we were exclusive. Hell, we weren’t even dating. We had sex intense, hate-fueled, toe-curling sex and then went back to pretending we hated each other.

That was the deal. That was what kept it simple.

So why did I feel like clawing her eyes out?

She leaned in to whisper something, and Killian’s smile widened.

Something inside me snapped.

I shoved off the pillar, storming toward them before my brain could catch up with my body. My heels clicked with purpose, my lips already forming the cruel smirk I knew would get under his skin.

“Killian,” I purred, stepping right between him and Natalie. “Professor Langston is looking for you.”

His brows lifted, confused. “What? Why”

I cut him off with a sickly-sweet smile, my gaze flicking to Natalie. “Hi, Nat. Didn’t realize the freshman tour was today.”

Her smile faltered. “I’m a junior.”

I gave her a slow once-over. “Oh. Cute.”

Killian let out a low sigh, clearly amused, but I didn’t care. The moment Natalie mumbled an excuse and walked away, I turned on him.

“What the hell was that?” I hissed.

He blinked. “Are you seriously jealous right now?”

“Jealous?” I scoffed. “Please. You can flirt with whatever charity-case Barbie you want.”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You’re pissed because she smiled at me.”

I opened my mouth to argue, to deny it, but then he leaned in and whispered, “You want to mark your territory?”

My breath caught.

Because yes. Yes, I did.

But I’d be damned if I said it out loud.

Instead, I grabbed his tie, yanked him toward the stairwell door, and shoved him inside.

Killian’s POV

She was fire.

Wild, furious fire.

And I wanted to burn.

The moment she dragged me into the empty stairwell and slammed the door shut, I knew exactly what this was about.

Natalie had flirted. I’d laughed. And now Emma was unraveling.

Good.

Because I’d spent too many nights watching her walk away, pretending like none of this mattered. Like I didn’t matter.

But this? This jealousy?

It proved otherwise.

“You’re being ridiculous,” she muttered, already unbuttoning my shirt like her hands couldn’t work fast enough.

“Sure I am,” I said, crowding her against the wall. “You’re not jealous at all.”

“Shut up.”

She kissed me like she wanted to erase Natalie from my memory. Her nails dug into my chest, her hips grinding against mine as if claiming ownership.

Her lips moved to my jaw, biting hard. Marking me.

Good.

Let her show me just how much she hated seeing me with someone else.

“Is this about Natalie or something else?” I murmured against her throat.

She didn’t answer. She just hiked her leg around my waist, pulling me closer.

The stairwell was dim, cold, and reeked of industrial cleaner—but none of it mattered. Not when her body was pressed against mine, not when her nails scratched down my spine.

Not when her jealousy turned into desperation.

Because she needed this. Needed me.

She just didn’t know how to say it.

Emma’s POV

I hated how he looked at me.

Like he saw right through me.

Like he knew.

And maybe he did.

Because the moment I kissed him, I lost myself. All that rage, that jealousy, that want exploded out of me in a whirlwind of tangled limbs and bitten moans.

He knew exactly what to do, how to touch me, how to make me fall apart.

And he did.

Again. And again.

By the time we stumbled back into the hallway twenty minutes later, clothes half-straightened and hearts racing, I could barely look at him.

Not because I regretted it.

But because I wanted more.

And that terrified me.

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