CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27

The club lights cast a lurid glow as Zeenare watched Rhea dance with the man, a surge of pure, murderous anger churning inside him. He had never felt such an intense desire to kill. The hunger in the man’s eyes was unmistakable; it would take a fool not to see the vile thoughts he was having.

Zeenare’s blood boiled as he saw the man whisper into Rhea’s ear, making her laugh. The guy was one of those idiots who found their own jokes hilarious, and yet, Rhea was laughing along.

She was wearing the most provocative outfit he had ever seen on her, and the most infuriating part was that another man’s hands were all over her.

The black mini gown hugged her body and revealed most of her creamy, soft, smooth skin. Her cleavage was heavily exposed, accentuating her curves. Also, in beautiful butterfly heels that punctuated her legs. Her thick, wavy black hair flowed beautifully behind her back. Her lips were masked in a cherry-colored lipstick, and mild dark makeup accented her face. She looked stunning and gorgeous.

And that motherfucker’s hands were resting on places he was depriving himself of claiming. One rested confidently on her hips, the other grabbing her by the throat, tilting her face towards his. Zeenare’s mind exploded when he saw the man pull her closer and slide his hands down, cupping her ass.

"I swear to every realm, I better not kill someone tonight," Zeenare muttered, his tone simmering with restrained fury.

Each step he took toward them burned hotter than the last. He closed the distance in seconds, his palm landing on the man’s shoulder with a brutal smack, the sound cracking through the music as the impact sent pain shooting through the guy’s bones. Zeenare yanked Rhea out of his grasp.

"What the fuck, mate?" the guy blurted, glaring madly at him.

But Zeenare didn’t give him a split second of his time. His eyes were only on Rhea, whose eyes were wide in shock.

"Mr. Zeenare!" she exclaimed happily, as if she saw a long-lost friend for the first time in a long time.

The man grabbed Rhea and pulled her closer to him, wrapping his hand around Rhea’s waist. "Who the fuck are you, grabbing my girl like that?" the man asked, disdain in his eyes.

Zeenare scoffed bitterly, his eyes wide. "Your girl!" he repeated, brushing his fingers through his hair.

Zeenare took one step closer to him. "I believe your life doesn’t hold any relevance to you. So I’d ask you to remove that filthy hand from her before I snuff the entirety of your lifetime from you."

But the man let out a hysterical, mocking laugh. "And who the hell are you to tell me to remove my hands from her?" He glanced down at Rhea as she leaned in on his chest. "As you can see, she is not complaining."

Zeenare’s thoughts turned dark. The destruction of your life is going to be my next breath.

But before he could respond, Rhea interrupted.

"He’s just my lecturer." She wrapped her arms over the man’s waist. "Ignore him."

Zeenare’s craziness was beginning to erupt with each intimate contact Rhea was offering that worthless fool.

"Mr. Zeenare," she added with a casual tone that made his skin crawl, "It’s past study hours, and last time I checked, you don’t have a say in what I do with my free time," Rhea muttered, stylishly tucking her head behind her ears.

Zeenare’s mood darkened further as her dismissive tone cracked something raw in him. Gosh, what he wanted to do to her for her insolent behavior. If they weren’t in public—if they were anywhere else—he’d have had her over his lap, spanking that insolence right out of her mouth.

"You’re just her lecturer, man," the guy chimed in again. "Why the fuck are you acting like some obsessed creep? What, you one of those pathetic old guys who tries to control his students just because he’s got a hard-on for them?"

Zeenare closed his eyes for a beat, exhaling slowly, tamping down the urge to let loose and make a scene soaked in blood. If only this man knew what he could do to him right now, he would have boarded a rocket to run away from Earth as a whole.

"Mate, what are you still standing here for? You can leave. I’d take good care of her tonight. So you don’t have to worry."

"I guess life has become too boring for you that you can’t tell the difference between what should be in your arms and what shouldn’t," He muttered, his eyes fixed on Rhea’s drowsy expression.

"Rhea. Don’t make me repeat myself. It’s time to go home."

Rhea laughed lightly, ignoring the warning in his voice, and placed her hands on the man’s chest. "But I don’t want to go home yet. It’s still too early."

And that was it. Zeenare’s fury erupted like a storm.

"I don’t like repeating myself, Rhea, and because of you, this fool is going to suffer," Zeenare said darkly, his tone laced with anger.

He saw her stiffening. Good. She should be scared, because right now she had to be at home instead of this cesspool of danger, possibly being the flame every viper would swarm to.

He turned to the man. "I’d give you one last chance to get your shit off her and walk away. If not, you might not like what comes next."

The man snorted.

The man rolled his eyes. "And what the fuck do you think you can—"

His words died in his throat as he began to gasp, his face draining of color, then turning red. He fell to his knees, hyperventilating, saliva drooling from his mouth, his eyes bulging in sheer terror.

Zeenare had obstructed the oxygen around him, submerging him in imaginary water, suffocating from nothing. As he watched him drown.

"Let him go," Rhea ordered with a calm voice, crouching beside the man, who was on his knees, clawing for air.

Zeenare stood there, watching her look at that lowlife with more concern than she’d shown him all night.

Then he released the hold.

The man gasped violently and scrambled to his feet, eyes wild with fear. Without a word, without a glance back, he bolted into the crowd like his life depended on it—because it did.

Zeenare glanced up at the lounge and tilted it in the man’s direction before turning his attention to Rhea.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Rhea demanded, her voice trembling with rage. "Why would you do that?"

Aggravation lit in Zeenare’s chest, but he kept his voice down.

"You."

Rhea narrowed her eyes at him, tilting her head to the side. "Me what?"

"Why are you here? Not only are you so drunk, you’re dressed in what seemed like pieces of clothes that barely covered your butt cheeks, and dancing with that rodent with possible STI, if not all..." He trailed off with a sign, pressing his eyes shut as his head raised up.

"And how is that any of your business?" Rhea’s frustration was palpable in her voice, her face flushed up to her eyes.

Zeenare watched her drowsy expression and pleasure pulsed in his veins, his cock twitching.

How can someone be so drunk, angry, frustrated, and hot at the same time?

"I know what I’m doing, okay." She stumbled forward. "And besides, you are not my father, boyfriend, crush, or friend to tell me what to do. You are simply my lecturer, who happened to be my one-night stand and a freak," she stated, poking his chest as she spoke. "So don’t come at me as if I’m your possession. Like I belong to you, because I don’t."

Zeenare stepped forward, his hands around her waist, pulling her in, looking straight down at her. "Pumpkin, are you sure about that? Because I beg to differ." He bent down to her level, speaking directly in her ear. "Because the moment I touched you last night and you moaned so beautifully in my arms—I. Owned. You," he added in a soft, deep velvet voice. " And I’d teach and show you what it feels like to be mine."

His voice reverberated over her body, as her breath became heavy, a heavy lump moving down her throat.

"See? I’ve not even touched you, but see how heavy you’re breathing. Your body now recognizes me as its owner. And I can act possessive because it shows you are mine, and no man touches what is mine."

"You are crazy," Rhea muttered, her breath coming in hurried puff.

"Yes, and it’s over you," Zeenare said as he tilted her head towards his with his thumb and forefinger.

Rhea wanted to say something when Tia came out of nowhere and interrupted.

"Rhea, are you okay?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

"Mr. Zeenare! What are you doing here?" she asked, pulling drunk Rhea behind her back, away from Zeenare in a way he doesn’t see her—even though he was taller.

"Ms. Gunther, take her home," he ordered. "And don’t dress or bring her to a place like this again if you know you’re not going to be around her."

"And why should I listen to you? You are merely her lecturer. What’s your problem? Why do you keep revolving around her?" Tia interjected with a serious look on her face.

Zeenare gave her a stern look but said nothing. He didn’t want to say anything bad to Rhea’s friend. But he didn’t like that she left her alone for those worms to touch her.