Word Count: 1380

~Time (original Time from Rosie's era)

I sit still in my seat, watching her.

I'm not sure what it is about Jennifer that bothers me so much. It's been a few weeks of this strange, although irritating university student who has been helping me retain my magic again. It has been a slow, tedious process, but finally, it may seem like we are coming to a conclusion.

This entire time I've had nothing else on my mind other than Rosie. What is she doing? Is she even still alive? I don't think I'm bad enough to have done that to my mate, even with my dark history, but I can help as my mind wanders. If Rosie was gone...I don't know what I'd do.

"I finally have it," Jennifer mutters, walking around the room holding a clear plastic container full of sopping wet bandages. She's been telling me she's just a student, but I have suspicions she's been working with magic for a lot of her life. Even if it did take us this long to figure out how to rejuvenate the powers I, my previous-self managed seep from me.

"Good. We need to get this done as soon as possible."

"It's been three weeks and you've hardly said any words to me that don't relate to this mission," she tells me, placing the container on the table beside me, pulling the lid off. The smell that arises from the container leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, making me recoil. Magic is nasty stuff.

I don't even look at her, concentrating on the bandages she fondles gently with rubber gloves on. "This has been a business partnership, and that is it."

It's true. Jennifer doesn't really mean anything to me other than a business transaction. She gets to ask me questions sometimes about being an immortal, and she gets my abilities back. It's a good situation for all of us...we accept me, at times. She doesn't believe in personal space, although I bought her a room at a hotel and have provided her with everything she has needed. And she still demands so much from.

"Your mate must mean a lot to you then," Jennifer comments.

I eye her warily. "More than anything."

"You're honestly nothing like I thought you would be," she admits, wiping a stray piece of ginger hair from her sweating forehead with her forearm, avoiding touching anything with those gloves. "I mean you're pretty calm for a guy who goes around terrorising people."

"I've told you before, I'm from the future," I tell her. I changed my mind on keeping it from her, since it seemed pretty pointless. She's smart enough to figure it out anyway, plus, it only made her even happier, which works for me. As long as she stays out of my way and gets me back to my mate quickly. I can't not be around her for any longer.

It's driving me insane...

"Do things change that much with you?" she questions, sounding as though she doesn't believe me. I know I wasn't good for a very long time, but does everyone really have that little faith in me?

"Enough for me commit my life to finding and keeping my mate," I tell her. As I sit here, my shirt off, waiting for her to commence this process, I feel oddly satisfied. I haven't admitted to anyone how much my mate has meant to me; how much of my life I've been willing to give up for her. "And enough for me to deal with an annoying girl who asks too many questions."

"Letting me ask questions is part of the deal," she reminds me, pulling out the first bandage from the small container. "And for your information, I think I've collected enough information to write an entire book about you."

She leans over me, smelling like cheap champagne and bitter magic. She places the first bandage along my chest, making me shiver.

I hate this already.

"Why do you care so much about me?" I bite out through clenched teeth. The moment the bandage touches my skin, I feel the slightest burn. I'm not exactly sure how this concoction is going to activate my abilities again, but Jennifer has confidence in it. All I know is it smells bad and it painful to have on my bare skin.

"I care about immortals, not you," she retorts, making me smile. Maybe sometimes she can amuse me. "And I wanted to know what made the evillest immortal to ever exist tick. Mainly I've just found out you have a narrow vision when it comes to your mate."

I raise an eyebrow as she places another bandage on my bicep, appearing to have great pleasure at my discomfort. "A lot has changed."

"I don't think you can change that much. I mean, we all know your reputation," she says, placing another on my abdomen.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your reputation as the bad boy, if you know what I mean," she says, the slightest smile quirking at her lips. It makes me uncomfortable, hearing her mention that. I gave up that lifestyle shortly after this era, instead focusing my attention on power and ensuring I had more of it than other immortals. Yes, it left me empty, but so did using females for our equal pleasure.

Just thinking about those days, comparing to Rosie makes my stomach churn. Maybe it makes me weak, but no one else compares to her effortless, untouched beauty. But no one can know that of course. Well, accept Jennifer, who doesn't know that the moment this is done, I'll be ensuring none of this information she speaks of ever gets out.

"You're talking about sex," I say flatly. She doesn't blush like I expected she would considering the crudeness of my statement. She seems to keep to herself, or at least doesn't openly express interest in anyone. Naturally, I assumed she would be nervous about the subject, but maybe I'm wrong.

"You were never the one to be tied down to one person. I doubt habits like that can simply change overnight, and I'm here to prove it," she says.

I sit still for a moment, considering what she is saying.

She stares at me through her thick-rimmed glasses, eyes slightly larger than usual. She's leaning over me, hands on my knees, her motive suddenly becoming clear to me. I'm shocked completely still, not suspecting that from her at all...this entire time she has shown no interest in me, and now she's coming on to me?

I go to move, but my limbs suddenly don't belong to me, rendering me numb. "What the hell are in these bandages?"

"A potion, to paralyse you. But don't worry, you can feel everything," she murmurs, her entire attitude changing from the usual sassiness I'm used to, to a façade dripping in seduction. She runs her hand down my chest, winding past the bandages, making me sick to my stomach.

"If you don't remove these things right now, you're dead," I growl, trying to yank my arms into submission, but by now, the potion is in my blood stream, and now there's no hope for me. I'm under her mercy, which the thought of repulses me.

"Come on, couldn't you tell how much I wanted you," she breathes, leaning forward to kiss me. The moment her lips touch mine, I bit down promptly, causing her to pull away. "Ow, what the hell?"

I spit her blood to the floor beside me. "Who do you think you are? I will get out of here, and I'll kill you. No one gets to touch me other than my mate, got it?"

"At least you're more use to me than just your body," she mutters, finally pulling away from me. "You're not going anywhere."

She doesn't give me a chance to respond, leaving me to sit paralysed in my spot.

💙••💙

Hey guys! If you're enjoying the story, you can head over to Radish and read Time ahead of Wattpad!

🧢••🧢

I've just released a brand new supernatural romance here on Wattpad and Radish. Head over and check it out if you have the chance! (:

Instagram: Sophie_Midika

~Midika 💜🐼