Mila's POVI could say no, but it’s as if there is a thread between us and he’s tugged it so hard that I can’t help but move toward him. It would have been sexier if I crawled to him across the bed, but since I don’t know where things are going now, I decide to climb down off the bed and walk around it to stand next to him. He looks up at me and then down at his shirt as he slowly unbuttons it. My eyes follow the motion until the last button is undone, and he pulls the shirt the rest of the way off, leaving his toned chest and stomach on display.A second later, he wraps a hand around my wrist and tugs me forward until I’m close enough that he can pull my hand and place it over his injury. He leads my hand across the area, but all I feel is smooth skin and the tense way his muscles are bunched up.“See? You healed me.” He says.I look back at him and see a smirk that I’m quickly associating with him now on his lips.“So there is nothing else stopping me from having you. Right. Now.” H
Julian’s POVMila tries to cover herself, but I snap at her.“Don’t hide yourself from me.” I warn her.Her eyes widen, but she gives me a small nod and relaxes again.“Now, hold still.” I tell her because I don’t want to hurt her.I can tell by the smell of her she’s human, even with the power she possesses. That means I could kill her if I’m not careful and I don’t want to do that. She’s too beautiful and smells too delicious to end in such a brutal way. So I take a deep breath and cover her now naked body with mine and the second our skin touches, my power fluctuates until it becomes a steady pulse of electricity that matches the beating of her heart.My body is reacting to her like it never has to anyone else, but I try not to focus on what that could mean. I think that's just an illusion. She's just too pretty.Right now, all I can focus on is getting some relief.“Ready?” I ask her.Also, something I rarely do, but like I said, I don’t want to hurt her. She nods and I smirk down
Mila’s POVMy body feels sore and my eyes feel too heavy to open, but something feels off. I fight a battle against the urge to get comfortable and continue sleeping, and when I finally open my eyes, I notice Julian isn’t in bed next to me. I lift my head and glance around the room, but I don’t see him. The blankets pool at my waist when I move to sit up and I quickly grab them to cover myself. I look around the room and don’t see any sign that Julian was even here. What I do see is my shredded clothing on the floor.Where did he go?I don’t know what to do. My clothes are ruined, which means I’m stuck unless I can get someone to bring me something. I wrap the blanket around myself and climb off the bed and rush over to my pants to find my phone. When I pull it out of the back pocket, I see a dozen text messages and seven phone calls from my stepmother. Shit.There’s nothing I can do about her until I get some clothes, so I try not to think about that mess just yet. Instead, I pull up
Mila’s POVThere is a soft knock on the door of the room I’ve been hiding out in all morning. I heard movement outside a few minutes after I called Isabella and ran over to the door, locking it so no one would walk in and see me. Since then, I’ve been pacing and running through everything that happened last night in my head. I felt something when I was with Julian, and the way he talked I thought…I thought he felt it too.I’m so stupid.This is why hooking up isn’t a good idea. Not that I’ve ever done this before, but now I understand why this would have been dangerous. As much as I wish, I could say that it was just sex, and it meant nothing…it didn’t feel that way! Still here I am alone with no wearable clothes, and Julian is nowhere to be found. What did I expect? He’s so handsome and has this dangerous aura about him that all girls love.He also owns this place and had more than a few women giving him attention last night. I was just the poor idiot who gave in and slept with him,
Mila’s POVAfter a breakfast of French toast covered in fruit and whipped cream, Isabella takes me back to her house where we watch movies and bing on junk food. I should call my stepmother and tell her what happened, but I can’t bring myself to ruin all the work Isabella has put into trying to help me forget what happened today. One more day or pretending that woman isn’t a part of my life and then I can go home and let all her vile words roll off me. Her other punishments will take more effort to ignore, but I’ve survived this long on far less to distract me with.Isabella’s able to find out that I have to work again tonight at some point between the mimosas at breakfast and the strawberry margaritas after lunch. Yeah, it was that kind of day. She talked me into wearing another outfit of her choosing. It didn’t escape my notice that it looks a lot more my style than any of her clothes ever have. I’m going to have to ask her about that when my head isn’t spinning over the fact that I
Julian’s POV I’m taken by surprise when Mila slowly steps inside. “Mr. Keller, Adam said we are low on Bourbon and that you had the key for the storage room.” Her voice is hesitant and subdued. She also doesn’t seem to be able to look at me. “I do have the key, but I want to talk to you about something first.” I motion for her to sit and she does. She sits with her back ramrod straight and her hands folded on her lap. What the fuck is wrong with her? “I wanted to explain about this morning.” I start but she cuts me off. “You don’t have to explain. It was what it was, and we don’t need to talk about it again. I know it would probably make things weird if anyone found out, so let’s just forget it happened.” She stands before I can say anything else. I watch her fidget in place, waiting for me to hand over the keys. This isn’t where I hoped this conversation would go, but if she’s so eager to run away, then I won’t force her to stay. I may be an asshole in the dating department, b
Mila’s POVI was doing well with not looking in the direction of where I saw Julian sit when he was done greeting people. It’s the same place he sat last night, and it didn’t take long for the booth to fill up with women and other guests.A woman touched him, getting closer and closer. Julian looked a little excited.That’s when I decided to look that way would only make the ache in my chest hurt more.He really saw me as nothing more than some random girl he had sex with. For a second, when I was in his office, I thought…It doesn't matter what I thought, because last night was a mistake. One I don’t plan to make again.“Hello there, beautiful.” Someone says as I’m fixing up a drink.My head lifts to get a quick glance at the guy with a retort on my tongue, but it died on my tongue when I saw the man in front of me. The sight of him took me so much by surprise that I end up spilling the drink I had been working on.“Shit, sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He says with a sympathet
Julian’s POVNo amount of protest has been able to keep me from setting foot on the Mishnia University property. Unlike the other students walking past me on the way to class, I didn’t bother with a backpack and books. Unlike them, I wasn’t here for an education. I was here out of necessity. Also curiosity. My father had many other opportunities to send me to college before, but he kept me on for his dirty week until this past year.So why now? Who is here that he needs me to be close to? He won’t admit to his real agenda, but I know my father well. Nothing he does is without reason. Until he was ready to divulge his true intentions, I would be stuck slumming it with a bunch of privileged humans. As I said, he could have sent me to a school tailored to our own kind, but no, he sent me here. Yet another reason I was so set on this being more than is hope for me to further my business knowledge.“Your class is that way,” Bash says.Yep, I have my trusted bodyguard attending college with
MilaSomething is wrong with Julian when we leave the store with my laptop and new phone. I keep glancing his way, but all I see is his furrowed brows and him clenching his jaw. What happened in such a short time to change him so quickly? I thought for a second we might even become friends, but now I’m not so sure. Being around him feels too…erratic. One second he’s almost sweet and then he’s anything but. It’s confusing and frustrating. So much so that I stop walking and grab his arm. He looks at me, surprised at first, but turns to me when I face him.“What’s the matter with you?” I snap.I’m not sure why I feel so worked up over his change in mood, but I do!“What’re you talking about?” He asks, clenching his jaw once again.“I’m talking about this.” I wave a hand over his entire person. “You were happy to throw money around for me and then, as soon as we leave the store, you look pissed off. So what is going on? Do you regret what you paid for in there? I’m more than happy to retu
Julian’s POVMila has shocked me by complying with me, escorting her into the building that made her eyes grow twice their size. She looked at the mall we’re walking into as if she has never seen a place like it before, except I’ve been doing some research on her family.For one, her stepmother’s body has still not been recovered, which means we have to consider that she is still alive and possibly in hiding. If that’s the case, then there must be a trail leading to where she would run to hide out until she can plan her next move. Something tells me we haven’t seen the last of her, if she’s still alive, anyway.My research has helped me learn a few things about Mila as well, and one of those things is that her father was a well off man. He wasn’t the most successful businessman, but he was comfortable. Comfortable in the fact that his net worth was two million dollars. Nothing close to myself or my father, but not too bad. What I don’t understand is where all that money went. It’s cle
Mila’s POVJulian is quiet as he drives us toward the mall. Not the one in town where Isabella and I usually go, but the one in the town over that’s known for having a ton of very high end retailers. Even though Isabella could easily shop there, I think she doesn’t because she doesn’t want me to feel even more guilty if she offered to buy me something worth so much. Also, all of my objects have been ignored, which is why it’s so uncomfortably quiet in this car. Julian shot down all my protests before they were out of my mouth. I glared at him, but he ignored me and acted like I wasn’t burning a hole in the side of his head.Man do I wish for that power right now!Anyway, I gave up and now I’m thinking of ways I can avoid him spending a single penny on me. I mean, why did he give me the limitless black credit card if he was going to go shopping with me and pay for a whole bunch of stuff? What more will I need to buy with that card?My phone vibrates in my bag, so I pull it out and see
Julian’s POVIsabella leads me down the path from the library and heads down the path that leads to the athletics department.“You know how much about him? Football player?” I ask her. It’s almost all I know.She smirks. “Baseball actually. He’s tried his hand at all of the usual sports but got into college on a baseball scholarship.”Not much better if you ask me.“So what’s your plan to deal with him, anyway?” She asks.“I’m going to warn him to stay away from Mila.” I say simply.“I got that, but how? Are you going to threaten him with bodily harm or actually harm him to send a message?” She sounds a little too excited by the second option.“Depends on how well he listens. I don’t like to get my hands dirty so early in the day..” Lie. “But if I have to, then I will.”She nods in approval.We walk the rest of the way in silence. The closer we get to the fields set up near the athletic building, I can hear the sound of balls hitting bats and the defining sound of whistles. I never sa
Mila’s POVI can’t tell if having Steven walk me to my classes today is a good or bad thing. For one thing, no one has yelled horrible things at me. In fact, no one has looked my way other than to stare at Steven. It’s…nice. We make our way toward the coffee shop. I’ll be working out for the next couple of hours until it’s time for my afternoon class. Steven picks a spot far enough to not crowd me, but close enough that he can monitor me. Things are fast and intense for the first hour but slow down a little and I take that time for my break.Steven orders a black coffee and I order and white chocolate mocha. We sit together but don’t say much, but it’s a comfortable silence. He’s not bad company.“So, how long are you assigned to be my protector?” I ask him.“As long as my boss says so.”Right.“I think he’s being a little paranoid.” I point out, making him smile a little.“Not at all. I can’t say much, but you’re the only woman who’s ever caught his interest like this.”I look at him
Julian’s POVI look down at my phone and feel my blood heat at what Steven just told me. Some girl laid a hand on Mila and threatened him with police action. That last part makes me snort out a laugh. We have people in the police and DA's office who could have any charges thrown out before the ink dries on an arrest warrant. That girl has no power, and she will damn well know it.“Are you listening?” Melody’s voice catches my attention and I glance up to see her unamused eyes looking at me.“I heard everything you said.” I say to her with a little less patience in my voice than I normally have with her.I’m trying to get on her good side after all, but right now I’m ready to scare the shit out of some stuck-up bitch who thinks she can lay a hand on my mate. My skin ripples with the urge to shift right now and take care of her now, but I can’t screw up the small window I’ve created for myself with Melody.“Really? Because it looks like you’re more interested in your phone, then what I’
Mila’s POV“I’m sorry you had to deal with all that because of me.” I tell Roman through his window when we arrive at the university.He gives me a forced smile. He’s clearly seriously pissed still.“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing I can’t deal with. Have a good day! I’ll call you.” He waves to me and I step back to let him go.I watch him drive off and had this feeling in my stomach that he won’t be calling me. Isn’t that what guys say but never mean it? I need to watch some RomComs so I can get better educated in the universe of dating. With a sigh, I forget about men and all the confusion they bring, but the universe has a wicked sense of humor because when I turn around, I see Scott heading my way.He’s smirking and is surprisingly alone. “Hey Babe.”“I’m not your babe anymore, Scott, and according to you, I never was.” I say, walking past him.“Are you still upset about that? It was a long time ago. Can’t we put that behind us and be friends?” He grabs my elbow to stop me.I w
Mila’s POVI jog down the stairs from my new room and head for the front door of Isabella’s house. She wanted to walk me down, but no way am I going to let her act like a disapproving mom and question the heck out of Roman. So I promised her I would text her if at any time I felt in danger. That didn’t seem to make her feel much better, so she handed me a sparkly pink taser to put in my bag. She had a whole keychain of self defense stuff but I convinced her a taser was more than enough.She seems to suddenly be taking on the role of concerned mother and it’s kind of sweet. It’s the first time someone really cared about me like this and I like it even if it seems a little much. When I step out of the front door, I stop short at the sight of a very handsomely dressed Rowan leaning on a very expensive-looking car. I have to blink a few times to make sure I’m not hallucinating, but no, he’s one hundred percent real.He smirks at me before pushing to his feet and buttoning his suit jacket
Mila’s POV“Girl, you need to spill right now. What is going on? You were in the news because of a shooting Mimi!” Isabella sets in on me the second I climb into her car. Guilt hits me like a brick at how concerned she’s been while I’ve been worrying about a bunch of other stuff I want to keep away from her. She’s too pure and happy to see the darker parts of the world, but now I don’t have a choice but to tell her. “It’s a long story.” I say, hoping to brush everything off until tomorrow when it doesn’t feel so raw. I should know better than to expect something like that from her. It’s a shock. I’ve been able to keep any of this a secret for this long. “Mila enough. I know there is something you haven’t been telling me. You think I never noticed the marks or the scars? I said nothing because I didn’t want to push you, but now. You need my help and I will, but please don’t lie to me. I’m your best friend.” She’s right. It’s time I told her everything. “My stepmom has been hurtin