Chapter Thirty One

Amelia's POV

"Fuck!" the man screamed, cradling his broken nose to staunch the blood pouring from it.

He grimaced as he unpeeled himself from the wall, feeling for a lump at the back of his head. He glared at Julian, but knew better than to approach him.

Julian didn't even spare him a second glance. He gathered my things, then took off his jacket and put it around me. It was long enough to hang past my knees, and I clutched it gratefully to my body.

"Can you stand?" he asked, and I was startled by the concern in his voice

I shook my head. All my strength had gone out of me, and I was limp as a ragdoll.

"Is it okay if I touch you?" he asked.

I nodded. For some reason, I knew I could trust him. He lifted me carefully, making sure not to touch any part of my bare skin.

I buried my face in his chest as he walked out of the house, carrying me bridal-style.

His scent somewhat soothed the fire in me, and I gulped it greedily.

Then we were at his car, and he was laying me down on the backseat. I nearly whimpered from the loss of his warmth and his scent. I grabbed his hand before he could move away, drawing it back to myself.

"Touch me, please," I begged. "I want you to touch me."

My whole body was on fire, and it ached between my legs. I rubbed my thighs together, hoping to ease the ache, and looked pleadingly at him.

Julian looked pained on my behalf.

"Isabella," he said, "you need to lie down. I'll get you the help you need, okay?"

"I don't need help, I need you to touch me!" I cried.

He shook his head and pried his hand away from my grip.

"Just lie down," he said. "It won't be for long."

Before I could protest, he closed the door and went to take the wheel. Moments later, we were speeding off somewhere I didn't know. After what felt like forever, the car stopped. Julian scooped me up again, and carried me inside a house.

"Where are we?" I whispered hoarsely against his chest as he walked up some stairs.

"My house," he replied. "I wasn't sure I could take you back to the Domitia mansion like this."

"You can't," I mumbled.

It wouldn't do any good. Mr Domitia would probably see my current state as further proof of how much of a slut I was, and Mrs Domitia would be focused on trying to find out if I've ruined my chances of winning Julian's heart.

"I'll take you home once you recover," Julian said.

I pressed my face into his chest and said nothing. My body was still trembling, and a wave of desire pulsed through my blood.

I moved restlessly against his body, wishing that he wasn't so careful about touching my skin. Maybe if I could rub my skin against his, I would feel better somehow.

Finally, he got to a door which opened into a large bedroom. A guestroom, I guessed, since it had nothing in it besides furniture.

He placed me gently on the big bed and sat down beside me.

"You're going to be okay," he said.

I shook my head. I didn't feel like I was going to be okay. I felt like I was going to combust from all the heat swirling inside me.

"Help me," I panted. "Please…"

'Please put out this fire inside me,' I thought desperately.

"I will," he replied, starting to rise. "Let me send for—"

I didn't let him finish. He was refusing me, and I couldn't let him do that. I couldn't let him leave, either. Before I could stop myself, I had locked my arms around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss. My lips moved against his, the contact sending bolts of electricity down my body. His lips were so soft, I could kiss them forever—

He pulled away from me, trapping my face between his hands as I tried to get back to his mouth.

"Isabella, stop it," he said. "I know you don't want this."

"I do," I gasped, arching towards his warm body. "Trust me, I do."

"No, you don't," he insisted. "You have to listen to me."

I wasn't listening. I couldn't listen. That one taste had left me craving more. I pushed onto his lap, straddling him, and began to grind my aching core into his bulge.

My hands dug into his shoulders, and I moaned as I moved even faster, sparks exploding behind my eyes from the overwhelming pleasure.

It still wasn't enough. Not even close.

I leaned forward, trying to capture his lips in another kiss, but he pushed me off and I fell on my back. I tried to get up immediately, but he gripped my forearms, holding me down on the bed.

"Let go," I whined.

I wanted more, and I arched my back to get closer to him, but it was no use.

Why was he being so cruel?

"It hurts!" I cried. "Julian, make it stop. Touch me—"

"I won't," he said sternly. "You've been drugged, Isabella. You don't know what you're doing, and I'm not going to take advantage of you."

Drugged?

I blinked up at him as his words sank in, then tears began to pool in my eyes.

Julian let me go, looking worried, and I curled into a fetal position, wrapping my arms around myself.

"I'm sorry," I sobbed. "I'm so sorry…"

'I threw myself at him like that,' I thought.

'I really am a slut.'

Julian hesitated.

"It's alright," he said finally. "It's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong."

I could barely hear him. I continued crying, pressing my hands over my ears in an effort to block out the world. I wanted nothing more than to disappear.

I wept like my heart was going to break, and Julian didn't leave my side the whole time.