And on some level, I knew it wasn’t right that I was allowing myself to yield to her appeal. Just as I had hoped, Emily was as innocent and kind as I had pictured. It was evident that she was in love with me; if she weren’t, she would have fled in terror at my unexpectedly aggressive demeanor. She was either too young or too naïve to grasp that chemistry like ours might be harmful.
I couldn’t use my youth or lack of experience as an excuse. I’d never had a connection this strong with any woman, but I should’ve understood that things were developing way too quickly. I couldn’t think through my options sensibly while I was inebriated on her touch and devotion. For as long as I could remember, I needed to be in charge of a situation, but with Emily, I felt completely helpless.
It was the hottest experience of my life last night when she gave me a little taste of what it would be like to have her surrender to my deepest wants. She’d yielded to me, yet somehow, I’d lost all control even as I conquered her body. I was completely absorbed in her, to the point that I neglected to remember the many warnings I had previously received.
I’d forgotten about my fucked-up history, my terrible family, and my vicious adversaries. And in the early light, it was much too simple to shrug off any thoughts of the darkness I was racing from.
Worrying about the mafia was all but impossible when curled under the comfort of Emily’s thick, light pink duvet. Her ivory bedroom walls were speckled with little silver stars, and pastel-hued décor emphasized the delicate, dreamlike nature of my surroundings.
In theory, this is the world I may soon inhabit. Imagine a life of leisurely mornings spent with Emily’s gentle warmth at my side.
Innocent blood would never again stain my hands.
I gave in to the dream, relishing the idea that I belonged in Emily’s bed. Here is where I should find the woman who is mine.
Emily
I was an idiot. Because I was quite confident I was falling in love, and that wasn’t anything I would’ve imagined possible. Certainly not so quickly. In the previous two weeks, I’ve spent every waking hour with Nicola, and despite the fact that we are only just getting to know one other, I can’t help but feel a growing attraction to him. Prior to meeting him, I had a hard time trusting people since I wasn’t used to having someone really care about me.
I felt like I could tell Nicola anything and he would accept me just as I was. It won’t break my body or my heart. Most of our time together was spent in bed, but I sensed there was more between us than just sexual attraction.
There was adoration in the brightness of his eyes as he looked at me, and I knew I had been caught in his crystalline blue gaze. Nobody had ever given me such a stare before. And certainly not any member of my family who is male.
It had an exhilarating and addicting quality. I needed him constantly, and it hurt to be apart from him for things like school or his job at the bar. Even though it was becoming harder to devote my whole focus to Stundying because of Nicola, I still made an effort to do so every night before heading to the pub and trying not to seem like a pitiful stalker. I had Ella with me, but it was impossible to have a conversation since Nicola kept flashing me glares from across the bar.
She said, in a tone that made it plain she was annoyed by my preoccupation, “Are you even listening to me?”
“Excuse me, what?” I averted my attention from Nicola’s mesmerizing gaze and concentrated on my companion instead. Her frown was a clear indication of her irritation.
“I was wondering if you were interested in going to the party that will be held at theSky clubhouse this coming weekend. You should know that, in the event that you are successful in wrenching yourself away from Nicola’s embrace. ”
I had turned down Stun’s offer in the past, but Ella had been able to get one for herself from a blond beauty she’d met a few days after I’d begun dating Nicola. Despite my adamant refusal of the invitation, I went to the party.
My cheeks began to burn up. “Oh, oh, sorry. It’s my fault; I ought to have paid more attention. But I’m not sure whether I’ll end up going to the party. Sorry,” I stated my regrets one again.
She dismissed my apologies with a little grin, indicating that my offense had been forgiven. “It’s alright. I can see why you wouldn’t want to take the chance of running into Stun since he’s a nasty jerk. The fact that you are going out with the most desirable man in town makes me incredibly thrilled for you. Even though I’m very envious. However,” she said while looking past me, “this man could give Nicola a run for hisoney. And there’s no doubt that he’s observing us. Since you’re already taken, I’ll put in my claim now. ”
I couldn’t help but smile at her, pleased that she had discovered something to divert her attention. “Sure. He is all yours. ”
“Girl, are you really not going to look at anything? He is quite stunning to look at. Completely evocative of bad boys and leather jackets. Something like Nicola, but… more challenging. Yummy.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her description, and then I couldn’t help but turn around and search for the unknown guy, even if just out of pure curiosity.
When I first saw him, I felt a catch in my throat that prevented me from laughing.
Even the term “black” didn’t do him justice when attempting to describe him. And he wasn’t a terrible kid by any stretch of the imagination. This was a guy who posed a threat. In addition to the fact that he was at least five years older than the Stundents, there was something more about him that set him apart from the lads who were around him.
Perhaps it was the leather jacket and boots he wore when riding his motorbike. Or maybe it was his enormous physical stature; he was nearly as tall as Nicola, but somehow even wider.
The nearly severe lines of his face were further accentuated by the black stubble that he sported, and his tight, square jaw seemed to be sharp enough to cut.
As soon as his dark eyes fixed on me, I realized that none of those other distinguishing physical characteristics were what made him unique. There was something sinister and icy in his heart that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
After he noticed me gazing at him, the corner of one of his lips twitched, and I quickly tore my sight away from his. My hands were cold and clammy all of a sudden, and my fingers were practically shaking.