I can’t breathe. I can’t even move, frozen in place like my feet have been super glued to the spot. I sense his presence before he pushes open the door. His gaze immediately connects to mine.
“Shit, you heard?” Liam starts, looking at his brother who’s dressed in all black, his forearms exposed and flexing, I can see his veins popping out angrily.
“Get going, Liam.”
“J,” Liam starts, an apology on his tongue but Julian cuts him off. Behind him I can see Cole leaning against the wall opposite my bedroom door, an unreadable look on their faces. They both heard everything.
Cole’s also dressed in all black, from what I can see. So’s Liam. Strangely, so am I. You’d have thought we coordinated this shit.
“Mia—,”
“She’s with me.”
“I…,” I start to protest but I can see that pushing him right now, won’t be in my best interests. “See you later Liam.”
“Are you sure?” Liam questions, watching me like he’s trying to make sure I’m making my bed correctly. We both know I’ll be lying in it.
“Yes,” I say then look at Julian, holding his gaze. “I’m riding with Julian tonight.”
“Cupcake—,”
“Just go, Liam.”
Without another word, Liam glances at me then leaves, passing his brother a silent conversation passes between them, then he leaves, with Cole right behind him. Leaving me shivering and scared shitless alone with Julian.
33
MIA
Julian stares at me and for the first time since I’ve met him, I can’t read him. He’s completely shut off, but I know better than to feel like I’m entitled to his feelings. I’m not.
“I don’t have to—,” I starts but he cuts me off.
“Get your goddamn shoes,” he growls watching me.
“—go to the party,” I finish instead like he didn’t say a word.
Like I said the wrong thing, he steps into my room then angrily shuts the door, then flips the lock.
“Julian,” I start but what am I going to say? Calm down? I didn’t mean to hear who fucked up life’s been for you?
“You’re scared of me right now.”
“What?” I shriek, then wince. Even my voice is giving me away but I need to be brave. “I’m not scared of you.”
I take a step back when he starts heading in my direction, his face still unreadable.
“There’s nothing about you that screams scary, just FYI.”
He follows me, swallowing up the space between us with long strides like he’s a predator. The next thing I know, my back is against the wall and he’s right in front me, blocking me in.
“Your heart’s racing,” he says gruffly, his expression tense, ravenous and so damn hot, I can’t look away.
“You don’t know that,” I whisper, a ripple excitement running through me when his hooded gaze tracks my movements, I have no choice but to admit it. “I was trying to get into these pants before you came in, that’s why it’s racing.”
“There’s terror in your eyes.”
“I…” I stutter, but I don’t have anything to say besides. “Something’s in my eye.”
“And you’re a fucking liar, always have been.”
With a single move, he wraps an arm around my waist. With his hands on my ass, he lifts me up like I weigh nothing. I quickly wrap my legs around his waist and hang on for dear life. I can’t look away from him. I feel like I’m in the eye of his storm and if I make one wrong move, I’ll regret it forever.
“You think it’s my fault, don’t you?” he growls in my ear then leans back to look at me. I can see the battle in his eyes. He’s fighting to stay composed.
“Julian.”
“You think I should’ve loved her back the way she was obsessed with me?” His voice is terse and clipped, the only tell of how much he’s affected right now.
My heart just aches for him, but I know he doesn’t want that from me right now. He’s not a guy you can just have sympathy for. It’s like having sympathy for the devil who burns your shit in a blink of an eye.
“No.” I whisper, holding his gaze. He presses my back against the wall behind me, then he tugs my top from my shoulder like a starving man. Holding my gaze, he utters one word…
“Liar.”
Then he’s kissing and biting my neck, leaving a trail of hickeys. Lust, hot, heavy and intense shoots through my body, going straight to my core.
“You’re a goddamn liar.”
He tugs my hair, exposing my neck even further, making me stew in my need for him. I squirm in