LOGINNOAH’S POVMy eyes fly open the second Miles’s mouth crashes against mine.The kiss is deep and hungry, nothing careful about it. His fingers curl lightly around the side of my neck, holding me in place as he presses harder, devouring my mouth like he’s been starving for it. Heat tears through me so fast it steals my breath. His lips are hot, insistent, tasting faintly of desperacy. For one dangerous second I almost melt into it and let my body answer the demand in his.Then my brain immediately catches up.What the hell is he doing?I can’t taste or smell any alcohol on his breath, which means he’s not drunk. So why is he suddenly acting this way out of the blues?Forcing my palms against his chest, I shove him back with everything I have.“What’s wrong with you?” I search his face, still half-dazed. My lips are already tingling, swollen from the force of his mouth.Miles’s expression darkens. His eyes look harder and blacker than I’ve ever seen them. Before I can step away, he s
MILES’ POV“Oh, that girl. She doesn’t work here anymore.” Mama B gives me an apologetic smile. “But if you want, I can recommend someone else. We have a few girls who—”But I’m no longer listening.She doesn’t work here anymore? Of all the times I could have needed an escape, she had to disappear now?My jaw clenches hard as my frustration boils all over.“Do you have her number?” I cut in. “Anything. A contact, an address, a way to reach her?”The woman shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I really don’t.”The last bit of hope I was holding onto sinks somewhere deep in my gut. I drag a hand over my face, trying to suppress the frustration clawing its way through me.The woman keeps talking, probably offering another suggestion, but I don’t bother listening. There is no point.I came here because I needed something that would shut my fucking head up. Instead, I’m leaving with every thought still screaming inside it.I turn on my heel and walk out.The drive back to campus is reckless enough
MILES’ POV“Are you okay, Noah?”The second I get close enough, the bastard who’d been dragging her lets go and bolts.I go after him immediately, catching him in a few long strides. The moment I reach him, I loop an arm around his throat, and yank him backward hard enough that his feet nearly leave the ground. He grunts and tries to kick me in a pathetic attempt. I dodge it and drive my heel into the back of his knee. His leg buckles and he drops.“What the fuck did you do to her?” I snarl, keeping the pressure tight against his neck. He thrashes, choking on whatever excuse he’s trying to form. Behind me I hear Noah’s broken sobs. The sound turns the heat in my blood into hot molten lava.I spin him around by the collar so he’s forced to look at me.“Were you trying to force yourself on her?”“I… I swear I wasn’t—”My fist cuts the rest of the sentence off, the crack of bone under my knuckles satisfying. The fear in his eyes tells me everything I need to know. I saw enough from t
NOAH’S POV“Are you listening?” Reid’s voice finally cuts through the fog in my head. I blink and force a polite smile onto my face.“Y-yeah.”We’re walking outside the hall now, the muffled sounds of the party still drifting through the open doors. For the last several minutes he’s been talking nonstop about how he plans to take over his mother’s company after graduation and turn it into something even bigger. It all sounded like a carefully rehearsed performance, like some rich guy trying to prove he’s the biggest catch in the room. While he talked, my mind kept drifting back to Miles. I wondered how badly the conversation with Carl could be going right now. For some reason, the thought makes my chest tighten with nervousness. Reid laughs softly. “Really? Then do you mind reminding me where I left off?”Caught.I shut my eyes for a second, then open them with an embarrassed little laugh. “Honestly… I wasn’t following that closely. Sorry.”Thankfully he doesn’t take offense.
MILES’ POVI watch Dad stroll toward the mini wine cellar in his study while I stand in front of his desk, waiting and bored out of my fucking mind.I already know why he brought me here, and I would’ve appreciated it if he just cut straight to the chase. But of course, that would be too easy.He’d rather drag it out, as always.The silence stretches between us, broken only by the sound of him pouring himself a glass of alcohol before throwing it down his throat and placing the glass back on the counter.“You know, I do have important shit to do,” I say, watching him walk back toward his desk as he slowly removes his suit jacket. “Could you do me a favor and be fast with whatever the hell you plan to do—?”The words barely leave my mouth before his fist connects with my jaw.My head snaps to the side, and the force of the punch is enough to make my vision go completely blank for a couple of seconds. When it finally returns, I blink several times, trying to clear the haze.My fingers
NOAH’S POVThe love of his fucking what?I beg your finest pardon, sir?I have to physically stop myself from letting my jaw fall open or staring at Miles like he’s completely lost his mind. I’ve always expected the craziest things from Miles Presley, but this? This is top-tier rage bait.“I’ll admit, your girlfriend does look a lot like Tiffany here.” One of the men says with a small laugh, although I catch the suspicion flickering in his eyes.“Are you two maybe sisters?” Another man asks Mom.Mom simply smiles and looks away, taking a heavy sip of her drink as though that could somehow erase everything that just happened.The coldness in Carl’s eyes intensifies, and his jaw clenches as he stares at Miles like he could strangle him right here if he had the chance. Then, clearly realizing that losing his temper would only draw attention, he pastes a small smile onto his face.“Now, if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen. There are a few more business associates I’d like to introduce my son







