~ COLTON ~Colton walked slowly and carefully, not making any sound. He stepped closer to the bed and tilted his head to the side. He was watching Sierra sleeping soundly in his bed. The morning light was streaming through the window and it was hitting her skin in a warm yellow hue. She’s so precious, he thought to himself. Colton’s hand reached for her instinctively. He couldn’t help it. He wanted to touch her, to run his fingers on her smooth skin, and to tuck the wild strands of hair away from that beautiful face.As Colton stood right next to her, Sierra was sleeping soundly like a baby, not noticing him at all. He ran his finger gently down her cheek and his eyes softened. For a moment, he remembered how those guys’ hands were on her and it made his blood boil. He didn’t like that thought at all, so he shook it off. It had been a long night and Colton didn’t sleep at all. He was busy taking care of business, making sure those guys got what they deserve. He didn’t rest until e
~ SIERRA ~Friday. The day Sierra had been waiting for all week long had finally arrived. As soon as she was done with her afternoon class, Sierra raced back home to get ready. Her dad was out of the country on a business trip so this was the perfect Friday night for a date. She even got Rosie to cover for her, telling her dad and the bodyguards that she was staying over tonight.“Share your location with me,” Rosie demanded as Sierra was waiting for Colton to pick her up at Rosie’s.“What? Why?” Sierra whined.“Just in case. Do it,” Rosie demanded again, pushing Sierra’s phone to her face.“Rose, you’re being ridiculous,” Sierra laughed and took her phone, debating whether or not she should share her location with her cousin. She felt like it was unnecessary. This was Colton, the guy that saved her life. If he wanted to do something bad to her, he would’ve done so already. “Si, I know he’s got your back and everything, but you can never be too careful,” Rosie argued as if she could
~ SIERRA ~“Damn girl, who got you smiling like that?”Rosie was hollering extra loud as soon as Sierra came into the kitchen. Sierra was, of course, smiling like crazy as she was staring at her phone. She was reading and re-reading the text messages she and Colton exchanged over the weekend. “Rosie! Shush!” Sierra snapped at her cousin, then she looked around to make sure that her dad or anyone else wasn’t hearing them. Luckily for Sierra, her dad was already in the office and none of the maids were around.“What? It’s Monday morning and you’re way too happy,” Rosie commented as she sipped her juice. “You need to be more discrete, you’re showing too much,”“What? I am a happy girl. I’m going to class, I like my professor--”“--Sure, your professor,” Rosie cut her off and winked playfully. “And I’m sure your professor will like you in that high-waisted skirt and tights too,”“Rose, you know I can smother you in your sleep, right?” Sierra glared at her cousin, half joking and half ser
~ COLTON ~“I can’t fucking believe this!” Jackson scoffed and shook his head. “You’re risking the chance to get at Henri Ascott because you got a date with his daughter?”“You’ve gone mad, Colton. You’ve absolutely gone mad!” Levi added, sounding anxious and worried. Jackson, Levi, and Colton had just arrived at the Met where the charity gala was being held this year. They were all dressed up in sleek three-piece suits, leather shoes, and matching belts. Everyone else around them was also in the same black-tie attire, and all the women looked like they were movie stars stepping out of a red carpet. As a matter of fact, there were several movie stars in attendance. This charity gala was one of the hottest events of the year and all of New York City’s elites were invited. “Guys, relax. It’s a big event, Henri’s not even gonna know I’m here,” Colton replied with a laugh, shrugging off his cousins’ worries. “Besides, everyone who’s anyone is here anyway. The Rhodes should represent the
~ COLTON ~“Look at that, your girl’s dancing with some other dude,” Jackson snickered as they watched Sierra and Raphael take to the dance floor. “Shut up,” Colton hissed dismissively.Colton remained cool and calm on the outside, but he was burning with jealousy on the inside. Just a second ago, he naively thought that he had a handle on the situation, but Sierra’s appearance with Raphael took him by surprise. What is she doing with him?!Colton kept his eyes on Sierra and he watched as Raphael put a hand on the small of her back. Sierra didn’t look very comfortable, but she let him do it, and the pair started dancing. Colton’s jaw clenched instinctively and it took everything in him not to go over there and pull her away.“Are you sure your plan’s still gonna work?” Levi whispered into his ear, fueling his anger even more.“Psh,” Colton let out a mocking scoff. “Raphael Rothschild’s no competition for me,”“Yeah, but he’s still a Rothschild,” Levi reminded him. “You know what th
~ SIERRA ~ “Sierra Adeline Ascott, will you be my girlfriend?”Colton’s question hung in silence inside that gallery room. There was almost an echo and it kept ringing in Sierra’s ears. She was caught off guard and all she could do was freeze like a statue. Meanwhile, Colton’s face remained serious and his eyes were locked on hers, waiting.“...What?” she spoke finally, not knowing how else to respond.“Isn’t it obvious?” he said. “I don’t wanna see you with anyone else. You should be with me,”“Colton--”“I like you, Sierra. A whole damn lot,”Sierra felt like she had been struck by lightning. If she was caught off guard before, she was completely floored right now. Colton, her prince charming, the mysterious bad boy who’s turned her life into a movie, the man who has her weak in the knees and her heart racing like a speed car-- he just said that he likes her!“I…” Sierra opened her mouth to speak, but before she could do anything, she heard heavy footsteps coming towards the room.
~ SIERRA ~“You and Colton are what now!?” Rosie almost choked on her coffee as Sierra told her the news over breakfast. Although she was the one who told Colton not to tell anyone about their relationship, Sierra couldn’t help herself and she just had to tell Rosie about it. “Ssshh!” Sierra put a hand over Rosie’s mouth quickly. “Keep it down, my dad’s upstairs!”“But, but, how?” Rosie gaped again, pushing Sierra’s hand away. “And what? And why?”“I told you, Rose,” Sierra shrugged simply. “He asked me about it at the charity gala and I said yes,”“But, whatever happened to just having fun?” Rosie reminded her. “You know this isn’t gonna go anywhere,”Sierra paused for a moment. She knew what Rosie was talking about. Her dad was pretty set on marrying her off to Raphael Rothschild. It might not happen right now, but it would happen someday, and her having a boyfriend was totally out of the question. “I know,” Sierra sighed. “But... who says I can’t have fun and have a boyfriend at
~ SIERRA ~- - - - - TWO WEEKS LATER - - - - -“Wow, you look great, Si!” Rosie chimed as she entered Sierra’s room. It was Halloween night tonight and the girls were all dressed up. Rosie was wearing a black wig and an all-black attire, resembling Morticia Addams. Right behind her, Ethan followed suit with his Gomez costume.“Thanks, you like my costume?” Sierra said as she twirled in her little light blue dress and matching crown.“Like it? I love it!” Rosie laughed. “Slutty princess, totally suits you,”“It’s not slutty!” Sierra gasped in horror, pulling down her skirt.“Sure, if you say so,” Rosie winked playfully and strode towards Sierra’s closet. She was coming over to borrow some shoes.“So, is your boyfriend gonna come as prince charming?” Ethan said somewhat nonchalantly, but he was curious about Sierra and her new boyfriend. Rosie was not supposed to tell him about this, but she couldn’t keep her mouth shut, of course. Luckily, Ethan was good at keeping secrets. No one els