Chapter 28Leena's p o v My feet remained rooted in the spot as my situation downed on me. I shifted my weight, inching backward, trying to melt into the shadows. That was when I heard the scrape of boots on pavement. Very close they were at this point.“Where you goin’, sweetheart?” The tallest one’s voice cut through the dark like a hook. “We were just gettin’ friendly.”Another voice, closer now, chimed in, “Don’t be rude. Stay a while.”The sound of them tightening their circle was unmistakable. Their presence pressed in, a wall of heat and bad intentions.I swallowed down my instinct to bolt and forced my voice steady. “Like I said before... You're trying to mess with the wrong person here. So Step aside.”They laughed, short, sharp bursts that made my skin prickle.“Oh, she’s got some bite,” one of them drawled. “Bet you taste sweet though.” He said before the tip of his tongue pressed passed the edges of his teeth, his eyes undoubtedly baring me up.I took a slow, deliberate s
Chapter 26Leela’s P O V.The kiss still lingered on my lips as I lay down, my head sinking into the pillow. My pulse was still steadying from it, my skin still carrying the heat of Asher’s fingers where they had curled beneath my jaw, drawing me toward him. Our conversation on the car still glued to my chest, his doubt.He was beside me now, his breathing slow and even, one arm lying protectively across my waist as if it had always belonged there. I could feel the warmth of his chest against my back, the slow rhythm of his heartbeat echoing faintly through me. The familiar scent of him- clean, faintly spiced.I should have felt safe. I should have closed my eyes and surrendered to the comfort.But safety, I was learning, was a fickle thing. I begin to hear a continuous rattling sound.The darkness behind my eyes swelled too quickly into something heavy, swallowing me whole before I could push it away. I shifted on the end as I felt the atmosphere change. It was too clear. The bed, it
Chapter 26Leela’s P O V.The kiss still lingered on my lips as I lay down, my head sinking into the pillow. My pulse was still steadying from it, my skin still carrying the heat of Asher’s fingers where they had curled beneath my jaw, drawing me toward him. Our conversation on the car still glued to my chest, his doubt.He was beside me now, his breathing slow and even, one arm lying protectively across my waist as if it had always belonged there. I could feel the warmth of his chest against my back, the slow rhythm of his heartbeat echoing faintly through me. The familiar scent of him- clean, faintly spiced.I should have felt safe. I should have closed my eyes and surrendered to the comfort.But safety, I was learning, was a fickle thing. I begin to hear a continuous rattling sound.The darkness behind my eyes swelled too quickly into something heavy, swallowing me whole before I could push it away. I shifted on the end as I felt the atmosphere change. It was too clear. The bed, it
Chapter 25LEENAThe rhythmic clink of glass against glass echoed faintly in the quiet saloon. I stood behind the bar, hands automatically moving as I rinsed and dried each tumbler, placing them in neat rows. The scent of citrus cleaner mixed with the aged perfume of whiskey barrels and bitters. Something I had gotten used to.But my mind wasn’t here. The distraction wasn't working out.I was trapped between two men, two nights, and the ache of confusion pulsing deep in my chest.I could still feel the pressure of Mikhail’s hand on my skin. The heat in his eyes, the fire that burned between us like a fuse we both knew would explode. I hated how my body remembered him. How easy it was to fall back into that chaos, how quickly the walls I had built came crashing down the second he touched me. And even after ending it in Asher's arms, Mikhail still wasn't erased yet.I sighed sharply and deeply.But Asher...The love, the softness, the attention, the value . Eyes that saw me—truly saw me
Chapter 24Asher’s POVI robbed my eyes with the back of my hand, a quiet groan escaping my lips as I stretched.The sunlight poured into the room slowly. Shit! If it was sunrise already then I was late for my trip.I turned to my side and I reached for her out of instinct, hand grazing over nothing but cool sheets.I sat up fast, the blanket falling off my chest, eyes scanning the room.No note. No footsteps. No sound."Oh, Leela." I mumbled, falling back to the bed.She was gone. Again. No matter what I did I could never just understand that girl. Yet she understood me so much. Knew me. Every part of me.A bitter laugh clawed its way up my throat, but I swallowed it down.I should’ve known.She saw me as a fool. Last night, the way she touched me, urgent, trembling, I knew she was either trying to escape from something or she needed me to forget about her story. Clearly she knew I was suspicious.She had lied right to my face. Why was she hiding her encounter with her ex mate from
Chapter 23Leela’s P O VI dragged myself towards the mansion, holding my stilettoes in my hand.I hadn’t even made it past the gate before I felt it -the shift. The house was still the same, grand and familiar, but something in the air had changed. Colder. Quieter.I could see that I had missed the rest of the party. Maybe the best of it. My time with Mikhail I couldn't consider the best anymore. It wasn't. The disco lights had been turned off and litters of beer mugs and papers were all over the floor.A few people were still sitting around in the dark drinking and laughing drunk in the absence of the music.I rubbed the cold off my arm and headed through the inner chamber. I had made sure to wipe my tears dry while in the cab. I didn't only wipe the tears, I pushed back Mikhail's words. I knew the implication of what I did alright. I have chosen Asher over him... I have chosen Asher....But when he said he loved me.. my heart had torn.I couldn't be so stupid enough to accept him