You’re Just Jealous, Michael

Celine Montgomery POV

When we reached the changing room, the staff member left, leaving me alone with Enzo Romano. I watched him as he picked one of the neatly arranged outfits from the hangers. Of course there were clothes here. They were about to perform in three days.

He grabbed a fresh T shirt and pants, while I walked along the racks, brushing the fabrics with my fingertips. After a short search, I picked tight black pants, then pulled out a simple black shirt.

"No more white. Ever again," I muttered to myself in frustration.

I heard a suppressed laugh behind me.

I froze. Closed my eyes for a moment. Then slowly turned around.

Enzo was staring at me, biting his lower lip, clearly struggling not to laugh.

"What’s so funny, Mr. Enzo?" I asked, using a formal tone for the first time ever. I had not even spoken to him like that the day we first met.

He raised an eyebrow, teasing, a crooked smile pulling at his lips.

"Why so angry, Miss Joseph?"

I exhaled sharply and clutched the clothes in my hands.

"Oh my God. Why am I even arguing with you?" I snapped, then stormed into the changing booth.

"Nice piercing, by the way," his annoying voice followed me.

"Shut up, Enzo!" I cursed while stripping out of my wet clothes.

"Why all the shyness? I bet you have what I have."

I gasped in anger.

"For God’s sake, Enzo!"

I stepped out barefoot, tossing my shoes aside as I searched for another pair to match my outfit. Enzo stepped out too, wearing a black T shirt and black pants.

"Looks like we’re matching colors again, Enzo," I said, eyeing his black shirt that looked identical to mine.

He dropped beside me on the leather couch, relaxed.

"Similar taste, I guess."

"I don’t think so." I gave him a wide, mocking smile.

His brows pulled together slightly, intrigued.

"What do you mean?"

I ran my finger over the tattoos covering his arm, studying the dark, tangled designs.

"I mean… with all those tattoos, and those piercings… I have my doubts."

Enzo laughed, his sharp canines flashing just a little. My heart kicked hard in my chest.

"Are you flirting with me, Miss Celine?"

I yanked my hand back like I had touched fire and frowned.

"God, you’re disgusting."

"Why? Girls find me hot. Any girl would die to have me in her bed." He shrugged like it was a simple fact.

I barely took a step away before a strong hand grabbed me and yanked me back. Suddenly I was trapped in Enzo’s arms.

My eyes flew wide. I gasped, shocked by his sudden move. He had never acted like this with me before. What the hell was wrong with him?

"Celine…"

He sighed my name softly, and my heart went wild, pounding like it wanted to tear out of my chest. My throat went dry. Heat spread through my body like a hidden fire under my skin.

"What’s wrong with you, Enzo?" I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tremble creeping in. My cheeks burned pink with embarrassment.

I tried to stand up, but strong resistance stopped me. Enzo tightened his grip on my arm, forcing me to stay in his powerful hold.

"Nothing," he said quietly, his voice loaded with something I could not define. Then it hardened.

"But it’s clear you’re hiding a lot from me, Celine. I thought we were close. Yet you never told me you have a belly piercing."

I froze. My eyes widened slightly as I stared at him in shock.

More than that, why did his voice sound so deep. So dark.

"And why should I tell you that, Enzo?" I murmured. My voice was so low that he would not have heard it if he were not sitting right in front of me. He was close. Too close. His hot breath hit my face, leaving marks on my already heated skin.

A sharp tension shot down my spine when he leaned closer and whispered near my ear.

"I want to see it."

My limbs trembled. I did not know if it was from his suffocating closeness or from that tone in his voice. A tone I had never heard before.

"What?" I frowned and finally pulled myself free from his arms, standing stiff as I stared at him in disbelief.

He shrugged like he did not care, but his eyes stayed locked on me, sharp and intense.

"What’s wrong? I didn’t say anything weird. I just said I want to see it."

I could not answer. Heat flooded my body to an unbearable level. My heart slammed so hard I could hear it in my ears. It was uncomfortable. Completely.

"I think we should go back to training, Enzo," I said finally, taking a deep breath before rushing out of the room, almost running. Away from the place. Away from him.

I stepped into the hallway, trying to shake off the storm of feelings crashing over me. I closed my eyes as I walked, forcing my heart to calm down.

Damn it. Why does my whole body feel like it’s shaking? Was that even real?

I headed to the sink, turned on the tap fast, and splashed cold water on my face. My fingers dug into the marble edges as I took deep breaths. Even the air I breathed could not cool the lava burning inside me.

I slowly lifted my head and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I tried to look normal. Even tried to smile. But my face still carried the shock I had not processed yet.

"It’s just Enzo," I whispered to myself, trying to convince my own mind that it meant nothing. I should not make a big deal out of it. Enzo had never looked at me like a woman. He always treated me like one of the guys. A close friend. Nothing more.

But then… why did it feel like something had changed?

As I was about to leave, I crashed straight into him.

Michael.

His body was like a steel wall. His heat shot through me like electric fire. His eyes. God, his eyes were knives, digging into every weak spot inside me.

His hand wrapped around my waist without permission. Firm, controlled, impossible to fight. My heart jumped under his grip as he whispered, his voice low and dangerous.

"Did you forget the mission, Celine?"

I froze for seconds. Then slowly pulled myself out of his hold, like his touch was burning me, not warming me. I glared at him, trying to look confident despite the chaos inside me.

"What are you talking about, Michael?"

He stepped closer. One step was enough for me to hear his heartbeat. To feel his breath brush my face. His heat swallowed me without him touching me.

He spoke in a restrained rage, like a bottle about to explode.

"Why are you getting close to a man who has a girlfriend, Celine? Or can’t you live without playing with fire?"

Something heavy pressed on my chest. But I lifted my brows in cold mockery and brushed his hand off my waist like it was dust.

"Oh my God. Stop it. Do you hear yourself? You’re just jealous, Michael."

He sucked in a sharp breath like he had been punched. He did not answer. He just laughed. That broken laugh my heart knew too well. Bitter. Choking.

"Jealous? Really? Jealous of a useless man who doesn’t know who you are? Who sees you as nothing but a passing woman, while I…"

He stopped. Hesitated. His eyes betrayed him. But I did not spare him.

"While you what, Michael? Watch me from a distance and hide behind the mission? Behind orders?"

His hand clenched at his side. His jaw shook. When he spoke again, his voice was almost a sad whisper.

"I’m just… trying not to see you break again. You’re not as strong as you pretend to be, Celine."

My eyes trembled for a moment. But I hid my weakness behind a hard stare. I stepped closer and whispered.

"I’m stronger than you think."

I turned to leave.

But his voice followed me. Soft. Hesitant.

"Celine… I’m not jealous. I just… can’t stand seeing you with someone who doesn’t deserve you."

I turned halfway back, gently pulled my hand from his grip, and said in a deadly calm voice.

"Stop trying to control me."

He grabbed me again, hard. I saw that possessive look in his eyes as he whispered near my ear, calm and lethal.

"Don’t get close to any man. I’m warning you, Celine."