Chapter 31: Kiss Me
JULIA
I couldn’t focus when we arrived.
My head spun, and my pulse pounded in my ears as I stepped out of the car.
However, I was brought back to focus when I saw the view in front of me–Evan’s house.
I was expecting him to take me to his apartment! Well, that was the only home he had five years ago, aside from their family house.
It was massive, sprawling across what seemed like acres of land.
Marble staircases spiraled along the front, leading up to ornate wooden doors that looked like they belonged in a museum, not someone’s home.
Pools–yes, plural–stretched out on either side of the house, the water glowing turquoise in the moonlight, framed by towering trees and trimmed hedges.
“When did you build this?” I asked, my voice soft. I wasn’t sure if it was the house or whatever David had fed me earlier that was making my chest feel tight.
Evan sighed. “No asking of questions,” he replied, his hand wrapping around my wrist as he pulled me toward the
entrance.
The doors opened without him even touching them, evidence of just how expensive this place was.
He led me inside, his pace quickening like he couldn’t stall. I stumbled as I followed, trying to take in the grandeur.
The ceilings were impossibly high, crystal chandeliers hanging above us.
Like the stairs outside, the floors were marbled, so polished I could see my reflection.
A wide, curved staircase split the room, climbing to the second level, where glass balconies overlooked the space below. The air smelled faintly of leather and Evan’s perfume. At least, that one thing hadn’t changed.
It was beautiful. Unbelievably so. I didn’t think homes like this could exist outside of movies. But then again, the Astors weren’t just anyone. This was a family that ruled from their glass towers and private jets. Another cruel reminder that Evan and I came from completely different worlds.
He didn’t give me time to process any of it.
“Keep up,” he muttered, pulling me forward.
“Where are we going?” I managed to croak out, though my words slurred slightly. My throat felt dry. My skin heated up even more.
Evan ignored me, dragging me down a hallway lined with black–and–white paintings I didn’t recognize. He stopped in front of a door, pushed it open, and practically shoved me inside.
The room was dark except for the moonlight entering through the floor–to–ceiling windows. A massive bed sat against the far wall, draped in silk sheets. It was like a hotel suite–minimalist and cold.
“Stay here,” Evan said. He turned on his heel, already halfway through the door.
“Wait–”
Chapter 31: Kiss Me
I didn’t get to finish. He was gone; and the door shut behind him.
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+25 BONUS
The heat I’d been feeling earlier started to increase slowly at first. I pressed my palms against my cheeks, trying to cool myself down, but it did nothing.
My chest rose and fell too quickly. My heart raced. I staggered back, collapsing onto the edge of the bed.
“What…what is happening to me?” I whispered to no one.
The room spun around me. My skin burned, and no matter how much I tugged at the collar of my dress, it wasn’t enough. It felt suffocating.
I didn’t know how long I sat there, but the door swung open again, and Evan appeared.
“Julia, what-“His words faltered when he saw me.
I looked up at him, desperate. His brows furrowed, his cold indifference cracking just slightly as he stepped closer.
“What is happening to you?” he asked. He looked at my entire being. It seemed like it was the first time he was seeing me truly…and maybe it was. He must not have registered what I was wearing when he was saving me from
David.
I tried to answer, but all that came out was a whimper. My hands gripped the sheets tightly, my knuckles white. Evan hesitated, then crossed the room, crouching down in front of me.
He placed a hand on my cheek. His palm was cool–relief against my burning skin. I instinctively leaned into it, my body betraying me. My eyes fluttered shut.
“You’re burning up,” he muttered.
“Evan…” I breathed, my voice trembling. I didn’t even know what I was asking him for. Help? Comfort? Anything to make this unbearable heat go away?
His hand lingered on my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin. I opened my eyes again, and for the first time, I saw something different in his gaze. The usual coldness wasn’t there. Instead, there was concern–an emotion that brought me back to the past.
I exhaled shakily, his face so close to mine that I could see the stubble on his jaw. His other hand came up, hesitating for just a second before resting on my other check
I felt trapped, but not in a way that made me want to run.
“Julia,” he said my name softly.
I couldn’t respond. My breath caught in my throat as his gaze dropped to my lips. Every ounce of heat in my body focused on the space between us.
For a moment, I swore he was going to kiss me. His grip on my face tightened just slightly, his thumb tracing my jaw as his own breath hitched.
My lips parted, my chest rising and falling erratically.
Time seemed to stop.
His mouth was inches from mine now. I could feel the warmth of his breath and saw the way his shoulders rose
and fell.
I didn’t know who moved first–if it was him leaning in or if it was me, pulled like gravity toward him. But just as our lips were about to touch-
2/3
Chapter 31:
+25 BONUS
He pulled back.
Abruptly.
The warmth of his hands disappeared, and the air between turned cold. I blinked, confused, still dazed from the
moment that never was.
Evan stood, his expression shuttered again, like a door slagning; shut. He turned his back to me, running a hand through his hair in frustration
“What?” My voice broke as I looked up at him.
He didn’t face me
“Get some rest,” he said, his voice tight, his usual control snapping back into place. “You’ll be fine.”
