Chapter 6 The Storm and the Spark

It wasn't just outside that was stormy. It was right next to us. It was loud, electric, and ready to destroy everything in its way.

When the thunder hit outside the rooftop windows, it shook the glass like a gunshot. The city was a blur of lights and shades as sheets of rain fell. Inside, things were not any quieter.

He stood at the edge of the living room and looked at me like I was the storm.

"You're not going to sleep on this couch." There is just one bed. Take care of it.

I put my arms across my chest very tightly. "I'd rather sleep on the ground."

He laughed. "I've walked through enemy fire and felt safer than you do."

"Well, maybe you should have married someone whose personality you could deal with."

He moved forward. "Perhaps I didn't marry you because of who you are."

That hurts.

I laughed very hard. "No, you married me to fix things." To get power. For your business."

He didn't say no. They just stared. Again, there was a loud boom of thunder. The lights went on and off.

He ran his hand through his hair. "Listen, I don't want to fight tonight." Take the bed please. "I'm going to sleep on the chair."

"I don't need your fake kindness," I told her.

He walked toward her. "And I don't want another war in my house."

Soon after, the rain cut off the power. When the room went dark, I screamed. In the dark, Julian reached out for me without thinking, and his hands touched my shoulders.

"Simple." "There's just no power."

And I whispered, "I know." I didn't move away, though. I didn't want to accept it, but his touch made me feel grounded.

We sat there in silence, with only lightning strikes for light. I stood up after a while.

"This is stupid." I'll take a bedside table. You choose the other one. Don't talk.

He made a face. "You mean don't touch."

That's right.

We lay on our backs to each other and didn't say a word. But the stress was too much to bear and it was too loud to be quiet. Not light enough for air.

"Are you always this careful?" he asked in a low voice.

"Only with men who kiss me in front of a thousand people and then act like it didn't happen."

It was a sharp breath. "You didn't really push me away."

I rolled over and looked at him in the dark. "That kiss was wrong."

"No, that wasn't it."

His voice made me feel cold. Not because it was cold, but because it was real.

I said in a low voice, "You don't even like me."

"I want you even if I don't like you."

Keep quiet.

A dangerous, suffocating quiet.

My heart beat fast. It hurt me that my body failed me around him. I hated how my breath would catch when he looked at me for too long and how my mind would twist into knots when he got too close.

I asked in a broken voice, "You think I want you?"

"I feel bad that you do that."

I got up. "You think too highly of yourself."

He also got up and turned around to face me. "Tell me that night you didn't feel anything."

I took a breath. "I didn't."

"Liar."

All of a sudden, his hot, eager, wild mouth was on mine. As I kissed him, I gasped and pressed my hands against his chest without pulling away. My mind begged me to stop. My heart begged me to stay.

My chest heaved when I finally broke the kiss.

I yelled, "You can't do that!"

He asked himself, "What should I do?"

"Muddle me up." I don't believe you. "I can't"

He said in a rough voice, "Then don't trust me." "Don't lie to yourself, though."

I moved back and almost fell, so I grabbed the frame for support. "You can't treat me like a puppet when you play with me."

He stood up and said, "You're not a puppet." "You're on fire." I keep getting burned.

"Then stay away."

"I can't."

It was the most powerful thing he had ever said.

I jerked away when he reached for me again.

I said in a whisper, "I'm not ready for this."

He said in a quiet voice, "I know." "But I am."

It was dark, and we both looked at each other. Our hearts were beating too fast and too loud.

Then.... I told them the truth that I didn't want to say out loud.

"I hate wanting you."

Julian's eyes got darker.

The apartment door opened with a creak before he could answer.

Someone in the hall called out.

"I need to talk to you, Julian." Right now."

It made my stomach hurt.

Yes, it was Cassandra.

"Cassandra?" The name cut through the moment like a blade as I breathed.

Julian went cold. He quickly looked at the door and clenched his teeth. "Remain here."

I took his arm. "You didn't tell me she could get into this place."

"She doesn't." His voice was rough and low. "No longer."

Down the hallway, footsteps could be heard. My heart hit my chest hard.

It's Julian. Cassandra's voice was sweet but poisonous. "We need to finish what we started."

He looked at me again, then away. "I'll take care of it."

The covers got tighter around me, and I could hear my heart beating. As he left the bedroom and went into the hall, I snuck up on the door just far enough to hear him.

It's not okay for you to ignore me, she growled.

Julian growled, "I'm no longer yours."

"You were never just mine?" Cassandra lost it. "But she's wrong, Julian." We both know that mistakes can be fixed.

My heart stopped beating.

He didn't answer.

There were no words to fill the silence.

The last hit came from Cassandra: "You think your little contract marriage will protect her?" Do you really believe she won't pay?

I gasped.

The door made a noise. "Aria, we need to talk," Julian said in a low, hard-to-read voice.