Chapter 4
Mila
“ Mila! Over here,” Blaze shouts when he spots us. His friendly green eyes give me a comforting smile, helping to calm my nerves.Blaze is a fellow art student, and I really enjoy his company. He ’ s a fun-loving person who constantly strives to bring smiles to everyone. It ’ s part of his Irish charm.
You ’ d never know he hailed from a mafia empire in Ireland. Then again, at Empire University, every student comes from a powerful family.
The small art gallery is packed, causing my nerves to feel like popcorn in a microwave. “ There ’ s Blaze,” I tell Dom as I guide him in that direction. I feel like I ’ m playing Tetris as I try to get closer to my classmates.
“ Don ’ t I know.” Dom hisses under his breath. I swat his bicep. “ Don ’ t be like that. Blaze is a friend, and he ’ s dating Adam.”
“ Right now.” Dom snorts. “ He was fucking Hilary three months ago.”
I hesitate and look at Dom. “ I ’ m with you .” I hate Dom ’ s jealousy. There ’ s a massive difference between jealousy and possessiveness. Dash was possessive, but it made me feel treasured; Dom ’ s jealousy irks me because it raises questions about whether I ’ m loyal to him.
Does he truly think I ’ d cheat on him?
He tugs me to his side, but we don ’ t kiss. We ’ re only affectionate in private because we don ’ t want rumors getting back to either of our fathers. Empire University is different. Our actions here will follow us into our futures. Most students already have marriage contracts; mafia princesses have guards shadowing their every move to make sure they remain angelic and virginal for their husbands.
I ’ m not mafia, but I know my father would react if rumors about me sleeping around blossomed. Flying under the radar is the safest option. Dom knows this.
“ I know, but I also know how special you are.”
I force my lips to smile, and then I tell him what he needs to hear. “ I love you.”
There, I said it.
Shock causes his mouth to open wide.
“ I do.” I nod, forcing my mind to accept our fate. “ You ’ re my best friend. I can always trust you. Turn to you. I know you ’ ll catch me.”
He lowers his forehead to mine and exhales a smile that looks like sunlight. I wish I could feel its warmth.
“ Let me kiss you. Fuck what anyone thinks.”
I step back. “ What if our fathers react poorly and they take you away from me?” I squeeze his hands. I can ’ t lose another person I love. “ I ’ ll talk to my father soon.”
Dom presses his lips to my ear. “ Reach up slowly and adjust my tie?” He whispers with a sly smirk on his lips.
I glance at his tie. It ’ s perfect, but I do as he says.As soon as I touch it, he says, “ I ’ m going to tie you up with it tonight.” He steps back and runs a hand through his hair. “ You ’ re mine,” he whispers.
I force another smile. “ I know.” The devil you know is better than the one you don ’ t.
“ Mila, one look at your painting, and I ’ m breathless! Quick, give me mouth to mouth!” Blaze shouts with a wide grin, then pushes through the crowd to hug me. It all happens so fast, he spins me to see my painting hanging on the wall. My lips part as a sense of pride fills me. It ’ s unlike anything I have ever felt. I worked so hard on the piece, building up the textures so the paint strokes had another element.
“ It ’ s stunning,” Blaze says as he hugs me to his side.
Dom clears his throat.
“ Oh hey, Dom.” Blaze says with no animosity.
I don ’ t know what Dom is worried about.
Dom ’ s eyes look down at Blaze ’ s shirt. “ Kiss me; I ’ m Irish. How original,” Dom spits.
Blaze ’ s shirt choice makes me giggle. Blaze gestures toward Dom with open arms. “ What do you say, buddy? Pucker up.” Blaze grabs him, but Dom shoves him away as gently as one can in public, which only makes me laugh harder.
“ Okay, tough crowd.” Blaze snickers with a roll of his eyes. “ Mila will kiss me." He whirls and plants a kiss on my cheek. “ Someone ’ s not okay with their sexuality yet.” He mutters in my ear.
I jab at him playfully. “ Leave Dom alone.”
“ He ’ s always so uptight. Why ’ d you bring him?”
“ Stop it,” I smirk, and that ’ s when I realize that Blaze is the only person who has made me laugh since Dash left. I know that ’ s not a good thing. The man I spread my legs for should be able to make me laugh more than I cry in the middle of the night.