My eyes bounce around the room unsure of where to focus. The beauty of the lavish overly spacious penthouse is lost on me. The delicious cart of the food I’ve been craving practically goes unnoticed. Various bags are laid precisely around Milo’s feet, but it’s not my focus. My eyes slowly scan the sweetest, most impossible man I’ve ever met.
He’s dressed in spotless white Air Forces, khaki pants, and a white wife beater, and white jean jacket with the sleeves rolled up. His tattooed arms and torso look so much sexier in person. Holding the two things I’ve told him not to get, flowers and a dog, yipping and chewing at his hand.
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This guy is just…not fair.
I pick up my phone and go to Milo, his hooded eyes, and small smirk on his face has a traitor smile tugging at my lips. He looks like a drummer, so fucking sexy.
“You’re impossible” I mumble the words to myself but he hears regardless, holding out the rose for me.
“In my defense, it’s only a single rose,” which I take with a thank you, smelling the sweet floral scent. The first time I’ve gotten flowers. Who knew a single rose could mean so much?
I swear this guy is just…impossible.
“And this little guy is a wolfdog and a puppy, so technically, not a dog.” I shake my head, taking the puppy in my hands, petting his soft fur, laughing as he nuzzles and plays with my hand. Of course he found a loophole and got me the most adorable puppy he could find, he even put a chain on him, who could resist that?
“Does he have a name?”
“No, I thought you could name him yourself.”
“Okay. Then I’ll call him Prince. He’s from a prince, it’s only fitting, right Prince?” I rub the puppy’s ears, letting him get used to his name before setting my attention on the original prince.
“Thank you Milo, you’ve done so much already and now all of this. I don’t know what to say, nobody has ever done anything like this for me.”
“Mhm, that’s why you need to lock his ass up.” Noé mumbles in my ear, grabbing the puppy from my arms.
“Hello, Mr. Malone, you don’t mind if I steal your cousin away for a minute do you?” Noé’s smirk as she grabs Harley’s hand says she plans on it regardless of the answer but she waits for Milo’s nod of approval.
“Please by all means.” Milo turns his attention to me and I grab the bags, going to the couch setting everything down on the table.
“I wasn’t expecting you to be here, let alone go out of your way like this. You know you don’t have to buy me things.”
“Every time you say that it makes me want to get you even more.” I shake my head as he stretches out his legs, leaning back on the couch.
“Thank you, I appreciate this and you for respecting me. If I knew being your escort would be like this I might’ve volunteered.”
“You’re more than a mere escort to me, Winter. You’ve become a genuine friend to me these past couple of weeks. You don’t sugarcoat anything just because my name is Malone.”
“That’s because I’m not scared of you, Milo. Everyone tells me I should be but I’m not.” Even after seeing the death that’s been caused by his hand.
“And that’s so fucking refreshing Winter, you have no fucking clue. All the girls that my family want me to be with, only care about what they could gain from me. You are the first girl to only ever ask for respect. Not a position, or title, money, or even materialistic shit…I know you think I’m joking when I’m saying this, but I like you Winter Dixon.” His confession is so sincere it renders me silent. A whirlwind of conflict courses through me but I don’t let it show.
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“Is that what all this is for?” The question is the first on my mind and it falls from my lips as I look at the bags and the wolfdog trotting happily into the foyer with a pillow in his mouth.
“No, this was simply a welcome and to show my gratitude. The bags, well, that’s for the banquet. I know women like to dress up in elegant gowns or some other kind of dress, but I was hoping you’d rebel with me a little. I’ve always had to match my date and there’s nothing I hate more than a stuffy ass penguin suit.” His joke breaks the growing tense atmosphere between us, and I’m grateful.
I don’t want our relationship to get awkward. I’m not sure I want it to change. I like Milo but there’s still…
Harley excuses herself as she goes to the kitchen, Noé close behind giving me a look that says she came to be nosy. Suppressing my smile I look at the sweetest guy I’ve ever met.
“Milo, if this is your way of asking me out, I’m sorry but, I don’t know if I can be with you. It’s just…”
“Noé” he finishes my conflicting thoughts quietly and with a smile, his relaxed demeanor never once shifting. He glances at the kitchen where we both know they’re listening, taking a blunt from his pocket and lighting it up. A slow fire and challenge begins to rise in his eyes, the same one I’ve when he talks about work.
“I know about your relationship with her, I have no desire to interfere or change anything. I only want you, as you are and whatever way you intend to be.” Who the hell is this guy and why does he want me so…desperately?
“But, won’t that upset you? Won’t you feel jealous or vengeful? Won’t it hurt you that I could never fully be just yours?”
“I know what I’m asking for. Besides, my job requires that I travel a lot. If you don’t want to come with me then there’s nothing wrong with you having a companion while I’m away. Noé has proven to care about you and I can’t think of anyone better to be that companion.” He’s really thought of everything. HIs phone starts going off in his pocket and he sighs, seeing his fathers name, declining it and standing.
“Harley” within seconds, Harley is walking towards the door, giving me a slight nod as goodbye. Milo comes to crouch in front of me, not caring about the ugly crease he’s putting in his pristine shoes.
I can’t even think of an excuse to tell him no. There’s no reason not to be with Milo but still…
“I don’t know…”
“You don’t have to answer now, or even this weekend. I don’t mind waiting…however, I have a lot of enemies, there are a lot of targets on my back. No day is ever promised and a battle is always a threat, not to mention my family will forge my name on a marriage license if necessary. I won’t be able to wait forever.” Milo’s phone rings again as I contemplate the truth in his words.
He stands to his full height and I do the same, walking him to the door. Passing Noé she urges me to make a move but I just shake my head.
How did I go from not liking anyone to having 2 people I don’t want to do without?Yeah, my life would continue without Milo just as it did before, but I’m sure I’d miss him and our conversations, how easily we can talk about everything, be each other and not worry about judgment.
The conflict continues to stir within me as his relaxed posture shifts into a stiff one. His hooded eyes grow dark but his face doesn’t change. If I didn’t know him I wouldn’t be able to see the difference. But I can tell that he doesn’t like what he’s hearing.
He doesn’t say a word into the phone before the call ends, tucking the device in his pocket and coming over. Milo lifts my hand, kissing the back of my knuckles, his scruffy beard tickling my skin, pulling a swoony smile from me.
Such a prince.
“Just think about it, a little?” I nod and he smirks, straightening again and putting his blunt into my mouth.
“Great, we’ll talk later.” Milo leaves without another word and I close and lock the door with a sigh as Prince comes yipping over to me. I call him to follow me to the kitchen where 2 bowls are already waiting for him. I get the food from his mini fridge, shaking my head at the fact that Milo got him a personal fridge.
“So, what happened? Did he ask you out?”
“Kind of” I fill Prince’s bowls with water and raw meat, washing my hands as Noé prods me for more details. She sits on the island, eating from the food Milo got her, waving her hand for me to continue. I hop on the island next to her, stealing a piece of steak from her taco.
“He told me that he likes me and wants to be with me.”
“Damn girl, this is Milo Malone we’re talking about. That a big fucking deal, I mean look at what he’s done already, crazy future mafia boss or not, you better snatch that shit up.”
“I told him I don’t know and I would think about it.”
“Winter, what is there to think about? You obviously like him, I mean the only person you talk to more than him is me. You didn’t even stay up talking to Roman like that when you swore you liked his controlling ass.” I exhale a lung full of smoke, as the drugs hit me almost instantaneously.
Whatever he’s smoking it’s strong as fuck.
“I guess that’s true.” But the relationship with Roman was different, he’s practically my boss, the guy who bought me. I suppose I was escorted to Milo Malone too, but he’s never treated me that way. And he’s a lot easier to talk to than Roman, who can be so stoic and closed off.
“Just tell me, what’s stopping you?” Staring at the gorgeous woman next to me the answer is starkly obvious. I lick my lips, letting the conflicting emotions and high haze fuel the growing lust and need for clarity. Something that makes sense and doesn’t require question
“And if it’s some bullshit excuse like time or inexperience then I’m going to slap your ass myse-” Noe’s words are cut off by my lips, her surprise not hindering her reciprocation. The food and conversation is quickly forgotten…