Chapter 10
“Thought you said Harper was in danger?”
Realizing he’d been played, Milo’s face turned stormy.
Jake, who was closest to him, slung an arm around his shoulders with a shit–eating grin, pushing him further into the room.
“Dude, you’re like this big shot CEO who’s totally clueless about everything else. Only our Harper can get you to drop everything and come running like some lovesick puppy.”
“I fucking told you,” Ryan laughed, “between Eliana and Harper, Milo’s always gonna pick Harper. Look at his hands–dude’s still ready to throw punches.”
Everyone’s eyes moved to Milo’s clenched fists hanging at his sides, veins bulging across his knuckles like he was about to hit someone.
“Thank God Eliana’s not here, or she’d be getting her ass-”
Amid their laughter, Milo suddenly released his fists, feeling blood rush back to his fingers. Only then did he notice he was shaking.
If Eliana had been here when he thought someone was attacking Harper, what would he have done to her?
The thought terrified him.
Surrounded by his buddies on the couch, Milo closed his eyes, feeling strangely grateful that she wasn’t there. But underneath that relief was something else–a gnawing emptiness he couldn’t quite name.
Milo was in a shit mood all day.
His friends picked up on his dark energy and gradually made their excuses to leave, until only he and Harper remained.
“Milo, look at me,” Harper purred, sliding her hands under his shirt and pressing her body against his. Her soft curves immediately triggered a physical response.
But despite his obvious arousal straining against his pants, Milo felt completely disconnected.
“Harper, I’m pretty beat today. Rain check?”
He caught her wandering hand before it could reach its destination, and his mind unexpectedly drifted to Eliana.
God, the difference was night and day. Where Harper was all practiced moves and porn–star confidence, Eliana had been so innocent–blushing at everything, trembling under his touch like it was her first time every time. But that shy sweetness had always driven him absolutely wild.
He could still remember how Eliana would gasp his name when he touched her just right, how she’d bury her face in his neck when she came apart in his arms. The way she’d whisper “I love you” afterward, like she couldn’t believe he was real.
Thinking about Eliana’s soft skin and breathy moans, Milo’s dark expression suddenly shifted, his lips curving into an unconscious smile.
Noticing his distraction, Harper’s eyes flashed with pure venom, though her seduction became even more aggressive.
“Baby, remember how you used to love when I did this?” Harper breathed against his ear, shifting to straddle his lap. She ground down against his hardness while trailing wet kisses down his neck, her tongue flicking against his pulse point.
Her movements were deliberate and practiced, designed to make him lose control. She knew exactly how to use her body–arching her back to press. her breasts against his chest, rolling her hips in a way that made his breath catch.
“Fuck, Harper…” Milo groaned despite himself, his hands instinctively gripping her waist to steady her as she moved against him.
But even as his body responded to Harper’s expert–touch, his mind kept drifting. He found himself comparing the way Harper felt against him to how Eliana used to fit perfectly in his arms. Harper was all sharp angles and calculated seduction, while Eliana had been soft curves and genuine desire.
“I want you so bad,” Harper whispered, her hand sliding down to palm him through his pants. “Right here, right now.”
Before he could protest, she was kissing him hard, her tongue demanding entry as her fingers worked at his belt. Her mouth tasted like expensive lip
– Lan Uit Toro
gloss and ambition, nothing like Eliana’s natural sweetness,
As Harper’s skilled hands brought him closer to the edge. Milo found himself thinking about Eliana’s shy smile, the way she’d hush wheat her like he wanted to devour her. Even in the middle of Harper’s aggressive seduction, it was Eliana’s face he saw behind his closed eyend .
What the fuck was wrong with him?
Just as Harper was about to take things further, his phone rang, shattering the moment.
Seeing it was the house calling, Milo answered despite Harper’s obvious irritation, his voice carrying a desperate hope he didn’t even recognize
“Is Eliana home?”
The question tumbled out before he could stop it, raw with an emotion he couldn’t name..
Seeing Harper’s face turn murderous, Milo tried to backtrack, but the damage was done.
“Since she’s back, tell her to make dinner. Harper’s getting discharged today–we should celebrate.”
His mansion had a full kitchen staff. He had no real reason to ask Eliana to cook.
Harper, clearly pissed about his obvious eagerness, decided to make a point. She leaned in and took his finger into her mouth, making deliberate wet sounds that would be unmistakable to anyone listening.
Milo knew exactly what Harper was doing and knew these sounds would destroy Eliana if she was listening. But some sick part of him wanted to hear Eliana’s reaction–her jealousy, her pain, anything that proved she still cared.
He was desperate to hear her voice, even if it was screaming at him.
But what came back through the phone was Mary’s cold, professional tone.
“Mr. Blake, you need to come home. Your wife left something for you.”
The words hit him like a physical blow. Left something. Past tense.
His heart stopped as the terrible possibility crashed over him.
Today was their third wedding anniversary, and he’d completely fucking forgotten.
