Page 104 of Beautiful Trauma

The intensity of his stare caused me to shiver. “And you’re mine,” he repeated.

I didn’t care that we were on the sidewalk in front of God and everyone. I grabbed the lapels of his tux and jerked him to me. As Kellan dipped his head, I rose up on my feet to meet his kiss.

With the warmth of his tongue against mine, I slid my hands up his back. Before Kellan, I’d never believed in love at first sight. I’d scoffed at movies where the characters were saying I love you and riding off into the sunset after just a couple of days together.

The life I’d been born into had forced me to be a realist.

In my life, women didn’t end up with charming princes. They were forced into marriages with men who were so obsessed with them that they were only seen as possessions. Those men controlled every aspect of their lives.

And when they dared to have a voice, they were shot down.

Sometimes in their kitchens. In front of their innocent children.

But then I met Kellan.

And everything changed.

For the first time, I could believe in real love, and it was fucking overwhelming.

The buzzing of Kellan’s phone against my breast brought me back to reality. He grunted into my mouth before pulling away. “I don’t even have to look at my phone to know I have to go.”

“I know. And it’s okay. Really.”

“Talk to you tomorrow?”

“Absolutely.”

With a vulnerable smile, he asked, “Maybe even tonight?”

My heart flip-flopped in my chest making me feel like a teenager with her first crush. “Of course.”

“Good.” With a wave, he started back down the sidewalk to the waiting car.

Instead of going inside, I stood there like a lovesick fool and waited until his taillights faded in the distance.

With a roll of my eyes at my behavior, I started inside.

“Mila?”

I whirled around to see Lev striding down the sidewalk from the same direction Kellan had just been. “What are you doing?”

After glancing at my outfit, he countered, “I think I could ask you the same.”

“I had a date tonight.”

“Don’t tell me it was with Kavanaugh.”

Furrowing my brows, I asked, “How did you–”

“What other man is being chauffeured around in a blacked-out SUV unless he’s mafia.” He cocked his brows at me. “It seems like you got attached to your rescuer.”

“Yes, that was Kellan, and yes, I am attached to him. Very much.”

Lev slowly shook his head. “Christ, Mila, have you lost your fucking mind?”

“You don’t understand–”

“Idon’t understand? I was right there when Father choked you the other night. If we hadn’t been there, he would’ve killed you.”