Page 24 of Isolation

Fuck.

Did that just happen? Who does that?

I have no idea how to process this, but I do know that I need to cut my losses right now.

Milo closes the window and turns to stare at me with his unnerving gaze. Without thinking twice I hobble towards the bathroom to lock myself in, as it’s closer than my bedroom door.

Milo charges behind me, picks me up by the waist, slamming the bathroom door behind us. He spins me around and pins me to the wall, using one hand to trap both of my wrists.

He looks more of a fanatic than ever before.

My panic comes back with full force. I can’t choke out a single word no matter how hard I try.

I start shaking from my dread.

Milo is shaking as well but from anger.

“I thought I made myself clear about Reid,” he spits venom through his clenched teeth. His voice might be low, but it’s unforgiving.

When my shaking registers with Milo, asmall frown forms on his forehead.He rubs the side of my body with both of his hands.

“Hey, it’s okay,” his tone immediately changes to something more gentle. “Shhh, Raven.I am not going to hurt you.”

One of his hands wrap around my middle, the other starts to stroke my hair. He doesn’t say anything more. Instead, every so often Milo kisses my temple.

I still can’t formulate words. I have never frozen up like this before.

Minutes pass. Milo starts talking, this time in an even more soothing voice.

“I am not angry. You just can’t talk to him anymore, that’s all. I told you that.”

“You have me. You don’t need him. You have to forget about him, okay?”

“I didn’t mean to scare you, baby.”

“Shhh, don’t be scared.”

“Take all the time you need. I am right here.”

“I am not going anywhere.”

The trembling starts to subside with each one of his mollifying word. The oxygen is finally pouring freely inside of me.

Every time I breathe, I take in Milo’s musky scent. It smells like Xanax with one breath and then morphs into horror with the next. Sometimes, it’s a mixture of both.

In the end, the villain in my book, the antagonist who is causing this anxiety, is also the one to alleviate me of it. It’s ironic in every way.

Milodoesn’t budge after pacifying me.As soon as it registers that I have stopped shaking,hedrops kisses all over my face.

Keeping me in his tight embrace,he slowly sucks on my bottom lip. He gently licks my lip with his tongue before moving inside my mouth.

He holds the side of my face firmly and keeps stroking my tongue till my head starts to spin.

I am out of breath, and my brain is out of power by the time his fingers come into play.

His soothing words turn dirty as he tells me how wet I am.Arousal from panic is another shock to be digested,but I restart my struggle all the same. I can't help wondering ifthe visual in front of me is real or if it's in my mind.

Despite my thrashing, Milo holds me against the wall with easy effort and undoes the knot of my robe.