An Illicit Obsession (Mila and Killian) novel Chapter 5

Mila's POV

"The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen."

My breath hitched, my heart skipped a beat, and a sharp tug deep in my stomach almost bordered on pain. I quickly gathered myself and turned to him.

“You shouldn’t be saying this,” I scolded.

“I like to state facts.” He softly blew away a tendril of hair falling from my braid, then walked away with a teasing smile. Blood rushed to my cheeks, leaving me speechless. Was he flirting with me? Since our eyes first met, there’s been this crackling energy between us, like something alive.

If anyone touched it, they’d burn. And now, I feel like I’m standing too close to the fire. He shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t be feeling this. At dinner, I made sure to sit as far from him as possible. His face was stoic, the teasing smile and charming glint in his eyes gone. When he sat at the head of the table, dressed in a fitted black shirt and pants, he looked like Hades himself, sucking the oxygen from the room.

I dared a single glance at him, and he caught me. The corner of his lips curled slightly as he ate. I looked away swiftly.

The moment dinner ended, I excused myself at the first opportunity. I wandered to the back garden of the beach house, finally able to breathe, though my thoughts were still tangled. Leaning against the wall, I lit a cigarette, placing it between my lips just as I heard footsteps—two sets, stopping a few feet away, where they couldn’t see me. I already suspected the purpose of this so-called trip with my father’s mafia friend, but now it was confirmed.

My father was discrediting me, stating his intent to make Nicolai his heir.

It stung more than I’d expected. Smoke rose above my head as I exhaled, listening to Mr. Knight give my father a vague response. I’d thought my father would easily sway Killian Knight, given their bond. But instead, Killian dismissed him coldly, even stopping him from smoking. If I weren’t so numb when it came to my father, I might have found the scene comical.

I relaxed for a moment as their footsteps retreated—only for another pair to approach, closer this time. It wasn’t my father.

Glancing at the cigarette in my hand, panic set in. D*mn it. Hadn’t he just warned my father? What would he do to me? I quickly stubbed it out and ran, circling around to find the nearest door leading back inside. I slipped through by the poolside, shutting the door behind me with a sigh of relief.

Then I turned—and froze. Dark eyes stared back at me, reflecting the moonlight and fairy lights from the pool.

“Got you, love.”

The way the light framed him made him look both dangerous and devastating.

F*ck.

“A smoker and an eavesdropper,” he said, stepping closer.

With the wall behind me and him blocking my path, there was nowhere to go. His eyes glinted with amusement, a lethal smirk on his face.

“Mr. Knight—”

“Miss Anderson,” he interrupted, “I don’t allow smoking.” His breath mingled with mine, leaving my mouth dry.

“I don’t…” I started, but he leaned in, his lips brushing my ear.

“I don’t tolerate lies.” The warning in his tone made me swallow my words.

I nodded.

“Good girl.” He moved closer, his eyes locking with mine. If I could have melted into the wall, I would have. He placed a hand above my head, his gaze swallowing me whole. His lips hovered near mine, and a current surged through my veins. I curled my fists behind me, every part of me fighting the pull to lean into him.

“Now, tell me how you’re going to make up for it,” he said. “Make up to you?” My voice sounded breathless, betraying me.

My gaze flickered to his lips, then down to his chest.

“Hmm… You’ll have to do something.” His voice dipped lower, his breath brushing against my lips, sending a shiver through me.

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