My Sweet Punishment by Amelia Brooks (books like harry potter txt) 📖

       As I stood near the wall, I heard a vaguely familiar voice next to me and turned around. Mr. Anderson was standing a few feet away from me. So Olivia is somewhere nearby too. Phew, it’s a good thing I escaped this dance. Because the scandal would not have been avoided.

       I finished my glass of champagne and went out onto the spacious terrace, closing the door behind me. Yes, this is definitely better. The peace and quiet that I’ve been missing for the second week.

       I got a message from my mom on my phone. James is being prepared for surgery. I clutched the phone, and got my eyes watering up. I was terribly worried about my little brother and of course, I would like to be with him at this moment, with my mother, to support them... but alas.

       The soft wind caressed my face, and I let go of all the bad thoughts.

      But in the next moment, I almost screamed when I felt someone’s arms wrap around my waist and a broad man’s hand closed over my mouth.

       “It’s me,” a familiar voice touched my ear, and I let myself relax when after Collins squeezed my waist, he pulled away completely. “You’re so beautiful.”

       “Thanks to you,” I turned to him, answering the compliment.

       But the man just grunted and held out his hand.

       “Dance with me,” he said, and instead of ordering me to do it, he was… asking. “Do I have the right to receive at least a birthday present like this?”

       “You have the right to everything now,” I reminded him of our agreement and humbly put my hand in his.

       “Yeah? Didn’t you just run away from me?” the man chided me. “You keep shying away from me like I’m a leper, and you’re killing me with it. Mia,” he suddenly pulled me closer to him “am I that much worse than that brat?”

      “I don’t understand you…” I felt the heat of his muscular body and tensed.

       But before I could say anything more, I felt his warm lips on mine. And the kiss was so sensual that I gave up and let myself respond to it. I heard him groan as he buried his hand in my thick hair.

       I was barely able to stand when Collins pulled away from me, panting.

       “Let’s run away from here?” and I was taken aback by his words. “If you’re gonna say ‘yes’, this will be our third night.”

       I nervously bit my lip, which was swollen from the kiss, and now the man looked at me again with his dark eyes.

       How much can I handle it?! God, I’m so tired! One minute he can’t see me, the next he lashes out with his hot kisses, driving me crazy. And if now he gives me the right to choose… Well, I made that choice a long time ago.

       “No,” I said, lowering my eyes. “You promised that if I come to your party tonight, nothing will happen.”

      He held me in the ring of his arms for a while longer and then suddenly pulled away. The man walked away, calling someone.

       “The driver will take you home,” was the last words I heard before Collins walked briskly back to the hall.

      My thoughts were confused when I left the house. He still wanted me. And I… I think I did, too, and almost agreed to leave with him. Only if I hadn’t remembered in time that I had done it long ago, selling myself for money. Then why did he cancel two nights? I don’t understand him at all…

        I was getting into Collins’s car, where his driver was waiting for me when I suddenly felt someone’s gaze on me and turned around. At the entrance to the house, in the company of a woman stood…

       OLIVIA, and she was looking right at me!!!