Chapter 20 The Kitten
"Juniper, I'm not your William."
Magnus was about to pull away the pale hands that were tightly wrapped around his waist.
The person pressed against his back murmured in a hoarse whisper, “You’re Magnus… just hold me a little longer…”
How could she mistake him?
He was Magnus, the man she’d loved for six years and then struggled to forget for another six. She wouldn’t get it wrong.
She couldn’t shake him from her memory; it was an aching cycle of remembrance.
They say it’s a curse to encounter someone so stunning in your youth, yet not being able to walk the path of life together. All who come after could never measure up to even a fraction of them, leaving you with a lifetime of what-ifs.
She was ice-cold, her mind hazy, gripping him tightly seeking more of his warmth.
It seemed Magnus couldn’t push her away.
Closing his eyes for a brief moment, Magnus suddenly turned, his large hands grasping her slender, pale neck and pressing her down onto the vast bed, leaning over her.
His eyes, icy and fixated on her, his gaze dangerous: “Cold, aren’t you? Juniper, you’ve brought this on yourself!”
With a fever-reducing pill in his mouth, he pinched her chin, coaxing her to open up. Then, he lowered his head to hers. The pill on the tip of his tongue was pushed into her mouth as the bitterness of the medicine dissolved... Juniper furrowed her brow.
Yet their kiss deepened, growing more wanton with each passing moment.
Magnus was far from gentle, and Juniper, out of touch with such intimacies, was in pain, wanting to flee, but she was firmly brought back by his strong hand.
His hand, gripping her tender waist, seemed intent on snapping her in two.
He huskily questioned by her ear, “Did William ever touch you like this?”
She thought it was a dream.
Otherwise, why would Magnus touch her?
Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, seeking more tenderness in this illusory dream.
Because it was a dream, Juniper grew bold.
She climbed onto his shoulders, eagerly beckoning...
His large hand clasped the back of her neck and ran fingers through her hair as he leaned in, his dark eyes laser-focused on her: “Is this what you want?”
“…”
It was brutal and wild, utterly indulgent.
The presidential suite, with its impeccable soundproofing, kept the fierce storm outside at bay.
Only the room was filled with entwined whimpers and sighs of desire.
It hurt, yet at last she was no longer cold, enveloped by his searing heat... Juniper was deeply attached.
…
Michael and Charles waited in the suite across.
Plenty of time had passed, yet Magnus did not emerge.
Michael glanced at his watch; it was well past 11 PM.
"Charles, you can go now; I think everything is fine."
After Charles left, he didn't close the door, leaving it ajar, directly across from another room's closed entry.
Michael glanced at the sealed door, a tangle of emotions flickering in his eyes.
Was Magnus taking personal care of Juniper?
Lost in thought, his phone erupted in a ring.
It was Patricia: "Bro, why aren’t you guys back yet? You promised to take me out tonight. What's going on with Juniper?"
"It's a long story. Looks like I won’t make it back tonight."
"And Magnus?"
"He's... looking after Juniper."
That angered Patricia: "I should have stopped you guys from seeing her! After everything Juniper’s done to him, and now Magnus is playing nurse? I swear she's got him all spellbound – everyone’s losing their minds over her!"
"Juniper's hurt and running a fever. Ex-girlfriend or not, Magnus couldn’t just ignore her condition."
Patricia scoffed, "Looking after her is one thing, but let's hope it doesn't become anything more intimate. Reigniting old flames would be a joke!"
"That’s their business, Patricia. Lay off, will you?"
Patricia bit her lip, hesitating, "Do you have feelings for Juniper?"
"Don't be ridiculous, my involvement is only because of Magnus."
"Yeah right! Didn't you say Magnus is engaged? If he’s in X City with Juniper tonight, what does his fiancée think?"
"Magnus's thing with Mary is just for show. Besides, do you really think Magnus owes anyone an explanation for what he does?"
Patricia pondered for a moment, "I see… Bro, I'm sleepy, I'm going to hang up."
"Get some rest, then. When I get back to Imperial Capital tomorrow, I’ll call Magnus and the others, and we’ll all go out."
"Okay!"
...
After hanging up, Patricia turned off the light and lay back on her bed, restless.
She clutched her phone, thinking over everything, feeling uneasy.
Not long ago, she had learned of Magnus's engagement – that woman Mary, she didn't care for her either, yet even Mary was a step up from Juniper.
Juniper, she was pure trouble.
Anyone could be with Magnus, but Juniper was the one exception.
It was Juniper who not only got Magnus locked up but nearly had him six feet under. That woman was a walking disaster!
She tracked down Mary's number and dialed: "Is this Miss Sinclair? I'm Michael's sister, Patricia."
"Patricia, what can I do for you?"
"Miss Sinclair, I'm only telling you this because I care. Magnus is currently in X City, taking care of Juniper at a hotel. You're aware of who she is, right?"
Not Juniper again!
Mary clenched her teeth but kept a smile on her face: "Thank you for the heads-up, Patricia. Could you please send me the hotel's address?"
Patricia's lips curved into a triumphant smile.
...
X City had been drenched by a relentless rain for a day and night.
The city shone clean and bright, washed by the downpour, as a ray of sunlight pierced through the window of the presidential suite, illuminating the wide bed.
Juniper stirred, her body aching as if it had fallen apart.
She lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the blinding light, slowly opening her heavy lids.
"You're awake?"
Mary sat at the bed's edge, staring daggers at her.
Juniper's mind went blank for a moment, "Miss Sinclair... what are you doing here?"
Mary grabbed a bottle of pills and tossed them onto Juniper's torso. "Stop asking so many questions and take your medicine!"
"Medicine?"
Mary grew impatient, "What are you playing dumb for? I've figured you out. Last time I tried to make a deal, and you wouldn't name a price. You were playing this low game all along! And now you've got what you wanted, luring Mr. Blackwood back to your bed."
Juniper's expression froze.
Was last night not a dream?
So it was real... No wonder it felt so vivid...
Juniper felt a swirl of emotions, a blush coloring her pale cheeks.
But to Mary, this was Juniper's feigned shyness, flaunting her triumph!
"Stop playing the innocent—eat it, now! Mr. Blackwood insisted I make sure you take it myself!"
What she held in her fingers was a birth control pill.
For a moment, Juniper held the tiny tablet between her fingers, her expression a blend of surprise and reluctance.
Mary, mistaking her hesitation, said in a biting tone, "You don't seriously believe that after a couple of rolls in the hay, Mr. Blackwood would be so taken with you that he'd want you carrying his kid, do you?"
Juniper felt a sting at her heart.
She popped a pill from the bottle and swallowed it without a drop of water to chase it down.
"Is this satisfactory, Miss Sinclair?"
Only then did Mary seem appeased, but she couldn't resist a parting shot. "Juniper, don't kid yourself into thinking Mr. Blackwood cares about you just because he's touched you. To a man, it's all just a bit of fun. Don't take it to heart! And about that million-dollar mishap—should you need more, just name your price."
"Miss Sinclair, what happened last night with Mr. Blackwood was an accident. Please, don't trouble yourself over it, and there's no need to throw more money at it either."
Mary's eyes narrowed just a fraction, "So you're still holding onto some deluded fantasy, huh?"
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