- 19 minutes ago
Barks by Day, Begs by Night : New 🔝
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00:00After being forced to stand at attention under the blazing sun for three hours by a drill instructor from hell,
00:07I gritted my teeth and sent a message to my little toy.
00:11Bad pup, bring your best massage oil you can find and kneel in the hotel room waiting for me tonight.
00:17If you hurt me even once, you're dead.
00:20The reply came instantly.
00:22Mistress is finally willing to reward me.
00:26Half an hour later, I dragged my aching body to the hotel,
00:30only to run straight into the cold-blooded commander who had punished me with 50 push-ups that very morning.
00:37He tugged open the collar of his black tactical shirt.
00:41Still have the energy to wander around, Sterling? Looks like I was too easy on you this morning.
00:46I froze on the spot, because beneath his loosely fastened collar,
00:51I caught a glimpse of a chest chain glinting faintly in the light.
00:55It was the exact style I had personally picked out for my online fling on Amazon two days ago.
01:02I stared at Julian Vance's striking face, all impatience and rigid self-control.
01:08At that moment, my already limited brain capacity completely short-circuited.
01:13How is that even possible?
01:17Julian was the coldest, most ruthless drill instructor in the ROTC program.
01:22Military discipline ran in his blood.
01:25He was always dressed in immaculate camouflage.
01:28And whenever he looked at me, his gaze was so icy, it felt like he wanted to tear me apart.
01:33There was absolutely no way I could reconcile the military tyrant standing before me
01:39with the submissive little puppy online,
01:42who wore a collar and showed up with reddened eyes, begging for my attention every day.
01:47It has to be a coincidence.
01:50Instructor Vance, I said, trying my best to look like an innocent student.
01:55What are you doing here?
01:57His dark green eyes narrowed slightly as they swept over me with an unmistakable air of authority.
02:04I'm here to handle some personal matter.
02:06As he moved, the silver chain hanging against his collarbone swayed gently.
02:12It even bore the initials of my online alias.
02:15My breath caught in my throat.
02:17A personal matter?
02:18I could practically hear my own teeth chattering.
02:22Like someone's obedient little puppy.
02:25Julian's entire body went rigid.
02:27The storm that erupted in those green eyes.
02:31A flicker of change crossed Julian's face.
02:34His slender fingers moved quickly,
02:37fastening the top button of his shirt in one smooth motion.
02:41What are you staring at?
02:43As if suddenly remembering something,
02:45he pulled out his phone and started typing.
02:48Julian shot me a puzzled glance before lowering his head and continuing to type.
02:54Panicking,
02:55I shoved a hand into my pocket and pressed the mute button as hard as I could.
03:00By the time Julian looked up at me again,
03:02but inside,
03:04I was already dead.
03:05The black shirt we had agreed on,
03:07the private chest chain I had personally chosen,
03:11and the phone vibrating in my pocket.
03:13Every damning coincidence was pointing to one absurd, undeniable truth.
03:19My online fling was none other than Julian Vance,
03:22the same man who spent his days making the entire training field run laps
03:27and reducing more than 10 freshmen to tears with his brutal tongue.
03:31I stared at Julian,
03:32unable to process what I'd just realized.
03:35Why are you still standing here?
03:37Have you even looked at the time?
03:39Get back to your dorm.
03:42And what exactly are you wearing?
03:43Do you think you're heading to a fraternity party?
03:46Coming from the guy wearing a chest chain and a bell
03:50so he could show up and give his mistress a foot massage?
03:53That was rich.
03:55I came here to meet.
03:59Who you're here to see has nothing to do with me.
04:02Whatever trouble you get self into,
04:04it'll be the school authorities that have to deal with the consequences.
04:07If you don't get back to your dorm right now,
04:09I'll report your name to the advisor tomorrow
04:11and cancel your freshman scholarship.
04:13Please don't involve the advisor.
04:17The moment I was out of Julian's sight,
04:20I let out a long breath of relief.
04:22Only then did I realize why he hadn't recognized me.
04:26We'd had several very in-depth video calls,
04:30but neither of us had ever shown our face.
04:33Before leaving tonight,
04:35I thought,
04:35if he turns out to be ugly,
04:38I'll just pretend I'm a random passerby and disappear.
04:41So I'd lied and told him I'd be wearing a long black dress.
04:45Pulling out my phone,
04:47the screen was filled with messages from Julian.
04:50Mistress,
04:51I need to confess a mistake.
04:53A freshman from the training camp
04:55accidentally saw my chest chain just now,
04:57but I covered it immediately.
05:02Apology tax,
05:03buy yourself that pair of red bottom heels you love.
05:06I hadn't planned on replying,
05:08but the moment I saw that shiny $5,000,
05:11my finger betrayed me
05:13and tapped accept.
05:15Julian's next message arrived almost instantly.
05:19Mistress,
05:20have you arrived?
05:21Did you see me?
05:23I peeked around the corner at Julian,
05:25who was standing in the distance,
05:27looking down at his phone.
05:29After being lectured by him
05:31in his commanding officer persona,
05:33all I wanted right now
05:35was to make him squirm.
05:36So I deliberately replied,
05:39I don't want to see you anymore.
05:41Messages flooded in immediately.
05:44Why?
05:45Do you hate me now?
05:47Don't you need me to give you a massage anymore?
05:49I can guarantee I'll make you feel better.
05:52Then a short video arrived.
05:57I even wore your favorite chain tonight.
05:59And the little bell, too.
06:01Are you really sure you don't want to hear them ring?
06:07His broad chest rose and fell steadily.
06:11Glimpses of metal and leather
06:13crossing beneath the partially open shirt.
06:16How did this man,
06:17who had absolutely no limits online,
06:20have the nerve to lecture me?
06:21On the training field during the day,
06:24he was nothing short of a demon.
06:26That morning,
06:27I'd been a split second slow during formation
06:30because of low blood sugar.
06:32He'd made me do 50 push-ups in front of everyone.
06:35Then,
06:36after deciding my form wasn't good enough,
06:39he'd kept me behind for another 30 minutes of drills
06:42under his watchful eye.
06:44A secret,
06:45intensely satisfying desire for revenge
06:48suddenly stirred inside me.
06:50You're such a tease.
06:53I'm only like this for mistress.
06:55Do you like it?
06:56No.
06:57It was obvious that the infamous devil commander
07:00was now in a state of complete panic
07:03because of a single message from me.
07:05A smile tugged at my lips.
07:07Another woman saw you just now.
07:10I'm upset.
07:11I don't want you anymore.
07:13The entire walk back to the dorm,
07:15my phone vibrated non-stop.
07:18I stubbornly refused to look at it.
07:21By the time I got back,
07:23my roommate Chloe
07:23and several other girls
07:25were sitting cross-legged on the carpet,
07:27deep in a gossip session.
07:30What does your online boyfriend look like?
07:36Just look at her face.
07:37He must have been average at best.
07:39Otherwise,
07:39there's no way she'd be back this quickly.
07:43Yep,
07:44he looked like the kind of guy who eats children.
07:46I took one look from a distance and ran.
07:47The room erupted in laughter.
07:50To be fair,
07:51I don't blame you.
07:52Ever since meeting Julian,
07:54every guy in the fraternities
07:55looks like a potato to me.
07:56I don't even want to reply
07:57to their messages anymore.
08:00Seriously,
08:01have you seen his chest?
08:02It's ridiculously hot.
08:04Several girls brought him water
08:05during break today
08:06and he didn't even glance at them.
08:09He's like an iceberg.
08:10I can't even imagine
08:11what he would be like in bed.
08:12Total daddy type.
08:13Or maybe he secretly likes
08:16being somebody's lap dog.
08:20Sienna,
08:21would you stop reading so much smut?
08:23Julian comes from
08:24old money East Coast family wealth.
08:27He's a top cadet,
08:28practically guaranteed a place at West Point.
08:32If he ever found out you said that,
08:34he wouldn't just destroy you during training.
08:36He could make your academic life
08:38a complete nightmare.
08:40Right.
08:40What if Julian ever discovered
08:42that the person he'd been playing
08:44those secret power exchange games with
08:45every night
08:46was actually Sterling,
08:48the freshman cadet
08:49he spent his days tearing apart
08:50on the training field?
08:52He'd absolutely lose his mind
08:54from embarrassment
08:54and use every bit of authority
08:56he has to kick me out of the program.
09:00I'm kidding.
09:01Seriously,
09:02don't repeat that to anyone.
09:03Under no circumstances
09:04could he learn my real identity.
09:07After washing up
09:08and climbing into bed,
09:10I finally opened our chat.
09:12Because I hated being spammed with calls,
09:15Julian had shown remarkable restraint
09:17and only tried calling once.
09:19But he'd sent dozens of frantic messages.
09:23Mistress,
09:24I'm sorry.
09:25I won't let anyone else see something
09:27that belongs only to you ever again.
09:30I love you.
09:32Please don't ignore me.
09:34I'm begging you.
09:35The final messages
09:37were a series of transfer notifications
09:39with shockingly large amounts attached.
09:42Please forgive.
09:44Your pup.
09:46My queen.
09:47My heart started racing
09:49before I could stop it.
09:50The man online
09:51was just playing a role.
09:53In real life,
09:54he was Julian Vance,
09:56the man who could intimidate people
09:58into silence
09:58with a single look.
10:00Dating him in the real world
10:02would be a disaster.
10:03The smartest thing to do
10:05is end this
10:06before he figures out who I am.
10:08I've gotten bored.
10:09Our game ends here.
10:11Before I could even lock my screen,
10:13my phone began vibrating wildly.
10:16Please.
10:17Please.
10:18A good pup only belongs
10:19to one mistress for life.
10:21Don't leave me.
10:22I'll lose my mind.
10:24If you're bored,
10:25we can try something different.
10:27Push things further.
10:28Change the rules.
10:30Whatever you want.
10:31Just don't leave me.
10:32I was about to block him
10:34when the screen suddenly switched
10:36to an incoming FaceTime call.
10:39My first encounter with Julian
10:41was a ridiculous accident.
10:43Last summer,
10:44I was holed up at home
10:46grinding FPS games.
10:48After losing 10 matches in a row,
10:50I was completely tilted
10:52when I got matched with him.
10:54Eight minutes into the game,
10:56after watching his terrible gameplay,
10:58I turned on my mic
11:00and started roasting him.
11:01Are those hands of yours
11:03for using a keyboard
11:04or digging ditches?
11:06If I sprinkled dog teats
11:08on my keyboard,
11:09my dog would have
11:10better movement than you.
11:12After the match ended,
11:13he actually sent me
11:14a friend request.
11:15I thought he wanted
11:16to argue back.
11:18Instead,
11:18the first message he sent was,
11:20Do you really have a dog
11:22that can play video games?
11:23I turned on my mic.
11:24Are you actually stupid
11:27or are you pretending?
11:29There was a brief pause
11:30before he replied.
11:31Oh,
11:32then if you don't,
11:33can I be that dog?
11:39Your voice sounded really nice
11:41when you were yelling at me.
11:44I liked it.
11:46You're such a freak.
11:48I was just about to close the game
11:50when he spoke up again.
11:52Insult me one more time
11:53and I'll send you $1,000.
11:57From that day on,
11:58he became my personal puppy.
12:01Every day,
12:02he'd send me pictures
12:03of his muscles,
12:04trying to earn my approval
12:05and keep me entertained.
12:08By unspoken agreement,
12:09neither of us
12:10ever showed our faces.
12:13Instead,
12:13we played a dangerous,
12:15thrilling power exchange game
12:17from behind our screens.
12:19Then the semester started
12:21when we discovered
12:22we were both living
12:23in the same city.
12:24He kept asking to meet me
12:25in person.
12:26Who could have guessed?
12:28The man begging me online
12:29to toy with him
12:30and the man tormenting me
12:32on the training field
12:33during the day
12:33were actually the same person.
12:37After washing up
12:38and climbing into bed,
12:39I finally opened our chat.
12:42Because I hated being spammed
12:44with calls,
12:45Julian had shown remarkable restraint
12:47and only tried calling once.
12:49But he'd sent dozens
12:51of frantic messages.
12:53Mistress,
12:54I'm sorry.
12:55I won't let anyone else
12:57see something that belongs
12:58only to you ever again.
13:00I love you.
13:02Please don't ignore me.
13:04I'm begging you.
13:05The final messages
13:07were a series of
13:08transfer notifications
13:09with shockingly large
13:11amounts attached.
13:12Please,
13:13forgive.
13:14Your pup.
13:16My queen.
13:17My heart started racing
13:19before I could stop it.
13:20The man online
13:21was just playing a role.
13:23In real life,
13:24he was Julian Vance,
13:26the man who could
13:27intimidate people
13:28into silence
13:28with a single look.
13:30Dating him in the real world
13:32would be a disaster.
13:33The smartest thing to do
13:35is end this
13:36before he figures out
13:37who I am.
13:38I've gotten bored.
13:39Our game ends here.
13:41Before I could even
13:42lock my screen,
13:44my phone began
13:45vibrating wildly.
13:47Please.
13:47A good pup
13:48only belongs
13:49to one mistress for life.
13:51Don't leave me.
13:52I'll lose my mind.
13:54If you're bored,
13:55we can try something different.
13:57Push things further.
13:59Change the rules.
14:00Whatever you want.
14:01Just don't leave me.
14:02I was about to block him
14:04when the screen
14:05suddenly switched
14:06to an incoming
14:07FaceTime call.
14:09At the same moment,
14:11Julian's voice
14:12came through the speaker,
14:13noticeably hoarse
14:15and breathless.
14:16Cece,
14:17I'm not dirty.
14:19Please don't leave me.
14:20My heart slammed
14:22against my ribs.
14:23Panicking,
14:24I mashed the volume button
14:26all the way down
14:27and practically dove
14:28beneath my comforter.
14:30Julian didn't stop.
14:32Mistress,
14:33I just learned
14:34a new way
14:34to punish myself.
14:36Do you want to see it?
14:37Even through the screen,
14:38I could feel
14:39my face burning.
14:41I forced the tremor
14:42out of my voice.
14:44No.
14:45A low,
14:45wounded sound
14:46immediately came
14:47from the other end
14:48of the call.
14:49Why?
14:50I'm really tired.
14:52We'll talk tomorrow.
14:53Silence.
14:54For two whole seconds.
14:56Then he relented
14:57with infuriating obedience.
14:59Then I'll record it
15:00and send it to you.
15:01When you wake up tomorrow
15:03and watch it,
15:04you'll forgive me, right?
15:05I didn't dare
15:06let him say another word,
15:08mumbling some vague response.
15:10I ended the call
15:12as fast as I could.
15:14The next morning,
15:16I finally experienced
15:17what real hell looked like.
15:19After ten straight minutes
15:20of holding a plank
15:21under the blazing sun,
15:23I was ready to scream.
15:25Beside me,
15:26Chloe looked equally miserable.
15:28My arms are completely numb.
15:30Which asshole
15:31peed in Julian's
15:32protein powder this morning?
15:33What the hell
15:34is wrong with him today?
15:35Maybe some woman
15:35dumped him last night.
15:37Oh, please.
15:38Even if the world ended,
15:40that guy wouldn't let
15:41a single emotion
15:42show on his face.
15:44Thank God.
15:45Another instructor
15:46suddenly called Julian away
15:48to verify the freshman roster.
15:50The second he turned around,
15:52the entire formation
15:53collapsed onto the grass.
15:55I furtively slipped my phone
15:57out of the pocket
15:58of my training pants.
15:59At two in the morning,
16:01he'd sent me an encrypted video.
16:03This morning,
16:04I'd only watched
16:05the first three seconds
16:06before shutting it off.
16:08Yet those three seconds
16:10had replayed in my head all day.
16:12I lowered the volume
16:13to the absolute minimum,
16:16cupped one hand
16:17around the edge of the screen,
16:18and pressed play.
16:19Who would have guessed
16:21that the same control freak
16:23who spent his days
16:24barking orders at us
16:25from above
16:26could be so reckless
16:27and private?
16:28My pulse quickened
16:30as I watched.
16:31I was so distracted
16:32that I didn't notice
16:33the training field
16:34gradually falling silent
16:36around me.
16:37Not until a tall shadow
16:39fell across my body.
16:41I looked up.
16:43Julian was staring down at me.
16:44Instinctively,
16:45I tried to shove my phone
16:46up my training pants.
16:47Sterling,
16:48did I give the order
16:49for a break?
16:50I swallowed hard.
16:51No, sir.
16:54I can't hear how you
16:55address a superior officer
16:56louder!
16:58Sir!
16:59No, sir!
16:59Ten laps around the field.
17:01Move.
17:02Now.
17:03Sympathetic looks immediately
17:05came from every direction.
17:06My nose stung.
17:08I felt wronged beyond words.
17:10Everyone else was resting.
17:11Why was he always
17:12singling me out?
17:13Right before sprinting off,
17:15my knees buckled,
17:16sending me stumbling.
17:17My phone slipped free
17:19from my training pants.
17:20Oh, no.
17:21The video is still open.
17:23A low, muffled sound
17:24from the video
17:25suddenly came through
17:26the phone's speaker.
17:27I lunged forward
17:28to grab my phone,
17:29but my fingers
17:30closed on empty air.
17:31Julian had already
17:32picked it up,
17:33and now his eyes
17:34were fixed on the screen.
17:36Fuck!
17:37What's he going to do?
17:39Confiscate my phone
17:40in front of everyone?
17:41Kick me out of the
17:42training program on the spot?
17:43But the disaster
17:44I expected
17:45never came.
17:46Julian stared at the screen
17:47for a long moment.
17:48Then he tossed the phone
17:49back into my arms.
17:51Thank God.
17:51The impact from hitting the ground
17:53had triggered the screen lock.
17:54I was just about to slip back
17:56into formation
17:57when Julian suddenly
17:58stepped closer.
17:59Where did you get
18:00that lock screen wallpaper?
18:02Wait.
18:03What?
18:04My lock screen wallpaper.
18:05It was one of the ab photos
18:07Julian had sent me.
18:08In the picture,
18:10he was wearing nothing
18:11but a pair of gray sweatpants.
18:13Sure,
18:14I'd added a cute pink filter
18:15and rotated the image.
18:17But what man
18:18wouldn't recognize
18:19his own abs?
18:22It's just some
18:23random male model photo
18:25I found online.
18:26His eyes narrowed dangerously.
18:29Clearly,
18:29he didn't believe
18:30a single word.
18:31Every alarm bell
18:32in my head started screaming.
18:34So I switched tactics.
18:36Putting on an expression
18:37of shock disbelief
18:38mixed with faint disgust,
18:40I looked him up and down.
18:42Why would you even ask that, sir?
18:44I paused deliberately.
18:47Unless
18:49you've taken photos
18:50like that yourself?
18:53Fuck!
18:54What's he going to do?
18:56Confiscate my phone
18:57in front of everyone?
18:58Kick me out of the training program
18:59on the spot?
19:00But the disaster I expected
19:02never came.
19:03Julian stared at the screen
19:04for a long moment.
19:05Then he tossed the phone
19:06back into my arms.
19:08Thank God.
19:09The impact from hitting the ground
19:10had triggered the screen lock.
19:11I was just about to slip back
19:13into formation
19:14when Julian suddenly
19:15stepped closer.
19:16Where did you get that
19:17lock screen wallpaper?
19:19Wait.
19:20What?
19:21My lock screen wallpaper.
19:23It was one of the ab photos
19:24Julian had sent me.
19:26In the picture,
19:27he was wearing nothing
19:28but a pair of gray sweatpants.
19:29Sure, I'd added a cute pink filter
19:32and rotated the image.
19:34But what man wouldn't recognize
19:36his own abs?
19:39It's just some
19:40random male model photo
19:42I found online.
19:43His eyes narrowed dangerously.
19:46Clearly, he didn't believe
19:47a single word.
19:48Every alarm bell in my head
19:50started screaming.
19:51So I switched tactics.
19:53Putting on an expression
19:54of shock disbelief
19:55mixed with faint disgust,
19:57I looked him up and down.
19:59Why would you even ask that, sir?
20:01I paused deliberately.
20:04Unless
20:06you've taken photos
20:07like that yourself.
20:10Julian flushed deeply
20:12to his eartips.
20:13Watch your mouth, Sterling.
20:15Formation!
20:16Fall in!
20:17Sterling,
20:18ten laps.
20:19Now.
20:20You don't eat lunch
20:22until you finish
20:22every single one.
20:24I clenched my jaw
20:26and turned toward the track.
20:27Fine.
20:28I'll run.
20:29By the time I finished,
20:30the cafeteria
20:31had already been picked clean.
20:33I ended up curled on a bench
20:35with nothing but
20:36a stale bread roll
20:37for lunch.
20:38Mistress,
20:38why haven't you spoken
20:39to me all morning?
20:40I snapped a photo
20:41of the empty wrapper
20:42beside me
20:43and sent it over.
20:44Eating lunch.
20:45Busy.
20:45How can that count as lunch?
20:47That's barely food.
20:48A second later,
20:49a Venmo notification
20:51appeared.
20:52$1,000 received.
20:54Some psychotic asshole
20:55has been making my life
20:57miserable all day.
20:58Because of him,
20:59I missed lunch.
21:00Then he's a complete bastard.
21:02I hope he goes
21:03straight to hell.
21:04Seeing how obedient
21:05he was
21:06now made his earlier
21:07arrogance on the training field
21:09even more satisfying
21:10to remember.
21:11My desire for revenge
21:12hit an all-time high.
21:14That punishment video
21:15you sent last night
21:16was pathetic.
21:17Honestly,
21:18it was embarrassing
21:19to watch.
21:20What makes a man
21:21who'd throw away
21:21his pride
21:22just to please a woman
21:23think he deserves
21:24to be my only pup?
21:25Only a few seconds
21:26passed before
21:27a voice message appeared.
21:30If you don't like me
21:31being this needy,
21:33I can change.
21:34I can be a well-behaved
21:35good boy.
21:36Whatever you tell me
21:37to do,
21:37I'll do it.
21:38Please don't leave me.
21:40Listening to this man,
21:42the same man
21:42who acted untouchable
21:43all day,
21:44begging me
21:45in such a broken voice,
21:46felt absurdly satisfying.
21:48I locked my screen
21:49without replying.
21:51Between the lack of sleep
21:52and those miserable
21:53punishment laps,
21:54I spent the entire afternoon
21:55feeling like a zombie.
21:57The first activity
21:58after formation was,
22:00of course,
22:00the dreaded uniform
22:01and appearance inspection.
22:03Julian strode down the line
22:05in long, deliberate steps.
22:07When he stopped in front of me,
22:09I automatically lowered
22:10my eyes to the ground,
22:11already prepared
22:12for the daily humiliation
22:13that inevitably accompanied
22:15his inspections.
22:16What's that on the corner
22:17of your mouth?
22:19Breadcrumbs.
22:20What's wrong, sir?
22:22Julian froze.
22:23The icy look in his eyes
22:25fell apart,
22:26overtaken by a tangled
22:27mess of emotions.
22:28Is he about to make me run
22:30another five laps
22:31over a few crumbs?
22:32Just as I braced myself
22:34for another round
22:35of targeted harassment,
22:36something completely
22:37unexpected happened.
22:38Julian smiled.
22:40Sienna.
22:41Every hair on my body
22:42stood on end.
22:43My heart nearly stopped.
22:46How can I help you, sir?
22:49Then I witnessed
22:50the most ridiculous thing
22:51I had ever seen in my life.
22:53The devil commander,
22:55who could probably throw
22:56a grown man across a room
22:57with one hand,
22:58had red-rimmed eyes.
23:00He looked at me
23:00with a damp, wounded gaze,
23:02like a puppy
23:03that had just been scolded.
23:04I swallowed hard.
23:06My heartbeat thundered
23:07in my ears.
23:08After several seconds
23:09of deeply uncomfortable silence,
23:11his Adam's apple bobbed.
23:13With obvious effort,
23:14he looked away.
23:16It's nothing.
23:17Maintain your posture.
23:19He threw out the order
23:20and immediately turned
23:21toward the next
23:21unfortunate cadet.
23:23But there was something
23:24strangely hurried
23:25about his retreating steps.
23:26The rest of training
23:27was every bit as brutal
23:28as before.
23:29Sienna,
23:30I'm begging you,
23:31just pretend to faint.
23:32The second you go down,
23:34I'll rush you to the infirmary
23:35and we'll both escape this hell.
23:37Use your brain.
23:38We're standing on
23:39boiling hot asphalt.
23:40If I fall face first,
23:42I'll leave here
23:42with a traumatic brain injury.
23:45Trust me,
23:46I swear I'll catch you.
23:47My blood sugar crashed
23:49at the worst time.
23:50Black spots blurred my vision,
23:52and I collapsed backward
23:53as Chloe screamed in terror.
23:55Hey,
23:56this is a point of sight.
23:57You're doing it too soon.
23:59I wasn't ready.
24:00I squeezed my eyes shut
24:02in despair.
24:03Then a powerful arm
24:05wrapped around my waist.
24:06In one swift motion,
24:08I was pulled against
24:09a solid,
24:10burning hot chest.
24:12I opened my eyes,
24:14still shaken.
24:15Julian's flawless face
24:16was suddenly inches away
24:18from mine.
24:19The usual cold superiority
24:20was gone.
24:21In its place
24:22was naked panic
24:24and concern.
24:24I jerked away from him
24:26as if I'd been burned.
24:27Grabbing the hand
24:28Chloe thrust toward me,
24:30I scrambled back to my feet.
24:32Only one thought
24:33was running through my head.
24:34He couldn't think
24:35I'm faking this
24:36to get out of training.
24:37Sir,
24:38I have low blood sugar.
24:39That's right, sir.
24:41Sienna missed lunchtime today.
24:42That's why she fainted.
24:44Please,
24:44let her take a break.
24:45I closed my mouth
24:46and waited for the punishment.
24:48Maybe push-ups
24:49or extra laps
24:51or both.
24:52Instead,
24:53something completely
24:54unexpected
24:54flashed across
24:55Julian's face.
24:57Guilt.
24:58He suddenly spun
24:59toward the formation
25:00and barked
25:00at the top of his lungs.
25:02Everyone,
25:03take a one-hour break!
25:05Then he turned back to me
25:06and somehow,
25:08impossibly,
25:09his voice became gentle.
25:11Sienna,
25:13I can take you
25:14to the infirmary.
25:15A brief pause.
25:16Or would you rather
25:18I get you some coffee?
25:20My brain completely
25:21stopped functioning.
25:22What the hell is happening?
25:25I opened my eyes,
25:27still shaken.
25:28Julian's flawless face
25:29was suddenly inches away
25:31from mine.
25:32The usual cold superiority
25:33was gone.
25:34In its place
25:35was naked panic
25:37and concern.
25:38I jerked away from him
25:39as if I'd been burned.
25:40Grabbing the hand
25:41Chloe thrust toward me,
25:43I scrambled back
25:44to my feet.
25:45Only one thought
25:46was running through my head.
25:47He couldn't think
25:48I'm faking this
25:49to get out of training.
25:50Sir,
25:51I have low blood sugar.
25:52That's right, sir.
25:54Sienna missed lunchtime today.
25:56That's why she fainted.
25:57Please,
25:57let her take a break.
25:58I closed my mouth
25:59and waited for the punishment.
26:01Maybe push-ups
26:02or extra laps
26:04or both.
26:05Instead,
26:06something completely unexpected
26:08flashed across Julian's face.
26:10Guilt.
26:11He suddenly spun
26:12toward the formation
26:13and barked
26:13at the top of his lungs.
26:15Everyone,
26:16take a one-hour break!
26:18Then he turned
26:19back to me.
26:20And somehow,
26:21impossibly,
26:22his voice became gentle.
26:24Sienna,
26:26I can take you
26:27to the infirmary.
26:28A brief pause.
26:30Or,
26:31would you rather
26:31I get you some coffee?
26:33My brain completely
26:34stopped functioning.
26:35What the hell
26:36is happening?
26:38I'll be fine
26:39if I just sit
26:40with everyone else
26:41for a while.
26:41Are you kidding me?
26:42There is absolutely
26:43no way I'm being alone
26:45with this man
26:45while he's acting
26:46this strange.
26:49All right.
26:50Whatever you want.
26:51Oh, God.
26:52This is horrifying.
26:54After the formation
26:55was dismissed,
26:56Julian disappeared.
26:58Ten minutes later,
26:59several employees
27:00from a local drink shop
27:01showed up
27:01carrying massive
27:03cardboard drink trays.
27:08Julian had apparently
27:10put the entire order
27:11on his credit card.
27:12Someone shoved
27:13an ice-cold fruit juice
27:14into my hands.
27:15But I just stared at it.
27:17For some reason,
27:18I couldn't bring myself
27:19to take a sip.
27:21Sitting beside me,
27:22took a huge sip
27:23of her drink
27:24and let out
27:25a blissful sigh.
27:28Cici,
27:29that collapse of yours
27:31was a legendary sacrifice.
27:34He was totally freaked out.
27:36Pizza lens.
27:37What's it like
27:37being held by a guy
27:38like Julian?
27:39Are his pecs
27:40really as hard as marble?
27:42Did he smell
27:42ridiculously good?
27:43I immediately
27:44shot her a glare,
27:45my tone guarded
27:46and disapproving.
27:47Would you shut up?
27:48There was absolutely
27:49nothing inappropriate
27:50about it.
27:51He's an emotionless
27:53control freak.
27:53I'd rather date
27:54one of the concrete
27:55pillars on the field
27:56than have a single
27:58romantic thought
27:59about him.
28:00Her eyes widened
28:01in horror
28:02as she stared
28:02at something behind me.
28:05I turned my head stiffly.
28:07A few steps away,
28:08Julian was standing
28:09there in silence.
28:10He was holding
28:11a pink pastry bag,
28:13his face pale,
28:14staring straight at me.
28:15The man who had been
28:16so domineering
28:17just seconds ago
28:18now looked like a dog
28:19that had just been
28:20kicked away by its owner.
28:22Fuck.
28:22He must have
28:23heard everything.
28:25A strong wave of guilt
28:26cleared my throat.
28:27I forced out
28:28a stiff,
28:28vague smile.
28:30Sir,
28:31thank you for the drink.
28:33Julian's eyes flickered
28:34as if he had just
28:35been slapped awake.
28:37Take this.
28:39I opened the bag.
28:40Inside was an exquisitely
28:42prepared slice
28:42of strawberry cheesecake.
28:44Oh my god, sir,
28:45you even prepared
28:46dessert specifically
28:47for Sienna?
28:48That's way too
28:49considerate.
28:50At that,
28:50my stomach sank.
28:52Strawberry cheesecake
28:53was the dessert
28:54I had told my little puppy
28:55online that I liked
28:56the most.
28:57Was this just a hell
28:58of a coincidence
28:59or did he already
29:00know who I was
29:01and was deliberately
29:02testing me?
29:04A strong sense
29:05of defensiveness
29:06made me take
29:07a half step back.
29:08Julian's jaw muscle
29:09twitched violently.
29:11His expression
29:11shifted into something
29:12cold and unreadable.
29:14The bar just threw
29:15that in as a
29:15complimentary item.
29:16It's to keep
29:17your blood sugar up
29:18so you don't
29:18cause me trouble
29:19again this afternoon.
29:20With that,
29:21he strode away
29:22and sat down
29:23under a tree
29:23as far from
29:24the crowd as possible.
29:25His posture
29:26looked firm
29:27and decisive,
29:27but I could still
29:29see a thick layer
29:29of grievance
29:30underneath it.
29:31I scooped up
29:32a small bite of cake
29:33with my fork
29:34and put it in my mouth
29:35when my phone
29:35suddenly buzzed
29:36in my pocket.
29:37Even if you really
29:38find me disgusting,
29:39as long as I can
29:40stay by your side,
29:41you can order me
29:42around however you like.
29:43I looked up.
29:44The tall Julian
29:45was sitting alone
29:46beneath the shade
29:47of the tree,
29:48hunched over slightly,
29:49his hands resting
29:50on his knees,
29:51head lowered in silence.
29:53An indescribable wave
29:54of bitterness
29:55broke through
29:55my rationality.
29:57Forget it.
29:58Why bother
29:59with a little dog?
30:01Good boy.
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