CHAPTER 47: GOODNIGHT, WILDCAT

Catherine’s POV

Since Julian had confessed that he couldn’t resist me and since he began to act like a jealous idiot every time Collins was around, I decided it was time for payback. He had this annoying habit of turning me on, making my pulse race, then walking away like it meant nothing, right? Well, I was done being the one left flustered.

Karma, they said, was a bitch and this time, I was karma.

The plan was to make Julian angry and jealous as often as possible and the easiest tool for the job was Collins, my supposed boyfriend.

For some reason, it felt like Collins must have sensed my plans because the moment I started my little revenge mission, he suddenly turned into the most clingy, public version of himself.

He began to show up after classes to walk me around or buy me lunch, his arm was mostly draped over my shoulders when we walked, and he would co Stanley brush hair out of my face like we were the leads in some high school rom-com.

It was ridiculously cute and useful.

I caught Julian watching us once, with his tight jaw and dark eyes. Another time, when Collins pressed a kiss to my cheek near the lockers, Julian turned and walked away like he was two seconds from snapping. As much as it made me feel triumphant, I also felt pity for him at times.

At home, I avoided him like the plague. If I walked into a room and he was there, I turned back out. If he spoke, I pretended not to hear. I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction of another verbal spar or intimate session. The plan was to treat him like he didn’t exist.

One Friday night, Collins took me out after class for dinner. We had so much fun as usual but it wasn’t enough to get me to sleep over at his place, even though he requested it.

His driver dropped me off at home. Remembering the last time Julian had hidden in the dark like a creep, I made sure Gabriel was awake to open the door, so something like that would not repeat itself.

He yawned as he let me in. "Someone is in love and enjoying her new relationship?" he teased.

I smiled and nodded, not wanting to over-explain. I didn’t love Collins, but at least he was kind. He didn’t play with my head. He didn’t leave me wondering.

The moment I got upstairs, I pulled my key out and unlocked my room. After shutting the door, I started pulling off my clothes. My shoes, then my jeans, then my top. I was down to my bra and panties when I turned the light on and froze.

"Fuck!"

Julian was sitting on my bed.

My hand flew to my chest and I almost screamed. "What the hell, Julian!"

He didn’t move, he just sat there, with his elbows on his knees, staring at me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. His eyes flicked down my body, then back up, and his jaw flexed like he was fighting himself.

"Catherine," he called my name with that rough tone that spoke a lot of things. "Why have you been avoiding me? It’s killing me."

What? Was he insane?

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Don’t start with your bullshit. Get out of my room. You sound like a psychopath."

He stood, and my heart instantly started pounding but I stayed where I was, refusing to back down. I wasn’t going to let him see me intimidated. Not anymore.

He walked closer slowly, like I might run. When he got close to me, his hand lifted to my face, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

How could a person’s touch burn this much?

"Julian Vaughn," I said his name out like a warning.

His fingers slid lower, tracing my jaw, then stopping at my throat. A shiver ran through me before I could stop it.

"Don’t be scared," he murmured. "I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to. I am here because I need you to answer me honestly."

I swallowed hard, giving a tight nod.

"Do you feel it too?" he asked softly. "This thing between us. The chemistry. Do you find it hard not to think about me? Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Do you want me as much as I want you?"

My toes curled against the carpet. I licked my lips, trying to look away, but his eyes pinned me there.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," I denied, even when it sounded weak to my own ears.

He shifted his tongue to the side, sniffing. "Then why is your heart beating too fast? You’re lying."

I said nothing. If I opened my mouth, the truth might slip out. He was doing it again, getting into my head, pulling at threads I was trying to hold together.

I knew exactly what he was trying to do. He wanted to make me feel something, so he could walk away again when I did. Not this time!

His thumb grazed my lower lip, and I flinched.

"I want to kiss you, please permit me," he whispered.

I grabbed his wrist and pushed it away. "No, Julian. Leave. Now."

For a long second, he just looked at me. Something unreadable flashed across his face, and then he nodded.

"Fine."

He walked to the door, hand on the knob. I almost thought he’d leave without another word but of course not.

Just before he stepped out, he turned slightly. "Goodnight, wildcat."

"Don’t—" My voice caught. "Don’t fucking call me that!"

But he was already gone.

I sank onto the bed, heart still racing, trying to convince myself that what just happened was nothing. That he was just being Julian, the cocky, manipulative and impossible Julian. That I didn’t care but my fingers trembled when I reached for my robe and deep down, I knew he’d gotten exactly what he came for because now, I couldn’t stop thinking about him either.