Chapter 8: Do I need to seduce trash like him?

Milan's POV

Ah, yes. This was exactly the feeling I wanted.

I pressed my tear-streaked face against Sorensen's chest, rubbing shamelessly against his pectorals while letting out pitiful sobs, hoping my damsel-in-distress act would get me out of this mess. And just as I'd calculated, it worked like a charm.

"What's going on?" Sorensen's hand patted my back in that same comforting rhythm as before, then he shifted me protectively behind him.

Luke's two girlfriends didn't even bother helping him up after my accusation. Instead, they turned on him with suspicion burning in their eyes.

"Luke, is what she's saying true?"

I peeked out from behind Sorensen's broad back, pointing an accusing finger at Luke for good measure. "He... he's a pervert!"

My claim clearly resonated with both girls and Sorensen alike—they obviously knew about Luke's particular problem. Luke's face turned an impressive shade of green as he stammered incoherently.

"She... she's framing me! I was only—"

"Bullshit!" I leaned out further, jabbing my finger at him. "You blocked me from getting to my room, tried to grab me—what else would that be except attempted rape? Disgusting! How long were you standing outside that door watching me? Tell the truth!"

"And if you dare have any more sick ideas about me, I'll make sure next time you can't be a man at all!"

The moment those words left my mouth, I felt Sorensen's body give the slightest shudder. Whether that was my imagination or not, I couldn't be sure.

Luke bit down hard, his jaw clenching. "I... I was just—"

"Enough, Luke!" Sorensen's cold voice cut through the air like a blade. His grip on my hand tightened. "Miss Milan is my guest. If I catch you making any more inappropriate advances toward her, you'll regret it."

The two girls, despite their grievances against Luke, couldn't just stand by while their man was being humiliated like this. They stepped forward, positioning themselves defensively in front of him.

"That's enough! He's already suffered enough. What more do you want?"

The other girl glared at me with undisguised hostility. "Yeah, and we haven't even called you out yet! You did this on purpose. Look at you—coming out after your shower without pants, obviously trying to seduce our Luke. He only acted that way because you were throwing yourself at him. Stop playing innocent!"

"I am wearing pants, you idiot!" Incensed, I stepped out from behind Sorensen and yanked up my oversized shirt, revealing the hot pants hidden underneath. "Look closely, you provincial fool. This is called the 'Oversized tunic look!"

"And another thing—even if every man on earth dropped dead, I still wouldn't give this kind of animal who goes into heat at the sight of any woman a second glance."

I tossed my hair back with deliberate flair, placed one hand on my hip, and struck a pose that would make any runway model proud, my long pale legs positioned just so. Even Sorensen's gaze seemed to freeze for a heartbeat.

"Just look at me. Do I need to seduce trash like him?" I tapped the back of my hand against Sorensen's chest. "If I were going to seduce anyone, it would be someone like this!"

My combined insults and comparisons turned all three of their faces the same sickly green shade. The two girls completely lost their composure.

"No matter how pretty you are, you're still stuck in the same house as us, in one room trying to hook men. What are you so smug about?"

"I'm smug because I can be! Who told your pathetic excuse for a man to try and assault me!"

"You lying bitch... stop slandering me..."

"Everyone shut up!" Sorensen's explosive command brought the farce to an abrupt halt.

I was still riding the adrenaline high, ready to continue the verbal warfare, but the moment I opened my mouth, he pulled me against him.

"Luke, that kick was exactly what you deserved. If anything like this happens again, pack your things and get out of this house."

Luke's face contorted with rage, but he didn't dare say a word. The two girls, intimidated by Sorensen's icy expression, could only manage a weak protest after a long pause.

"You're... being way too domineering. This isn't even your house—you're just a tenant!"

"You're welcome to test me." Sorensen didn't waste another word on them. He turned, keeping his arm around me, and headed back toward our room.

I let myself be guided like a puppet until the door closed behind us. Only then did his cold voice snap me back to reality. "What are you smiling about?"

I patted his arm lightly, grinning. "Not bad. That was a pretty natural embrace. Want to try holding me while we sleep tonight?"

He released me without hesitation, his tone flat. "Don't misunderstand. I only held you to help you out of that situation. Nothing more."

Sure, keep telling yourself that. I didn't bother calling out his obvious lie. Instead, I took two quick steps and plopped down on the bed, kicking off both pairs of slippers carelessly. My bare feet, pale and delicate, swung lazily off the edge of the bed.

Sorensen frowned. "I have to say, I didn't realize you were such an expert at making a scene."

I nodded proudly. "Of course. You've experienced it firsthand already."

"Besides—" I twirled a strand of hair around my finger, forming a loose curl. "Even if you know I'm being unreasonable, a certain stubborn male escort couldn't help but protect me anyway, could he?"

His frown deepened. "I told you not to call me that."

I smiled sweetly. "I didn't say it was you."

Watching my completely unapologetic expression, he sighed. "You can use other terms to address me."

I waved dismissively. "You have no idea—that guy was standing there the moment I opened the door. Who knows how long he was fantasizing about me through that glass? Do you know how disgusting that is? And he was talking trash about you, blocking my way so I couldn't get back to the room, then had the audacity to say he wanted to be my friend and make me happy."

"Who knows what his real intentions were? What if the next step was actual rape? I'm just a weak woman, the kind who can barely lift a piece of iron..."

I put on my most pitiful expression, hoping to trigger his protective instincts and get him to hold me again. But when I looked up, I caught him trying to suppress a laugh.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You kicked him hard enough that he almost lost his manhood, and now you're telling me you're a weak woman?"

"Being... being a weak woman doesn't mean I can't fight back! How was I supposed to know he'd be so pathetic that one kick would take him down?"

He sighed again. "So how much of what you say can I actually believe?"

"Believe what you want." I leaned back on my hands, affecting a casual air. "At least I'm not the one getting called inadequate and boring in bed by someone living under the same roof."

I'd meant to pique his curiosity, but the man's expression didn't even flicker, which annoyed me greatly.

"Someone talked trash about you, and I defended your honor. Instead of being grateful, you're interrogating me? What, are you trying to charge me with a crime or something?"

"So you're saying you kicked him in the balls not for yourself, but to defend me?"

I nodded firmly.

He looked up at the ceiling with an exaggerated sigh, as if completely defeated by my shamelessness and at a complete loss for words.

I was about to tease him further when that familiar discomfort in my stomach intensified. The whole confrontation had drained me. I curled up on the bed, staring at his muscular chest as an absurd yet somehow logical thought took hold of me again.

"Sorensen, come hold me."

He didn't move.

Deliberately, I emerged from under the covers—wearing nothing—and pressed my cheek directly against the curve of his neck. His skin was burning hot where it touched mine.

The discomfort gradually faded.

This was actually real!

I pulled back in disbelief, and immediately the nausea came rushing back. I lifted his shirt and grabbed his pecs, squeezing them experimentally, then rubbed against his abs. Through these repeated tests, I felt the changes in my body with growing astonishment.

Finally, I took a deep breath and looked at him with complete seriousness.

"Sorensen, are you human?"

I lifted his chin with one finger, intending to try out some of the flirtatious lines Heidi had taught me. But then, after a brief silence, Sorensen looked back at me with equal gravity and slowly said—

"No."