Lets make a baby

The journey from the courthouse to her new "home" was a blur, the tinted windows of the sleek black car obscuring the outside world, much like the opaque future ahead of her. When the vehicle finally slowed, Layla felt a tremor of apprehension.

She was led out not to a towering mansion, but to a luxurious modern house nestled on the edge of the city. It wasn’t ostentatious, but its clean lines, expansive glass panels, and meticulously manicured gardens spoke of understated wealth and impeccable taste. It was far, far nicer than anywhere she had ever lived, a stark contrast to the cramped apartments and the suffocating atmosphere of her adoptive home.

As she stepped inside, the cool air enveloped her, carrying a faint scent of fresh flowers and expensive wood polish. The interior was a symphony of modern design: high ceilings, polished concrete floors softened by plush rugs, minimalist furniture, and large windows that offered breathtaking views of the urban sprawl blending into the distant, hazy hills.

A kind, older woman with warm, crinkled eyes and a gentle smile emerged from an archway. "Welcome, Ms. Hayes, I'm Janet. I'm the housekeeper and caretaker here. Mr. Frost informed me of your arrival."

Janet’s presence was a balm, a much-needed touch of human warmth in the cold, transactional nature of her new reality.

Layla offered a weak smile in return, a silent thank you for the genuine welcome. Janet showed her to a sprawling master suite, even larger and more lavish than the hotel room she'd fled. It had its own private balcony, a walk-in closet that was bigger than her entire previous apartment, and a bathroom that felt like a personal spa.

Colden Frost, her new husband, was nowhere to be seen. He had been a silent, imposing presence at the courthouse, but now he was gone. Absent. Cold. Distant. Just as the rumors said. He was the Ice King, and his absence was a chilling affirmation of their purely contractual bond. She hadn't seen him since they signed the papers, and when she woke the next morning, he was already gone.

Yet, despite his coldness, despite the terrifying implications of their arrangement, Layla felt something she hadn't experienced in years: safety. For the first time, she was truly safe.

The gnawing fear of her adoptive parents, the searing pain of Mark’s betrayal, the crushing weight of homelessness – it was all suddenly lifted. The house was a sanctuary, a gilded cage perhaps, but a cage nonetheless that protected her from the monsters outside.

Later that day, alone in the vast quiet of the house, she found herself drawn to the contract. The words, once a blur of legal jargon, now seemed to hold a terrifying clarity. She smoothed the crisp pages, her fingers tracing the formal script. Most of it was standard, albeit incredibly generous, detailing her financial provisions, the allowances, the complete independence she would have within the confines of this house.

Then, her eyes landed on a clause that seemed to pulsate with an ominous light:

“Heir shall be produced within 12 months of marriage.”

Her chest tightened, a cold knot forming in her stomach. Twelve months. A child. Her purpose, clearly defined and terrifyingly immediate. She wasn't just marrying him; she was a vessel, a means to an end. The thought was horrifying. To be used solely for the production of an heir, a transaction devoid of love or genuine connection, was a chilling prospect.

A wave of despair washed over her. She didn't want to be used, not again. She had been used by her parents, by Mark. Was this any different?

But then, a small, persistent voice whispered from deep within her, a voice she hadn’t heard in years. What if this is your chance? What if you could make a real family—your own family? A family not defined by abuse or betrayal, but by her own choosing. A child she could love unconditionally, protect fiercely. A chance to break the cursed cycle that had plagued her life. The thought, terrifying as it was, held a seductive appeal.

She was lost in this internal battle when the door to her suite quietly opened. Layla jumped, startled, her heart leaping into her throat. She hadn’t heard him approach.

Colden Frost stood framed in the doorway, a dark, imposing silhouette against the brighter hallway. He wasn't wearing a suit, but a simple, perfectly fitted black t-shirt that stretched taut across his broad chest, hinting at the sculpted muscle beneath. Dark jeans clung to his powerful legs. His hair was slightly tousled, as if he had just run a hand through it, adding a touch of raw, unpolished appeal to his otherwise pristine appearance.

His eyes, those piercing glacial eyes, swept over her, a slow, deliberate appraisal that made her skin prickle. There was an intensity in his gaze, something primal and unsettling. It wasn't just observation; it was a deep, consuming hunger. The air in the room seemed to thicken, charged with an unspoken electricity.

Layla’s breath hitched. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, her body tensing instinctively. Her hands, which had been clutching the contract, now trembled visibly. She felt incredibly small, utterly exposed under his scorching gaze. He was dangerously attractive, a magnetizing force that drew her in even as her every instinct screamed for her to flee.

He began to walk towards her, his movements fluid and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. Each step was unnervingly quiet, yet it resonated through the silent room, a drumbeat to Layla’s racing pulse. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him, hypnotized by his powerful stride, the subtle flex of muscles beneath his shirt. He was pure, raw male magnetism, and her body, despite her fear, reacted with an unwanted awareness.

He stopped directly in front of her, so close she could feel the faint warmth radiating from his body, catch the clean, masculine scent of him that was now dangerously familiar. He lowered his head slightly, his gaze dropping to her lips, then back to her eyes. The hunger was still there, intense and unmistakable, flickering in the depths of his icy gaze.

Slowly, deliberately, he raised a hand. Layla flinched, a tiny, involuntary movement of apprehension. His fingers, long and strong, lifted and gently, oh so gently, stroked her cheek. The touch was feather-light, yet it sent a jolt through her, a conflicting mix of electric awareness and profound unease. His thumb brushed softly over her skin, tracing the curve of her jawline.

"Let's make the baby," he murmured, his voice a low, husky rumble that seemed to vibrate through her very bones. The words were a command, an expectation, devoid of warmth or tenderness, yet delivered with a sensual undertone that was utterly disarming. His gaze held hers, unwavering, compelling.

Layla swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. Her heart was hammering so violently against her ribs she thought it might break through. The air felt thick, heavy with unspoken tension and the terrifying weight of his desire. His words, blunt and direct, stripped away any pretense of romance or affection, laying bare the brutal reality of their arrangement.

She was here for one purpose. And he was ready to collect. The fear was palpable, but beneath it, a strange, terrifying surrender began to take root. This was it. The start of her new life. For better or worse.