MasukTara Blackwood POV"Oh, Kaiden, won’t you help us make the lady my son’s bride?"I understood what he said, and it was clear he was joking. I couldn’t understand why Mr. Ross’s face looked so stern.“That’s impossible, Mr. Ross. This girl belongs to someone else.”He emphasized belongs to someone else. For a moment, I thought he meant Ethan Rowlan, but then I remembered that just mentioning him annoyed Kaiden. The problem was, he made no effort to hide his irritation, both in his tone and on his face.“I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t know that. Your man is lucky anyway.”I blushed at “your man” because I didn’t see Ethan Rowlan as mine—not yet.I was about to respond when his son interrupted, taking my hand and pressing it to his chest. That gesture disgusted me, and he looked into my eyes:“I’m Alexander Ross.”I smiled to hide my tension from his touch.“I’m Tara Blackwood. Pleasure to meet you, Daniel.”He said this while playfully pointing at the poor Marco, who was just joking, and his
Tara Blackwood POVKaiden Draven stepped away from the car and, without taking his eyes off me, opened the door. I slid into the car without looking at him, trying my best to avoid his gaze.About ten minutes passed, which felt like an hour to me. Silence ruled the space, and I didn’t like it.I lowered my crossed leg to place it beside the other, causing my thighs to become noticeable.“Keep yourself covered, or I might throw you into the back seat and take that softness between my hands until it changes color.”I looked at him, tense and afraid. There was something terrifying about how calmly he said that. I gripped the edges of my coat over my thighs, protecting myself like he instructed.More minutes passed.I got bored staring straight at him, so I stole a glance from the corner of my eye. I noticed his eyes—was it sadness or anger?—focused ahead on the road.“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to pick me up?”I crossed my arms and said it angrily, this time turning my head t
Tara Blackwood POVThe only sound in this room was the high-pitched moan of my head pounding. It took me a full fifteen minutes just to figure out what time it was… twelve o’clock.I’m dead. I didn’t sleep.No work today, which is perfect because I can focus on myself and my beauty.I propped up my upper body, hoping to regain some awareness, but the floor embraced my body, making a scream escape me.This hurts.I grabbed my back like I was a seventy-year-old woman.I rose from the floor with difficulty, dragging my feet toward the kitchen. My head throbbed endlessly.All I wanted was this damn pain to go away.Sometimes I regret growing up and discovering something called alcohol.I stood behind the kitchen bar, scanning around for anything that could help me make a drink to drown the misery.I gathered what I needed and, after a long struggle, finally made it.I drank two glasses, the third in my hand as I headed back to my room.The effect was perfect… the pain in my head was gone.
Tara Blackwood POVI was so tired of just sitting there, so I laid my head down on the pillow. I stretched out on the bed, lying on my stomach, keeping the phone in front of me, doing my best not to let my body show on camera.A full minute passed, and we were both locked in each other's gaze.“Tell me, Tara, why are you so determined to end us?”He grabbed my attention by breaking the silence. Ending this relationship and not going back was a decision my mind made, and I know my mind’s decisions are selfish when it comes to me.I was about to speak, but he cut me off.“You know we could stay together instead of breaking up like this.”“Weren’t you the one who started pulling away from me, Mr. Kaiden? Ever since that day at the hospital, I’ve noticed you changing toward me.”I twirled a strand of hair around my finger, staring into his black ocean eyes with my clear blue ones.“I’m sorry, little one, but you’ll know the answer to that question later.”I hummed in understanding. He did
Tara Blackwood POV"I won’t," I said as I pulled out of contacts and locked my phone.But a light blinked again. Who could it be? I had asked Mira, Ethan, Roilan, and Adam not to contact me.I picked up the phone, staring in disbelief at the caller ID… it was Kaiden Draven.I stared at the phone ringing for a long moment. He hadn’t dialed the wrong number.My finger hovered over the green icon, hesitating, then I swiped to answer."Tara… baby,"How I’d missed that nickname. I was used to it. Used to him being in my life.Two long seconds of silence passed."Talk to me. I’ve been aching for every little detail about you, Almaste," he said in that velvety voice that made my hearing numb.Tears slipped down my cheeks silently. He missed me too. That thought comforted me just a little, knowing I wasn’t the only one suffering here."Did you really miss me?"That was the first thing I thought to say. I asked and heard a heavy sigh, exhausted, coming from the phone."I missed you, baby. Ever
Tara Blackwood POV"Let’s start with the curses you wear every single day."I coughed hard as the smoke he blew hit my face. It burned my throat. His chest pressed against mine, heavy, almost crushing. I kept coughing for a few seconds, then forced myself to look up at him. I knew my eyes were a little red.I was about to speak, but he cut me off."If only you knew how men think when they see your body. You don’t even try to hide your curves."His voice was full of anger. It rose slowly, like a storm building."What I wear is none of your business, Mr. Kaiden Draven. And if anyone looks at me, that’s not your concern, Counselor."I stood still. Calm on the outside."Even my fiancé never tried to control what I wear. So who are you to interfere?""And what if your fiancé is not man enough?"He pulled his chest away from mine, but his hand stayed on my waist. Tight. Controlling. Keeping me from moving."I am a selfish man. And very jealous. Especially when it comes to what is mine."I k







