Hidden Eyes

Sera's POV 

The second Kaelan said I wasn’t allowed to leave the penthouse, something inside me snapped.

“You can’t keep me locked up here like a prisoner,” I spat, shoving away from his chest. My legs were still shaky from the way he had just fucked me over the couch, but the anger gave me strength. “My brother is probably already on his way. Liora is coming. And now you’re telling me there are dangerous people outside watching the building because of me?”

Kaelan’s jaw tightened. He grabbed my arm before I could walk away. “You think this is a game? Those men outside aren’t here to talk. They see you as my weakness. One photo of you leaving this building and they’ll use you to get to me.”

I yanked my arm free, breathing hard. “Then let me go. Send me home. If I’m making everything worse, why the hell do you want me here?”

He stepped closer, crowding me against the back of the couch. His gray eyes were dark with frustration and something hotter. “Because you already belong to me. The contract is signed. Running away now won’t save your family. It will only destroy them faster.”

The truth of his words made my stomach twist. I hated him. I hated how right he was. I hated most of all how my body still reacted to him even when my mind wanted to scream.

Before I could say anything else, he spun me around and bent me over the couch again. This time he didn’t bother with foreplay. He kicked my legs wider apart and pushed inside me in one rough thrust. I gasped, fingers digging into the cushions.

“You still don’t understand,” he growled, fucking me hard from behind. One hand fisted in my hair, pulling my head back. “You’re not leaving. Not today. Not tomorrow. You’re staying right here where I can keep you safe.”

Every deep stroke made me moan despite myself. The sound of our bodies slapping together filled the living room. He reached around and rubbed my clit with rough fingers, pushing me toward the edge faster than I wanted.

“Stop,” I gasped, even as my hips pushed back against him.

“You don’t want me to stop,” he said against my ear. He pulled out suddenly, spun me around, and lifted me onto the wide armrest of the couch. He pushed my thighs wide open and thrust back inside me, face to face this time. His hand came up to grip my throat, not squeezing hard, but enough to make me feel completely owned.

“Look at me,” he ordered.

I met his eyes as he fucked me deep and steady. The intensity in his gaze made my chest ache. This wasn’t just sex anymore. This was him trying to brand himself into my soul.

I came hard, crying out as my body clenched around him. He followed a few thrusts later, burying himself deep and groaning my name against my neck.

We stayed like that for a long moment, breathing together. His forehead rested against mine. For once he didn’t pull away immediately. His hand stroked my back almost gently.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The mix of anger, shame, pleasure, and fear was too much.

Kaelan finally pulled out and helped me stand. He picked up the sheet from the floor and wrapped it around me. For a second he looked almost human.

Then his phone rang again.

He checked the screen and cursed. “Liora.”

I stepped back, pulling the sheet tighter. “Answer it. Let her know exactly what you’re doing with me.”

Kaelan gave me a warning look before he answered. “Liora.”

I could hear her shouting through the phone. “I’m downstairs, Kaelan. I’m coming up. We’re ending this nonsense today.”

Kaelan’s face went cold. “You’re not coming up here.”

“Try and stop me,” she snapped. “I have photos. I have proof. If you don’t get rid of that girl, I’ll make sure everyone knows what kind of man you really are.”

He ended the call and looked at me. His expression was dark.

“She’s on her way up,” he said.

My heart dropped. I stood there in nothing but a sheet, marked by his hands, still feeling him inside me, while the woman who was supposed to marry him was coming to confront us.

Kaelan pulled me closer, his hand possessive on my waist. “Stay in the bedroom. Don’t come out until I say so.”

I looked up at him, tears burning in my eyes. “How long are you going to keep hiding me, Kaelan? Until she destroys everything? Until my brother breaks down the door? Until those men outside decide to come after me?”

He didn’t answer. Instead he kissed me hard, like he could silence all the questions with his mouth.

But when he pulled back, his eyes showed something I hadn’t seen before — real worry.

The elevator dinged in the distance.

Liora had arrived.

And I was standing in the middle of a war I had never asked to fight.