로그인~~~Rhea~~The tears wouldn't stop.They slid down my face the whole ride, silent and stupid and hot, dripping off my jaw and onto my blouse. I wiped them with the back of my hand. They came back. I wiped them again. The driver kept his eyes on the road and pretended not to see me, which I appreciated more than he'd ever know.Stop it. Stop crying. You didn't do anything wrong.He deserved it. Every word.He'd dragged me out of a café in front of fifty strangers. He'd put his hand on my throat and pinned me to a wall like I was something he owned. He'd threatened a man's hands with jaguars. Jaguars, for God's sake.I'd said I wanted him out of my life, and I'd done it. I'd walked out of that mansion with my chin up and my spine straight. I'd won.So why did I feel like I'd been gutted?I pressed the heel of my palm against my eyes. Under my eyelids, I could still see his face. Not the rage. The other thing. That split second after I'd said you're not half of what Carson is, when someth
~~~Rhea~~~The door shut behind her, and she didn't look back.I smirked. Cold, slow, just a pull at the corner of my mouth.I crossed the room and dropped onto the black leather couch by the bed. My whiskey was already waiting on the side table, two fingers deep. My maid left it there every evening, never late, never a word. I picked it up and took a sip, and the burn slid down my throat like an old friend.The smile stayed on my face.I replayed all of it. Her nails clawing at my wrist. Her wet lashes. Her chin lifted, her voice shaking as she spat the words at me.You're not half of what Carson is.A breath shook out of me. Then a laugh.It started low, almost soundless, then climbed until it rolled off the black walls and filled the whole room. I swirled the glass in my hand, watching the amber catch the lamplight, and let the laughter run until it died on its own. There was nothing in it. No warmth. No joy. It was the sound a blade makes when it leaves the sheath.I closed my eye
~~~Rhea~~~The sudden emptiness was brutal.My body went rigid against the wall, locked in that unfinished peak, the denied release crashing through me like a physical blow. A shattered sob tore from my throat. My pussy clenched around nothing, throbbing hard, aching, dripping. My legs nearly gave out. Tears kept falling as the sharp edge of almost-orgasm left me shaking and empty and furious.Logan watched me with dark, satisfied eyes, his wet fingers glistening between us. He brought them to his mouth and licked them slowly, never looking away.“Not until you answer me,” he said, voice low and absolute. “Not until you stop fighting what you already know.”What do I say? I can’t be left aching.My body was still locked in that cruel, unfinished edge, thighs trembling, the empty ache between my legs pulsing so hard it bordered on pain. Tears blurred my vision. I didn’t think, I just reached out and grabbed his wrist with both hands, sniffing hard as I tried to drag his hand back where
~~~Rhea~~~I looked away.I couldn't help it. His question hung in the air between us, quiet and heavy, and I felt it land somewhere under my ribs, somewhere I'd locked up and refused to look at. My gaze slid off his face and fixed on the black drapes, the dark glass, the lights of the estate flickering outside. Anywhere but him.His fingers tightened around my throat.Not enough to choke me. Just enough to make me feel every inch of the threat. The wall bit into my shoulder blades as he pressed me back harder, his body caging mine, the heat of him bleeding through my blouse."Look at me."I didn't.His body pressed in, caging me completely. The heat of him sank into my skin.“Answer me,” he growled, voice rough against my ear. “Who the fuck am I to you, Rhea?”My eyes stung. I blinked hard, and the room went blurry and warm. Tears slid down my temple and disappeared into my hair, and I hated them. I hated every single one. I was not going to cry in front of this man. I was not.Becau
~~~Rhea~~~I cleared my throat and tore my gaze off him, and I did it hard, like ripping off a bandage. My cheeks were still burning, but I forced my face into the angriest expression I could manage, brows low, lips pressed flat, arms folded tight across my chest. An angry bird. A furious, ruffled, very dignified bird."You still haven't told me why you dragged me out of there."He smirked.Just that. No answer. He turned his back on me and walked toward the bed like I'd asked what time it was, the serpent on his shoulder blade rippling as he moved."You don't need an answer to that."My mouth fell open. Unbelievable."Are you jealous?"The question flew out before I could stop it. It hung in the air, sharp and a little ridiculous, and I braced myself for a smirk, a sneer, any of his usual armor.He didn't even look back. "Think whatever you like. That's your business."Something in me snapped."Jesus Christ, Logan!" I threw my hands up. "I was having tea with a friend! A friend! What
~~~073~~~ "Then put me the fuck down!"Nothing.He climbed the last of the steps like I was a gym bag he'd forgotten to drop. I kicked my legs. I twisted. I threw my whole body weight sideways, trying to tip us both off balance, but it was like trying to knock over a building with a pillow. My heels drummed against his thigh. My fists thudded on his shoulders. My hair was a wild mess, and my breath came out in hot, furious gasps.He didn't even slow.The massive front doors swung open on their own. Or maybe someone opened them. I couldn't see anything but a blur of marble floors, a chandelier the size of a small car, and a staircase that curved like it belonged in a museum. Servants stepped aside and bowed their heads, none of them daring to meet my eyes.This man is insane. He's actually insane. Why am I not surprised?"Logan! I swear to God, I'll scream!""You already are.""I'll scream louder!""Be my guest." His voice was dry. "No one here will come."My blood went cold. I clampe







