Chapter 4 - His Wife in Public

The sun had fully risen by the time I stirred awake, every muscle in my body aching, every inch of me still tingling with the memory of his touch. I winced the moment I tried to move; the soreness was a cruel reminder of how thoroughly Adrian had claimed me.

The sheets rustled, and before I could even slip out of bed, his arm tightened around my waist, pulling me back against the solid heat of his chest.

“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was still husky, laced with sleep yet carrying the authority that made my stomach twist.

“I was just…” My throat felt dry. “Getting up.”

“Mmm.” He nuzzled my hair, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. “Not without me.”

My heart thumped wildly. It should have been sweet, romantic. But the way he said it felt more like a command than a request. Adrian Cruz wasn’t a man who allowed freedom once he had a hold of something. Or someone.

“I need to freshen up,” I whispered, hoping he would release me.

Instead, he chuckled, low and dark. “Good. Because I plan to have breakfast with my wife this morning. You’ll sit beside me, where you belong.”

I froze. Breakfast? With the family? My stomach knotted. Facing them after what had happened last night was terrifying enough. Facing them while pretending to be Alyssa was far worse.

But Adrian gave me no chance to refuse. He pressed a lingering kiss against my bare shoulder before finally letting me go. “Be ready in thirty minutes. Wear something I’ll approve of.” His eyes flicked over me, unapologetically heated, as if stripping me bare again. “On second thought, anything you wear will do. You make everything look sinful.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I scrambled out of bed, clutching the sheet to cover myself. He only smirked, watching me with that predatory satisfaction that made it clear he enjoyed my flustered state.

The walk to the dining hall felt like a march to the gallows. Every step reminded me of the ache between my thighs, the soreness that screamed of what Adrian and I had done. I prayed no one else would notice, prayed I could carry myself as if I hadn’t spent the entire night being devoured by the man now walking proudly beside me.

Adrian’s hand never left me. It rested firmly at the small of my back, guiding me, claiming me, warning the world not to look too closely.

When we entered the dining room, all heads turned. His parents, his younger sister, a few key relatives—all waiting, all watching. The new Mrs. Cruz.

“Good morning,” Adrian said smoothly, his voice carrying that air of dominance even in casual conversation. He pulled out a chair—not for himself, but for me. “Sit.”

I obeyed, my pulse racing as he settled beside me, his thigh brushing mine beneath the table. His hand casually draped over the back of my chair, fingers occasionally brushing my shoulder in silent possession.

“You look radiant this morning, Alyssa,” his mother said warmly, though her gaze lingered a bit too long, as if searching for something beneath my expression.

I forced a smile. “Thank you, Mrs. Cruz.”

“Mother,” Adrian corrected sharply, his hand tightening on my shoulder. “She’s family now.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks again. The intensity in his tone wasn’t lost on anyone. His mother smiled faintly, nodding, while his sister hid a smirk behind her teacup.

Breakfast was a blur of polite conversation, but I hardly tasted the food. My focus was on Adrian—the way his hand stayed on me the entire time, his fingers tracing patterns along my arm, my back, my waist. Each touch was casual enough to pass as affection, but I knew better. It was a silent brand, a reminder to everyone present: She is mine.

At one point, a distant cousin tried to strike up a conversation with me, leaning just a little too close. Adrian’s response was swift.

“Don’t you think you’re invading my wife’s space?” His tone was velvet wrapped around steel, his eyes narrowing with quiet warning. The cousin stammered an apology, retreating at once.

Adrian smirked, leaning down to press a kiss against my temple. “Better,” he murmured, low enough for only me to hear. “No one gets to touch what’s mine.”

My fork nearly slipped from my hand. Every word he spoke twisted deeper into my chest, both thrilling and terrifying me. Because no matter how much I tried to remind myself this marriage was built on lies, my body couldn’t stop responding to him.

After breakfast, Adrian didn’t let me escape. He led me out to the garden where the Cruz estate overlooked the city. The morning breeze was cool, but his presence burned against me.

He pressed me against the stone railing, caging me with his body, his hand tilting my chin until I was forced to meet his eyes.

“You handled yourself well in there,” he murmured. “But you’re too quiet. My Alyssa usually has sharper edges.”

Panic flickered in my chest. “I—I was just nervous. It was my first breakfast as your wife.”

His gaze softened slightly, but not enough to comfort me. If anything, it made his intensity more dangerous. “You don’t need to be nervous. You’re mine now. Forever.”

I swallowed hard. “Adrian…”

He silenced me with a kiss, deep and commanding, stealing my breath in broad daylight. I gasped against his lips, but he only pressed harder, his tongue sliding past my defenses.

When he pulled back, his eyes were dark, smoldering. “I don’t care if the world is watching. I’ll kiss you whenever I want. Touch you whenever I want. You’re my wife. And if anyone doubts it, I’ll make sure they hear you scream my name again.”

My knees nearly buckled, and I clutched the railing to steady myself. His words painted my cheeks red, the memory of last night crashing back so vividly that my body ached all over again.

Adrian smirked, clearly satisfied with my reaction. He leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear. “Tonight, you’ll beg me for more. I can see it already in your eyes.”

I bit down on my lip, desperate not to give him the satisfaction of hearing me agree. But deep down, I already knew—he was right.

No matter how much I fought it, no matter how wrong it was…

I was already falling into Adrian’s obsession.