A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

Sonia’s POV

 I started to swallow hard. "You are looking for him? Five years later is what you are.

 His jaw twitched. "You consider me not regretting that?" His voice fell, with something unvarnished. "You think I should not despise myself for letting you go? Since you knew about him?"

 My throat grew constricted. I detest this. Angry that part of me wanted to trust him.

 But I had changed into not that girl.

 "You did not let me leave, Ethan. You threw me aside. You never turned around after signing those divorce forms.

 His eyes sank black. "Do not test me, Sonia."

 "Or what?" I asked as I started to snap. "You would destroy me once more?"

 He moved forward, near enough to make me feel his body heat. His smell, spiced whisky and might, enveloped me and drew me into treacherous ground.

 His voice had silk and steel. "No, darling." I'll see to it you never leave me once more.

 My exhale caught. I molested him. I detested how much I still desired him.

 I had to flee. Today.

 I pushed back and laughed, forced. "This turned out to be interesting. Lucas and I have a flight, nevertheless, to catch.

 Ethan's face grew firm. "You are not carrying him anywhere."

 A cold crawled over my back. "Excuse me?"

 "You heard me," said He straightened, his height overwhelming me. "Do you wish to depart? Nice. Nevertheless, Lucas stays."

 My eyesight was fuzzy with wrath. The daring. "Across my dead body."

 Ethan grinned, deadly and slow. "That can be put in order."

 I drew in a stinging breath. Though they were not exact, his comments had potential. An alert.

 Though I did not let him see my terror, my hands shook. You wouldn't dare.

 He slanted his head, eyes shining with merciless will. "Ask me."

 Silence dense and oppressive passed between us.

 I had two options: challenge him in court and run the danger of losing Lucas always. alternatively engage in his game.

 I used to know Ethan. Learned his working style. He wanted nothing more than custody. He yearned for authority. Overlooking me. Over the course of my life.

 And it dawned on me at that point.

 I tried to swallow firmly. " What do you really want, Ethan?"

 He gave a slow, predatory smile. You.

 My tummy turned around. "What??"

 He stepped forward, eyes fixed on me. "Your. Going back to my place. Once again in my bed. As my wife said.

 The hall swirled. "You are insane."

 Maybe, he thought. You will say yes, though, if you wish to keep our son.

 Heart hammering so loudly, I looked at him and could hardly think. You want me to wed you?

 His smile became deeper. "I wish I could possess you. once more.

 My lips became dry. "No."

 Ethan moved forward, his breath warm across my flesh. "Then Sonia, get ready to pack. Because you are going here without Lucas."

 My blood froze.

 He wouldn't.

 Still, the way he looked revealed everything I needed to know.

 Ethan Adamson practiced filthy.

 And this time he carried every card.

 Trying to breathe through the terror clawing at my chest, I closed my hands. You're a monster, indeed.

 Ethan laughed, dark and sarcastic. No, darling. I work in business.

 Desperate to get off, I turned on my heel. But his voice stopped me cold before I arrived at the door.

 "I'll give you twenty-four hours to decide. You either walk away without our son or down the aisle.

 I stopped, heart breaking into a million fragments.

 There was no choosing involved here.

 This proved to be a trap.

 And I had just entered it plain forward.

"You want to own me?"

Sonia's voice was harsh and angry, but under it I sensed something else: fear.

 good.

 She ought to be scared. This time she was not leaving.

 Leant against my desk, I watched her with reckless delight. "That is exactly what I want."

 Her hands nested into fists at her sides. If you believe I will consent to this, you are insane.

 I gave a little smile. "You are not free to decide."

 Her nose opened out in a flare. "I constantly have decisions to make."

 I murmured gently, up and stepping towards her, "Not this time, sweetheart."

 She stayed back, not turning away. Not even an inch. Respected as always.

 I reached for her and lightly ran my fingertips over her wrist. Her pulse was racing.

 You still feel it, I said quietly. " That pulls between us."

 Her breath seized, but her eyes never wavered. " All I feel is disgust."

 I laughed, loving the way she shook—not with anxiety but with something far more lethal. "Lied."

 She gave her hand a quick pull away. "Hate you."

 I drew a brow arch. "Hate is only another kind of passion."

 Her mouth closed. "I'm not going to marry you again."

 I moved in front of her, towering. Then say farewell to our son.

 Her breath seized and her whole body became stiff.

 You are correct. I had her caught.

 Though she had left me without an option, I didn't want to do this. Five years instead. She hauled my son away from me for five goddamn years.

 She felt she could turn away from me?

 Never.

 She gasped suddenly, her voice trembling. " Why are you doing this?"

 I met her eyes and let her see the truth—that which is raw, merciless desire within me. Because you are mine.

 Sonia gave me a firm shove. " Ethan, I am not yours!"

 I moved just a little. " You keep telling yourself that."

 Her chest went fast up and down. I should have never loved you.

 Something inside of me became twisted. a trip through the previous reminder. Her hopeful approach of looking at me. Love drives this.

 Now all that was left was resentment and treachery.

 "Yet here you are," I replied, speaking quieter now. Calling her to own the truth.

 She choked. The guy I loved passed the day he flung me aside.

 My teeth grew tighter. "You consider me not regretting that?"

 She laughed angrily. "Ethan, you have no regrets whatsoever. You are not capable of it.

 Pulling her flush against me, I grasped her wrist before she could turn away.

 Her body crashed into me, she gasped.

 Fuck."

 She still fits me exactly.

 "You don't know a darn thing about what I regret," I snapped, fingers tightening on her wrist.

 She trembles. I sensed that. I was feeling everything.

 "You regret losing control over me," she mumbled.

 I strengthened my hold. "I'm sorry for ever letting you go."

 She drew in a quick breath, her lips slightly parted.

 She then accomplished something, almost breaking me.

 She raised her brown eyes, which carried something I hadn't seen in years. Discomfort. Wanting. Envy. affection.

 She still desired me.

 And I craved her with each twisted, shattered bit of my soul.

 She breathed warmly on my neck.

 "Let me go, Ethan."

 I ought to have.

 Rather, I did the one thing I vowed not to do.

 I dropped my head, my lips only a few inches apart.

 Her fingers dug into my chest, her breath stopped.

 An extra inch. Another second and I would wreck everything.

 She shoved me, though, later on. hard.

 Shocked, I staggered back and saw her fire her eyes.

 "Don't you dare," she snipped. "Do not you dare act like you care."

 I let out a strong breath. Fuck.

 She is correct.

 I was unable to have her. Not the manner I had hoped for.

 I thus followed my strongest suit.

 I grinned, tucking my hands in my pockets like she had not just destroyed me.

 You have twenty-four hours, I told her.

 She laughed faintly. "Screw You."

 I laughed. "You shall. Not long.

 Her face reddened with rage, but the door flung open before she could speak anothe

r word.