CHAPTER FIVE

The house was quiet later that night but elena couldn’t sleep. She tossed and twisted, the sheets clinging to her skin like a second layer of guilt. Her chest felt tight, and her throat dry. She needed water and anything that wasn’t the echo of Roth Dimitri’s voice still pulsing in her head.

Barefoot, she slipped out into the hallway. The mansion looked different at night, shadows stretching long across the walls, chandeliers glowing faintly. She told herself she was alone. That she could move through the house unseen.

But he was already there. Roth stood in the kitchen, leaning casually against the counter, sleeves rolled, shirt open at the throat, a glass of amber whiskey in his hand. There wasn't even a flicker of surprise on his face. It was as though he'd been waiting for her.

Elena’s pulse jumped. She almost turned back but his dark eyes pinned her. His gaze travelled slowly down her bare legs before lingering on the thin nightgown clinging to her body.

"You wander my house at night?" he asked, his voice low and rough. “Careful, Elena. Shadows here don’t keep secrets.”

Elena swallowed, reaching for the faucet just to have something to do. “I couldn’t sleep."

He didn’t move, he took another slow sip of whiskey without taking his eyes off her. “Restless,” he murmured, like he was tasting the word on his tongue. “I know the cure for that.”

She stiffened and tried to ignore him. Poured her water, fingers trembling, when she lifted the glass, he was suddenly closer. The scent of whiskey mixed with his cologne reached her before he spoke.

He held out his own glass. “Taste mine.”

Elena shook her head. “I don’t—”

“Drink.” The word wasn’t a request. His hand closed over her wrist, lifting her glass down, replacing it with his. The rim pressed to her lips. “Open your mouth for me.”

Her breath broke, and she obeyed. The whiskey burned, flooding her throat, and she coughed, but his hand slid to her jaw, steadying her, tilting her head back, forcing her to swallow the liquid fire. His thumb brushed her bottom lip when he lowered the glass.

“Good girl.” The words melted through her like poison and honey. “I like you better like this. Obedient.”

She shifted her weight, trying to steady herself. She hated how her body leaned closer, how heat coiled low in her belly. She whispered. “This is wrong, Roth. ”

Roth chuckled darkly. “Wrong tastes better, Elena.” He set the glass aside, stepping closer until the counter pressed against her back. His body caged hers. One finger lifted her chin.

His gray eyes held an intensity that made looking away difficult. “Do you know what you look like, standing here in my kitchen half naked at midnight? You look like temptation dressed as innocence, and I don’t believe in innocence.”

Her chest tightened. “Someone will hear.”

His mouth brushed her ear. “Then keep quiet. Or I’ll make you scream loud.”

Heat shot through her, her thighs clenching. She shook her head, but his hands were already on her, sliding her onto the counter as if she weighed nothing. Cool marble kissed the backs of her bare thighs. His body pressed between her knees, and he spread her thighs open, exposing her naked flesh.

Elena breath hitched. His hands braced on either side of her hips, caging her tighter as he stared at her bare, wet cunt “Look at you. Adrian’s sweet little fiancée. But you’re dripping sin for me.”

“Don’t—”

“Don’t what? Make you admit you want your future father-in-law to bend you right here and fuck you bare?” His mouth brushed down her throat, lips dragging heat across her skin. “Tell me no and mean it, Elena. Or keep shaking like that and I’ll know the truth.”

She trembled, nails digging into the counter, her breath breaking in shallow gasps. His hand slid up, fingers pressing lightly against her throat, not squeezing. Just there. Her body betrayed her, arching toward him.

“Filthy little thing,” Roth whispered against her skin. “You want me to ruin you tonight, like i did that night.”

Her hips shifted, helpless. Her body screamed yes while her lips stammered, “I can’t, Adrian—”

Roth growled softly, pulling back just enough to look at her, his thumb dragging across her pulse. “Adrian doesn’t own you. He never did. You’re mine. You’ve been mine since that night.” His mouth curved. “I could have you now. Make you scream my name with my son sleeping above us. Would you stop me?”

Her eyes fluttered, heat crawling everywhere, shame tangled with need so raw it made her ache.

He leaned closer, lips grazing hers without fully kissing. “Tell me you don’t think about me when he touches you. Tell me you don’t wish it's my hands instead.”

Tears stung her eyes. The guilt cut sharp, but she couldn't bring herself to answer. His chuckle was low, victorious. He dragged his mouth along her jaw, his teeth grazing skin. “That’s what I thought.”

His hand slid higher on her thigh, inching towards her throbbing cunt, he stopped as they heard faint footsteps. Elena’s breath seized. They could hear adrian’s voice, faint, calling her name.

Roth didn’t move away. He held her pinned, eyes locked on hers, his lips ghosting over her ear. “Stay still. Don’t you dare move.”

Elena froze, every muscle in her body tight, and her pulse thundering. Adrian’s steps creaked, then faded, a door shutting again as silence swallowed the house.

Finally, Roth leaned back slowly. His hand slid from her throat, leaving heat branded in its wake. His smirk was pure sin. “You see? Even fate wants you caught and still, you can’t stay away.”

Elena's voice cracked, the tears stung at the corners of her eyes “This has to stop.”

Roth tilted his head, his eyes darkened like a predator. “Oh, Elena, too late. It’s only just begun.”