LARISSA (5)

Sleepless nights had been one of Rissa’s best friends for the past few days. She hadn’t spoken to anyone about what happened because she didn’t want Finn to leave her.

Even if he didn’t love her, the marriage was the only thing keeping her family afloat. If he threw her out, the shame and the financial ruin would destroy them.

She picked up her phone from the table and dialed her younger brother’s number. He picked up after a few seconds.

“What’s up, sister?” he asked. Jay was a college student, his tuition was the reason she had stayed, the reason she had sacrificed her freedom.

“I’m good. How are you?” she asked with a smile, even if he couldn’t see her. She forced her voice to stay light, hiding the exhaustion that weighed on her bones.

“All good. Are you okay? Hope they are treating you better? Do you need me t—?”

“Jay,” she cut him off, her voice softening. “I’m fine. Truly. I just wanted to hear your voice. Are you studying hard? I don't want to hear about you failing any classes.”

“Always, sis. But you sound... different. Is Finn there? Did he do something?”

Rissa’s grip tightened on the phone. Finn hadn't done anything, that was the problem. It was Ronan who was the shadow looming over her every thought. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the ghost of his hands on her skin.

“Finn is busy, Jay. You know how the business is. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”

Just as she was about to say goodbye, she heard the heavy click of her bedroom door opening. She froze, her heart leaping into her throat. She hadn’t heard anyone knock.

She turned around, expecting to see a maid, but instead, she found Ronan leaning against the doorframe. He was wearing a white shirt unbuttoned at the collar, looking every bit like the predator who had claimed her.

“I have to go, Jay. I’ll call you later,” Rissa whispered, quickly hanging up the phone.

“Talking to your brother?” Ronan asked, his voice a low, dangerous purr. He walked into the room as if he owned it, his eyes scanning her face. “Or your husband?”

“Get out, Ronan,” she snapped, standing up and trying to look taller than she felt. “You can’t just walk in here.” Rissa snapped, her voice trembling as she clutched her phone to her chest. “You didn’t even knock. You have no manners... what if I was naked?”

Ronan’s smirk widened, his eyes turned dark and slow, raking over her as if he could see right through her. “Relax, sweetheart. There’s nothing I haven’t seen already, is there?”

Rissa felt her blood boil, a hot flush of shame and fury rising to her cheeks. “Leave. Get out of my room, Ronan. Now.”

“Relax,” he drawled, pushing off the doorframe and taking a deliberate, heavy step toward her. “I just came to say hi. I haven’t seen you for the past few days. You’ve been avoiding me, hiding in here like a little mouse.”

He began to circle her, his presence filling the room, making it feel small and suffocating. He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth making a rhythmic, taunting sound.

“It’s making me wonder,” he mused, tilting his head. “I don’t know if I should let Mum know about our little night together... or maybe I should just tell Finn. He’s so focused on his numbers, he might appreciate someone finally taking the 'assets' off his hands.”

Rissa’s breath hitched. “Don’t you dare,” she hissed, her eyes darting to the closed door.

“Why not?” Ronan challenged, stopping right in front of her. He leaned down, bringing his face level with hers, his expensive scent clouding her senses. “You think I don’t dare? You think I care about his pride or this family’s reputation?”

He reached out, his thumb grazing the edge of her jaw, just inches from the bruise she had tried to scrub away. “I’m not even interested in the family business, so I have nothing to lose. But you...” He trailed his fingers down to her throat, his touch a terrifying mix of a caress and a threat. “You have everything to lose. Your marriage, your family’s money, and your little brother’s future.”

He leaned in closer, his lips brushing her ear. “So, tell me. Why shouldn't I walk down that hall right now and tell them exactly how you screamed my name?”

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Rissa cried out, reaching up to cover his mouth with her hand, desperate to stifle the words that could ruin her life.

But Ronan was faster. He caught her wrists in one hand, pinning them against the door behind her with a thud that made the door groan. Before she could draw breath to scream, he crashed his mouth onto hers. He kissed her with a brutal, hungry intensity.

Rissa’s world spun. She tried to twist her head away, but his other hand was already moving, sliding under the silk of her robe. His calloused palm skated over her ribs and up toward her breast, his touch confident and possessive.

She managed to tear her mouth away, a sob of frustration breaking from her lips. With a surge of adrenaline, she wrenched one hand free and delivered another sharp, stinging slap to his face.

Crack.

Ronan’s head turned slightly, but he didn't pull back. He let out a low, dark chuckle that sounded like a predator enjoying the fight. He pinned her again, even harder this time, his heavy body crushing her against the door until she could feel every hard line of him.

"Fierce as ever," he whispered against her lips. He wasn’t angry, he looked revitalized. He tilted his head down, his gaze dropping to her chest. "But your body is a terrible liar, Rissa. Look."

He pulled the silk of her robe tight against her skin. "See how your nipples awaken for me? You say you hate me with your mouth, but you’re begging for me everywhere else."

Rissa looked down, her breath hitching. Even through the fabric, the evidence was undeniable, her nipples were peaked and hard, straining against her robe. A treacherous heat pooled between her thighs, a dampness she couldn't ignore. Her eyes widened in genuine horror as her body betrayed her mind.

"No..." she whimpered, her head thrashed back against the door. "It's... it's not you. It's just... i took some alcohol and the stress, it's not because of you!"

Ronan smirked, leaning in until his nose brushed hers, his eyes dark with a victory that made her skin burn. "There’s no alcohol in your system today, sweetheart. This is just you starving for me."