Chapter 19

ELION

Something was wrong with Loretta.

And I didn't mean her ability to piss me off or that endless, infuriating urge she had to defy me at every available opportunity. I meant something different.

I felt her shift unsteadily as she pushed off the wall, running a hand over her hair before her balance finally swayed and her weight shifted wrongly, she placed the wrong fork in front of the other and I could always calculate how much the fall would hurt

I should have let her fall, if not for anything, because I hate her and I wanted to make her suffer bit by bit.

But when she let out that small, breathless yelp as her eyes spun around, I was gone....

For the first time in what would be a long, long time, I didn't think before acting

My body was already moving, both arms encircling her before she could fall face-first into the hard floor, I slipped one hand under her knees and the other at her back, sweeping her into my chest

The very moment I did that, a low growl worked its way out of my chest “Fuckk" I cursed quietly because this was a mistake

A big mistake

I should have done something else instead, something that doesn't require our bodies coming in contact, not like this, because now that I have her weightless small body in my arms...I didn't...

Fuck, I don't want to let go

And I fùcking despised her for it

Loretta turned in my arms, her body lax as exhaustion forced her into sleep, she snuggled against my chest, her head tipped sideways toward my shoulder, while those long beautiful lashes fluttered on her rosy cheeks

My chest felt too tight and too hot, with irritation and a sensation I refused to acknowledge. This didn't make sense, I am a practical, calculative man

Emotions don't rule me, I rule them

So why does having this woman in my arms make the world feel like it's regained its balance

Her of all people. Loretta Rea Sterling, the woman who wrecked my entire life in more ways than she knows

Loretta turned like she could hear my thoughts, as she did the thin strap of her nightdress slipped from one shoulder, revealing the top of one creamy, succulent, round, and perky breast

I looked at the wall above her head, all the blood drained from my brain and rushed straight to my traitorous côck.

I swear it had a mind of its own, because while every other part of me could understand who she is and what she will be to me in the long run

My stiff-as-iron-cóck just wanted a taste

A taste too many

“How convenient" I hissed out as I walked down the hallway towards her room

In the weeks since Loretta joined me in my home, I haven't been here and I certainly have not entered her room once, which was why when I kicked the door open with my leg, I was taken by surprise

“Rea" My murmur was low enough not to wake her up “Are you always going to keep surprising me?”

I felt the side of my lips curve into an unwelcomed smile, shaking my head, I forced my frown back into place.

In two weeks she had done something to this room that I hadn't expected. It was still my penthouse, but this room felt warmer, it had a woman's touch now

There was a cream throw over the chair in the corner. A small glass of dried flowers on the nightstand, where she had found dried flowers in my penthouse I had no idea. A stack of books on the floor beside the bed too and some stick-on notes on the wall by her bed

I itched to read what Rea had written on this notes, but the longer I stayed here with her, the stronger the urge to do something that would wreck my plans

When I looked down at the sleeping beauty I held, I knew I had made my second mistake for the night

I should not have looked

Her pink lips were slightly parted and I could almost imagine how soft they'd feel underneath my teeth, her hair was everywhere, the loose strands framing her face like a halo

My teeth ground hard

Fuck, I hate this. Why in the world did I even come to check if she was okay? If she had died tonight, it would be a win-win situation, There were countless other women whom I could marry in a heartbeat so my plan kicks into motion

But my revenge? Yeah, that's the reason

Loretta shouldn't die so soon, I wanted her to suffer slowly, painfully

So no, she doesn't get to die on me tonight

I crossed to the bed, ignoring the sizzling of my blood when her cheeks brushed against my chest, she curled her fingers into the fabric of my T-shirt, a soft sigh heaving out of her and traveling all the way down to my hardened groin

My control snapped. Two seconds, all I had was two seconds before I actually ran mad

I lowered her to her bed, or more accurately, I threw her down... away from my arms so I could resume thinking with my head

The big one

Loretta winced, Her eyes fluttered “Why you Devil” she cursed, not fully awake since her voice was still low and thick with sleep

“Go to sleep, Rea.” My voice came out low and gravelly beyond my frayed control

Her lips pulled into a small, cute pout. Those ethereal eyes blinking up at me from under thick lashes

I held back a groan

“We have somewhere important to go later, today."

Even though she was half asleep, Loretta's brows knitted together. “Where?”

“Sleep first” I answered, deliberately not telling her right now.

She let out an exhale, her eyes began closing, and soon only the soft sounds of her breathing and my pounding heart were to be heard

My fingers twitched with the need to touch her, just a small graze of her cheeks would quench the fire burning inside of me

I wished I had my goddamned steel lighter with me so I could distract myself from the unbearable tension sizzling underneath my skin. Instead, I drew the comforter over her with painstaking carefulness, making certain our bodies didn't come in any contact

Because the next time I touched Loretta Sterling, I wouldn't be pulling away so easily