Chapter 22

ELION

My hand was around her throat.

Her delicate, fragile throat. All it would take was one flick of my wrist and I would never have to endure her presence ever again

But then, I would never see her ethereal eyes come alive with hate and rage, Loretta would be gone for Good. There would be no one else who challenges me, no one who makes me drown in this violent whirlwind of emotions when all I've ever known for years is coldness and control

Loretta smiled despite my hand about to crush her windpipe “Go...go.. ahead Elion." She smiled sweetly, “Don't stop now, get rid of my infuriating presence for good”

I swear she has a death wish

“For once" I hissed, every muscle in my body pulled taut as wire, “Stop challenging me.”

My fingers flexed around her throat, I didn't know if to pull her into my body or snap her neck and be done with it

God, she was not supposed to be like this. She wasn't supposed to make me lose control the way I am now

The Loretta I knew was a docile girl who didn't have a spine or will of her own and had lied against me in court. She was supposed to still be like that, scared enough to lie, helpless enough to be manipulated by her father, and Breakable for me when I finally sought out revenge

This woman before me right now is different. She's still the same girl but something has changed.

Loretta is the only person in my thirty-one years of life who constantly drives me over the edge. She defies me, rivals me, gets under my skin deeper than anyone else has ever been able to

The best thing would be to end her life here and now, but then what? I would go back to being my former self. The man I was before we met in court

Unamused with everything, trying and struggling for a reason to live, Unfeeling, incapable of emotions.

Empty

I broke out of my thoughts and looked at her, really looked at her, from the thirty-one freckles scattered above her nose to her rosy cheeks, and small pouty lips and eyes, the unique green and brown of it

My heart beat doubled

There's beautiful, then there is Loretta Rea Sterling: Mine, so breathtakingly stunning that it makes her so ethereal. Her eyes were wet and blazing both with fear, defiance, and something else

Lust

I shifted on my feet, stubbly adjusting my growing erection with my free hand

My throat was too full of lead to speak clearly, my words came out more gravelly than I intended “Stop looking at me like that”

I released my fingers a little, allowing her to breathe but still not letting her go. I couldn't

Fûck, I wanted to pin her against my car and hike her legs around my waist. I wanted to taste the fluttering pulse in her throat, feel her life essence flow underneath it before sinking my teeth deep

Loretta drew in a long breath, her red lips wobbling before she flattened them and lifted her chin. “Like what?”

Fuck. God. Fuck, the sound of her voice was a shot too many of aphrodisiac to my veins. She sounds so soft and delicious that I could already imagine her moaning out my name when I impale her on my cock

“You know" I gritted out. “You know what the fuck I'm talking about Rea. Don't look at me like that”

Her lips were parted, and then her eyes narrowed. “How about you take your own advice and pick one thing Elion" She stepped closer into my hold, her slender throat pressing into the calloused skin of my hand.

“Do you want to kill me" she whispered sensually “Or do you want to fuck me?”

That did it

All it took was a fraction of a second, Loretta let out a startled yelp as I slammed her against the side of the car and hoisted her thighs around my waist

At last

Fuck, it's divine. It's heavenly, everything I want and more

And for all Lorreta's bravado, colour crept up her neck and face, her breath came out in small, sweet pants

She looked at me with wide, doe eyes, and parted lips. Her hands clutched my shoulders for support, nails digging into my jacket

Loreatt's chest heaved, pushing her full, tender breasts against my body

The first leash on my sanity, my control, my goddamned sense: it snapped

“Fuck me" I gritted out, fighting my most primal, darkest desire

She leaned forward, nearly brushing her lips with mine. I could smell her, not just her fragrance or body, I could smell the arousal on her, just as I'm sure she could feel mine

“What's it going to be Elion?" she purred in a singsong, making my cock twitch in my briefs

I was struggling to hold myself back, the only thing holding up my control was my Grand Plans

This wasn't it. If I took Lorreta now, it would ruin everything. Six years of work and effort would be gone down the drain, and so help me God, I'm close to damming everything

How can I possibly want someone almost as much as I hate them?

“Rea" I breathed harshly

She arched her back in response, her body grinding against my hardened, hungry cock

“Elion" Rea moaned, she actually moaned out my name.

Fuck this, I was gone

I had approximately zero point nine seconds to end it all, because if I so much as got a taste of her, if I put my lips anywhere on her skin, there would be no stopping till I let our misplaced lust consume us both

What would that make me?

My hands reluctantly fell from her body, I dropped her down to her feet.

“Elion. What are you doing?” The desire in her face shifted to confusion and then hurt.

“Nothing” I say, a curse sitting on lips. “I am doing nothing with you"

She opened her mouth to protest but I cut her off

“Get in the Car Rea” I ordered. This time, I didn't wait for her to do so first, she was still gaping at me when I turned around and climbed into the driver's seat

Even though I had managed to resist the strongest temptation of my life for today, one thing was certain

This wasn't the first time I have wanted to throw it all for her, and it won't be the last