Chapter 8

LORETTA

When I fell into bed and wrapped myself with the thick comforter, all I could think about was Elion.

How much I wanted to push him off the nearest cliff and watch him fall in slow motion

It's insane, really, because that thought kept me up all night. I couldn't sleep, couldn't take my mind off everything that had happened.

My thighs clenched underneath the blanket when I remembered how his fingers had teased my spine, slowly. Like he was an artist and my body was a bare canvas for him to explore

I turned to the other side of the bed, but his woody, luxurious scent was everywhere. In the sheets, in my head, in the very air

It didn't help that Elion was in the next hallway. What was he doing? Was he asleep, or was he staying up late plotting how to make my life more miserable than it already was?

My traitorous fingers began drifting between my legs. Touching, teasing, mimicking the sweet strokes he left on my back tonight

I didn't realize what I was doing until an embarrassing moan slipped out of my lips. I snatched my fingers away quickly “Absolutely not.” I spat out, sitting upright while shaking my head. "Nope. I am so not doing that."

What was wrong with me?

Was I about to make myself cum to the thought of Elion? The same man who made me a prisoner in his home? Who looked at me without any human emotion and told me I was nothing but a mere contract?

Hell No

I would do no such thing.

“Get it together Loretta" I chided myself and walked to my drawer, unlocking the tiny box where I kept the burner phone hidden.

This was what mattered. Find Elion's Grand plans, Be free of him. I drew in a deep breath, trying to regain some control over my body.

Father's warning echoed in my ears. About how Elion had a way of enticing women. I felt like such an idiot

I looked at the black screen of the burner phone. I looked at the bed where I was just fingering myself

My core tightened and the wetness soaking my panties didn't stop.

This was going to be so much harder than I thought

---

I was up at the first crack of dawn, the exact time Elion usually takes his breakfast and disappears until midnight.

When I reached the dining, he was already seated fully focused on his phone. Mrs. Parks smiled warmly at me, setting the table for breakfast

“Good morning" I greeted, pulling out a chair and sitting at the opposite end of the table, so I was facing Elion

Although I had brushed, washed my face, and tied my hair into a loose ponytail, I couldn't help but notice how different we both looked.

While I still wore my sleep overall, Elion was fully dressed. His navy blue tailored suit was clean and ironed, his hair sleeked back finely, not a single strand out of place

“Good morning" I greeted again, this time louder.

Elion raised his head and tilted it to the side. His depthless eyes narrowing at me. He leaned back with a thin frown on his lips

“I am not deaf. I heard you the first time” He said flatly.

Mrs. Parks placed a plate of eggs and toast and quickly left, already sensing the tension.

My fingers gripped the hem of my shirt as I had half a mind to walk out on him. Instead, I gripped my fork and stabbed it into the plate, pretending it was his throat instead “If you heard me, why didn't you answer the first time?”

His eyes crinkled with something like amusement, but that was it. The blank, bored look on his face didn't change “Does it occur to you that your greetings serve me no value?”

I laughed, a dry, humorless sound to hide the pain swelling in my chest. Seriously, what was I thinking when I touched myself last night

This man is a complete douchebag

“God forbids you to respond to a harmless greeting like a normal human being”

Elion reached for the glass of water in front of him. I watched as he brought the rim of it to his lips and took a long sip

My heart skipped a beat watching him and heat flooded my cheeks, neck, and ears

I couldn't look away from where his long fingers wrapped around the glass, how his lips closed in on the rim and the Adam's apple on his throat bobbed till he finished the water

Elion set the glass down with the precise care he handled everything with, he tilted his head again, studying me with scrutinizing eyes that made me feel like a lab experiment gone wrong

I chewed and swallowed hard. “About Dinner tonight—”

“Not happening” He was quick to disapprove. So quick it made my guts twist

“This is the only thing I'm asking” I tried to reason with him. The only way to find out his secrets and be free of him was to get close first, possibly make him fall for me so he would let his guard down around me

That can't be too hard, right?

“I have no issues with your rules” LIES!. I hated those rules. I hated that I was a prisoner in this penthouse. I hated him above all

“Just do dinner with me. Let's get to know each other”

A mocking glint shimmered in his eyes, he cut into his eggs, taking a neat bite. “I already told you, I make the rules. You follow. It's not rocket science”

For the love of God, I was going to explode right in front of this man. How rigid can one be?

I took a deep breath, controlling my emotions and going over all that my therapist had taught me

Respond, don't React

“There are still many things we need to get clear grounds on if we're getting married in the next three months”

“Everything about this marriage is in the contract. If you've forgotten so quickly, I'll print a copy for you to remind yourself with”

I nibbled on my bottom lip. He's right, the contract did summarize everything I needed to know

But there was one thing, one crucial thing Elion had left out

My cheeks burned just thinking about it.

“The contract didn't cover everything” I muttered, looking down at my plate. The food now tasted like sandpaper

Elion's posture shifted. I could feel it. “And that is?”

I licked my lips, nervousness making my palms sweaty. “I will tell you during dinner”

Elion sighed and pushed back on his chair. I glanced at him. His face was an empty mask, I didn't know what was going through that head of his “I have important meetings to attend to”

He was already taking long strides towards the door when I found my courage. I stood up and broke into a run, stopping him before he left

Elion turned and something, something weird shifted in his face. I didn't know if it was anger or confusion

I looked down at my shirt where his eyes were glued to and suddenly remembered that I wasn't wearing a bra

The curves of my breasts were on full display and since it was still morning and cold, my nipples were pebbled

Goosebumps broke across my skin

Elion looked away when his eyes met mine and cleared his throat “What?” he demanded harshly

A shiver ran down my spine. I stepped in front of him, licking my lips involuntarily

Another swallow worked down his throat

He checked his watch impatiently “So what part of our marriage wasn't in the contract that we need to discuss?”

It was my turn to swallow. I rubbed my sweaty hands against my pants. “The thing we need to discuss" my voice lowered to a shy note “Is...is our sex”