chapter 3. he's crazy

Emily

The sunlight hit my eyes first. Then, slowly, the reality of the night before came into focus.

I was naked. Not under a blanket, not half-covered. Naked. With a man I didn't know by my side.

I froze for a moment, holding my breath, expecting panic or shame to hit. It didn’t. Not exactly. Not like I thought it would.

Instead, a surprising calm spread through me, like the kind you feel after surviving a storm.

I hadn’t regretted it.

Not a single bit.

My mind had finally caught up to my body, the alcohol having worn off enough for clarity. I could remember everything—his hands, his voice, the way he moved over me—and even now, thinking about it made my pulse flutter and my stomach ache with a kind of familiar longing.

But calm came next, along with worry.

Consequences.

Not because I was ashamed—though I wasn’t proud, either—but because we lived in a world where everything had repercussions. The Browns, the Carters, Nathan… the mess this would create if anyone found out.

Nathan was a man, people would simply wave his affairs way, but I was different, I was a woman with only my perfect image to my name, if any of this ever leaked, I'd be ruined.

Totally ruined.

I rolled carefully, careful not to wake him, and studied him. He slept like he owned the world. Broad shoulders, the faint rise and fall of muscle beneath smooth skin. Dark hair falling across his forehead. Even in sleep, he radiated control. Command. Power.

And yet… last night he had been gentle. Careful.

I swallowed, sitting up slowly, trying to slip out of the bed

"Where are you going?" his voice was groggy, but there was no mistaking the shivers that ran through me at the sound

“Hmm... I'm leaving” I said quietly, testing my voice. "I need to get out of here before anyone comes knocking, we should be grateful the owner of this room didn't come yesterday, I can't even imagine what would have happened", My eyes searched around for my clothes, and I found it at the edge of the bed, keeping myself covered with the sheets, I reached for it.

"This is my room" I froze, "So you don't have to worry about anyone 'disturbing' us"

His room?

"Your room?" I asked

"Yes", he replied

"You have a room here?" He nodded, "in the Carter's family house?" He nodded again, "Who are you?" I asked

"Who do you think?" He asked, sitting up now, a taunting smile on his face,

Was he... mocking me?

I know Nathan doesn't have a brother, but I wasn't actually close enough with him to know if he had any friends close enough to earn a room in the Carter's house.

I picked up my dress, the zip was torn, it wasn't wearable, i didn't care who he was as long as this was kept a secret

"Whoever you are," I started, "I'd like to ask that we keep what happened between us a secret, I'm sure you also don't want this..." I gestured between us, "to get out"

'Why?" He asked

I turned to look at him, was I speaking another language?

"Why what?"

"Why do we have to keep this a secret?" He continued

What kind of stupid question was that?

"Because there will be consequences of course" I replied

“Consequences?” he repeated softly, and the edge in his voice made me shiver. “I don’t care about consequences.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I said,” he leaned forward, resting one hand on the bed near me, keeping me pinned by the weight of his presence, “you’re mine now. My woman. And I don’t intend to let you go.”

I froze. With shock.

“Yours? I, we—” My voice caught. “We can’t—”

“I said, you’re mine,” he repeated, flatly, almost casually, like he was stating the weather. “And if anyone—anyone—tries to take you away or interfere, I will make sure they regret it.”

My stomach dropped. He's crazy. How can he say that so easily when he just attended my engagement party and I don't even know him.

Well, I'm also in bed with him so maybe I'm also crazy. But I can sort this out. I always do.

“So...wait—wait a second,” I said, trying to gather my thoughts. “So what do you want me to do now? Be… with you?”

He leaned back slightly, eyes dark, commanding. “I’ll marry you.”

The words hit me like a slap.

It's confirmed.

He's crazy.

I almost laughed, almost cried, almost shouted. “Excuse me? Mr.man… I’m engaged. To Nathan Carter. Your... I don't know even know, friend? Brother?”

He smirked, unbothered, almost amused by my objection. “And?”

“And… and that matters. It’s… I mean…” I stammered, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. “I can’t. We… you can’t just—”

“I just did,” he interrupted. His voice was calm, even teasing, but carrying that weight—that command. “You’re mine. I will marry you. And if you refuse, Emily…” His eyes glinted, sharp, almost predatory. “…I will tell everyone everything that happened last night.”

My stomach lurched. My pulse raced. The consequences I had tried so hard to avoid were suddenly all too real.

Was he being serious right now?

He's also involved, isn't he worried about his reputation?

“Wait,” I said, my voice firmer now, trying to regain control, “we can't…get married."

"Why?" His tone was harsh "You'll risk ruining your reputation for Nathan? You don't even love him, you don't want this engagement. Or...do you?"

I sighed. "It's not that. It's just... I’m not ready to get married. But, I can be… with you. If you promise to keep it secret.”

He leaned closer, and I could feel the heat radiating off him. He studied me, not like someone making a deal, but like someone who had already won.

“And why,” he asked softly, dangerously, “would I ever want to keep it a secret?”

I swallowed hard, trying to maintain control. “Because… because I don’t want anyone else involved. I don’t want to complicate things. I want you to… be considerate.”

He smiled slowly, predatory but amused, and leaned back. “Considerate. That’s… cute. Fine. We keep it secret. For now.”

“For now,” I repeated, feeling the word like a shield. I swallowed the lump of desire and fear in my throat and tried to draw a line.

He'd probably get bored of me in a few days and I have my peace again.

I sighed in relief, it was a win-win.

He chuckled softly, a sound that made my pulse spike. “You really think this will last as just a relationship?”

“I… I hope you get over me soon,” I admitted, trying to sound casual.

He tilted his head, eyes glinting with something like amusement mixed with obsession. “Oh, Emily,” he said softly, almost reverently, “you think I could get over you?”

I looked away, gripping the sheet around me. I was still level-headed. I had to be. I had to keep some control.

He leaned forward, resting his forehead lightly against mine. His hand slid to the back of my neck, holding me in place with gentle yet unyielding strength.

“Ok, let's keep it between us. For now,” he murmured, lips brushing against mine in a whisper. “But don’t fool yourself. You’ll never be just temporary to me.”

I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of his body and the weight of his gaze wash over me. I didn’t regret last night. I didn’t regret him.

But now I had to survive this. Navigate it. Control it—or try to.

“And if you break this,” I said softly, opening my eyes, meeting his, “I’ll… I’ll make sure there are consequences.”

His laugh was low and throaty. “I doubt you will. Because you’re mine, Emily. And now, everyone else can just deal with it.”

"Well, you can dare me". I replied. "Now do you have a robe I can put on? I need to get of of here"​