(Claire’s POV)Once the car came to his stop at the Delacroix’s mansion, I didn’t wait for Dominic to say anything to me nor did I spare Luca another glance. The moment the doors flew open, I stepped out, the cool breeze hitting my face.I didn’t bother looking back at either of them. I wonder what Dominic thought when he entered into the car that still smelled of me. Luca, on the other hand, just kept staring at me. I could feel it cling to my skin.I quickened my pace, my heart pounded, and my mind couldn’t stop replaying the last 10 minutes in the car. I could still hear My moans, the way my nails dug into the seat, the heat that spread through me, his fingers deep inside me. Oh God, what did I let him do to me?The painful part was that I actually enjoyed it. I enjoyed the pretend fight and the way he forced his way into me, his possession and his dominance. I craved it, and I can’t believe I begged him for more. The thought alone makes me cringe.My face burned. Hurt, anybody who
(Luca Delacroix POV)I was angry with her. I was angry that she would let a man touch her. She didn’t seem so free with me, but she was so free with him. It irritated me.“Do you have any idea how close I came to breaking his wrist?” I asked, my fingers twirling between her folds.Ohh gosh, she was wet. Wet and ready for me to sink my cock deep inside her.She met me stare for stare. I caught the hint of guilt cross her face before she buried it in her usual defiance.“Luca, you are crazy, you are overreacting,” she said breathily.I circled her clit with my fingers, with the same rhythm that my pulse rolled in my ears. “Overreacting? He touched you, Claire, in front of me. It was like I didn’t exist, like you weren’t already mine.”Her lips parted, wanting to argue, but a small moan escaped. She was so beautiful with her eyes hooded in pleasure. I could watch her all day and never get tired.“I am not yours,” she stammered.“Fuck, yes you are. You are mine, and mine alone. I don’t wa
Lucas POVThe moment Dominic held Claire’s hands, something inside me went feral. It wasn’t just jealousy—it was an all-consuming rage. It was visceral, crawling up my spine. I could still see it—the way he leaned closer, his mouth almost brushing the shell of her ear as he whispered into it. His hand had lingered far too long, his thumb brushing her skin. I could see every single thing.My blood turned molten.For God’s sake, they were walking hand in hand. He was guiding her like she belonged to him. For a moment, I think they forgot I was there—or that I came with them. My fist tightened until I felt my nails making a moon crescent on my palms.Everywhere was in chaos, but I hardly could care. All I was fixated on was how Dominic took my girl.He had no right to display protector when that was my role in her life.Suddenly, she glanced back at me. Just for a second, her eyes found mine. I caught the hint of uncertainty in her gaze. It was enough to put out the fire inside me, but t
Claire’s POVAll eyes were on me.The room felt like it would shrink. The hungry gleam in the eyes of every reporter said it all, this was the big moment, this was the breaking news. It was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.I knew that question was coming, this particular one about what really was going on behind the scenes. Why was I claiming this name after all this time? Was I a gold digger?If I ever answered this question, it would end in something more than just if we can use maybe, with Victor suing most of the press to court. I didn’t trust myself to speak in that moment, and so I left it for the professional.And before I could think twice, Dominique was leaned over me, his mouth to my mic.“There will be no comment on that question at this time. We appreciate your understanding and ask that we move on respectfully.”His voice was so calm, and the way he smiled after his statement to the reporters, you could see he had a commanding presence around them.Murmurs erupte
(Claire’s POV)Luca’s breathing slowed beside me, and once I could confirm that he was fully asleep, I stared at him. It was strange to see him like this, stripped of all that dominant swagger that he carried around.The stories he had told me echoed in my mind I couldn’t get them out. I hated them. Every faceless aunt and uncle who lifted their hand against him. I hated them. A deep, hot rage crept up my spine. I imagined their faces. I imagined breaking them one by one, making them feel as helpless as he felt.I didn’t even realize when my hands clenched into fists, my nails biting into my palms, almost drawing blood. I was going to get them all for this — one way or the other.I looked at him still sleeping peacefully beside me, his brows furrowing. I was sure he was dreaming already. I reached out instinctively and brushed a strand of hair from his forehead.At that moment, my thoughts weren’t innocent towards Luca. As I watched him, the memory of earlier, when I had seen him alo
(Luca Delacroix POV)The moment I spotted those eyes, it was like a jolt of electricity passed through my body. Those eyes were not just looking at me; they were dragging me back into memories that had been buried so long ago. Before I knew it, the present blurred right in front of me and dissolved into shadows.I was 7 again. I was standing in the open air of the Montgomery estate. The air was filled with expensive perfumes from my step-aunts and uncles. They had come to visit. I stepped into the mansion, ready to go back to my room because they were around. They were all bad news, at least to me, not to Father.“That bastard child doesn’t belong here. Shane should have sent him and his mother away. Why would he want to house a child that is not his?” my step-aunt’s venomous words hit me.I halted in my tracks. Laughter followed. I wondered how many of them were there, and before I could go toward the door, it opened. They all shoved me from side to side. Manicured nails dug into my