Chapter 20: Punishment and Passion

The car ride back to the villa was suffocatingly silent.

Jackson sat in the darkness, loosening his tie with a violent tug. He had drunk quite a lot of whiskey at the after-party. The scent of alcohol and expensive tobacco hung heavy in the air.

Serenity clutched her bag, glancing at his dark profile. She knew that look. It was the calm before the storm.

As soon as the bedroom door closed behind them, Serenity couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Jackson, you are insane! Fifty million dollars for a necklace? Do you know how hard I worked on that collection? You turned my professional night into a joke!"

She threw her clutch on the bed, furious. "Ryan was just trying to be nice!"

The mention of that name snapped Jackson's last string of control.

"Nice?" Jackson laughed darkly. He took a step towards her, stalking her like a predator cornering its prey.

"He held your hand. He tried to kiss you. You call that nice?"

"That's a French greeting!" Serenity backed away until her back hit the cold wall. "You are being unreasonable!"

"I am a man, Serenity. I know what he wants," Jackson slammed his hands against the wall on either side of her head, trapping her.

His eyes were bloodshot, burning with a mix of rage and desire.

"He looks at you like he wants to strip that dress off you. And you... you smiled at him."

"He is my mentor!" Serenity tried to push his chest, but he was like an iron wall. "Move away, Jackson. You're drunk."

"I am not drunk. I am jealous," Jackson admitted, his voice rough and husky. "I am jealous as hell, Serenity."

He lowered his head, his lips brushing against her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

"Every time you said his name tonight, I wanted to burn the whole place down. You are mine. Why can't you just look at me?"

"Because you hurt me!" Serenity yelled, tears springing to her eyes. "You think buying a necklace fixes everything? My heart isn't something you can buy at an auction!"

"Then what do I have to do?" Jackson grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up. "Tell me. Do I have to cut my heart out and give it to you?"

He didn't wait for an answer. He crashed his lips onto hers.

It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was a punishment. A storm.

He kissed her fiercely, biting her lower lip, forcing her mouth open. It was aggressive, possessive, claiming every inch of her.

"Mmh!" Serenity struggled, hitting his shoulders.

But Jackson pulled her closer, pressing his body flush against hers. The heat from his body was overwhelming.

Slowly, the anger in the kiss melted into something else. Desperation. Longing.

Serenity's resistance faltered. Her hands stopped pushing him and grabbed his shirt instead. Her body remembered him. Five years of separation hadn't erased the chemistry between them.

She found herself kissing him back, a soft whimper escaping her throat.

Jackson groaned at her response. He lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist, and carried her to the bed without breaking the kiss.

He laid her down on the silk sheets, hovering over her. His hand traced the curve of her waist, then moved up to the sapphire necklace he bought.

"Beautiful," he whispered, staring at her flushed face and swollen lips. "You are the most expensive treasure in the world. And only I can touch you."

Serenity panted, trying to catch her breath. Her mind was foggy. She wanted him. God help her, she still wanted him.

"Jackson... stop..." she whispered weakly. "We can't..."

Jackson stopped.

His hand froze on the zipper of her dress. He looked into her eyes. He saw desire, but he also saw fear.

He closed his eyes and took a deep ragged breath, fighting the beast inside him.

He wouldn't force her. Not tonight. Not when she was still scared.

He collapsed next to her, pulling her into his arms and burying his face in her neck.

"Sleep," Jackson rasped, his voice trembling with restraint. "Go to sleep, Serenity. Before I lose my mind and take you right here."

Serenity lay stiff in his arms. But he didn't move. He just held her tight, as if she would disappear if he let go.

The room fell silent.

Serenity touched her burning lips. Her heart was beating so loud she was sure he could hear it.

Tonight, the line was crossed. There was no going back to being just "partners" or "co-parents."

The fire was lit. And sooner or later, it would burn them both.