Chapter Five; Possessed

Lexi’s pov:

The car’s engine hummed in the silence between us, but the tension in the air was deafening. I could feel Julian’s gaze on me, sharp and unwavering, as we drove through the city. I pretended not to notice, but my pulse quickened every time I caught a glimpse of him from the corner of my eye.

“You didn’t have to handle it like that,” I finally spoke up, breaking the silence.

Julian’s eyes flicked to mine, cold and unyielding. “I don’t do ‘maybe’s’ or ‘what if’s,’ Lexi. You’re mine now. No one threatens what’s mine.”

The words were simple, but the weight of them made my stomach flip. The way he said it—like a command, not a suggestion—made me realize just how much control he had over me.

The car came to a stop outside his penthouse, and Julian was already stepping out before I could unbuckle my seatbelt. I followed him into the building, my heart racing, trying to ignore the unsettling feeling that crawled up my spine. There was something in the air, something I couldn’t quite place.

The silence between us was thick, heavy with things left unsaid.

He turned toward me, his voice low and commanding. “Victor Hale doesn’t matter. What matters is you and me. And the moment you signed that contract, you became mine.”

I tried to ignore the way his words sent a shiver through me. “I’m not your property, Julian,” I shot back, my voice barely more than a whisper.

His lips curled into a smile—dangerous, knowing. He moved toward me in a few long strides, his presence overwhelming. “Oh, but you are. You might not admit it yet, but you are. And the more you fight it, the more you’ll crave it.”

Before I could respond, he stepped into my space, his body a wall I couldn’t escape. His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist with a possessiveness that left no room for argument. He yanked me toward him, his chest hard against mine.

“Do you think you can still run from this?” he asked, his voice a dark promise. “From me?” “Need I remind you that I am Julian Blackwood?, men like me rule the world “

I swallowed hard, and tried to speak, but my words failed me. There was something in his eyes—something predatory.

His lips brushed against my ear, sending a jolt through me. “You signed up for more than just money and luxury, Lexi. You signed up for me.”

He leaned in, his breath hot against my skin, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. The heat between us crackled, and every instinct in me screamed to pull away. But something deeper inside me—something darker—pulled me toward him.

His hands were on me before I could process what was happening. He was rough, demanding, as if he was marking me—claiming me in a way that had nothing to do with the contract I’d signed. His fingers tangled in my hair, forcing me to look at him.

“Say it,” he growled, his voice thick with desire. “Say you’re mine.”

“I… I’m not—”

He cut me off, his mouth crashing onto mine. His kiss was deep, urgent, like he was trying to devour me. I froze for a moment, but his insistence made my body respond before my mind could catch up. I kissed him back, my fingers digging into his chest, desperate, needy.

But just as quickly as he had pulled me to himself , he pushed me away. My breath was ragged, my chest rising and falling in sharp bursts. Julian’s eyes were wild, his chest heaving. He stood there, looking at me like he was trying to figure me out, to figure out if I belonged to him yet.

“You’ll beg for it,” he whispered, his voice low and dangerous. “I’ll make you beg, Lexi. You’ll crave everything I give you. And you won’t be able to walk away.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but my words caught in my throat. He was right. I could feel it—the pull, the hunger I couldn’t deny. Even as I tried to convince myself I was strong enough to resist, my body betrayed me, aching for him.

Before I could say anything, his phone rang, shattering the moment like glass. Julian’s jaw tightened, and he walked away to answer it, leaving me standing there, trying to collect my scattered thoughts.

I stood motionless, trying to breathe normally, my heart still racing, Julian’s voice came from the other room, low and sharp as he spoke into the phone. I couldn’t make out the words, but I could tell from the tone that it was something serious.

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the throbbing need still pulsing through me. Julian returned a few moments later, his face unreadable.

“We leave for Paris tomorrow,” he said, his tone suddenly businesslike, detached.

“Paris?” I blinked. “Why?”

He didn’t answer at first, his gaze cold and distant. Then, his lips curled into a small, almost cruel smile. “There’s someone I need you to meet.

My stomach clenched. “Who?”

He paused for a moment, then said quietly, “My mother.”

I froze. His mother? The last person I expected to meet in this twisted world of his.

Just as I opened my mouth to ask more questions, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, and to see the message that flashed on the screen, it made my blood run cold.

“Get out. Now. Before it’s too late. He’s not the man you think he is.….“Julian Blackwood will drain you.”

Terrified, my hands trembled as I stared at the unknown sender.