CHAPTER 9.

  "Death Wish"

 "Death wish?" AnniBerry thought, fear creeping across her face. He is indeed a murderer, she concluded. She swallowed hard and took a step backward.

  Marchen immediately noticed the shoes on her feet. His eyes dropped to them before he fixed her with a stern glare.

  "Why did you go into my room?" he asked in an intimidating tone. "You dropped my jacket on the floor and wore my shoes?" His voice grew even colder. "Why did you touch my stuff?" he roared at the top of his voice.

  AnniBerry stood frozen. Terror consumed her as she stared at him. She felt increasingly uncomfortable around him. He must have a gun, she thought. And now he's asking if I have a death wish.

  No. She didn't want to stay in his house anymore. She desperately needed answers.

  Who had tried to kill her? Why was her cousin still missing? Not just her cousin, but her entire family. And most importantly...

 Who was Marchen?

  Without realizing it, tears rolled down her cheeks. Trembling with fear, she looked at him.

  "I... I... I want to go home," she stammered, her voice cracking.

  Marchen stared at her, anger still written across his face. He didn't know how to tell her that her home had become a danger zone. He knew he could keep her safe from the people hunting her because she was completely innocent. The very person she trusted had placed her in this terrible situation, yet she knew nothing about it.

 The moment he saw her tears, his heart softened.

  He wanted to comfort her, but he feared that showing kindness would make her ignore his warnings and walk straight into danger. The only way he knew how to protect people was through fear.

  He walked toward her.

 AnniBerry instinctively stepped backward until her back hit the wall. Fear completely overtook her face.

  Marchen stopped inches away from her and lowered his head, staring directly into her frightened eyes.

  "AnniBerry, you are forbidden to leave this house. And don't even think about escaping... or you'll die," he said in a calm yet terrifying voice.

 Her eyes widened in horror.

  She immediately covered her mouth with both hands as a painful sob escaped her lips.

  In that instant, her entire world came crashing down. Marchen watched her break apart before turning away.

  "Pull off my shoes," he ordered coldly as he walked away, without a trace of pity in his voice.

 AnniBerry slid down the wall and burst into uncontrollable tears. She wished none of this was happening.

  She had lost everything and was now at the mercy of a heartless man she believed to be a killer.

 She couldn't stop crying.

 "I need my phone," she whispered through her tears.

 Not long afterward, exhaustion overtook her, and she fell asleep on the sitting-room floor.

  ---

    Marchen paced back and forth inside his room. He hadn't heard AnniBerry's bedroom door open, and he wondered why she hadn't gone inside. Guilt weighed heavily on him. He hated the way he had spoken to her, but the situation was far more dangerous than she could ever imagine. He couldn't allow his bosses to get their hands on her.

 He had to protect her.

  He also knew she wouldn't be able to remain in his house forever, but for now, it was the safest place she could be. He wondered if there was another way to keep her from leaving without constantly raising his voice. The image of her retreating in fear as he approached replayed repeatedly in his mind. He remembered the helpless tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

  "Damn you, Marchen," he muttered, cursing himself.

  He sat on the edge of his bed, patiently waiting to hear AnniBerry's bedroom door open.

 But hours passed in complete silence. Unable to ignore the uneasy feeling in his chest any longer, he decided to check on her.  He walked into the sitting room and found her exactly where he had left her. She was fast asleep, sitting on the floor with her back resting against the wall.

 Pity filled his heart.

  Her hair was messy, as though she had been through a storm. His gaze shifted to her feet once again. His shoes looked ridiculously oversized on her tiny feet. They were so big that they looked like coffins wrapped around her legs.

  A faint smile escaped his lips.

  Slowly, he bent down and gently reached out to wake her.

 AnniBerry... AnniBerry...

  He called her name calmly.

  She gently opened her eyes, and the moment she saw Marchen's face, she immediately adjusted herself in fear.

  "You're still wearing my shoes," he said in a calm yet intimidating tone.

  In a rush, AnniBerry tried to stand up so she could remove the shoes, panic clearly written across her face.

  "I-I'm sorry," she stammered.

 Marchen watched her quietly for a moment.

 "I'm sorry," he said calmly.

  AnniBerry quickly looked up at him, as if trying to make sure she had heard him correctly.

  "I'm sorry, Anni," he repeated in a gentler tone. "I shouldn't have spoken to you that way earlier. Can you forgive me?"

  AnniBerry's heart instantly softened. She couldn't believe he had just apologized to her.

  Maybe he was just going through something, she thought.

  A bright smile spread across her face.

  "I forgive you," she replied softly.

 They both stood up, and after a brief moment of awkward silence, Marchen stepped forward and wrapped his arms around AnniBerry. He pulled her gently against his chest. Her hands remained stiff at her sides as surprise washed over her, leaving her unable to return the embrace. As she began to pull away, Marchen gently held her by the shoulders, keeping her close. He gazed into her eyes before leaning in to kiss her softly.

  AnniBerry's heart fluttered. She loved the way he kissed her. The cool scent of his cologne surrounded her, making it easy to forget everything that had happened moments earlier. Slowly, she began to kiss him back, losing herself in the warmth of the moment.

  Marchen's hands slowly slipped from her waist, moving upward as he gently caressed her. He carefully slid the thin straps of her dress off her shoulders. Breaking the kiss, he lowered his face and pressed tender kisses along her shoulder and upper chest, sucking her both breast gently, his lip pressing tightly on her nipples. 

 AnniBerry closed her eyes, savoring the tenderness of the moment.

 Marchen scooped her up effortlessly in both arms and carried her into his bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed before pulling off his shirt, revealing the perfectly sculpted muscles beneath. Without saying a word, he climbed over her, his dark eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that stole her breath away.

 Slowly, he slipped AnniBerry's gown from her body until she lay completely nake before him. His fingertips traced lightly over her skin before his lips claimed hers once more. The kiss was deep, slow, and demanding, making her heart pound wildly against her chest.

 Unable to resist him, AnniBerry wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself closer to his warm body. Every kiss sent a delicious shiver through her, and she found herself melting beneath his touch.

 Marchen rose from the bed and unbuckled his trousers before letting them fall to the floor. He stood before her in nothing but a pair of white boxer briefs that did little to hide his powerful physique, exposing the shape of his long, wide and hard penis. AnniBerry's eyes widened as they lingered on him for a brief moment before she quickly looked away, her cheeks burning crimson.

 "Oh my God..." she whispered inwardly, swallowing hard.

 Marchen caught the flustered look on her face and a devilish smirk spread across his lips. Without taking his eyes off her, he removed the last piece of clothing between them before lowering himself back onto the bed.

 He hovered above her, his gaze sweeping over her trembling body,

 "I can see how much you want me," he murmured in a husky, seductive voice when he noticed her inner thighs we looking shinny from wetness. 

 AnniBerry bit her lower lip, unable to form a reply. Her heart raced so violently she feared he could hear it. Every inch of her trembled as he leaned closer.

 His lips brushed softly against her inner thigh before he looked up into her eyes.

 "Spread your legs for me, baby," he whispered.

 With a shy, hesitant breath, AnniBerry slowly obeyed, never taking her eyes off him. Marchen gently held her legs, positioning himself as he leaned forward. His lips found hers and he gave a gentle thust

 She let out a soft moan "Close your eyes," he whispered softly against her lips. "Just enjoy me."

 She obeyed, her lashes fluttering shut as she surrendered herself completely to him. A soft moan escaped her lips again as she clung tightly to his shoulders, her fingers digging gently into his skin.

 Marchen paused almost immediately, studying the expression on her face.

 "Does it hurt?" he asked quietly, concern replacing the desire in his eyes.

 AnniBerry gave a small shake of her head, reassuring him despite her rapid breathing.

 A faint smile curved his lips.

 "Good," he murmured before capturing her lips once more, holding her close as the space between them disappeared, he thrusted deep into her, leaving her with loud moans.