Thorn of obsession 의 모든 챕터: 챕터 11 - 챕터 20

ELARA'S POV"Relax," he said softly near my ear.Relax? Was he serious? How was I supposed to relax?His hand moved up and down my back slowly. Like he was trying to calm a scared animal."Look at me," he said.I didn't want to. I kept my eyes down."Elara. Look at me."Slowly, I turned my head and met his eyes.Those blue eyes. They weren't angry right now. They were something else. Something I couldn't figure out."Why do you fight me so much?" he asked quietly."Because you kidnapped me," I said before I could stop myself.His jaw tightened. "I saved you.""Saved me?" The words just came out. "You took me away from my life from my friend. She must be worried sick about me now.How is that saving me?""Your life?" He laughed but there was no humor in it. "What life?Living in that tiny apartment? Struggling to pay bills? That's not a life, Elara. "And so, you had no right”His grip on my waist tightened. "I had every right.""No. You didn't."We stared at each other. The tension was

KIERAN'S POVI looked down at her. She was lying there on the bed. Drunk. Vulnerable. And beautiful.Her red dress had ridden up a little. Her hair was messy. Her lipstick was smudged. She looked absolutely perfect.I could feel the desire running through my body. I reached out slowly. My hand touched her thigh. Her skin was so soft and warm.I traced my fingers up. From her thigh to her lap. Gently taking my time.She shivered under my touch.Good. She felt it too. I smiled. She could deny it all she wanted. But her body knew. Her body understood what her mind refused to accept."Please," she whispered. Her voice was shaky. "What are you doing?"I didn't answer. Instead, I leaned down closer. I reached up and lifted her chin with my finger. Made her look at me.She tried to resist. I could feel it. Her body went stiff. But she couldn't pull away. She was too drunk and weak.I brought my face closer to hers. So close I could feel her breath on my lips.Then I kissed her.She didn't

ELARA'S POVThat evening, Kieran came back early.I was on the balcony.I'd been standing there for over an hour.Staring down.Thinking about jumping. About the fall. About how the wind would feel.Thinking about anything except this prison. I miss my friend so much she must be worried sick about me.It would be easy. Just climb over. Just let go.But I couldn't. Something wouldn't let me.Maybe fear. Maybe hope. Maybe I was just too stubborn to let him win like that."Elara."I heard his voice behind me.I didn't turn around."How long have you been standing here?" he asked.I didn't answer.His footsteps came closer. "Talk to me Elara," he said."Why?" My voice came out flat. "So you can pretend this is normal?""We are two people having a conversation."I laughed. "No. We're a kidnapper and his victim." I muttered only to my hearing."Come inside," he said. "It's getting cold.""I like the cold.""Elara""Leave me alone." I gripped the railing hard."I brought you something," he sai

Kieran’s PovI stood there in the doorway staring at Elara. My Elara. Sitting at the dinner table like she belonged there.She was wearing a red dress I'd never seen her in. Her hair was done up all nice, falling in waves around her face. She had makeup on. And she was smiling at me."Hello, husband," she said again, her voice all sweet. "Shall we discuss our wedding?"I didn't trust this. Not one bit.She'd been giving me the silent cold treatment. And now suddenly she's dressed up, sitting at dinner, calling me husband?Something was wrong here.But I wasn't gonna let her see that I was suspicious.I walked into the room slowly, set my briefcase down. And loosened my tie. I sat down across from her."Elara," I said, keeping my voice calm. "This is unexpected."Is it?" She picked up her wine glass, took a small sip. Yeah, this was definitely a trap."I see." I gestured to one of the staff, and they brought me a plate. "And what brought on this change of heart?"She shrugged, cutting in

ELARA’S POVThe doorbell rang around noon. I was in my room reading when Anya came to get me."Miss Elara, the designer is here for your dress fitting."Right. The wedding dress. Because this nightmare was actually happening.I followed her downstairs to one of the sitting rooms. A tall, thin woman was setting up her stuff. She had a measuring tape around her neck and pins stuck in a little cushion on her wrist. Behind her were bags and boxes, probably full of fabric and whatever else you need to make a wedding dress."Good afternoon," the woman said. Her voice was flat. And professional. Like she did this every day."Hi," I said back.She didn't smile. Didn't ask me how I was feeling about my wedding. Didn't do any of that excited bride stuff. She just looked at me like I was a mannequin in a store window. Like I was just another job."Let's begin," she said. "Stand here, please. Arms out."I did what she said. Stood in the middle of the room with my arms stretched out to the sides.