Today was my wedding day. The thought felt surreal, and yet, there I was, curled up in my bed with Boo Boo, my worn-out but beloved teddy bear. The soft fabric was comforting against my skin, a bittersweet reminder of a life I would soon leave behind. I didn’t want to think about Adam—about his control, his power over my life—but how could I not? My past with him was a nightmare I couldn’t escape, and now, my future was shackled to him. Adam didn’t care about my dreams, my feelings, or my desires after I had said no to his marriage proposal. He had made that abundantly clear.
I wished, just for a moment, that I had the power to vanish—a vampire’s speed, or the ability to write my own story. A story where the man I loved would worship me, not torment me. But reality hit hard when the door to my room swung open, and Adam stepped in, a cold smile curving his lips.
Before I could say anything, he grabbed Boo Boo and, without a word, ripped it in two.
“Adam!” I bolted upright, my heart racing in disbelief. “Why would you do that?!”
“You didn’t listen when I called,” he said flatly, as if that explained everything.
I clutched the shredded remains of Boo Boo, tears threatening to spill. “I was just... taking a moment. Saying goodbye to my bed, my room, my—”
“Enough.” His tone was calm, too calm, and that terrified me more than if he had shouted. “Get up and get ready, sweetie. We don’t want your family to suffer because of your stubbornness, now do we?”
I froze. His words were a dagger, their implications slicing through me. Adam was a master of manipulation, and he never let me forget what was at stake.
“I’ll get ready,” I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Fifteen minutes. That’s all I need.”
“Make it ten,” he said, his voice dangerously soft. “And sweetie... no clever ideas. I adore your sharp little mind, but you won’t like how I deal with it if you try to outsmart me.”
I shivered as he leaned down, his lips brushing against mine in a mockery of affection before he turned to leave. “Don’t keep me waiting, Belle,” he called over his shoulder. “And wear something sexy underneath that wedding dress or nothing at all. Suprise me... or for Jack’s life.”
The door clicked shut, and I exhaled shakily, my body trembling as I got out of bed. This was my life now.
---
It hadn’t always been like this. I remembered the night I first met Adam. It was a party I hadn’t even wanted to attend.
“Do I seriously have to come with you?” I had groaned to my sister, Alice, as she touched up her lipstick. “Why not take one of your friends?”
“Because you’re my sister, and you need to get out of that gilded cage you call a room. Live a little, Belle!” Alice grinned, grabbing my hand and dragging me out the door.
The party was a chaotic blend of flashing lights, loud music, and bodies swaying to the beat. I hated it. I clung to the bar, nursing a soda while Alice downed shot after shot. Her ex, Jordan, showed up soon after, his easy charm lighting up the room.
“Hey, Allie,” he greeted, hugging her warmly. He gave me a high-five, his chocolate-brown eyes twinkling. Jordan was everything a girl could want—loyal, kind, and impossibly handsome—but he was firmly off-limits. Not that it mattered. My dad’s overprotectiveness and Jordan’s brotherly affection for me ensured it.
“Meet my friend Adam,” Jordan said, gesturing to a man who stepped out from the shadows.
And that’s when I saw him. Tall, with a presence that was both magnetic and intimidating. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and I felt my breath hitch. He wasn’t just handsome—he was dangerously captivating.
“Belle,” Alice hissed, nudging me. “You’re staring. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get lucky tonight.”
I barely heard her. Adam approached me, his movements deliberate, his gaze unwavering.
“May I have the pleasure of this dance, sweetie?” His deep, velvety voice was laced with a quiet authority that sent a shiver straight down my spine.
I glanced up, my breath catching as his dark, penetrating eyes locked with mine. Something in his gaze made it impossible to look away—a pull, magnetic and consuming. My heart pounded, and my lips parted as though words would spill out, but all I could manage was a nod.
His smirk deepened as he took my hand, his fingers strong and commanding as they closed around mine. The heat of his touch shot through me, leaving my skin tingling. Without another word, he guided me to the center of the dance floor, where the music shifted to a slow, sultry rhythm.
He pulled me close—closer than anyone had ever dared. His hand slid around my waist, firm and possessive, while the other lightly held my fingers, as though daring me to pull away. I didn’t. I couldn’t.
“You’re nervous,” he murmured, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. His voice was low, almost teasing, but it carried an edge of dominance that made my knees weak. “Why is that, sweetie?”
“I’m not nervous,” I managed to whisper, though my voice betrayed me with its unsteady quiver.
He chuckled softly, the sound a dark melody against the thrum of the music. “Lying doesn’t suit you,” he said, his fingers tightening slightly on my waist. “Your body gives you away.”
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing as he slowly spun me around. My back pressed against his chest, and the firm, undeniable strength of him enveloped me. His hand splayed across my stomach, holding me in place, while his other hand moved my hair to the front giving him full access to my neck. His lips started to grazed the sensitive curve of my neck.
“What do you do?” I blurted out, desperate for a distraction from the heat coursing through me.
He chuckled again, his breath warm against my skin. “What do I do?” he repeated, his tone amused. “Why do you want to know?”
“Just curious,” I said, though my voice faltered as his lips pressed lightly against my neck, the sensation making my breath hitch.
“Curiosity can be dangerous, sweetie,” he murmured, his lips moving lower, his kisses slow and deliberate. “Especially when you don’t know who you’re asking.”
I shivered under his touch, my hands gripping his forearms for balance. “What’s your favorite color?” I asked, my words tumbling out in a breathless attempt to regain some control.
His laughter was soft and dark, rumbling through his chest and into my back. “My favorite color?” he echoed, the question clearly amusing him. His lips found the delicate spot just below my ear, and he lingered there, pressing a kiss that made my knees go weak. “Red,” he finally whispered, his voice dripping with sensual promise. He sucked on the same spot for a few seconds making me gasp, licking it at intervals.“The color of passion... and desire same as this spot here."
I felt his teeth graze my earlobe, a soft nip that sent a jolt through me. “Do you always ask so many questions, Belle?” he asked, his tone both teasing and commanding.
“I—” My words died on my lips as his hand slid from my stomach to my hip, his grip firm, almost possessive. The heat of his body was overwhelming, his every touch igniting a fire beneath my skin.
“Shh,” he whispered, his lips brushing my neck again. “You talk too much.” His teeth grazed the delicate skin there, a sharp contrast to the softness of his lips. “Why don’t you let me take the lead for once?”
I gasped as he nipped at my neck, the sting of it sending a wave of pleasure through me. His hand on my hip tightened, pulling me closer until I could feel the hardness of him pressing against me. My body reacted instinctively, melting into him, and I hated how easily he unraveled me.
“You feel that?” he murmured, his voice a husky growl against my skin. “That’s what you do to me, Belle. Every little gasp, every little shiver—it’s mine. You’re mine.”
His words sent a thrill coursing through me, a mix of fear and exhilaration. I opened my mouth to speak, to protest, but he silenced me with another kiss to my neck, his lips trailing down to my shoulder.
“Tell me something,” he whispered, his tone soft yet commanding. “Do I make you nervous... or do I make you want more?”
I closed my eyes, my breath coming in shallow gasps. “Both,” I admitted, the word barely audible, but his smirk told me he’d heard.
“Good,” he said, his voice rich with satisfaction. “That’s exactly how I want you.”
As the song drew to a close, he suddenly spun me back around to face him. His hand came up to cup my jaw, his thumb brushing over my cheek. His eyes were dark, unreadable, but they held me captive.
“Go out with me tomorrow,” he said, the words more a command than a question. “Seven o’clock. And wear something tempting.”
Before I could respond, his lips brushed mine—a fleeting, electrifying touch that left me reeling. Then he was gone, disappearing into the crowd as if he’d never been there. I stood frozen, breathless, the echoes of his touch still burning on my skin.
My phone buzzed in my hand, and I glanced down to see a message from an unknown number.
Sweetie, don’t forget. Seven o’clock. Wear something sexy.
- A
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