Chapter Eight
Bianca hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest, but when Galen suggested they head inside, she nodded, unable to trust her voice. There was something magnetic about him, something that drew her in despite the warnings blaring in her mind.
She couldn ’ t deny the heat between them, the way her body responded to his presence, to the way his eyes darkened with unspoken promises.
As they stepped back into the warmth of Galen ’ s apartment, Bianca noticed that Reynard was gone. It was just the two of them now, the space between them charged with anticipation. Galen turned to her, holding out his hand with a small, almost playful smile.
Unexpected laughter bubbled out of her, surprising them both. She hadn’t expected this side of him—a gentlemanly gesture from a man like Galen. It was disarming, almost as if he was offering her a choice, a way out if she wanted it. But she didn’t want out. Not now. His earlier words echoed in her mind, that he’d help her forget about Tom. She would hold him true to his promise.
She met his gaze, curving her lips into a daring smile as she reached out and grasped his fingers. The contact sent a shiver down her spine, an electric current that shot through her veins.
“ Come, ” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that made her knees weak.
His grip was firm but gentle as he led her down the hallway, toward the bedroom. Every step felt like a descent into something unknown, something dangerous, and Bianca couldn’t tell if it was fear or excitement—or both—that quickened her pulse.
The bedroom was dimly lit, the soft glow of a single lamp casting shadows that danced on the walls. Galen let go of her hand and walked over to the bed, turning to face her with a look that made her breath catch.
The way he stood, the way his eyes raked over her, made her feel as though he was undressing her with his gaze. The dress she wore, the one he ’ d chosen for her, suddenly felt too tight, too constricting, and she wanted nothing more than to feel his hands on her skin.
But she held back, watching him, waiting for his next move. Galen slowly approached her, his expression unreadable, but the tension in the air was palpable.
When he finally reached her, he stopped just inches away, his hand brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The touch was so light, so tender, that it sent a ripple of heat through her.
“ Bianca, ” he whispered, her name on his lips like a caress.
His thumb traced the line of her jaw, down to the curve of her neck, lingering at the pulse point where he could feel her heart racing.
“ Galen… ” she whispered his name back, a plea, a challenge, she wasn’t sure.
Her hands found their way to his chest, fingers splaying over the hard muscles she ’ d felt earlier. There was something primal in the way he looked at her, a hunger that made her stomach flutter.
He leaned in, his lips hovering over hers, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath. But he didn’t kiss her. Not yet. Instead, he slid his hands down her sides, feeling the contours of her body through the thin fabric of the dress. The heat of his palms seeped through the material, making her skin tingle in anticipation.
“ Do you want this? ” he asked, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down her spine. He was giving her an out, one last chance to walk away.
But there was no walking away. Not from this. “ Yes, ” she breathed, her voice trembling with the weight of her decision.
Galen didn’t hesitate. He slipped his hands around her waist, pulling her against him, and captured her mouth in a searing kiss that stole her breath away. His lips were demanding, insistent, as if he was claiming her, marking her as his. Bianca melted into him, her hands gripping the fabric of his shirt as she kissed him back with equal fervor.
The kiss deepened, became more urgent, and Bianca found herself arching into him, needing to be closer, to feel more of him.
Galen responded in kind, his hands roaming over her back, down to her hips, pulling her even tighter against him. The hardness of his body against hers, the way he kissed her, made her dizzy with want.
When he finally broke the kiss, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting against each other as they caught their breath. Galen ’ s hands were still on her hips, his thumbs rubbing slow circles that made her skin burn with need.
“ Turn around, ” he whispered, his voice rough with desire.
Bianca did as he asked, her heart racing as she felt his hands move to the zipper of her dress. He pulled it down slowly, the sound of the zipper loud in the quiet room. The cool air hit her back as the dress slid down her shoulders, pooling at her feet. She stood there in nothing but the lace underwear he’d chosen for her, feeling more exposed than she ever had before.
But it wasn ’ t just the vulnerability that made her breath hitch. It was the way Galen looked at her, his eyes dark with want, as if she was the only thing in the world that mattered. He reached out, his fingers trailing down her spine, making her shiver.
“ You ’ re beautiful, ” he murmured, his voice reverent.
Bianca turned to face him, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the hem of his shirt. She pulled it over his head, revealing the hard planes of his chest, the ridges of muscle that made her mouth go dry. Her fingers traced the lines of his abdomen, feeling the heat of his skin, the strength beneath her touch. Galen watched her with hooded eyes, his breath coming in shallow bursts as she explored him.
When she finally looked up at him, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her again, this time slower, more sensual, as if savoring the moment. He guided her to the bed, laying her down gently, his body covering hers. The weight of him, the feel of his skin against hers, sent a rush of heat through her.
Galen ’ s lips trailed down her neck, to her collarbone, to the swell of her breasts, each kiss igniting a fire that burned hotter and hotter.
Bianca ’ s hands tangled in his hair, her back arching as his mouth moved lower, teasing the edge of the lace bra she wore. His hands were everywhere, caressing, exploring, as if he couldn ’ t get enough of her. The tension built between them, a crescendo of desire that threatened to consume them both.
When he finally pulled back, his eyes met hers, and in that moment there was no doubt in her mind. She wanted this, wanted him, more than she’d ever wanted anything. Galen smiled, a dark, wicked smile that made her heart skip a beat.
“ Are you ready? ” he asked, his voice a seductive whisper.
“ Yes, ” she replied.
He unhooked her bra, unveiling her breasts. Her nipples were already hardened. Galen took her left breast in his hand, gently massaging it. He slipped his other hand between her legs, past the waistband of her panties.
She moaned as he began stroking her pussy lips. At the same time, he closed his teeth over her nipple and left his bite mark there. Bianca gasped, a thrill going down her spine as she saw his mark. Galen marked her other nipple as well, so she had a matching pair.
Then he moved his mouth lower, leaving a trail of kisses down her ribs, her stomach. When he reached the valley between her thighs, she groaned as he simply tore her panties and tossed them to one side. Galen then kissed her clit, her pussy lips.
He licked and sucked, hands firmly on her hips, intent on making her come. In no time at all, Bianca cried out, climaxing against him. He licked her cream off his lips, wearing that signature grin of his. He hadn’t even fucked her yet and already she was his.
“ Tell me what you want, Bianca, ” he told her. “ Say the words. ”
“ I want your cock in me, ” she whispered, blushing.
Galen smiled like a predator looking down at his prey. He hefted her legs on his shoulders and pinned her hands above her head. Helpless, needy, and wanting more, she tried telling him to stop teasing her, but he captured her mouth.
He plundered her mouth at the same time he sunk his dick inside her. Bianca groaned, aware of how big he was. He took his time, going slow and steady until he was balls-deep in her. Then he started pumping in and out of her, rhythm slow, before picking up speed.
“ Faster. Harder, ” she whispered once he pulled away from the kiss.
Galen complied, and each time he entered her, it felt like he owned just a little bit more of her soul. We forgot protection , she thought, then dismissed the thought. He was going to be her husband anyway, so what was the point?
Her husband. Was she seriously considering his proposal? Bianca could no longer pursue the thought, because when Galen entered her this time, he brushed against her sweet spot. Bianca gasped, hips rising to meet his, back arching as he aimed for that spot again and again.
The pressure building inside her became too much. The next time Galen slid inside her wet pussy, she came all over his cock. Her mind blanked and his bedroom faded from her line of sight. All that mattered was them.
He pumped several more times inside her, before climaxing, filling her with his seed. Galen collapsed next to her, bringing her close for a kiss. This one was unexpectedly gentle and nice. He took his time tasting her as well. She liked that. When they parted, Galen excused himself to grab a towel from his bathroom.
After he cleaned them both up, he reached for her. Bianca automatically cuddled close. Lying there, wrapped in his embrace, she couldn ’ t help but marvel at how different everything felt.
Tom had once been her world, but now, as she lay beside Galen, Tom seemed like a distant, faded memory. He was the past, and Galen could very well be her future.
The thought might have seemed reckless to anyone else—marrying a man she barely knew, a man with a reputation as dark as his—but Bianca had seen glimpses of something deeper beneath the surface tonight.
Galen was more than just the cold, calculating figure he projected to the world. Yes, he was possessive, maybe even a little psychotic, but he was also fiercely protective, and in a way, that made her feel safer than she ever had.
The intensity in his eyes when he looked at her, like she was the only woman he ever saw, ever wanted—that was enough.
As she lay there, her head resting on his chest, she could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was soothing, grounding her in the reality of the moment. She traced light patterns on his skin, the warmth of his body radiating into hers.
As she wanted to keep her guard up, tonight, she found it increasingly difficult. With Galen, she felt a connection she ’ d never experienced before—a connection that made her believe that maybe, just maybe, this could work.
“ What are you thinking about?” Galen asked her, voice low and husky.
She looked up at him, her gaze meeting his. There was something so tender in the way he watched her, a softness that belied the dangerous man she knew him to be.
“ You, ” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “ I ’ m thinking about being your wife. ”
He smiled, a slow, satisfied curve of his lips that sent a shiver down her spine. “ Oh? Is that a yes? ”
Bianca hesitated for only a moment, weighing the gravity of his question. Could she really say yes? Could she truly commit to a life with someone like Galen?
But the longer she looked into his eyes, the more certain she became. He might be dangerous, but he was also real, raw in a way that made her feel more alive than she ever had. And that was something she couldn’t ignore.
Her hand came up to trace the line of his jaw, her touch gentle but firm. “ Yes, ” she whispered, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
Galen ’ s smile broadened, and his eyes darkened with an intensity that made her breath catch.
“ Good, ” he murmured, his hand sliding down her back, pulling her even closer to him.
Before she could say another word, his lips were on hers, claiming her with a passion that sent a surge of heat through her entire body. The kiss was possessive, almost demanding, but it was exactly what she needed. She melted into him, her body responding to his in a way that was both exhilarating and terrifying. He kissed her like he owned her, and in that moment, Bianca realized she wanted to be his.
Galen once again used his hands to explore her body, fingers tracing the curves and contours that had been hidden beneath the sheets. Every touch was electric, sending sparks of pleasure through her.
She arched into him, her own hands moving to explore the hard planes of his chest, the ridges of muscle. Everything about him was solid, unyielding, and utterly commanding. He was a man who knew what he wanted, and right now, that was her.
When he finally broke the kiss, his lips trailed down her neck, over her collarbone, leaving a path of fire in their wake. Her breath hitched, her fingers tangling in his hair as she clung to him.
“ Galen, ” she gasped, not even sure what she was asking for. More? Less? She didn’t know, but he seemed to understand.
“ I ’ ve got you, ” he whispered against her skin, his voice rough with desire. “ You ’ re mine now, Bianca. ”
There was no denying it. She was his. Completely and utterly his. And as his hands continued their exploration, she knew there was no turning back.
She didn ’ t want to. Not with the way he made her feel—like she was the only woman in the world, the only one who mattered.
He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his thumb brushing over her swollen lips. “ You have no idea how long I ’ ve waited for this, ” he said, his voice low and intense.
“ For what? ” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“ For you, ” he said simply. “ For someone who can match me. Challenge me. Someone I can protect, but who ’ s strong enough to stand beside me. ”
His words sent a thrill through her. She had never thought of herself as strong, but with Galen, she felt like she could be. Like she was more than just the sum of her past mistakes and heartbreaks.
He kissed her again, slower this time, more deliberate. It was a kiss that spoke of promises, of a future as dangerous as it was intoxicating. And as she kissed him back, Bianca knew she was ready to step into that future, whatever it held.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathing heavily, their bodies tangled together in the sheets. She rested her head on his chest again, feeling the rise and fall of his breath, the steady thump of his heart.
“ Tell me something, ” she murmured after a moment. “ Why me? Why did you choose me? ”
He was silent for a moment, and she could feel him considering his answer. “ Because you ’ re different, ” he said finally. “ Because you ’ re the first woman who ’ s ever made me feel like this. ”
“ Like what? ” she pressed, needing to understand.
“ Like I could lose everything if I lost you, ” he admitted, his voice low, almost vulnerable. “ And I ’ m not willing to take that chance. ”
His words hit her deeply, in a way she hadn ’ t expected. He wasn ’ t just possessive—he was vulnerable, too. And that vulnerability made her want him even more.
She tilted her head up, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “ Then I guess it’s a good thing you’re not going to lose me, ” she whispered against his mouth.