Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Kholod
The steering wheel creaked under my grip.
I floored the accelerator, and the engine let out a deep growl. Outside the window, Philadelphia's lights blurred into streaks—streetlamps, neon signs, buildings whipping by in twisted lines.
Damn it.
I glanced at the passenger seat from the corner of my eye.
Noelle huddled in her ice-blue gown, the skirt fanning out like wilted petals.
Her face was pale as death, hands clutching the seatbelt, silent as a fragile porcelain doll.
But the images flashing in my head made my temples throb—that greasy hand on her waist, those hungry eyes devouring her body, the ripped skirt. ..
"Fuck," I snarled through gritted teeth.
Noelle flinched but didn't look at me, just turned her face to the window.
A wave of killing rage nearly swallowed my sanity whole.
I almost wanted to pull my gun and blow that bastard away.
But snapping his wrist was a better fit—I'd make him remember in agony what happens when you touch Kholod Morozov's property.
That restraint only pissed me off more. I hated this feeling, hated how she could make me lose control so easily.
"Kholod, you're driving too fast," Noelle said, her voice shaky.
"Shut up."
She went quiet. The car filled with the engine's roar and the tires screeching against the road. I told myself the fury was just because my possession had gotten tainted.
Yeah, that's it.
She was my wife, her body marked with my imprint, she belonged to me. That scum daring to touch her was a direct challenge to my authority. Getting this mad was only natural.
But deep down, a voice howled. It wasn't just possession—it was fear. Fear of losing her.
"No," I muttered.
"What?" Noelle turned to look at me.
"Nothing," I said, staring dead ahead at the road. "Don't talk."
The car barreled through the manor gates, speeding down the driveway, and I pulled straight into the garage. I slammed on the brakes, tires squealing on the concrete, the whole car shuddering to a halt.
Noelle's body jerked forward from the inertia, the seatbelt yanking her back with a pained yelp.
I killed the engine. Hit the button. The heavy garage door rumbled down, sealing us in with a low mechanical hum. Metal hit the ground with a booming thud, cutting off the outside world completely.
The garage lights blazed bright, bouncing off the polished concrete in harsh white glares. The place was dead silent except for our ragged breaths.
I turned to her. Those brown eyes, bright and fierce under the lights, burned like wildfire, ready to consume everything.
"You must be pretty pleased with yourself, huh?"
My voice scraped out from deep in my throat, hoarse and unfamiliar.
Noelle froze, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What?"
"I said," I leaned over, bracing against the seat to trap her in that tiny space, "are you pleased with yourself?"
"Kholod, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Putting on that vulnerable act in front of my people, getting everyone to pity you, all those wives whispering, the men eyeing you with sympathy—"
"I didn't!"
"Making me lose it like a damn fool!" My roar echoed in the car.
Noelle's face went even paler, pressing back against the door, fear finally breaking through in her eyes.
"I didn't do anything," she said, voice trembling. "It was that man, he—"
"So you just stood there waiting to get groped?" I sneered. "Noelle, you could've screamed, fought harder, you could've—"
"I'm wearing the dress you picked!" She broke, tears streaming down. "This damn mermaid dress! I couldn't even lift my legs! Kholod Morozov, tell me how the hell I was supposed to fight?!"
Her words hit like a bucket of ice water. I stared at her red-rimmed eyes, the tears streaking her cheeks. Damn.
"And," she choked out, "you left me alone there! You invited Isabella to the opening dance right in front of everyone! You made me the joke of the whole ballroom!"
Every word stabbed like a knife straight to my chest.
"So now it's my fault?" She wiped at her tears, voice dripping with sarcasm. "What do you want? Me to just take the humiliation? Or lie back and let you have your way? Tell me, what the fuck do you want?!"
"I want you to shut up."
I crushed my lips against hers. She struggled hard, but I reclined the seat flat, pinning her under me. I found the zipper at her waist, yanked it down, and shoved my hand inside, rough over her skin.
"Mmm... let go... Kholod... you!"
She fought, but my kiss muffled her words into nonsense.
I didn't say a thing, just worked on stripping her dress, easing off her lips to let her breathe.
She gasped and looked at me. "What the hell's wrong with you?!"
"Nothing's wrong."
I leaned down, my fingers hooking the delicate crystal clasp by her zipper.
"I just want you to understand one thing."
"No—"
"You're mine."
With a tug, the dress slipped from her chest, exposing her breasts and the pasties covering them. I ripped those off and tossed them aside, staring at the tattoo near her nipple with my name etched in. The rage strangely calmed—that mark made her mine.
"Kholod Morozov! You bastard! Pervert! You—"
I dipped my head and sealed her curses with another kiss.
She thrashed wildly, trying to bite me. I bit her lower lip instead, grinding my teeth until I tasted blood.
"You like biting so much?" she gasped, eyes blazing with fury.
"Yeah," I admitted. "Especially you."
I yanked the dress off, leaving her in that tiny thong and those long legs bare under the garage lights. Every inch of her skin glowed, exposed and flawless. The seatbelt still held her down, trapping her across the chest and stomach—god, the sight made me want to make her scream.
"Look at this," my fingertips traced the tattoo. "You can't escape."
"I know," she said, suddenly calm. "I've known for a while."
That dead submission pissed me off more than fighting.
"Don't look at me like that."
"Then how?" she shot back. "Like Isabella, all adoring? Like some socialite, envious? Kholod, what do you really want?"
"I want your eyes only on me."
The words hung there, stunning us both.
Noelle stared.
"What?"
"Shut up." I clamped my hand over her mouth, cutting off any questions. No chance for her to push.
My other hand roamed her body, tracing those familiar curves. Damn, I knew this body too well. Every spot that made her shiver, every angle that drew out moans, every rhythm that broke her—I had it all memorized, and I was addicted.
Being this close, pressed against her, only fueled the fire. God knows how these past couple months had tormented me with this need. Good thing she was right here, under me now.
"Kholod—" She mumbled broken syllables against my palm.
"Shh." I nipped her earlobe. "No talking."
My fingers slid between her thighs, dipping into her warmth. She was already starting to get wet there, slick and inviting. I smirked against her skin.
"Looks like you enjoy this in the car, too, huh? Your body's not lying."
She tried to snap back, but I brushed that sensitive spot, and her words melted into fragmented moans. She got even wetter, her hips twitching involuntarily. "Bet you were thinking about this the whole drive, sweetheart. Soaking for me already? That's my girl."
Seeing her somewhat compliant now, I pulled my hand from her mouth. I stripped off my own clothes quickly—no words needed. Grabbing her waist, I positioned myself and thrust in deep, no preamble.
Noelle screamed, her body arching up against the seatbelt.
I didn't give her a second to adjust. I started pounding into her, wild and relentless.
Every thrust drove deep and brutal, like I was nailing her to the damn car seat.
I needed to erase that bastard's filthy gaze from her skin, wash away every trace.
This was me reclaiming absolute ownership of her body.
She'd remember whose she was—mine, only mine.
"Kholod, slow down... please," she gasped, nails digging into my shoulders.
"Can't slow down," I growled, not breaking rhythm. "You won't remember if I do."
"You're insane," she whimpered, but her body clenched around me.
"All because of you," I shot back, leaning in to sink my teeth into her shoulder, marking her fresh. I licked down her neck, then lower, trailing my tongue over her waist—the same spot that scum had touched. "Fucking hate that he put his hands here. Gonna make sure you feel only me."
She moaned, twisting under me, but I kept up the pace, sucking and biting along her side, erasing any memory of him with my mouth. "Tell me you hate it too. Say it."
"I... I hate it," she breathed, eyes squeezing shut as I thrust harder.
"Good girl." I grabbed her hips tighter, pulling her into each slam. "Now open your eyes. Look at me."
She didn't, just turned her head away, stubborn as hell.
"Open them," I demanded, slowing my thrusts just a bit, teasing.
Her eyes fluttered open, defiant and fiery.
I eased the pace even more, rolling my hips slowly and deeply. "You feeling good? Tell me."
She bit her lip, jaw clenched, refusing to answer.
"No answer? Fine, I'll stop." I started pulling out, inch by inch.
Her eyes widened in panic. "You bastard—"
I stopped completely, hovering at her entrance, not moving.
Noelle broke, wrapping her legs around me desperately, pulling me back. "Don't stop... please, Kholod, don't."
I grinned, thrusting back in shallow. "So, is it good? You like it?"
Tears welled up, spilling over. "Yes... it's good. So good."
Satisfied, I ramped up the speed, pounding harder. "Only I get to touch you like this? Only I make you feel this way?"
"Yes," she cried, voice breaking with sobs. "Only you... only you can make me like this."
I felt her walls starting to spasm around me, clenching tight. I leaned close to her ear, whispering hot. "Scream for me, Noelle. I love hearing you lose it."
She shattered then, her body convulsing as the orgasm hit her hard. Her cries echoed in the garage, raw and unrestrained, just like I wanted. I didn't let up, driving through it, chasing my own release while she trembled beneath me.