Chapter 39
Aurora
I open my eyes. The bedroom is dim—the blinds are tightly shut.
I whimper as I stretch, and my whole body responds with a dull, aching pain.
Every muscle feels like lead, but it’s a damn pleasant heaviness.
I just lie there on the rumpled sheets, staring blankly at the dark ceiling, listening to Desire’s voice drifting in from the living room. He must be on the phone.
I’ve experienced so many shades of pain and pleasure over these two crazy days …
, and God knows, I want more. But those words Desire said about marriage won’t compute.
It can’t be true. He blurted them out in the heat of passion, at the peak of adrenaline.
Surely, he’s already forgotten he said it.
Well, I’m not stupid enough to cling to illusions and remind him.
I won’t let him crush my heart. I’m satisfied with him wanting me for now.
A sudden dull glint on my left hand pulls me from my thoughts.
I slowly lift my hand closer to my face and suck in a sharp breath.
Holy fuck …. A huge black diamond in a heavy setting weighs down my ring finger.
While I was passed out, that bastard put an engagement ring on me!
Blood rushes to my face. What kind of role-play is this?
! Is he trying to mess with my head one last time before he gets bored and tosses me out on the street?
Rage gives me strength. I throw off the heavy blanket and jump out of bed. A silk robe hangs on the door handle, clearly left for me. I throw it over my bare shoulders as I move, not even bothering to tie the belt, and push open the door to the living room.
“Desire, what the hell are you doing?” The words catch in my throat.
I freeze in the doorway. The open robe is hiding little more than my nipples, leaving my cleavage, stomach, and crotch on full display. In a panic, I clutch the silk together and manage to cover at least my cunt a moment before the strangers’ eyes turn to me.
Besides Desire, Isaac and two other guys from the Kingdom are seated in the armchairs. All three are staring at me with bulging eyes.
“Look away, fuckers, before I break your necks!” Desire roars.
There’s so much fury in his voice that the men tuck their heads into their shoulders and stare at the floor. His blazing, angry gaze shifts to me. “You, march back.”
I don’t need to be told twice. Face burning, heart pounding, I shoot back into the bedroom, frantically tightening the stubborn knot on the robe’s belt.
Desire follows me in.
“You won’t let me leave, but you’re gathering your buddies here?” I attack him immediately.
“They won’t bother you while I’m gone.” He presses a button on the wall-mounted remote, and the blinds hum as they slide up. His gaze drops to my chest. “Just get dressed, for fuck’s sake.”
“Are you leaving?” My eyes widen. “Then I should go too. I have classes at Stonehaven …”
Desire nods at the pitch-darkness outside the window.
“You don’t need to go anywhere else today.”
“Then take me to my apartment!”
“You need to wait for me here.” Desire sighs heavily.
Instead of answering, I spin and lunge for my suitcase in the corner, but Desire kicks it into the wall and grabs me by the shoulders. In a rage, I lift my leg and kick his thigh as hard as I can, but he doesn’t even flinch—like I just hit a stone wall.
“I’m not sleeping at home, I’m skipping class! Mom will definitely complain to Dad!” I shove his hands away and slump onto the edge of the bed. The disobedient robe falls open again, baring my skin.
“She won’t say anything to anyone.” He shakes his head. “Your mother is a worthless piece of shit.”
“Don’t you dare talk about her like that!” I flare in indignation despite what she did to me just yesterday.
He exhales loudly through his nose, steps forward, and takes me by the chin.
His fingers force my head back so I’m looking straight into his dark eyes.
He moves close, looming over me. “Your mother will never let your father find out how she covered for your secret meetings with Zack. Remember how I shut her up? That’s why she’ll keep quiet, and you’ll stay with me.
Completely safe. I need to go take care of something right now, and tomorrow, we’re going to the courthouse. ”
My heart skips a painful beat, then races wildly. There he goes again. My gaze drops to my left hand, to the huge black diamond. “You … you were actually serious?” My voice cracks.
“What do you mean? How else would I be?”
I pull away, stand up, and try to wrap the robe around myself. Desire snorts at the sight. I don’t even know why I’m hiding my tits from the man who’s fucked me everywhere.
“I thought you’d get bored with me and just forget about me.”
“What the fuck gave you that idea?” he growls low, making me flinch.
“Wasn’t that how it was with Chloe?”
“No. Chloe is a whore. She’s always fucked anyone and everyone. You only fuck me.” He moves closer, and his large hands cup my face with surprising tenderness. “You’re special to me, my princess.”
My breath catches. I want these hands to slide lower so badly, to tighten around my throat. I want the weight of his body to press me into the mattress. I want him to crave me everywhere, all the time.
“And you’re going to be my wife,” he enunciates.
“I haven’t said yes yet.” I lift my chin, purely out of stubbornness.
His fingers slide down and close around my throat.
I melt inside, savoring it, and suddenly realize I was provoking him on purpose.
The truth is, I’m not as afraid of him as I used to be.
Fear around him now acts like pure drugs—it intoxicates me.
Desire is a pathological, jealous, cruel narcissist and a total control freak.
What’s more, he’s a killer and a sadist. He’s my Prince Harming.
But this is exactly how I crave him more than anything in the world.
I’m also fucking twisted, there’s no denying it anymore.
His darkness and brutality make him irresistible in my eyes.
Hell, maybe this is what a real man is supposed to be like?
Maybe the rest of the world is just too cowardly to admit the truth?
“Think again,” he growls, squeezing my trachea slightly, and I tremble in his grip. “Do you want me to chase you everywhere you go?”
“I do …” I exhale hoarsely.
He bares his teeth. The harsh grip gives way to tenderness: the back of his hand slides along my jawline, down to the throbbing vein in my neck.
“There. You’ve said your fucking yes.”
“Damn,” I groan, disappointed that I gave in so quickly.
I wanted him to keep choking me until I passed out. Asphyxiation games are something wonderful: when oxygen stops reaching your brain, you feel like you’re floating in zero gravity, surrendering to pure bliss. Desire’s strong fingers were made to choke me.
“I have to go, my princess.” He leaves a kiss on my forehead and reluctantly pulls away. “The guys will be in the living room. They have orders to obey you in everything … except one thing. They won’t let you out the door.”
“Where are you going?” I can’t help but ask, looking up into his dark eyes. “To kill Robert?”
“Not him. I’m just watching him for now.” There’s a note of disappointment in his voice. Throwing one last glance at my half-exposed breasts, he turns and leaves the bedroom.
Not him. So right now, he’s going to kill someone else.
I lick my dry lips and take a deep breath. Desire never lies to me directly, but he’s a master of playing with half-truths, hints, and omissions.
He’s gone to kill. So what about me? How am I supposed to prepare for a wedding to a killer?