Chapter 5 Kiss Me

"DON'T MOVE," the man snapped at me, still thrusting hard into the woman beneath him-who was now glaring at me like I had ruined something. "Eyes on me," he growled.

I froze. I couldn't move. Not when he looked like that. I was too scared to fight back.

All that rage I had earlier vanished. It was replaced with a sick, heavy panic sitting in my chest. The woman beneath him had recovered fast though. She was moaning again, louder now.

"Oh God, Lucan... more... don't stop..." she begged.

That's when I realized his name was really Lucan. She kept saying it over and over like a prayer. But what bothered me most was the way he stared at me...

Like I was the one he was thinking about.

I swallowed hard. My throat was suddenly dry, like I needed a tall glass of cold water just to keep breathing. But even as I stood there frozen, my eyes locked with his. I couldn't look away. I didn't understand why.

Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was something darker.

The woman screamed, "Lucan!" again and I flinched. He pulled out of her in one rough motion, then released himself onto her backside like she was trash. He zipped up calmly.

"You can go," he told her.

The woman looked stunned. Hurt, even. But she didn't argue. She just pulled her underwear up, adjusted her dress, and left without a word.

I kept my eyes on her as she walked away. But I didn't miss what Lucan said next.

"Did I tell you to come in here?"

His voice sent a chill down my spine. I turned back slowly to see him leaning against his desk, arms crossed over his chest, watching me. But I remembered what Polly told me. And somehow, I found my voice.

"You're... you're a liar," I said, trembling.

He raised an eyebrow, amused. "And what makes you think that?"

"You said you had my brother," I said louder, angrier. "But he's not here. You used him. You tricked me into coming here for something you wanted!"

He smirked like I was some child throwing a tantrum. Then he slowly took off his suit jacket, already unbuttoned, and laid it over a nearby chair. He looked so unaffected.

I shook my head. I didn't care. It didn't matter. What mattered was my brother.

He rolled up his sleeves, his eyes never leaving mine. Two buttons on his white shirt were undone, giving me a perfect view of his chest and the tattoo inked across it.

"Come here," he said.

I didn't move.

His brows drew together. He looked pissed now. But he didn't raise his voice. He picked up his phone and turned on the speaker.

"Boss," a man's voice answered. Damian. The same guy from earlier. I knew what Lucan was trying to do. The same sick game again.

I didn't fall for it this time. I stood my ground.

"How's the kid?" Lucan asked casually.

I clenched my jaw. I wasn't answering. I knew it wasn't real. I knew my brother wasn't with them.

"Stopped crying already, boss," Damian replied. "But he said he wants to talk to his sister. I told him she was with her husband."

My heart stopped.

What?

"Put him on," Lucan said. "She's listening."

Panic surged through me. Before I could react, I heard the voice I'd been aching to hear.

"Hello? Nevaeh?"

I lunged forward, trying to grab the phone. But Lucan pulled it back before I could reach. I stumbled straight into his chest.

"Hello, Clyde," I said, trying not to cry. "It's me."

"Who's that? Are you really my sister's husband?" Clyde asked.

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Lucan replied, grinning as he brought the phone closer to my face.

"Clyde, are you okay?" I asked quickly, desperate.

"I'm fine. I'm just glad I finally got to talk to you. Damian said you were with your husband, that's why you couldn't call me. When did you get married? Is that the man from earlier?"

He didn't sound scared. He didn't sound hurt. That calmed me a little. Just a little.

"You're not answering."

My mouth went dry.

"Y-yeah," I forced out. "He's... he's my husband."

Lucan's eyes met mine. That crooked smile stretched across his face. He knew.

He knew now that he had me.

That I'd do anything. Everything.

Clyde and I talked for a little while longer before he said he was sleepy and needed to rest. As soon as the call ended, Lucan ended it without a word and tossed his phone on the table. I knew I made a mistake. I quickly turned to leave, but his hand grabbed mine-firm and cold-pulling me back so fast that I crashed against his chest.

"Next time, don't walk into my office without permission," he said, voice low but sharp like a warning.

"Yes," I answered quickly, trying to pull away, but his grip only tightened.

"Where do you think you're going? And why are you in such a hurry?"

"I... I'm just sleepy. I was going back to my room."

"Look at me, Nevaeh. When I talk to you, you look at me. Always. Understood?"

My heart was beating fast, but I did what he asked. I tilted my head up and met his eyes. His fingers were on my chin then, lifting my face gently, but his touch still made my skin crawl.

"Kiss me."

It wasn't a request. It was an order.

Because I messed up, now I had to pay for it. I closed my eyes and leaned in to kiss him.

"Open your eyes," he said darkly. "I want you to see exactly who you're kissing."

I inhaled sharply and opened them again, forcing myself to look at him as I moved closer. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't reach his lips. He was too tall. I was already standing on my toes and still, it wasn't enough.

"Seriously?" he said, mocking me. "Did you not eat enough growing up? Or were you just born to be this tiny?"

I felt the sting of his words, but I snapped back without thinking.

"So what if I didn't? We were poor. My parents died early. My brother and I ended up with that heartless couple who didn't give a damn about us. And now, somehow, I'm stuck with you-"

I didn't finish.

He cut me off by grabbing my face and crushing his mouth to mine.

It wasn't a kiss.

It was a warning. A reminder.

That I belonged to him now. Whether I liked it or not.