Page 22

I lay butt naked beneath the sheets, my face toward the ceiling as the morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the opulent space. The curtains rippled like a flowing stream, stirred by the soft wind and accompanied by the harmonious chorus of birds outside.

I gathered the sheets against my body, my grip firm yet hesitant, the fabric wrinkling under the pressure of my grasp. My mind was still reeling from the incident last night—the letter from Liam and, most importantly, Daniel’s reaction.

A flutter stirred up in my chest at the mere thought of the outcome of our little banter. My defiance last night was deliberate, and a part of me enjoyed the jealousy in his eyes. Daniel couldn’t hide it; he couldn’t pretend to be unaffected by my reaction to Liam’s letter.

Frankly speaking, I was shocked that my ex-fiancé had managed to get that message through to me. But how? How did he pull that off? Daniel’s mansion was a fortress. Nothing went in or out without his notice. I guess it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was able to mail me the letter.

For a moment there, I had indeed considered leaving this place. My heart had gladdened for just a second. But then I remembered the proof of what he did to poor Alina, and my fleeting joy went down the drain. I couldn’t get back together with him after what he did to that girl. No. My conscience wouldn’t let me.

I was glad that Liam was okay and out of danger, but that was it; that was all I felt during and after reading the letter he sent. Every other action I pulled in front of Daniel was nothing but an act orchestrated to force a drastic reaction from him. It was a dumb move, so to say, considering that I had no idea what he was capable of doing to me in such a state of mind.

My defiance had only fueled his rage, and I should count myself lucky that he wasn’t the kind to go physical on a woman. Daniel was a very violent man, cruel and heartless, but the one good thing about him was his ability to never raise his hand against a woman. If he had self-control in that area, maybe he’d have snapped and hit me last night.

But instead, what did he do? He punished me in a way I didn’t see coming, a way that had me begging and pleading, but he didn’t stop.

They say you don’t know what you’ve been missing until it arrives; that was the case with me. I had no idea how incredible being punished with aggressive sex was—being fucked hard…rough. His aggression was so hot, and the way he ripped my dress like a raging beast was nothing short of wild.

Daniel had taken me—rough, hard, and unrelenting—his vigorous strokes a stark reminder of why I should never leave. His rage, mixed with passion and hunger, stirred up an unusual emotion within me, a kind of fire that burned so much it almost consumed me.

With each thrust, Daniel hit the right spot, and with each spank on my ass, jolts of electricity surged through my body, making me want him even more. I’d longed to have him go deeper inside me; he did that. I’d yearned for him to ram me faster; he did that.

His pull on my hair was both rough and delicate at the same time, sending waves of emotions through me. The more he hit me from the back, the more my knees quaked, and the more my breath lodged in my throat. I couldn’t get enough, couldn’t hold back my cries.

Daniel made me admit that I didn’t want to leave—didn’t want to be rescued. And as embarrassing as that was, I did say those words in the way that he wanted me to.

I’d never been fucked so hard and rough like that in my whole life before last night. I’d yet to get over it. Maybe I should piss him off more often, seeing that I loved his own method of punishment.

Fuck!

That wasn’t all. Later at night, I woke up to the feeling of his possessive hands on me, caressing and touching me in all the right places. When I was fully awake, laying on my back, he climbed on top of me, his lips sucking on my nipples, his hands fondling my breasts.

Daniel had been more gentle with me that night, taking me slowly, each touch stealing my breath. His kisses and caresses turned me on, luring me into yielding and surrendering. I couldn’t resist him even if I wanted to, and I didn’t want to. I wanted him to take me.

His hands had traversed my body, feeling my curves and contours, my soft skin beneath his palms. He gazed down on me like I was something to be worshipped, adored, and cherished.

And when he’d finally taken me, his thrust was gentle, his kisses slow and smooth. My fingers squeezed against the sheets, my back arching in response to his measured entry. My toes curled, legs apart, hanging in the air, as I wrapped my arms around him, his body against mine. Lost in pleasure, I raked my fingers into his back, soft purrs escaping my lips.

Meanwhile, in reality, I didn’t realize that I’d slipped my hand down between my legs until I heard the sound of my moans. Snapping out of my thoughts, my palm flew upward, covering my mouth as I steadied my breath.

I couldn’t understand what Daniel had done to me—how he’d managed to sneak his way into my head, my mind, and maybe even…my heart.

Why couldn’t I stop myself from thinking about him? Why was I drawn to him like a moth to a flame, knowing the kind of man he was? After everything Daniel had put me and my family through, I still let him touch me, feel me, and fill me up with himself. Why was that?

I rolled onto my side with a fluid motion, my gaze locking on Daniel’s serene face. He was still fast asleep, and I drank in the sight of his tranquil form, my eyes tracing the contours of his rigid body. My gaze caressed his face, taking in the sharp jawline, the gentle curve of his lips, and his closed eyelashes, a delicate fringe against his skin.

At first glance, the subtle rise and fall of his broad chest and the peaceful stillness of his eyes made him look so harmless, incapable of evil. For just a moment there, there was no trace of the cruel man he was when awake. Just peace and quiet.

I hated how fascinated I was with him, how I was so busy drooling over this man with a smile on my face. I stared at him with a mix of lust and something a lot lighter than that—adoration, maybe. I wasn’t sure what it was. But in that moment, the world around me melted away, leaving just the two of us, with me wondering what he was dreaming about.

He looked so cute and harmless that I was tempted to tuck back the stray strand of hair that framed his face. His upper body was bare, revealing his toned muscles and faint scars, while the sheets pooled around his waist, concealing his legs and groin from view.

With caution, I stretched out my hand, reaching for the stray strand, but mere inches from his face, I hesitated. My fingers hovered over his forehead, eyes dropping to confirm that he was still asleep. Daniel could be funny sometimes. For all I knew, he might just be awake, aware of my actions.

No, it’s too risky, I thought, withdrawing my hand.

That instant, a knock on the door startled me, and before I could make a move, it swung open, revealing Daniel’s right-hand man by the entrance.

In a heartbeat, my fingers deftly clenched around the hem of the sheets as I yanked them up to cover my bare chest. My breath hitched, my eyes widening in shock before narrowing with a sharp glint of aggression. “What the fuck, Ilya?!” I snapped, my voice edged with both outrage and disbelief.

I glared at him, a mix of embarrassment and fury simmering beneath the surface.

Ilya was quick to look away, eyes darting to the side. “Apologies, miss,” he muttered, clearing his throat as he held out a hanger with an elegant green gown draped over it. The dress was encased in a sheer plastic covering, crisp and untouched, the faint scent of new fabric still clinging to it. “I came to drop this off.”

“What is that?” I asked, slipping out of bed in one swift motion, gripping the sheets tightly as I rolled them around my body.

“It’s the dress you’re supposed to wear to the event,” he replied, still looking away.

My brows shot up in confusion and my eyes narrowed. “What?”

“Thank you, Ilya. I’ll take it from here,” Daniel chipped in, his voice smooth and easy, as if he hadn’t just been asleep just a second ago.

I shifted my gaze toward him as he lay on the bed, his back against the pillows and both hands tucked behind his head. A grin played on his lips as he stared at me, his eyes roaming over my body. He lay there, utterly unbothered, his black boxers ensuring his modesty.

Ilya draped the dress over the table by the entrance and walked out of the room without a word.

“What’s going on, Daniel?” I asked, clutching the sheets tightly to my chest. “What’s the dress for?”

His lips twisted into a mischievous smile, his gaze a mix of amusement and desire. “You can relax now, printsessa . He’s gone. There’s no need to be shy.”

“I’m serious,” I insisted, still in shock at how close I’d come to having Ilya see me naked.

“You’re coming with me today, and I want you dressed in that.” He pointed at the gown draped over the table.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering where he planned on taking me this time. Hopefully, not the prison again. I wouldn’t mind seeing my father a second time, but I’d rather not see him in chains.

“Wh…where are we going?” I stuttered, eyes squinting.

“You’ll see,” he replied, getting out of bed with his signature smirk on his lips.

Clearly, I didn’t have a say in the matter. It had already been decided that today, I was going out with him to God-knows-where.

In no time, I freshened up and slipped into the green gown, its cool fabric whispering over my skin, molding to my body in all the right ways. The deep V-neck plunged lower that I would’ve preferred, exposing more of my collarbone and cleavage. I was uncomfortable, especially with the daring slit that ran up my thigh, making me hyper aware of how much skin it revealed. The silky fabric clung to my curves and contour, leaving little room to breathe.

Daniel’s gaze was watchful, his eyes sparkling with pride as he stared at me, making me feel as though I was wearing nothing at all. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, the dark fabric stretching taut at his broad shoulders and tapering down his rigid frame with precision. No tie, yet he looked so ravishing and even hotter. The top three buttons of his white undershirt were left undone, adding a sense of allure to his overall look.

The drive was quiet and tense—for me, at least. I could feel his gaze darting toward me every now and then, his lips curling into a faint smile. His eyes seemed to study every shift of my posture and every movement of my hands. He loved keeping me guessing, wondering what he was up to, as though seeing me confused gave him some sort of satisfaction.

When the car finally rolled to a stop, he turned to me. “We’re here,” he said, his voice deep and husky and his smirk broadening.

I looked out the window, my breath hitching as I realized where he’d brought me. The eerie alley, the distant roar of a wild crowd beneath the ground, and the flickering neon sign above a nondescript entrance all gave it away. It was a club. But not just any club…an underground fight club, the kind where blood stained the floors, where men bet fortunes on brutality, where the very air was thick with sweat, smoke, the stench of blood, and the thrill of violence.

Daniel looked me dead in the eyes and said, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine, “Time to see what kind of man owns you.”

I felt my heart plummet into my stomach, my pulse quickening. This wasn’t fear. No. It was something far more unsettling. A dark thrill curled in my chest, a twisted sense of anticipation. I wasn’t just bracing for brutality—I was eager to witness it, to see something raw, ruthless, and undeniably spectacular.

Was this me, or was this the version of the woman he was turning me into—a woman drawn to the darkness?