EDAN

My eyes gazed over her long slender legs, above her dress, and down her bare arms wrapped around her chest like she was trying to hide something which wasn’t even visible. My eyes moved to her delicate neck secured by the neckline of the dress, her plump red lips, and all the way to her eyes. Her dark hair rested on her shoulders in slight waves and I wondered, how would they feel wrapped up around my hand. The black dress wrapped her up at all perfect places showing her slight curves along the way. 

And I knew, black just became my favorite color.

Again. 

My eyes met her grey ones and as they widened, I knew she recognized that one thing in my eyes. The one thing I was trying hard to deny. My eyes moved to her lips as she slowly gasped and I wondered, how would they feel locked against my lips. 

I watched her as she averted her eyes and then took a step back. I watched as her chest rose when she sucked in a breath, slightly parting her lips, and warmth crept down my body.

Damn it!

After a minute, her eyes traveled back to mine and she took a step forward. “If you had enough time checking me out, tell me why you called me here,” she said in her same calm voice but I didn’t miss that mocking touch to her words. That wasn’t something I expected to come out of her mouth, and in a situation like this, when we were both aware of the tension that lingered in the air. She was using my words against me. My lips curled up in a smile. After all, she was still the same girl. The same Emma who caught my interest that day. The only difference that existed now, was the wrong turn that little interest of mine had taken. 

“I think I might need some more time.” I stood up from my seat and walked around the table stopping a few steps away from her. I leaned against the wooden table and crossed my arms in front of my chest. My eyes, once again, raked over her petite body. I remembered when I said she wasn’t too much of a beauty and with some more fitted clothes, and a little make-up, she could become pretty enough.

I was wrong. For the first time ever, I was wrong because the girl standing in front of me wasn’t just pretty enough. She was a fucking beauty. The one who managed to make my heart beat the rhythms it never did. 

The more reason for this game to end today.

Too bad, I'd be ruining this beauty.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have time for that.” She grumbled and turned around to leave my office. Now here it was what I missed. That bitter touch of her voice and that look in her eyes. The look that reminded me of what tempted me in the first place to have her here. To rip her pride off and show her she was no different.

“Miss James,” I grumbled back and her steps halted. That was a victory. The Emma from the first day would have never stopped. I closed the distance between us and stood just behind her. The nerves in my body awoke when the jasmine touch of hers entered my senses. Now this was what I meant. This intoxicating scent of hers that made me lose my senses and fire up my nerves.

“I must admit,” I whispered huskily against her ear. “I liked this effort of yours to impress me.” Her body shivered under my words and I smiled. I knew how a woman’s body react and hers was no different. 

“Impress? You?” I heard her scornful laugh and I stopped. That’s not how I thought she’d react. She stepped forward and then turned towards me. “Why would I impress you?” She sneered. “Don’t overthink, Mr. Wilton. Just because I had been speaking nicely does not change how I feel about you.” My eyes widened as she took a step closer. “You are a jerk who trapped me here against my will. Don’t forget that,” she paused and looked straight into my eyes but this time, there wasn’t heated-up anger in her eyes, there was something new. A satisfaction?

“And to clear your misunderstanding. I dressed up for someone important, not for you," her lips rose in a smirk, "so, stop daydreaming, my dear boss." She whispered those last words, turned around, and left my office. Leaving me, once again, shocked.

Under different circumstances, I would have liked her new enthusiasm, would have enjoyed this new turn, and gladly took on this challenge. To test her, tease her, trap her. But today, now? Someone important? She dressed up for someone important?

My jaws tightened as my body instantly tensed up. Who was she meeting? A date? A man?

My blood boiled just thinking of her laughing at some guy's jokes, having dinner, hugging, kissing, smiling, and then...

No!

She wouldn’t be going out and crawling on some man’s lap. She wouldn't be going out and showing all her new sides that I have yet to explore.

I wouldn’t let that happen. 

I won’t let another man touch what was mine! Her smiles, her sweet words, her laughter, her touch, her kisses. They were mine to have. Mine to take. And I'd kill anyone who dared to touch or think of what was mine.

Anger took over the shock in my body as I moved towards her office. I shut the door closed stepping in. Her eyes widened as she watched me move towards her.

“What are you doing?!” She asked, surprise evident in her voice. With two long strides, I stood in front of her. 

“Who are you meeting tonight?” I growled and her eyes stared back at me shocked. 

“What-” 

“Who are you meeting tonight, Kitten,” I growled again cutting through her words. If she was going out to meet a man, I would make sure to tear that pretty dress off her and fuck her right here on her desk. To mark her and let the world know. She belonged to me. I don’t care if she was meeting her boyfriend or the love of her life, whoever he was, I would kill him. No one touches what was mine and this girl wrapped in sinful black was mine! 

She just didn’t know it yet.

“Kitten,” I grunted when she took a little longer to reply to a single fucking question. How difficult was it?

“None of your concern!” She yelled as she took a step back. Only her. While people feared my cold stares and death glares, she managed to yell at me. To act brave and strong. Not knowing how easily I could break her, rip that tongue of hers, and ruin her life completely. She was messing with the wrong person.

“Wrong answer.” I sneered and pushed her lightly. She gasped as her body fell on the black leather seat behind her. I stepped closer and placing my knee just between her legs, I crouched down. I placed my hands on the back of the seat and her wide-opened eyes stared at me, perplexed and appalled. Today, I'd show her who she was dealing with. At whose mercy she was.

I leaned closer, my face a few inches away from her startled one. 

“Kitten,” I muttered under my breath. “Let me tell you one thing.” I lifted my hand and reaching to her, I caressed a finger down her face. From her temple down to her neck. She shuddered under my touch. Good.

"No one touches what’s mine.” I brushed my thumb on her red lips, her soon-to-be-punished lips, slightly parting them. “And you, my little feisty kitten,” I looked into her gray orbs as my thumb rested between her lower lip. “Are mine!” I growled.

She flinched and I smirked. Today, I’d show her what it meant to be owned by me. Today, I’d make sure that the only name she ever whispers from those lips of hers would be mine. That the only person she'd ever dress up for is me. 

She sucked in a breath as I inched closer to punish those forbidden lips of hers. She became mine the moment she walked through my office doors and now, I was taking her. Marking her. One way or another.

I was taking this wild kitten dressed up in black. I was going to rip out that little heart of hers, color it black, and mark it mine.

She was my feisty little kitten and now, I would make sure she remembers it forever.

“Stop.” Her wavering voice struck against my ears as my lips brushed against hers. “Please,” she trembled under my body and all the nerves in my body halted. 

"Don't. Please." She whimpered and I inched back. The moment my eyes settled on her face, something inside my chest ached. Her eyes were shut closed as she held her hands curled up in front of her chest. As if trying to protect her. Her lower lip trembled as her shaky breaths filled the silence of the room. She was... scared. She was scared of me...

Fuck! What have I done?

Realization dawned on me and my anger dissipated. How did I let that jealousy of mine take over? I was never the one to lose control and here I was, moments away from shredding this girl and swallowing her up like a hungry mindless beast.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

I was never the one to take advantage of a woman and here I was, moments away from tearing her apart like a hungry wolf.

I stepped back and stared at her fragile terrified self. Her body trembled with fear. Because of me. Fuck! How did I even let this happen? How did I let my wrath and that jealousy take the better of me?

I raked a hand through my hair and held the nape of my neck. My eyes stared at the girl sitting in front with her eyes still shut.

How did I even think of tainting someone this innocent, someone this beautiful?

How could I taint someone this pure? This fragile?

Fuck! She was right! I was a jerk! An asshole! 

I gritted my teeth and for the first time, hated what I had become. 

I leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

I am sorry, Kitten. 

I stepped back and headed out of her office. I needed to cool down.

EMMA

I shuddered as he inched closer. His body was hovering over me and his knee was resting between my legs. His woody musk scent wrapped me up in a curse and my heart dropped down in my stomach. Lifting my arms, I clutched my hands in a fist and brought them in front of my chest. I closed my eyes and not because I was waiting for whatever was coming but because he frightens me. For the first time since I had met him, I was scared. Terrified of him. That cold murderous look in his eyes followed by that growl through his mouth, I hated it.

I missed those taunting, playful glimmers in his eyes. I missed that smirk hanging around his lips. I missed his pretentious words. I missed that Edan. I wanted that Edan back.

“Stop.” I quivered under his strong presence when I felt something brush against my lips. “Please,” I whispered, my lower lip trembling. 

“Please, Stop!” I pleaded.

 “Don’t do this!” I begged.

“Please.” I whimpered. 

But he didn’t listen. 

My memories brought back the snippets of nightmares that had been visiting me for five years. Men. They were all alike. The one whom I loved with all my heart didn’t listen to my pleas so what made me believe that this stranger in front, knowing the hatred I have for him, would stop? 

I was a fool to believe that. 

I wanted to push him away. I wanted to open up my fists and shove that strong chest of his off my body. I wanted to open my eyes and warn him to not touch me. I wanted to stand up, stood straight, and face him. To face my fear and to show him he couldn't scare me. But my body was numb and my mind knew, I was a liar. I wasn't strong and he would win. After all, he was the one who broke that delusion of mine. Who truly showed me where I stood, and who I was. The same weak girl.

So, I could do only one thing and that was to plead him to stop. Hoping he'd listen. Praying he'd stop. Waiting for his mercy.

Pathetic. Right?

That was me. The same pathetic high school girl.

My breaths stopped for a moment as I felt his knee shifting away from between my legs followed by the weight of his body from my seat. A new hope took place in my chest. Did he listen? Did he hear my pleas? I didn’t open my eyes, too afraid that what I was feeling might be just a part of my imagination. 

My body stiffened when a strong whiff of his cologne wrapped me up again after a moment. I was wrong. He didn’t leave. He was still here. 

No! Please don’t. My mind screamed as my body trembled. My chest started to tighten as I squeezed my already closed eyes, hoping if I do that, I might disappear from his sight. Hoping that it would save me. I was hanging around the edges of a false hope once again. 

I was a pathetic being!

I sucked in a breath as his lips grazed over me and my heart stopped but it wasn’t due to my fear or that panic that was building up in my chest. It was something else. It was due to that warm touch of his lips against my skin. It was a kiss. A brief gentle kiss. A sweet touch of his lips on my forehead and nothing more. 

I sensed as his body moved away from my body and after some minutes, I slowly opened my eyes. He was not in my office. He left. He answered my pleas. 

He stopped...

A warm feeling blossomed in my chest and then it crawled out on my skin and all the way to my face. I let out a breath touching where his lips touched my skin, remembering his gentle brush of lips. Something in my chest fluttered.

What’s wrong with me?

After five years, I let someone come close to me. No! I didn’t let him in. He barged in. On his own. Without asking. He entered my life, stepped on my nerves, and then cracked my walls. He was a jerk! 

A jerk who was slowly and steadily walking up to where I stood. Hidden behind my lies, trapped within my walls, and lost in my nightmares. He was reaching to me one step at a time.

I hated this. I hated how he was stirring up the things inside my mind and my heart. I hated how he made my body feel weird things. I hated how at one moment, he scared me, and the very next, his slight touch warmed me up. 

I hated him and yet something warm bloomed in my chest.

***********

So? Please, let me hear your thoughts.

Love,
Anna.