Chapter 101 Chapter 101
Caroline was stunned. He usually seemed so serious, so cold and unapproachable at the office. Why, behind closed doors, did he turn into this shameless pervert?
Nicholas let out a theatrical sigh, feigning resignation. "You don't want to see what I'm showing you, and you don't want to show me anything. Honey, you're making this difficult for me. What am I supposed to do with all this energy?
“How about... we just sleep?
”Or...
Suddenly, Caroline felt an overwhelming wave of heat on her back. Nicholas had embraced her from behind, pressing his firm, bare chest against the thin silk of her clothes.
“Do you like it with clothes on?” he whispered, his lips brushing the sensitive skin at the nape of her neck. “Although I prefer skin on skin, we can try it this way if it's your fetish. Either way, we have all night to figure out what works.”
His arms wrapped around her like steel bars, pinning her against him. Caroline's delicate figure was completely swallowed up by his massive presence.
She felt as if a furnace were pressing against her back. His scent—an intoxicating blend of expensive soap, musk, and desire—invaded her senses, making her dizzy.
She was trapped.
“My darling...” Nicholas murmured, his voice vibrating directly into her bones. “Don't try to run away. And you don't need to be afraid. I'll do my best to be gentle. I won't hurt you.”
Nicholas's mind traveled briefly to the past.
He knew the truth she didn't know. On that fateful night months ago... she had given him her first time. Although she had been under the influence of drugs and her memory was hazy, he remembered every detail. He remembered her pain, her initial resistance, and how, little by little, her body had surrendered to his.
They had already connected in the most intimate way possible.
So... it shouldn't hurt as much now, right? Her body already knew his.
Nicholas' confidence grew. He was sure he could give her a night of pleasure, not pain.
His lips traveled down her neck, tracing a path of fire to her shoulder. “Leave it to me. I'll make you happy.”
“W-Wait!”
Caroline's body stiffened, panic taking hold. Tears of nervousness welled up in her eyes. “Y-You said I could take a shower first?”
“Hmm.” He nibbled on her earlobe. “I did. But I changed my mind. I can't wait any longer.”
The girl exuded a natural, sweet, milky scent that was driving him crazy. It was better than any French perfume.
At first, he was just teasing her, wanting to see her shy reactions. But now... he had fallen into his own trap.
The desire, once a spark, was now a forest fire. Nicholas's self-control was hanging by a thread.
His voice became hoarse, almost unrecognizable. He turned her in his arms, pulling her closer. “Love... give me that. Now.”
“I...”
Caroline barely managed to open her mouth to protest before the world spun.
With one fluid motion, Nicholas lifted her onto his lap as if she weighed nothing. Before she could process the movement, he was already walking toward the huge king-size bed with black sheets.
Caroline's heart was beating so fast it hurt.
As she was laid down on the soft mattress, she closed her eyes tightly, her face burning with shame.
She knew there was no escape.
That's it, she thought with sad resignation. He wants it, and he's going to get it.
She stopped fighting mentally. Men were all the same, weren't they? They chased what they couldn't have. But once they got it, once their curiosity was satisfied... their interest disappeared.
Maybe it was better that way. If she gave herself to him tonight, he would stop thinking about it obsessively. Maybe, after he got what he wanted, he would go back to being the cold, distant Nicholas, and her life would return to normal.
Although she was mentally resigned, the physical fear was still there.
“Baby.”
Nicholas hovered over her, supporting his weight on his elbows so as not to crush her. He kissed her softly on the lips, a shocking contrast to the urgency of his body. “Relax. Open your eyes. Look at me.”
Caroline turned her head to the side, refusing to obey. She kept her eyes closed.
She couldn't face him. Not now.
Nicholas smiled at her shyness—her red cheeks, her trembling eyelashes. He kissed her temple, moving down to her cheek. “My love... my love...”
Caroline's hands gripped the silk sheets, her knuckles white.
When she felt his hand slide down to the waistband of her skirt, panic overcame resignation.
“Nicholas!” she cried, opening her eyes suddenly.
“Hm?” The man's voice was throaty, his dark eyes clouded with desire.
Caroline bit her lower lip until it almost bled. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the tremor in her voice. “I have something to tell you.”
“Now?”
Nicholas stopped, but the tension in his body was visible. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, and the muscles in his arms were rock hard. “Honey... now really isn't the time to talk. We can talk later.”
He leaned in to kiss her again, trying to pick up where they left off.
Caroline placed her hands on his bare chest, pushing him away slightly. “It's very, very important.”
Nicholas froze. “...
He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, fighting a titanic internal battle between lust and patience. When he opened his eyes again, there was resignation in them. ”Do you have to say this now? Right this second?
“Mm!” Caroline nodded vigorously.
“... All right.” He sighed, moving off her and sitting down beside her, but still holding her hand. “Tell me. What is so urgent?”
Caroline looked at the magnificent man beside her. She saw the flames of passion still burning in those deep eyes and felt a pang of sadness.
She knew that what she was about to say could extinguish that fire forever. Men like him, powerful and proud, usually demanded purity from their wives.
She gathered all the courage she had.
“I-I...” Her voice faltered, but she forced the words out. “I'm not a virgin anymore.”
Silence fell over the room like an anvil.
Caroline closed her eyes, expecting rejection. She had decided she owed him the truth. He had a right to know before consummating the marriage.
If he thought she was “dirty,” if he didn't want to touch her after that... she would understand. She would accept her fate.
Nicholas was stunned.